Morning Brief, Friday, November 9
Asia AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has been put under house arrest for 30 days and prevented from attending her party’s rallies against President Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan’s political turmoil may already be undermining U.S. counterterrorism plans, U.S. officials say. Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet members of ...
Asia
Asia
Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has been put under house arrest for 30 days and prevented from attending her party’s rallies against President Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan’s political turmoil may already be undermining U.S. counterterrorism plans, U.S. officials say.
Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet members of her party in a sign that real dialogue with the ruling junta may be forthcoming.
In North Korea, fast-food chicken is just the tip of the iceberg of a broader opening to the world.
Europe
The European Central Bank is growing anxious about the euro-dollar exchange rate, which stands at 1.4679 euros to the dollar.
Scandinavian countries have achieved the most when it comes to gender inequality, a study by the World Economic Forum has found. Yemen, Chad, Pakistan, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia round up the bottom five.
A spectre is haunting Europe: iPhone mania.
Americas
The U.S. Senate voted 53-40 to confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general.
A bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives approved the free-trade deal with Peru.
Brazil announced what it says is a massive new oil find that could make the country one of the world’s top ten producers.
Middle East
Shaul Mofaz, Israel’s deputy prime minister, called for the ouster of IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei due to his “irresponsible attitude of sticking his head in the sand over Iran’s nuclear program”.
Israel wants Egypt to crack down on the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip, a.k.a. Hamastan.
Syria will allow U.S. officials into the country to screen Iraqi refugees seeking resettlement in the United States.
As expected, the U.S. military released nine Iranians who had been held in Iraq.
Elsewhere
Facing major political unrest, Georgia’s president announced a snap presidential election to be held on January 5.
Members of the Kimberley Process approved tough new measures against trade and manufacturing of so-called “blood diamonds”.
Ethiopia and Eritrea may be on the brink of a new war.
Today’s Agenda
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Texas for a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush. On Merkel’s mind? The turmoil in the financial markets.
- The Hindu festival of Diwali gets underway.
Yesterday on Passport
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