Morning Brief: Political thuggery in Zimbabwe

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AFP/Getty Images

Zimbabwean authorities seized a truck carrying American food aid intended for schoolchildren and ordered it be handed out at a rally for President Robert Mugabe, the U.S. ambassador in Harare said. Mugabe's reelection campaign is being run by the military, the BBC reports.

Americas

Cuba is abolishing its system of salary equality and introducing performance incentives.

The U.S. economy remains "generally weak," according to regional Federal Reserve directors.

The United States has a massive prisoner problem on its hands.

Decision '08

Wednesday was a bad news day for Barack Obama. His new economics advisor got hit from the left. His top VP vetter resigned under fire. The Illinois senator also got dinged by Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi (which might actually be helpful).

Democrats, meanwhile, slammed John McCain for saying that the question of when U.S. troops come back from Iraq is "not too important."

Middle East and Africa

Talks over the future status of U.S. troops in Iraq are causing a "political crisis" in Baghdad.

The World Bank's new pick for director of operations and strategy for Africa is raising eyebrows.

Former U.N. chief Kofi Annan is teaming up with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to push for a "green revolution" in Africa.

Asia

Pakistan is furious after a U.S. airstrike killed 11 of its soldiers. The U.S. military has released footage from the strike, which it says was aimed at the Taliban.

Taiwan and China have agreed to set up offices in each other's capitals.

The IAEA wants to know why Japanese parts were found at a North Korean nuclear site.

Europe

U.S. manufacturers fear that new EU chemical regulations will hit them hard.

Italy and France announced they are forming a "trade axis" to push a more protectionist line at the WTO.

Belgian beverage behemoth InBev has offered to buy Anheuser-Busch.

French police have arrested a serial garden-gnome thief.

Today's Agenda

Irish citizens vote yeah or nay on the EU treaty.

Paris is hosting a donors' conference for Afghanistan.

U.S. President George W. Bush visits PM Silvio Berlusconi in Rome.

NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels.

Yesterday on Passport

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