Morning Brief, Tuesday, March 11
2008 U.S. Elections EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images Barack Obama repeatedly denied any interest in being Hillary Clinton’s running mate, noting that he leads Clinton in the delegate count. Mississippi holds its Democratic primary today. Obama has a big lead in the latest polls there. The prediction markets are betting on Obama to win the nomination. John ...
2008 U.S. Elections
2008 U.S. Elections
Barack Obama repeatedly denied any interest in being Hillary Clinton’s running mate, noting that he leads Clinton in the delegate count. Mississippi holds its Democratic primary today. Obama has a big lead in the latest polls there.
The prediction markets are betting on Obama to win the nomination.
John McCain plans to visit Israel, Britain, and France next week.
Obama is joining McCain in calling for earmark reform in Congress.
Middle East
New research has found a link between mysterious Gulf War illnesses and exposure to certain chemicals.
The U.N. accuses several Iranian civilian scientists of conducting secret nuclear research. Yet public support is dropping around the world for sanctions and military action against Iran, a new poll has found.
Egypt continues to try to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. The latest: Israel has reportedly proposed “30 days of quiet.”
Eight U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq Monday.
Asia
Fresh bombs struck Lahore, Pakistan, killing at least 22 people and wounding 100.
The Taliban is calling on former mujahedin factions aligned with the Afghan government to switch sides.
Inflation in China reached a 12-year high in February, due mainly to surging prices for fresh vegetables and meat.
After some vacillation, China is standing by its one-child policy.
China says it rounded up “ignorant monks” who were demonstrating against Chinese rule in Tibet.
Former Tamil Tiger rebels dominated Monday’s local elections in Sri Lanka.
Europe
A German ad campaign touting East Germany’s low wages and weak unions was deemed too gauche.
German investor confidence rose in February, confounding expectations.
President George W. Bush agreed to bolster Poland’s defenses in exchange for hosting a U.S. missile-defense system.
Elsewhere
Remittances to Latin American countries are beginning to dry up.
Oil prices climbed to nearly $108 a barrel in trading Monday.
Boeing plans to formally challenge a controversial air-tanker contract awarded to its rival, Northrup Grumman.
Today’s Agenda
- Kenya’s parliament begins discussing a power-sharing deal.
- The BBC launches an Arabic channel.
- The U.S. State Department issues its semiannual human rights reports.
- Senegal hosts foreign ministers from Muslim states for the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
- The U.S. Air Force retires the F-117 “Stealth” fighter.
- Vice President Dick Cheney celebrates 25 years of the Strategic Defense Initiative at a Heritage Foundation dinner. (Hat tip: On Deadline)
Yesterday on Passport
Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
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