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, China retaliates against South Korea over the ROK’s THAAD missile defense deployment plans; Northern Ireland holds an election following the collapse of its power sharing agreement; Australia and Indonesia restore full military ties; and more.
____________________

Americas

President Trump’s calls for a border wall and tougher immigration policies are sparking a wave of Mexican nationalism not seen for decades. Protesters marched in a dozen Mexican cities in recent days, often carrying effigies of the U.S. president. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a left-wing populist candidate for the 2018 presidential election, has received a boost in recent polls.

Also check out:

• Venezuela is down to its last $10 billion – Patrick Gillespie, CNN

Central & South Asia

Afghanistan on Wednesday requested that Pakistan reopen its border to alleviate the suffering of those stranded there. The Pakistani government closed the border last week after a wave of suicide attacks killed over 125 people. In a meeting with Pakistan's ambassador on Monday, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Afghan Ministry of Defense General Murad Ali Murad called for de-escalating unease at the borders. Tensions between the two countries are high following Afghanistan’s subsequent refusal to send a high-level delegation to a recent regional Economic Cooperation Organization summit hosted by Pakistan.

Also check out:

• At a funeral pyre in India, anger over a shooting in Kansas – Sriram Karri and Ellen Barry, The New York Times

China & East Asia

China has deployed aggressive economic measures against South Korea in retaliation for Seoul’s plan with the United States to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system on South Korean soil. In addition to denying visas to South Korean pop stars, China has also rejected imports of South Korean cosmetics, deleted popular South Korean TV shows from Chinese video streaming sites, and boycotted South Korean companies, among other economic retaliatory measures.

Also check out:

• White House explores options including use of military force to counter North Korean nuclear threat – Carol Lee and Alastair Gale, The Wall Street Journal

Europe & Russia

Northern Ireland held an election Thursday for a new 90-seat assembly after the power sharing agreement between Sinn Fein and the UK Democratic Unionist Party collapsed in January. Many political leaders say it is unlikely that the election will produce a governing executive in Northern Ireland, in which case London would step back in to create the framework for direct rule.

Also check out:

• European Parliament lifts Marine Le Pen’s immunity for tweeting gruesome images of violence – James McAuley, Washington Post

Middle East & North Africa

A report released by UN investigators on Wednesday found that a Syrian Air Force attack in September that killed 18 people was committed deliberately. A 31-truck convoy organized by the UN and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been carrying food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies when Syrian Air Forces dropped barrel bombs from helicopters, followed by firing rockets from jets and barraging survivors with machine guns. The UN report called the attack "meticulously planned" and "ruthlessly carried out." The government of President Bashar al-Assad had no initial comment on the new report, but has consistently denied the Syrian government was behind the attack.

Also check out:

• United States launches air strikes in Yemen – Ken Dilanian, Courtney Kube, and William Arkin, NBC News

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced this week that their countries restored full military ties. Indonesia’s military suspended cooperation in January after teaching material deemed offensive was found at an Australian base. The leaders also announced that their countries are hoping to conclude negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral trade deal by the end of the year.

Also check out:

• Philippines' Duterte signs Paris pact on climate change – Enrico dela Cruz, Reuters

Sub-Saharan Africa

Uganda has taken in about half of the 1.5 million South Sudanese refugees fleeing the civil war there. The UN said thousands more are fleeing South Sudan every day. Aid agencies are struggling to provide enough food for the influx of refugees. Uganda utilizes settlements instead of camps, and allows refugees to move freely, work, and own a business.

Also check out:

• Switzerland to lead peace talks in Mozambique – Swissinfo

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