UN Calls for End to Regime Siege of Syrian Enclave

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. February 22, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA UN Calls for End to Regime Siege of Syrian Enclave U.S. envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley joined top UN officials in condemning a siege (Al Jazeera) of an opposition-held area, calling for an end to the offensive to save civilians from what she called the "barbaric" regime of Bashar al-Assad. At least 335 people in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta have been killed since Sunday (Guardian), according to a UK-based monitoring group. The enclave is believed to be the final rebel-held territory near the capital as the country nears the close of its seventh year of war. Some four hundred thousand people remain trapped in the enclave, which is part of an internationally negotiated "de-escalation zone" (Reuters). The UN Security Council is expected to vote today on a resolution demanding a thirty-day cease-fire (AFP). ANALYSIS "The UN has almost begged the pro-Assad coalition, which includes Iranian-led militias, to agree to an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. Its appeals have been ignored," Simon Tisdall writes for the Guardian. "We are witnessing the re-escalation of conflict in the so-called de-escalation zones," Galip Dalay writes for Middle East Eye. "The four de-escalation areas witnessed a relative reduction in fighting in the months after the deal was signed, contributing to a narrative that the conflict was now winding down ahead of a political settlement," Hashem Osseiran writes for Syria Deeply. PACIFIC RIM North Korean Delegation to Attend Olympics Closing South Korea's Unification Ministry says a high-level North Korean delegation will attend the Olympics closing ceremony (WSJ) on Sunday, raising the prospect of a second inter-Korean meeting. The announcement comes shortly after the White House said Ivanka Trump, the daughter of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, will attend the event. CFR's Scott A. Snyder discusses Seoul's diplomatic goals while hosting the Winter Olympics. AUSTRALIA: The home affairs minister confirmed that Israeli intelligence helped foil a plot to explode an airplane leaving Sydney (SMH) last year. Australia charged two brothers (BBC) for the planned attack last July. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Trump Jr. Denies Conflict of Interest in Family Business Donald Trump Jr., while in India to meet buyers of Trump-brand luxury properties, dismissed questions about whether his family has profited from his father's presidency (AP), saying that they have passed up foreign business deals since Trump came into office. PAKISTAN: The Supreme Court banned former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (NYT) from leading his political party, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The party had passed legislation allowing Sharif to lead it despite a court ruling last year that removed him from office. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Asylum Seekers Go on Hunger Strike in Israel Hundreds of asylum seekers at an Israeli detention center carried out a second day of hunger strikes and planned a demonstration for Thursday to protest the jailing of seven Eritreans (Haaretz) earlier this week after they refused to leave Israel. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Two French Soldiers Killed in Mali An improvised explosive device struck a vehicle that was carrying two members of a French counterterrorism force (AP) near the Niger border. About a thousand French soldiers are stationed in Mali. GHANA: The finance minister said he hopes to find several countries in the region ready to implement a single currency (DW) by 2020. EUROPE European Court Comes Down on Poland Over Pollution The European Court of Justice told Poland it will face financial penalties if the country does not comply with limits on air pollution (DW). The European Commission has warned nine other European states it could pursue legal action against them for violating pollution rules. MONTENEGRO: An assailant committed suicide after throwing an explosive device (Reuters) at the U.S. embassy in the capital of Podgorica. No casualties were reported. AMERICAS Maduro Proposes 'Mega-Election' in April Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed moving up legislative, state, and local elections (BBC) to take place along with a presidential election in late April in a bid to bring "democratic renewal" to the country. CFR's Shannon K. O'Neil discusses how the United States can respond to Venezuela's humanitarian crisis. CUBA: Six U.S. lawmakers, on a visit to Havana, called for the resumption of full staffing at the U.S. embassy (AP) there. U.S. staff were pulled from the country last year after two dozen diplomats reported mysterious ailments. UNITED STATES Trump Meets School Shooting Victims President Trump proposed arming more teachers and staff (WaPo) to address school shootings in the country during a White House meeting with families and educators. Some survivors of a massacre at a Florida high school last week declined to attend the meeting, instead lobbying state lawmakers in Tallahassee. This CFR Backgrounder compares U.S. gun policy with that of other developed nations. In its annual report, the human rights advocacy group Amnesty International accused President Trump (BBC), along with leaders in China, Egypt, the Philippines, Russia, and Venezuela, of "callously undermining the rights of millions."         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: February 22, 2018 at 11:04PM