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Friday's global agenda: Future of UN mission to Syria in play
Your morning global affairs speed-read
After vetoing the U.S.-backed United Nations resolution that would have paved the way for sanctions against Syria's Bashar Assad's government, Russia said it will support Pakistan's proposal to extend the U.N. observer mission another 45 days without any threat of sanctions. The mission expires today. [Russia Today]
The White House, however, has said it does not support extending the mission without giving it teeth.
Corporate backing: More than 50 of the nation's top business leaders sent a letter to every member of Congress urging them to support a “strong and effective” International Affairs budget. The letter, coordinated by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, says that the State Department's “development and diplomacy programs … strengthen America’s global competitiveness and build new markets overseas for American goods and services.”
In other news:
Iran has plans to disrupt the international oil trade, The Wall Street Journal reports, including through attacks on oil platforms and tankers.
U.S. officials are backing Israel's claims that a suicide attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria was carried out by a Hezbollah agent, with Iran's blessing. The bombing appears to be in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists. [The New York Times]
The United States is preparing to give Yemen more than $100 million in counterterrorism and security aid that had been suspended last year. [The Washington Post]
What you might have missed on Global Affairs:
Sen. DeMint taps brakes on UN treaty as home-school opposition grows
GOP-led panel rips GOP donor's business practices in Peru
Russia, China veto UN sanctions against Syria
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