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, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment drama continues; India and Pakistan attempt to mend fences; China clamps down on foreign NGOs; and more.
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Americas

Brazil’s Senate has begun selecting committee members who will decide whether or not President Dilma Rousseff should be removed from office following the lower house of Congress’ April 17 vote to impeach her over allegations that she broke banking regulations. Americas Quarterly this week writes about how Brazil’s political crisis is bleeding into the rest of South America.

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• Amid unrest, looting and electricity rationing, Venezuela's president Maduro becomes a recall target –  Merry Mogollon and Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times

​Central & South Asia

On Tuesday, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan, S Jaishankar and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, met at a brief bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a regional conference in New Delhi. The past few decades have been defined by a fraught relationship since Pakistan’s violent partition from India in 1947 and the ongoing conflict over the contested area of Kashmir. However, both nations have demonstrated the willingness to restore a dialogue and the hope is that this meeting will set them on the path to better relations.

Also check out:

• Poll: Central Asia points to the U.S. as its biggest threat – Catherine Putz, The Diplomat​

​China & East Asia

On Thursday, China’s parliament passed a law requiring thousands of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country to accept police supervision, report the sources of their funding, and submit their budgets. The move has been widely criticized by other governments.

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• China plans to build 20 floating nuclear reactors in the South China Sea – Andrew Follett, The Daily Caller

​Europe & Russia

As Britain continues to grapple with the idea of leaving the European Union, the debate surrounding a possible Brexit has intensified this week. Former Tory cabinet minister Owen Paterson said in a speech this week that whatever the outcome of the referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron will be removed. President Obama visited London last week to urge a “no” vote on the June 23 referendum, keeping Britain in the EU. Polls show that public opinion is split on the issue, and the Telegraph wrote that the “referendum is pulling friendships and families apart.”

Also check out:

• Donald Trump's foreign policy speech earns praise... in Russia – Fred Pleitgen, CNN​

Middle East & North Africa

President Obama announced on Monday that the United States will significantly increase its military presence in Syria by adding 250 military personnel to the 50 already on the ground. "They’re not going to be leading the fight on the ground," Obama said, "but they will be essential in providing the training and assisting local forces." The New York Times Editorial Board said the move is cause for concern because the personnel "will be involved in military operations and working without proper authorization from Congress…in a sovereign nation with no clear legal right."

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• Fearing protests, Egyptian security forces arrest hundreds, including journalists and lawyers – Human Rights Watch

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Following a spate of kidnappings and attacks by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday called for joint maritime patrols with Malaysia and the Philippines to combat the Islamic State-affiliated militants. The group beheaded Canadian citizen John Ridsdel on Monday in the Philippines, and still has 20 hostages from Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Norway.

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• Water shortages spread misery along Southeast Asia's Mekong Region – Marwaan Macan-Markar, Nikkei Asian Review

​Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan President Salva Kiir restored opposition leader Riek Machar as vice president this week as part of a peace deal, demonstrating a vital first step in the effort to bring the world’s youngest nation back together following years of civil war. The BBC reports that a national unity government should be formed in the next few days. The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying that the "scope of future U.S. engagement in helping South Sudan confront the country’s security, economic, and development challenges...will depend on the parties demonstrating commitment to work together to implement the agreement."

Also check out:

• Who could replace President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe? – Conor Gaffey, Newsweek

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