Morning Brief, Wednesday, January 17

Iraq and Middle East

A gruesome two-bomb car and suicide combo killed more than 70 people at a university in Baghdad, many of them students. Juan Cole comments: “I report these attacks every day, and have seen some violence in my time, but this one is tough.” A truck bomb also hit a police station in Kirkuk.

Israel’s army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, is stepping down after being criticized for botching this past summer’s war with Hezbollah. 

Condoleezza Rice has left the Middle East after getting Sunni Arab leaders to sign off on her administration’s new get-tough policy toward Iran. The United States is upset that Russia sold weaponry to Tehran, but guess what? So did the Pentagon.

Obamarama

SCOTT OLSON/Getty Images

Yup, he’s running, and it’s a media circus. You can watch the video announcement on his “exploratory committee” website, and troll through bloggers’ reactions here. Stronger stomachs may opt for the fun and games at ABC’s The Note.

Europe

German PM Angela Merkel wants Europe to have another go at the EU constitution, saying that Europe faces a “historic failure” if it doesn’t pass by 2009. Funny, I would have thought that voters’ rejection of the document signaled that the politicians and bureaucrats need to come up with something palatable to the European public first.

Asia

For the first time, the powerful commerce ministry in China, responsible for export promotion, signaled its grudging acceptance of a 3 percent rise in the renminbi against the dollar. 

2007 is a crucial year for resisting “Taiwan independence” (by peaceful means), says the Chinese official responsible for resisting Taiwan independence. 

India is accusing Pakistani border guards of shooting at its soldiers in order to provide cover fire for militants infiltrating into Kashmir. Attacks are up in neighboring Afghanistan, but the U.S. says it has caught some major Taliban leaders.

Elsewhere

CARSTEN KOALL/Getty Images

Nine out of 10 top business leaders are optimistic about the next three years, according to a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit. 

Muhammad Ali turns 65 today.

Freedom is not on the march, reports Guy Dinmore in the Financial Times. He got his paws on an advance copy of Freedom House’s annual Freedom in the World report, which comes out later today. 

Hugo Chávez, friend of Fidel, says Castro’s going to be fine despite reports to the contrary.