US may use Turkish airbases in ISIS fight; Hong Kong leader says protesters have 'almost zero chance' of success; South Korea considers lifting economic sanctions on North Korea; Liberian health workers on strike; Eastern Indian coastal cities begin relief efforts in wake of cyclone; and more

Top of the Agenda

Turkey May Allow United States to Use Airbases

U.S. and Turkish officials are in talks (BBC) to allow U.S. and coalition troops to use Turkish airbases (Hurriyet) in the fight against ISIS, including a strategic installation one hundred miles from the Syrian border. While Turkish officials pressed for a no-fly zone, National Security Advisor Susan Rice said that it was "not essential to the goal of degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL." Pressure for Turkish action increased over the past week, with protests erupting in Turkey and across Europe as the Turkish-Syrian border town of Kobani was under siege by advancing ISIS forces. Meanwhile, three suicide bombs (NYT) left sixty dead and 120 injured north of Baghdad.

Analysis

"[Turkey] believes that only a comprehensive and ambitious campaign targeting the Assad regime can help to stabilize the region in the long term. Hence Turkish leaders are demanding safe havens and no-fly zones within Syria. These protected areas would cater to the accommodation needs of future waves of refugees but also serve as an assembly and training zone for more moderate Syrian opposition fighters," writes Sinan Ulgen in the New York Times.

"The Americans have been trying hard to resolve differences with Mr. Erdogan in recent days, but these large gaps are deeply threatening to the 50-plus-nation coalition that the United States has assembled. One has to wonder why such a profound dispute was not worked out before Mr. Obama took action in Syria," writes the New York Times.

"Barring a change of strategy in Washington, it's difficult to see a no-fly zone being implemented. The Turks certainly can't do it themselves," says Noah Bonsey in an interview with Syria Deeply.

 

PACIFIC RIM

Protesters Have 'Almost Zero Chance' of Success, Says Hong Kong Leader

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said on Sunday that protest leaders have "almost zero chance" (SCMP) of getting their demands because Beijing will not drop its framework for Hong Kong's political reform. After protest numbers swelled again over the weekend, new clashes (WSJ) erupted on Monday as anti-protest activists and police attempted to dismantle barricades.

NORTH KOREA: Chinese and South Korean (Yonhap) officials said that despite Kim Jong-un's absence, there are no indications of difficulties in maintaining his power and control of the country. Meanwhile, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said that South Korea would consider lifting economic sanctions (Korea Times) on North Korea if upcoming talks improved relations.

The viability of Kim family rule in North Korea may appear more fragile than it has been in decades, writes CFR's Scott A. Snyder.

ELSEWHERE:

Liberian health workers on strike

Eastern Indian coastal cities hit by cyclone begin relief effort

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org