Civilians in Syria endured “unfathomable suffering” during an offensive launched late last year by pro-government forces in the Idlib Governorate, a UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry said in a report. It alleges war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

The report documents fifty-two attacks by all parties that killed civilians or damaged civilian infrastructure between November and June, including attacks on hospitals, schools, markets, and homes. Russian airplanes carried out two of the attacks (Reuters), the report says; other attacks were launched by regime forces, pro-government forces, and a militant group. Russia, which backs the Syrian government, joined China in vetoing a UN Security Council resolution (Al Jazeera) to extend crucial aid deliveries to Syria via Turkey, the authorization for which ends on Friday. Russia’s rival proposal includes approving six months of aid access at only one Turkish crossing.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, will meet President Donald J. Trump (AP) at the White House today for his first trip outside of Mexico since taking office. AMLO faced criticism at home (NYT) for deciding to meet with Trump, who has repeatedly vilified Mexicans.

Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus (WaPo), joining a small group of world leaders who have been infected. Bolsonaro has downplayed the threat of COVID-19 and was similarly cavalier about his diagnosis.
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In Foreign Affairs, Catherine Osborn explains how Bolsonaro made Brazil a pandemic pariah.

China would join arms control talks with Russia and the United States if Washington agreed to reduce its nuclear arsenal to match Beijing’s (Reuters), a senior Chinese diplomat said. The United States has urged China to join negotiations over the extension of the New START treaty, a U.S.-Russia nuclear arms agreement set to expire in February.
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CFR’s Brian L. Sittlow explains New START.

South Korea: The United States strongly supports cooperation (Yonhap) between North Korea and South Korea, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said during a visit to Seoul. Biegun also said the United States is ready to resume nuclear talks with North Korea (WSJ), though Pyongyang has signaled that it is not interested.

The head of U.S. Central Command said he was “not convinced” that alleged Russian payments to the Taliban for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of U.S. soldiers (RFE/RL). General Kenneth F. McKenzie called the reports of bounties “worrisome” but added that there was no “causative link.”
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India: Police arrested the South Korean CEO (Reuters) of LG Polymers and eleven other officials over a gas leak at the company’s south Indian plant that killed twelve people in May.

The United Kingdom is set to resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia (BBC) despite concerns that the weapons could be used against civilians in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition opposes the rebel Houthis. The sales stopped last year after a legal challenge, but a review found no pattern of wrongdoing.

The number of coronavirus cases across Africa passed five hundred thousand (AP), according to data released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with South Africa emerging as a global hot spot. The African Development Bank warned of a severe economic downturn (Bloomberg) and a rise in poverty due to the pandemic.
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Zimbabwe: The country’s health minister was fired and charged with corruption (Al Jazeera) for allegedly illegally awarding a contract for medical equipment, including protective gear and COVID-19 test kits.

Russia arrested a former reporter and advisor to the country’s space agency for allegedly passing secrets (NYT) to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country. Journalists and Moscow residents protested the arrest of Ivan Safronov, who recently began working for the space program.
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Serbia: Thousands of protesters clashed with police and attempted to storm parliament after President Aleksandar Vucic announced plans to reinstate coronavirus lockdown measures (AP).

The United States formally notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of its intent to withdraw from the body (WSJ) due to the WHO’s handling of the pandemic. The widely criticized withdrawal would take effect next July, effectively making it contingent on President Trump’s reelection.
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CFR President Richard N. Haass critiques Trump’s “Withdrawal Doctrine.”