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Thursday's global agenda: House marks up Russian human-rights bill
Your morning global affairs speed-read
The House Foreign Affairs Committee takes the lead today in marking up legislation targeting human-rights violators in Russia with financial and travel sanctions. Russia has vowed to retaliate if the so-called Magnitsky bill becomes law, but U.S. lawmakers say they want the legislation passed in exchange for establishing normal trade relations with Russia, as required by the country's accession to the World Trade Organization.
The House Ways and Means Committee has yet to schedule a markup for establishing permanent normal trade relations. In the Senate, the Finance and Foreign Relations committees are expected to act in tandem on the trade relations and the Magnitsky bill. Global Affairs has more on that here.
Afghan visit: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrives in Afghanistan after two suicide attacks killed at least 22 civilians and amid controversy over a NATO airstrike that Afghan officials say killed 18 women and children. [The New York Times]
Spotlight on Cuba: The State Department's top diplomat for the Western Hemisphere testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing on “The path to freedom: countering repression and strengthening civil society in Cuba.”
Hitting the brakes: Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) questions the Western narrative of what's happening in Syria in a new op-ed.
The op-ed comes as activists report another civilian massacre in Syria. [The Washington Post]
What you might have missed on Global Affairs:
Pakistan critics laud Panetta's remarks on US war in Pakistan
Obama ambassador pick vows to keep hounding Sri Lanka on human rights
GOP opposition to Obama's pick for Iraq ambassador fails to materialize at hearing
Report faults Pakistan for surge of deadly IED attacks in Afghanistan
