Morning Brief, Monday, October 29

Middle East Pool/Getty Images Ehud Olmert will undergo surgery for early prostate cancer, the Israeli prime minister announced. Israel has begun tightening fuel supplies heading into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in reaction to continued rocket fire. The U.S. military passed control of the largely Shiite province of Karbala to Iraqi security forces. Increasingly, U.S. states ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
598486_071029_olmert_05.jpg
598486_071029_olmert_05.jpg

Middle East

Middle East

Pool/Getty Images

Ehud Olmert will undergo surgery for early prostate cancer, the Israeli prime minister announced.

Israel has begun tightening fuel supplies heading into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in reaction to continued rocket fire.

The U.S. military passed control of the largely Shiite province of Karbala to Iraqi security forces.

Increasingly, U.S. states are finding ways to divest public funds from Iran

Asia

Speaking in Mumbai, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson lauded “a new era of cooperation” between India and the United States.

The Chinese government plans to spend more than $14 billion to clean up Lake Tai, China’s third-largest freshwater lake.

Chinese consumers prefer Chinese brands, a new survey by McKinsey finds.

Through a state-owned newspaper, Burma’s ruling junta accused a “loudmouthed bully” (a phrase commonly used to refer to the United States) of stirring up pro-democracy protesters.

Europe

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia says that Britain is not doing enough to fight terrorism.

The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin is stepping up its efforts to dominate the Internet. Meanwhile, Russia and many other countries are using price controls to try and tamp down the rapidly rising cost of food.

French adoption workers were caught offering candy to children in Chad in order to lure them away.

Elsewhere 

Argentine First Lady Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has triumphed in Argentina’s presidential elections.

The head of Somalia’s transitional government has resigned.

Prices for crude oil have inched above $93 per barrel.

Alarming quantities of cocaine are passing through Venezuela. 

Today’s Agenda

Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

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