Morning Brief, Tuesday, February 27

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Middle East

At last, Iraq's cabinet wants to distribute oil revenues on the basis of population. That's good news, but Iraq's Sunni Vice President is unhappy with the new security strategy calls for a Plan B. (More on that later today from FP.) 

Three French tourists were attacked and killed in Saudi Arabia. 

Hollywood director James Cameron claims to have found the tomb of Jesus, sparking outrage among Christian leaders.

Asia

Vice President Dick Cheney was the target of a suicide bombing attack at a U.S. base in Afghanistan, but he was unharmed. 

India's ruling Congress Party was defeated in two important state elections, a signal of rising voter unhappiness. 

China's stock market took a nose dive yesterday, and markets in Europe followed.

China has no plans for democracy any time soon, says Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

The Tamil Tiger rebels may be responsible for injuring the U.S. and Italian ambassadors to Sri Lanka with mortar fire. 

Elsewhere

Senegal's election was free and fair, according to a regional governance body.

The leading candidate in Paraguay's next presidential election is a renegade Catholic priest.

Today is the birthday of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (79) and fomer U.S. third-party presidential candidate Ralph Nader (73).