Morning Brief, Wednesday, March 28
STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP Middle East Tony Blair, seeking to crank up Iran’s “total isolation,” froze all “bilateral business” with the Islamic Republic. Oil is up to $64 per barrel. The U.K. says its sailors were 1.7 nautical miles within Iraqi waters when they were captured by Iranian forces; Tehran says no, they were in 0.5km inside ...
STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP
Middle East
Tony Blair, seeking to crank up Iran’s “total isolation,” froze all “bilateral business” with the Islamic Republic. Oil is up to $64 per barrel. The U.K. says its sailors were 1.7 nautical miles within Iraqi waters when they were captured by Iranian forces; Tehran says no, they were in 0.5km inside Iran.
By just two votes, the U.S. Senate signaled its support for a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008.
The northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar has exploded in sectarian violence once again.
Saudi Arabia promises full relations with Israel if it withdraws to the 1967 borders, allows a Palestinian state, and permits a “just solution” to the refugee issue.
Europe
EU citizens will soon be able to use their credit cards anywhere in the European Union, if a new banking reform goes through.
Don’t worry, a top U.S. general tells Russia. Our new missile shield will protect you.
Asia
North Korea faces a dire shortage of food, the country admitted in a request to the World Food Programme.
Asian countries are fueling housing and equity bubbles by holding on to too much foreign currency, the chief economist of the Asia Development Bank warned on Tuesday.
Elsewhere
The World Health Organization gives male circumcision two thumbs up as a way to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s outspoken opposition leader, was arrested along with 20 of his staff.
The Bush administration is rushing to complete trade deals in Latin America and South Korea before a Saturday deadline.
More from Foreign Policy
A New Multilateralism
How the United States can rejuvenate the global institutions it created.
America Prepares for a Pacific War With China It Doesn’t Want
Embedded with U.S. forces in the Pacific, I saw the dilemmas of deterrence firsthand.
The Endless Frustration of Chinese Diplomacy
Beijing’s representatives are always scared they could be the next to vanish.
The End of America’s Middle East
The region’s four major countries have all forfeited Washington’s trust.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.