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, the Trump administration weighs whether to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal; a "caravan" of Central American asylum-seekers arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border; violence flares in Afghanistan; and more.

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Americas

About 150 Central American asylum-seekers fleeing violence in their home countries traveled through Mexico over the past month and arrived at the U.S. border this week. Some climbed the fence at the border, and the U.S. Department of Justice has charged 11 possible members of the "caravan" with illegally entering the United States. About half have been allowed to begin the asylum process, which could take months or even years. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent an additional 35 assistant U.S. attorneys, 19 immigration judges, and other officials to the San Ysidro border crossing to handle the increase in applications.

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• The United States says it has a tariff deal with Brazil. Brazil disagrees – The New York Times

Central & South Asia

A pair of suicide bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed at least 25 people on Monday, including nine journalists who arrived on the scene to cover the first blast. The attacks were attributed to ISIL. As the U.S. special inspector general said the Afghan government is losing ground to Taliban and ISIL fighters, many are worried that more attacks will occur. Another attack against a military convoy in the south wounded several Romanian service members and killed an unknown number of children.

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• Pakistan: No deal with United States over doctor who helped track Bin Laden – Voice of America

China & East Asia

U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators began talks this week in Beijing following weeks of tit-for-tat tariff threats between the two countries. The U.S. team includes Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Chinese officials do not expect to reach a compromise during these talks and seem unwilling to offer many concessions. Pacific Council Director Michael Camuñez told CNN that he does not believe the talks will result in a "grand bargain" because the United States is not projecting a clear strategy. 

Also check out:

• North Korea may release its three U.S. hostages ahead of Trump-Kim talks – Vox

Europe & Russia

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has set a day of talks on May 7 for the country’s political leaders to develop a government coalition. The announcement came after five previous rounds of talks over the nine weeks since the country’s inconclusive election produced no progress on the issue. On Thursday, the European Commission warned Italy to form a government or face economic consequences. 

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• After Brexit, a quarter of the EU’s budget will go to climate protection – Forbes

Middle East & North Africa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the Iran nuclear deal, claiming that Iran entered the deal under false pretenses. The Trump administration embraced the claims, while European allies did not. President Trump is weighing whether to pull the United States out of the deal by the May 12 deadline. Iran is reportedly working to keep Europe in the deal but Iranian Ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad said that if the United States pulls out of the deal, "there is no deal left." Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Netanyahu during his first trip abroad as secretary.

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• Hobby Lobby’s smuggled artifacts will be returned to Iraq – NPR

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Singapore hosted the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit last weekend. The summit focused on cybersecurity and trade. The 10 member states of ASEAN made it clear that they want the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) finalized and signed by the end of the year, especially since the United States pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is now called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and was signed in Chile in March.

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• Thailand openly airs hope to join TPP – Bangkok Post

Sub-Saharan Africa

The UN’s deputy peacekeeping chief Bintou Keita said the UN opposes the South Sudan government’s plan to delay elections if no agreement is reached by warring parties at the scheduled May 17 talks. Those talks have already been delayed three times since April 26. The top UN official in South Sudan, David Shearer, said violence will likely continue in the country despite a ceasefire signed last year.

Also check out:

• Sudan reconsidering role in Saudi-led Yemen campaign – The Washington Post

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