Morning Brief, Wednesday, January 31

Iraq This just in: the United States is wasting millions of dollars in Iraq. Europe The investigation into the murder of former Russian spook Alexander Litvinenko wraps up as Scotland Yard passes the baton to the Crown Prosecution Service. ABC’s Brian Ross reports that it’s because British police discovered “a ‘hot’ teapot at London’s Millennium ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
604381_bobbies_05.jpg
604381_bobbies_05.jpg

Iraq

Iraq

This just in: the United States is wasting millions of dollars in Iraq.

Europe

The investigation into the murder of former Russian spook Alexander Litvinenko wraps up as Scotland Yard passes the baton to the Crown Prosecution Service. ABC’s Brian Ross reports that it’s because British police discovered “a ‘hot’ teapot at London’s Millennium Hotel with an off-the-charts reading for Polonium-210, the radioactive material used in the killing.” Ross says that the Russian government will be fingered for the hit.

Germany has issued warrants for the arrest of 13 CIA operatives accused of wrongly grabbing Khalid al-Masri, a German citizen, and dumping him in prison of Afghanistan.

Turkish police arrested 47 suspected al Qaeda operatives on Monday. (More terrorism-related arrests in Britain.)

Washington

Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham are leading rearguard actions to salvage the Bush administration’s troop surge in Iraq.

Asia

China’s stock market may be headed for a crash, warns the Financial Times. The country’s main stock index dropped nearly 5 percent on the news.

Elsewhere

Human Rights Watch says Nigerian officials are squandering oil riches. Shocking. Full report here.

Hackers and “script kiddiez” around the world are gunning for Vista, Microsoft’s new operating system. Bring it on, says Bill Gates (more or less).

Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez appeared together on Cuban state TV. Castro looks healthier.

Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

More from Foreign Policy

Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.
Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.

Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak

Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.

Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.
Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.

Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage

The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.

A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.
A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.

The West’s False Choice in Ukraine

The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.

Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi
Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi

The Masterminds

Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.