Morning Brief, Wednesday, May 2

SAUL LOEB/AFP

Middle East 

U.S. President George W. Bush vetoed a Democratic bill that would have set a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops. U.S. military officials are being cautious about claims by the Iraqi government that it killed al Qaeda’s top leader in Iraq.

Details are emerging about a U.S. commander who, among other things, gave Cuban cigars and hair dye to Saddam. 

Will Israel’s prime minister resign? The chairman and co-founder of his political party thinks he should. But whether Ehud Olmert goes or not, it’s clear that there’s no political will in Israel to go along with U.S. efforts to jump-start some sort of peace process.

A former nuclear negotiator was arrested in Tehran. Tomorrow, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will likely encounter her Iranian counterpart at the margins of a regional summit on Iraq. She promises to be “polite.” 

Europe

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is looking to close a loophole that allows British citizens of Pakistani origin to enter the United States without a visa. But in the realm of trade, the U.S. and Europe are set to become more open than ever.

After Jacques Chirac, what will France’s foreign policy look like? 

Turkey is headed for early elections after the country’s top court blocked an Islamist candidate from becoming president, a post traditionally held by a secularist.

The scandals just keep coming for BP.

Asia

The Internet is the platform of choice for a new kind of investigative reporting in China.

Is India building a closer military relationship with Iran? Indian officials say “no.” 

Afghan troops exist in varying states of readiness and quality.

The United States is willing to give North Korea more time to shut down its nuclear reactor. 

Elsewhere

The New York Times looks at efforts to regrow coral, which is dying at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, the United States is proposing a global ban on subsidies that promote overfishing.

On May Day, appropriately enough, Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez celebrated the seizure of his country’s last privately-held oil fields.

Cuba’s ailing Fidel Casto, meanwhile, stayed home during the May Day festivities in his country.

Latin America’s multinational firms are making inroads in the U.S. market. 

Today’s Agenda

• Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal will hold a presidential debate in Paris.
• President Bush meets with his counterpart Álvaro Uribe of Colombia.
• Bush also meets with members of Congress today to work out a compromise over war funding for Iraq.