Global Beat is your weekly stop for news from around the world. Join us every Friday morning for important stories you should know about.

This week, French President Emmanuel Macron visits the United States; North and South Korean leaders meet and agree to end hostilities; the Iran nuclear deal hangs on by a thread; and more.

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Americas

Deadly riots broke out across Nicaragua this week as the government moved forward with social security reforms, which they later abandoned due to the rioting. The protests began as peaceful demonstrations against the reforms but quickly escalated, showing broader discontent with President Daniel Ortega’s government and calling on him to step down. More than two dozen people have been killed in the protests so far, with hundreds arrested. The U.S. Embassy in Managua told family members and some employees to leave the country and limited its operations.

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• Michael Bloomberg pledged $4.5 million to uphold U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement – TIME 

Central & South Asia

Indian President Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in Wuhan, China, this week to keep tensions—which have escalated between the two countries recently—in check. Both are describing the meeting as a chance to "reset relations," with India focusing on stability in the run-up to the 2019 presidential election. The two countries have competing interests in the Indian Ocean and throughout Asia, with Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative spurring on further squabbling. 

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• Shutdown of Pakistani TV network hints at army’s bid for control – The Guardian

China & East Asia

Kim Jong-un became the first North Korean leader to cross the Demilitarized Zone into South Korea for a historic summit today with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The two leaders shook hands, hugged, and signed a pledge to "cease all hostile acts" amid a "new era of peace." The meeting took place at the Peace House, where the armistice at the end of fighting in the Korean War was signed. The two leaders also agreed to work toward a complete denuclearization of the peninsula and a formal end to the Korean War this year. Kim and President Trump are still working out the details of their highly anticipated meeting, expected to take place next month.

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• U.S.-China trade fight reaches top American court in antitrust case – Reuters 

Europe & Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the United States for the first official state visit since President Trump took office. Macron was here for three days and toured Washington, D.C., gave a joint press conference with Trump, and addressed Congress. Trump’s and Macron’s relationship was on full display this week, with the two celebrating "unbreakable bonds" between the two countries. Macron’s discussion with Trump focused on the Iran nuclear deal and further cooperation in global affairs. In Macron’s address to Congress, he received standing ovations from both parties in what some viewed as a rebuke to Trumpism. He repeatedly struck down what he called "extreme nationalism," defended international institutions and the liberal world order, championed science-based responses to climate change, and rejected protectionist trade policies, ideas that are seemingly at odds with some of Trump’s policy views.

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• Ex-Fox News contributor and first openly gay Trump appointee confirmed as Trump's ambassador to Germany – The Guardian

Middle East & North Africa

Macron said he believes Trump will pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal by the May 12 deadline and is working to entice him to stay in by offering to work toward a second or expanded deal aimed at curtailing Iranian influence in Syria and Yemen and limiting ballistic missile tests. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that if the United States walks away from the deal, so too will Iran, allowing Iran to enrich uranium far beyond the strict limits set by the deal. Trump has warned Iran will "pay" if they restart their nuclear weapons program.

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• Syria: Western nations seek to bypass Russian veto at UN – The Guardian

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Authorities in Thailand have detained a Cambodian opposition leader and are in talks to extradite the man to Cambodia. Sam Serey, leader of the group Khmer National Liberation Front, has been painted as a terrorist by the Cambodian government. He has also been accused of plotting to overthrow the Cambodian government, claims which are unsubstantiated. Another opposition group was dissolved by the Cambodian Supreme Court in 2017. The Cambodian People’s Party, the party currently in power, looks set to win July elections as there are no longer any credible opposition groups left in the country.

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• Indonesia investigates reports top Islamic State for Southeast Asia commander killed – Reuters

Sub-Saharan Africa

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) met in Luanda, Angola, to discuss security and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo. President Joseph Kabila’s term ended in December 2016, but the country has not yet held elections for his successor. Widespread, violent protest has erupted, and there has been an uptick in ethnic violence. SADC is concerned with organizing elections and an ensuing peaceful transfer of power should Kabila or his party lose the election. The SADC is one of the few remaining international organizations Kabila is seen as willing to engage with, though he sent his deputy prime minister in his place to attend this meeting.

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• As Cape Town dam levels drop to 20 percent, residents get flood warning – Bloomberg

Stay informed. We’ll see you here again next week.