Morning Brief, Monday, October 30

Iraq

The U.S. military death toll in Iraq hit 100 this morning, and a bomb tore through an early morning market in Sadr City, killing dozens of Iraqis. New details emerge about the missing American soldier who has been the subject of an intense manhunt over the last week: He may have married an Iraqi woman in violation of U.S. military code.

A new federal report concludes that the U.S. has failed to track hundreds of thousands of weapons meant for the Iraqi security services, and that many of the weapons may have ended up on the black market. 

Elections

Lula posts an easy victory in the presidential run-off in Brazil. In the upcoming issue of FP, Javier Corrales has a look at the many lefts of Latin America.

Congolese headed to the polls yesterday for the second round of presidential voting. Will the historic election help end the country’s chaotic security and crippling poverty?

A new constitution passed by referendum in Serbia on Sunday, ridding the country of its Milosevic-era charter. 

Darfur

Expelled UN envoy Jan Pronk is to return to Khartoum, though it may just be an attempt by Kofi to assert his authority in the face of Bashir’s audacity. Kristof has some suggestions for the road ahead.

Elsewhere

Pakistani forces raid a madrassa they say was housing militants, killing 80. 

Nearly 100 people, including the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslims, were killed in a plane crash in Nigeria on Sunday. 

Fresh violence in France on the anniversary of riots last year. Blair calls for rapid action on climate change after a report published today warns of economic catastrophe if swift steps aren’t taken. India’s main stock index, Sensex, closes at record level. And Nobel Prize winner for literature Nadine Gordimer is attacked by burglars at her home in Johannesburg.