Monday Briefing | February 26 - Journal of Political Inquiry

Smoke billows after a Syrian government airstrike on the besieged Eastern Ghouta region, on the outskirts of Damascus, late Friday. On Saturday, the U.N. Security Council approved a 30-day cease-fire in Syria. | Photo courtesy Ammar Suleiman/AFP/Getty Images

Stories to Follow

United Nations Security Council passes Syria cease-fire: The United Nations Security council has unanimously approved a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria after more than 500 people were killed earlier this week. More than 120 of the dead are children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The ceasefire will allow aid deliveries and crucial medical evacuations to take place. It also aims to get humanitarian aid to Eastern Ghouta and other areas under siege.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto cancels trip to the US: Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto was to make his first official visit to the White House under the Trump administration this March. Both countries, however, agreed to call off the visit after Trump did not agree to publicly affirm Mexico’s position that it would not fund construction of a border wall. These reports surfaced after Trump and Peña Nieto had a 50-minute phone call on Tuesday, in which neither agreed to change their position.

Waves of attacks across Afghanistan: Militant attacks across Afghanistan left more than 20 people dead on Saturday, most of them soldiers, according to reports. These attacks are a sign of the resiliency of insurgents, despite a recent increase in offensives carried out by U.S. and Afghan forces. The most deadly incident occurred in the Bala Boluk where 18 troops were killed. These attacks have coincided with a high-level NATO delegation’s visit to Kabul, which reaffirmed their commitment to lasting peace in the country.

Happening This Week

Beyond Black & White: Conceptualizing Afro-Lantindad in Practice | Tuesday, Feb 27, 6:30 PM-8:30 PM, Kimmel Center for University Life, 60 Washington Square South, Room 914
“Beyond Black and White” seeks to address the ways in which individuals of Latinx/Hispanic heritage navigate a society that largely understands race only within the parameters of a Black and white dichotomy. Through a moderated panel discussion this misconception will be explored to provide students with an opportunity to learn and engage with ideas surrounding the notions of race and ethnicity.

The Voice of Istanbul: A panel discussion on Sezen Aksu’s music | Friday, Mar 2, 6 PM-8 PM, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, 255 Sullivan St
Since her debut in 1975, Sezen Aksu has successfully invented a distinct realm of music that has dominated the musical landscape for four generations. She is also a cultural icon who has used her art and fame to advocate for human rights, especially women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Panelists include musician and NYU lecturer Ozan Aksoy; Alumni of Berklee College of Music Bengisu önal; and multimedia artist Serap Erincin. The discussion will be moderated by Ali Adeeb Al Naemi.

In Your Free Time

Check out the Bowery Boys podcast! Recorded by New York residents Greg Young and Tom Meyers, the Bowery Boys podcast traces the history of New York’s landmarks, buildings, neighborhoods, streets and people. They also have a super cool website where they post pictures and archival documents (from maps to building plans) that corroborate their podcasts.

This week’s Monday Briefing is brought to you by Zuha Siddiqui.