Morning Brief: The Gitmo shutdown begins

Top Story

In his first major break from Bush administration policy, President Barack Obama is expected today to order the closing of the prison at Guantanamo Bay within a one-year deadline. Obama is also expected to order an end to the CIA’s interrogation of prisoners at so-called “black site” prisons and the use of abusive interrogation techniques like waterboarding. 

What will be done with the Guantanamo detainees — including suspected 9/11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed whose trial is currently on hold — is less clear.

On ForeignPolicy.com today, Columbia law professor Matthew Waxman explains why the hardest part of closing Guantanamo is still to come.  We also have a list of the most notorious prisons still in operation.

Middle East

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Gaza’s civilian death toll “unbearable” and demanded an explanation from Israel

Turkey arrested dozens more suspected coup plotters.

Israel is hoping for a prisoner swap with Hamas to secure the return of imprisoned IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. 

Asia

China’s economic growth fell almost 7 percent last quarter.

China sentenced two officials blamed for producing tainted milk to death. 

Indian software giant Satyam padded its employee numbers in order steal cash, say prosecutors.

Africa

The death toll from Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak rose 20 percent in a week.

Guinea’s new military government is investigating graft charges against their predecessors.

Kenya is investigating the disappearance of $100 million worth of oil imports.

Europe

Controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders will be charged with hate speech for making anti-Islamic statements.

A group of banks is lobbying the EU to provide crisis aid to Eastern Europe’s flagging economies.

Analysts worry that Ukraine may default on its sizeable debts.

Americas

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her bid for Hilary Clinton’s New York senate seat.

Opposition protests are becoming more intense in Venezuela as the country’ gears up for next month’s vote on a referendum to extend presidential term limits.

Exxon has discovered new oil reserves off the coast of Brazil.

Obama administration

Six Obama cabinet nominees, including Hillary Clinton, were confirmed yesterday.

Treasury nominee Timothy Geithner was grilled over his personal finances. 

Just to be safe, Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Barack Obama one more time. Do all the things he did yesterday still count?