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Happy Easter to those who are celebrating! April 7, 529: The Codex Justinianeus, the first section of Roman Emperor Justinian’s Corpus Juris Civilis, is completed. The Corpus Juris Civilis was meant to standardize and codify imperial law, which had fragmented into multiple codices and laws that didn’t necessarily cohere with one another. Justinian ordered a review and modernization of these law codes upon his accession as emperor. The Codex is the product of that effort.

Hello friends! Foreign Exchanges is on its annual Spring Break, but barring any unforeseen developments we’ll be back to normal on Sunday.

Apr 5 • 1HR 9M How a regime of slave soldiers came to rule much of the modern Middle East. Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Foreign Exchanges is a newsletter and podcast that helps you stay on top of important stories happening around the world. Derek Davison interviews scholars, journalists, and other experts to make sense of international affairs and US foreign policy.

Hello friends! Foreign Exchanges is on its annual holiday break, but barring any unforeseen developments we’ll be back to normal on Sunday. In the meantime, this is your last day to advantage of our Spring Break offer (20% off your first year).

This is the web version of Foreign Exchanges, but did you know you can get it delivered right to your inbox? Sign up today: PROGRAMMING NOTE: It’s time for this newsletter’s “Spring Break,” so following tonight’s roundup the newsletter will be going (mostly) quiet until we resume a regular schedule on Sunday, April 9. Thanks for reading! March 29, 1430: The Siege of Thessaloniki ends with the Ottoman conquest of the Byzantine-turned-Venetian city.

In today’s global news: Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities. The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution. Another apparent Israeli missile attack wounded at least two Syrian soldiers near Damascus early Thursday, according to state media. There may be more to say about this strike tomorrow. The Arab Center’s Gregory Aftandilian outlines the de facto negotiation that’s currently under way regarding Syria’s political reintegration into the Arab world:

PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ve come to our customary “Spring Break” period here at Foreign Exchanges, so following Thursday’s roundup the newsletter will be going (mostly) quiet until we resume a regular schedule on Sunday, April 9.

In today’s global news: Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities. The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution. You’ll no doubt be pleased to learn that, Friday’s clashes with various militias notwithstanding, the United States is staying the course in eastern Syria.

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