Morning Brief, Wednesday, February 27

2008 U.S. Elections J.D. Pooley/Getty Images News Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama traded barbs over healthcare, Iraq, trade, and other issues during an often heated Democratic debate. Europe Microsoft must pay $1.4 billion to the EU for allegedly ignoring a ruling on its monopolistic behavior, the European Commission says. Protesters from Plane Stupid, a group ...

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596276_080227_debate22.jpg

2008 U.S. Elections

2008 U.S. Elections

J.D. Pooley/Getty Images News

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama traded barbs over healthcare, Iraq, trade, and other issues during an often heated Democratic debate.

Europe

Microsoft must pay $1.4 billion to the EU for allegedly ignoring a ruling on its monopolistic behavior, the European Commission says.

Protesters from Plane Stupid, a group that opposes adding a third runway to Heathrow Airport, somehow snuck onto the roof of the British parliament.

Germany’s top court ruled to limit government spying on computer hard drives.

Asia

India may be interested in working with the United States on missile defense, according to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

The historic New York Philharmonic concert in Pyongyang rated only a brief mention in the North Korean press.

China’s huge diversion of water for the Olympic Games and other projects threaten millions of Chinese with ecological and economic disaster, a local Communist Party official told the Financial Times.

Vietnam is suffering from a massive dong shortage.

Middle East

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana indicated that the major powers are discussing new ways to get Iran to negotiate over its nuclear program.

A majority of Israelis favor negotiations with Hamas, a Haaretz poll has found.

Yemen has released a U.S.-born cleric thought to have ties to al Qaeda.

Elsewhere

Oil broke $102 in Wednesday trading and the dollar reached a new low against the euro. Gasoline prices could soon hit $4 in the United States, some analysts worry.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is soaring in the former Soviet Union.

The U.S. Army intends to cut combat tours from 15 to 12 months.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga called off mass protests that were slated for Thursday.

Today’s Agenda

  • U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke heads to Capitol Hill for two days of testimony.
  • Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek visits the White House to talk missile defense.
  • The Dominican Republic celebrates 164 years of independence.

Yesterday on Passport

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