Morning Brief, Monday, December 10

Europe

VLADIMIR RODIONOV/AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin has tapped first deputy PM Dmitri Medvedev to be his successor. More on Medvedev here.

The European Union is reportedly close to reaching a common position in favor of Kosovo’s independence.

Singapore and an unnamed Middle East investor bailed out struggling Swiss bank UBS to the tune of $10 billion.

Asia

With the help of the U.S. State Department, the New York Philharmonic has agreed to play a concert in North Korea this coming February.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the world’s patience with the Burmese junta is wearing thin.

NATO-backed Afghan forces have taken a key Taliban town in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the opium-poppy capital of the world.

Middle East

Iran signed a $2 billion deal with China’s Sinopec to develop the Yadavaran oil field.

The CIA has been encouraging scientists and others associated with Iran’s nuclear program to defect to the United States.

British forces plan to hand control of Basra over to the Iraqis within the next two weeks.

The Washington Post reports on Saudi Arabia’s program to reintegrate former Guantánamo detainees.

Elsewhere

A BBC World Service poll reveals that only about 56 percent of those surveyed in 14 countries strongly support a free press.

In a victory for leftist President Evo Morales, Bolivia’s special “constituent assembly” gave the go-ahead to proceed with a popular referendum on a proposed new constitution.

Facing declining demand for loans, the International Monetary Fund plans to lay off up to 15 percent of its staff.

As expected, the United States rejected efforts to agree on binding emissions targets at the Bali conference on climate change.

Today’s Agenda

• Ban Ki-moon expects to receive a report on Kosovo that will likely lead the breakaway Serbian province to declare independence.
• The IAEA is in a new round of talks with Iran.
• Christina Fernández de Kirchner is to be formally sworn in as president of Argentina.
• The trial of former president of Peru Alberto Fujimori begins in Lima.
• Nobel Prize winners are to receive their awards in Stockholm.
• Libyan leader Moammar al-Qaddhafi kicks off a trip to Europe by visiting Spain. France is next on the itinerary.
• Today is international Human Rights Day.

Web Exclusive

• The List: The World’s Worst Places to Be a Kid
  Growing up is never easy, but imagine trying to make the long journey into adulthood in the middle of a war zone or while holding down a dangerous, backbreaking job. FP surveys five places where you’ll never want to raise your children.