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, Venezuela makes arrests in Maduro assassination attempt; Germany and Spain come to an agreement on refugees; Ethiopia shuts down internet access; and more.

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Americas

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was allegedly the target of an assassination attempt on Saturday when two drones loaded with explosives detonated during Maduro’s speech to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Venezuela’s National Guard. Maduro described the attack as an act of terrorism, and said his survival was a "miracle." Officials have arrested six people in connection to the attack, who Maduro called "hired guns and terrorists" and said are Venezuelans living in Florida. But both U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo deny any U.S. involvement.

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• NAFTA talks enter third week with focus on cars, sunset clause – Bloomberg

Central & South Asia

Pakistan will add 60,000 troops to its border with Afghanistan, according to military officials. The move is meant to prevent the flow of militants between the two countries. In addition to the increase in troops, 13 percent of a planned border fence along 1,456 miles has also been completed. Pakistan is under pressure to increase its fight against insurgents after U.S. President Donald Trump accused the two countries of providing a "safe haven" for terrorists. While both Pakistan and Afghanistan accuse each other of harboring militants, incoming Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke of cooperation between the two nations, saying, "Afghanistan’s people need peace. We want peace there. If there is peace in Afghanistan, there will be peace in Pakistan. We will make every effort to achieve peace there."

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• ISIL in Afghanistan just won’t go away, U.S. officials say – Voice of America

China & East Asia

North Korea has been reluctant to take steps toward denuclearization, according to Bolton, who told Fox News that "the United States has lived up to the Singapore declaration. It’s just North Korea that has not taken the steps we feel are necessary to denuclearize." Bolton’s admission comes as reports claim Pyongyang has consistently rejected the United States’ proposed timeline for denuclearization. Pompeo has presented North Korea with a goal of handing over 60 to 70 percent of its nuclear warheads, but that North Korea has turned down the proposal each time. Meanwhile, North Korea released a South Korean citizen who had been detained in North Korea since last month after "illegally" entering North Korea. The move has made South Korean officials hopeful for the release of six other citizens who have been detained in the North for years.

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• China to hit United States with retaliatory tariffs on $16 billion worth of goods – The Hill

Europe & Russia

Germany agreed to a deal with Spain this week which would require any migrants coming to Germany who have previously been registered as a refugee in Spain to be turned away and sent back within 48 hours. The deal comes after German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer threatened to resign over German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s lack of firm immigration policies regarding migrants. Similar agreements are currently being discussed with Italy and Greece.

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• United States to issue new sanctions against Russia over spy poisoning – The New York Times

Middle East & North Africa

A dispute between Saudi Arabia and Canada over a comment on human rights has resulted in the "biggest diplomatic feud in years" between the two countries. The dispute started when Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland tweeted about the imprisonment of human rights activist Samar Badawi in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia responded by expelling Canada’s ambassador and recalling its own envoy from Ottawa, halting Saudi flights to Toronto, suspending thousands of Saudi scholarship programs in Canada, and putting all new business transactions with Canada on hold. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the tweet a "blatant interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols" in a statement released on Monday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by remaining firm on Canada’s stance, saying, "Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and public on questions of human rights."

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• Iran braces for new U.S. sanctions to further cripple economy – NPR

Southeast Asia & Oceania

A detrimental dam collapse which occurred last month in Laos is causing concern among officials about the risk of landmines. Laos is the most bombed country per capita in the world due to the Vietnam War, resulting in contamination of landmines around the country, despite clearance efforts over the years. Last month’s dam collapse, which killed 34 and displaced thousands, have many worried about the possible movement of explosives due to the massive flooding from the dam. The collapse also raised concerns about the construction standards of infrastructure projects in Laos, with NGOs and other advocacy groups calling for a reconsideration of the country’s "heavy investment in hydropower."

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• Australia is kicking Kiwis out, and New Zealand is unhappy about it – The Economist

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ongoing violence in Ethiopia caused authorities to shut down internet access in the Somali region this week. Ethnic tensions and clashes between local authorities and the national government have exacerbated the unrest, with security officials killing four people, and many others looting shops, vandalizing property, and targeting ethnic minorities. Advocacy groups are condemning the internet shutdown, which has happened previously in Ethiopia during times of unrest, calling for freedom of speech and access to information.

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• Ebola is spreading again in Congo—this time in an active war zone – The Washington Post

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