Morning Brief: Friday, May 25, 2007

Middle East Moqtada al Sadr has resurfaced. US officials claim he went into hiding in Iran in January, a report never confirmed. But yesterday, the Shiite cleric appeared at Friday prayers in Kufa, Iraq. He led more than 6,000 people at the mosque in a cheer, "No, no for Satan. No, no for America. No, ...

Middle East

Middle East

Moqtada al Sadr has resurfaced. US officials claim he went into hiding in Iran in January, a report never confirmed. But yesterday, the Shiite cleric appeared at Friday prayers in Kufa, Iraq. He led more than 6,000 people at the mosque in a cheer, "No, no for Satan. No, no for America. No, no for the occupation. No, no for Israel."

The U.S. Congress passed a bill authorizing an additional $100 billion in funding for the war in Iraq. The vote in the Senate was 80 to 14. The vote in the House of Representatives was 280 to 142. Despite Democrats' efforts, the bill contains no timeline for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

An Israeli bomb lands near the home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya.

Asia

North Korea test-fires short-range missiles towards the Sea of Japan.

Aung San Suu Kyi can look forward to another year of house arrest in Burma.

The price of bananas has plummeted on China's Hainan Island due to a rumor being spread through text messaging that the fruit contains a virus similar to SARS. Agriculture Ministry officials call the rumor… well, bananas. 

Europe

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko seizes power over the Interior Ministry's National Guard. A parliamentary deputy to the president's rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, says that Yushchenko is bringing the country to the verge of civil war.

Exit polls show that Irish Prime Minister Bernie Ahern is well on his way to a third consecutive term in power

Elsewhere

Gunmen seize at least seven oil workers in Nigeria.

Movie marathons all around the world ensue. That's because thirty years ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker left his home planet to try and save Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Darth Vader.

This weekend's Agenda

  • NATO's parliamentary assembly begins its spring session in Madeira, Portugal. Undoubtedly, U.S. plans to locate a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic will be at the top of the agenda. 
  • The Cannes Film Festival hands out its awards on Sunday, including the coveted Palme d'Or.

Yesterday on Passport

 

Christine Y. Chen is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.

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