Morning Brief: Aid trickles in
AFP/AFP/Getty Images Top Story The Burmese junta is finally allowing the UN to deliver food aid to those devastated by Saturday’s cyclone. U.S. groups are still blocked from entering the country. The Burmese government is reporting nearly 23,000 dead but a top U.S. diplomat said the number may be far higher. Middle East Hezbollah members ...
AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Top Story
The Burmese junta is finally allowing the UN to deliver food aid to those devastated by Saturday’s cyclone. U.S. groups are still blocked from entering the country. The Burmese government is reporting nearly 23,000 dead but a top U.S. diplomat said the number may be far higher.
Middle East
Hezbollah members continued to clash with government supporters amid a called general strike that the New York Times is calling Lebanon’s “worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.”
Unsurprisingly, Jews and Palestinians have very different feelings on Israel’s independence day.
According to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, present-day Iran is ruled by a Shiite imam who died over 1000 years ago.
U.S. Election
After disappointing results in North Carolina and Indiana, Hillary Clinton was forced to loan her campagin $6.4 million.
More superdelegates appear to be breaking Obama’s way.
Would Obama have won Indiana without Rush Limbaugh?
Europe
Returning Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi formed a new cabinet in Italy. The anti-immigrant North League party took several key posts.
Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russia’s new prime minister, one day after stepping down as president.
The U.S. urged Russia to “back down” in its confrontation with Georgia.
Asia
The Olympic flame reached the summit of Mount Everest.
India and Pakistan both tested nuclear-capable missiles.
Global Economy
The World Bank blasted the U.S. for funneling its corn production into biofuels while global food prices continue to rise.
Africa
Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony will meet with mediators this weekend. He’s still holding out on signing a peace deal to end Africa’s longest-running civil war.
A South African observer mission said that Zimbabwe is currently “too violent” to hold a planned runoff election.
South America
The region surrounding the Chilean volcano that erupted last week has been completely evacuated.
Today’s Agenda
- Celebrations continue for Israel’s 60th anniversary.
- The world remembers V-E day.
Yesterday on
Passport
- This Week in China
- Israel celebrates 60 years of independence
- Saddam: Ruthless dictator or delicate blossom?
Joshua Keating is a former associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
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