Morning Brief, Tuesday, December 4

Middle East ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images Iran hailed the new U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on its nuclear program as proof that its intentions are peaceful. Obviously, the NIE undermines the U.S. administration’s claims (World War III, anyone?) at a time when it is pushing for a third round of U.N. sanctions. In a separate incident, Iran ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad welcomes Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Tehran, 20 November 2007. Iran said today it has agreed to a new round of talks with United States on improving security in Iraq, despite mounting tensions between the two arch-foes over the Iranian nuclear drive. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

Middle East

Middle East

ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images

Iran hailed the new U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on its nuclear program as proof that its intentions are peaceful. Obviously, the NIE undermines the U.S. administration’s claims (World War III, anyone?) at a time when it is pushing for a third round of U.N. sanctions.

In a separate incident, Iran expelled Canada’s ambassador.

The Iraqi Red Crescent estimates that as many as 28,000 Iraqis have come home since mid-September.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has questions about the U.S. military’s assessment of the independence of Iraqi security forces.

Asia

The U.S. military is considering arming Afghan tribes against the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Pakistan’s two major opposition parties met to coordinate a possible boycott of the upcoming elections, scheduled for January 8.

Taiwan’s 15-year-olds lead the world in math skills, according to a new survey by the OECD. Surprisingly, Finland scores among the top two in math, reading, and science.

Europe

The British teacher who was jailed for naming a teddy bear “Mohammed” arrived home from Sudan.

Unemployment in the eurozone has fallen to its lowest level since 1999.

Italian police arrested dozens of Mafia members in fresh raids on the notorious Cosa Nostra.

Elsewhere

The United States may withdraw its support for the Somali transitional federal government and back an independent Somaliland. As it happens, Somalia’s president is in serious condition in a Kenyan hospital. Meanwhile, the U.N. World Food Programme is sounding the alarm about the humanitarian situation, especially in Mogadishu.

On the hot seat in Bali: China, India, and the United States—the three major countries that have resisted a binding international emissions regime.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez says his mistake was in timing the referendum before Venezuelans were “politically mature enough” for socialism.

The world is losing the war on pirated goods, top officials say. 

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Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

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