Monday's global agenda: Still stuck in Syria

Your morning global affairs speed-read

The main Syrian opposition group over the weekend elected a Kurd as its new leader to assuage concerns about the Sunni-dominated rebellion's plans for minorities in a post-Assad Syria. Abdulbaset Sieda is a 56-year-old activist who has lived in Sweden for more than a decade. [The Wall Street Journal]

The move comes as violence continued unabated, with the military ramping up its offensive against the epicenter of the 15-month-old uprising in Homs.

G-20 priorities: Next week's G-20 summit in Mexico is the wrong place to talk about Syria, China said. [Associated Press] 

Meanwhile, a new European Union report identifies a “staggering” increase in protectionism around the world, with 123 new trade restrictions introduced over the past eight months. The report goes on to lament the “failure” of G-20 countries to reduce trade barriers.

That other crisis: The acting U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency told Reuters he was “disappointed” with the pace of nuclear talks with Iran.

Global gathering: The U.S. Agency for International Development hosts its inaugural “Frontiers in Development” forum on Washington's Georgetown University campus today through Wednesday. The three-day event will convene world leaders, government officials, corporate executives and international development experts to address the important issues facing the future of foreign assistance and international development. 

Confirmed speakers include the presidents of Liberia, Kosovo and Malawi and a host of other luminaries. Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) delivers the opening keynote address this morning.

China is using trade restrictions to punish the Philippines and other strategic rivals in the South China Sea. [The Washington Post]

The United Nations fired three officials running its mismanaged $1.4 billion Afghanistan police trust fund. [The Wall Street Journal]

All three candidates for the Mexican presidency have vowed to eventually withdraw the army from the fight against drug cartels. [The New York Times]

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki staved off a no-confidence vote. [Associated Press]

The New York Times revisits Syrian President Bashar al Assad's efforts to get glamorous PR in the U.S. media.

What you might have missed on Global Affairs: 

Russia says it's not opposed to US calls for Assad to step down

Clinton, Annan discuss peace plan alternatives for Syria

Ex-Defense chief Rumsfeld to face off with military brass over Law of the Sea