Morning Brief: Af-Pak frustration

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After two days of talks between U.S. President Barack Obama, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zaradari, and Afgan President Hamid Karzai, the three leaders committed to a joint fight against the Taliban, but there was little discussion of specifics. The United States’ main demand of Pakistan — that the country should move troops from its eastern border with India to fight the Taliban in the west — remains unmet.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has warned of a humanitarian crisis in Pakistan where more than 500,000 people may have been displaced by the fighting in the areas of Swat, Dir, and Buner. Pakistani jets are continuing airstrikes on Swat today.

Asia

• Captured video footage shows Tamil Tiger rebels forcing civilians to help their war effort.
• India has entered its fourth round of elections.
• Thousands of Maoist protesters clashed with police in Nepal as the country’s political deadlock continued. 

Middle East

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to ask his prime minister to form a new government this week. 
• The Baghdad operations contract for the company formerly known as Blackwater has expired.
• Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo to discuss a joint strategy for the Mideast peace process.

Americas

• Brazil is struggling to get aid to areas affected by floods. 200,000 have been forced to flee.
• Foreign bidders are lining up to buy off parts of struggling General Motors.
• With swine flu declining, students are beginning to return to schools in Mexico.

Europe

• Weeks of peaceful protesting turned to rioting in Georgia yesterday, forcing the government to release three protesters in order to defuse tensions
• The Basque region’s first non-nationalist president was sworn in.
• A surge in orders has boosted Germany’s struggling manufacturing sector.

Africa

• Jacob Zuma was elected president by South Africa’s parliament.
• Congo passed a law granting amnesty to militias in the country’s war-torn east.
• The manslaughter conviction of a prominent white farmer has stirred racial tensions in Kenya.