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Wednesday's global agenda: Syrian crisis embroils Israel
Your morning global affairs speed-read
Israel struck at a convoy overnight that was believed to be transporting weapons from Syria to Lebanon, Reuters reports. The alleged attack comes amid growing concern that Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons could end up in militants' hands as the country descends into chaos.
The crisis in Syria is likely to be high on the agenda as Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Aviv Kochavi meets with Joint Chiefs of Staff head Martin Dempsey and other officials at the Pentagon today. The reported strike comes as Kuwait is hosting a donor conference that aims to raise $1.5 billion to address the humanitarian crisis in the country. The 22-month civil war has already claimed more than 60,000 lives and displaced more than 2 million people.
This is goodbye: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) delivers his farewell speech to the Senate at 2:30 p.m. He's expected to be sworn in as secretary of State on Friday after winning Senate approval on a 94-3 vote Tuesday.
On the take: The State Department's Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy meets today to discuss “Recent Developments Regarding Implementation of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.” The meeting is hosted by Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez and Committee Chairman Theodore Kassinger.
In other news:
The U.S. and other nations pledged $455.5 million for the African-led mission in Mali during a donor conference in Ethiopia. [The Wall Street Journal]
Israel boycotted its human-rights review at the U.N. [The Washington Post]
Lobbying and regulations:
Alston & Bird is working for Russia (through Ketchum Inc.) “to gather information and provide advice and analysis on various areas of U.S. foreign and foreign economic policy, including trade, energy and politico-military issues which affect the bilateral U.S.-Russian relationship” and “will also monitor and report on legislative developments in the Congress in similar issue areas.”
CDN International is lobbying on behalf of the Social Communication Secretariat of the Office of the President of the Republic of Brazil.
Global Affairs news you might have missed:
Obama defends US role in Syria in Arabic-language address
State Department defends commitment to closing down Guantánamo prison
Sen. Graham: Either Panetta testifies on Libya or I put hold on Hagel nomination
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