Morning Brief: U.N. urges action on global food crisis
Top Story DIETER NAGL/AFP/Getty Images U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said high food prices had become a “global crisis” and urged immediate action. The International Monetary Fund is considering helping 10 mostly African countries who have requested financial support to deal with the problem. Wheat prices have actually reached a six-month low, but rice is a ...
Top Story
Top Story
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said high food prices had become a “global crisis” and urged immediate action. The International Monetary Fund is considering helping 10 mostly African countries who have requested financial support to deal with the problem. Wheat prices have actually reached a six-month low, but rice is a different story. Even San Francisco is experiencing shortages and skyrocketing prices.
Asia
China agreed to hold talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama.
Interpol says there is a “real possibility” of terrorist attacks during the Beijing Olympics.
Pakistan’s government insists it is close to a deal with tribal militants.
Middle East and Africa
In light of the White House’s revelations about North Korea-Syria nuclear cooperation, the IAEA has vowed to investigate the U.S. claims. More here.
Hamas’s proposed truce with Israel was swiftly rejected. Also, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. called former U.S. President Jimmy Carter a “bigot” for meeting with Hamas leaders.
Iraq’s largest Sunni group is returning to the government after a nearly year-long boycott.
Zimbabwe’s opposition clearly won the elections, a top U.S. envoy said. But armed police stormed the opposition’s headquarters in Harare Thursday and arrested “hundreds of people.”
Europe
In a 90-minute television appearance, French President Nicolas Sarkozy defended his increasingly unpopular domestic policies and offered some rare self-criticism.
Ireland’s boom is bad news for the local pub.
2008 U.S. Elections
John McCain criticized Barack Obama for his stance on meeting with rogue leaders such as Kim Jong Il.
Global Economy
The financial crisis is far from over, warns Mohamed El-Erian, co-CEO of Pimco.
Today’s Agenda
Today is World Malaria Day, and the United Nations is pushing a major malaria-control initiative for Africa. U.S. President George W. Bush is also planning a speech in Connecticut on this topic.
The Olympic torch is in Japan.
Russia’s prime minister is visiting Ukraine.
Japan’s prime minister is visiting Russia.
Yesterday on Passport
- Peace Corps advice: Don’t ‘get drunk and fall down in a ditch’
- Chinese sue CNN for $1.3 billion
- Global food shortages: a ‘silent tsunami’
Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
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Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.
The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.
The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.
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