Morning Brief, Friday, December 22

Iraq and Middle East

Iraqi tribes in Anbar province are taking on al-Qaeda, they say.  

Is it worth it? Condi Rice says the Iraq War will change the Middle East… someday. 

Four U.S. Marines have been charged with murdering Iraqis. 

The New York Times published a heavily-redacted op-ed about Iran that had previously been censored by the White House. Learn what the black parts said here.

Europe

The U.S. is investigating (sub req’d) the criminal side of Russia-Ukraine gas deals. 

Russia’s oil boom is pushing up real estate prices, even for “run-down communes.” 

A study published in The Lancet finds that a global flu pandemic like those of yore would kill 62 million people today.

Asia

The six-party talks are over. Negotiators couldn’t even agree on the next meeting date. 

Elsewhere

What comes after Turkmenbashi? Stability, the world hopes. Europeans are worried about the natural gas they get from Turkmenistan.

Thousands of Somalis are fleeing the fighting between the Council of Islamic Courts, which controls Mogadishu, and the combined forces of the Ethiopian military and the rump Somali government. 

Toyota will pass General Motors in sales next year to become the world’s largest automaker. 

Who is Ban Ki-Moon? The New York Times profiles the new, more South Korean U.N. secretary general.

 

Editor’s Note:  The Morning Brief will not be published on Monday. Santa’s little helper will be too busy unwrapping various lumps of coal, unfortunately.