Morning Brief, Thursday, May 10
Europe Pool/Getty Images In a stirring speech to his Sedgefield constituency, Tony Blair announced his plan to step down as Britain’s prime minister on June 27. And let the restrospectives begin: Reuters runs down some of his most memorable moments, and the Post says Blair’s legacy was “overshadowed” by Iraq. Blair will be replaced by ...
Europe
Europe
In a stirring speech to his Sedgefield constituency, Tony Blair announced his plan to step down as Britain’s prime minister on June 27. And let the restrospectives begin: Reuters runs down some of his most memorable moments, and the Post says Blair’s legacy was “overshadowed” by Iraq. Blair will be replaced by Gordan Brown, a “Scot with baggage.”
Democrats in the U.S. Congress are seeking to cut funds for what they see as an expensive, technically unproven, and diplomatically divisive missile defense shield in Europe.
Top German officials fear that leftist terrorists will strike at next month’s G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany.
Asia
Seeking to head off international criticism for its alleged coddling of Khartoum, Beijing appointed its own special envoy for Darfur.
Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta is the likely winner of Timor-Leste’s presidential election.
What’s going on in Afghanistan? Accusations—some of the them confirmed—that the U.S. military has killed dozens of civilians recently is roiling that country’s politics.
Middle East
U.S. Vice President Cheney said he already sees a “greater sense of urgency” after pressuring Iraqi leaders to make progress on key political benchmarks.
The Iraq War is harming the Republican Party, according to what moderates in the House of Representatives told President Bush in a particularly frank exchange of views yesterday.
Three European energy giants have their eyes on Iran’s gas prize.
Elsewhere
A classified Pentagon report could spell more trouble for Paul Wolfowitz as he fights to keep his job as president of the World Bank. The Bank’s board did grant him, however, more time to defend himself after the White House intervened.
This just in: Energy majors view state-owned oil companies as a threat.
After the last Harry Potter book comes out in July, the Wall Street Journal observes, an entire “literary ecosystem” that depends upon J.K. Rowling’s children’s fantasy franchise could disappear.
Today’s Agenda
- U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is on the hot seat on Capitol Hill.
- The pope meets today with Brazilian President Lula da Silva.
- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney continues his Middle East tour with a visit to Abu Dhabi.
- The central bank of the UK is expected to raise interest rates to 5.5 percent.
Yesterday on Passport
Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
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