The Presidential Daily Brief

Could Syria Strikes Spark a US-Russia War?

“We hope that there will be no point of no return.” That was the caution from Moscow’s U.N. ambassador this week, responding to the drumbeat that followed the Syrian government’s alleged April 7 chemical attack on Douma. Today, U.S., British and French forces launched precision strikes against suspected chemical weapons facilities in what Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said was a “one-time shot.” Now, with Russian and American troops and aircraft in Syria, along with Israeli warplanes and Iranian and Turkish boots on the ground, that “point of no return” seems closer than ever.

Cuba Passes the Torch to a New Generation

Next Thursday, Cuba’s parliament is expected to choose Miguel Díaz-Canel as Cuba’s new president. The country’s prospective leader was born one year after the revolution that put Fidel Castro in charge of the Caribbean nation, beginning a socialist dynasty that will end with his surviving brother Raul stepping down. That makes way for the country’s “lost generation,” who followed the orders of their graying leaders as their children left the country in search of better opportunities. As the new leadership asserts itself, those younger Cubans will be watching.

Two Decades After Peace Pact, Brexit Worries Northern Ireland

Calm has prevailed in Northern Ireland since the historic Good Friday agreement was signed 20 years ago this week, ending the violence known as “The Troubles,” which claimed more than 3,000 lives from 1968 to 1998. But political stability remains elusive: Belfast hasn’t had a governing executive since January 2017, while social, political and religious divides persist among the population. Now, Brexit threatens to undo the celebrated peace accord, in part because it could re-establish border controls between the EU’s Republic of Ireland and the British north.

Hindu Nationalism Has Spurred Buddhist Conversions

Hinduism’s Dalits, once called “untouchables,” face oppressive discrimination in Indian society, with little help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party. These caste members, which make up about 20 percent of the country’s population, have taken to the streets to protest their treatment. Some are converting en masse to Ambedkarite Buddhism to escape their lowly designation, with one group of public flogging victims planning to do so today. Seven million strong, these converts are getting attention from Modi’s party, which has even deployed Buddhist monks to campaign for next year’s presidential elections.

Ditching for Columbine, Syrian Defiance and the Meaning of ‘Slime Ball’

The Week Ahead: On Sunday, organizers will mark the fifth anniversary of the 2013 terrorist bombing at the Boston Marathon — a day before the competition’s 122nd start. James Comey, the FBI director fired by President Donald Trump, will release his memoir Tuesday. And on Friday, the 19th anniversary of Colorado’s Columbine school massacre, students across the U.S. will walk out of their classrooms to protest gun violence.

Know This: Hundreds of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus today in a show of defiance against U.S., British and French strikes on their country. Prosecutors say the months-long criminal investigation into President Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, is focused on his “personal business dealings.” And shortly after Trump denounced Comey as a “slime ball” over his upcoming book, dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster said its website clocked a 60,000 percent increase in searches for the word.

Get up to Speed: Will the new Cold War turn hot? The OZY PDB Special Briefing will tell you what you need to know about the crisis in Syria, where U.S.-led forces have punished the Syrian regime for an alleged chemical April 7 chemical attack, while Syrian ally Russia warns of a wider conflict. With carefully curated facts, opinions, images and videos, this latest Special Briefing will catch you up and vault you ahead.