Morning Brief: Chinese interrogation methods taught at Gitmo

Top Story

Shane T. McCoy/U.S. Navy/Getty Images

Coercive interrogation techniques used at the U.S. detention facility at Guantánamo Bay were directly inspired by Chinese Communist methods, the New York Times reports. The techniques were originally used to obtain confessions, often false, from U.S. airmen during the Korean war.

Asia

Mongolia's president declared a state of emergency after an election dispute turned violent.

Four million Indian truckers are on strike to protest fuel prices.

Coalition deaths in Afghanistan are at their highest level since the war began.

Europe

Remember the D.C. gun ban? Get this: London police are cracking down on knives.

The EU's trade commissioner says French President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to undermine him.

Americas

Shades of Tehran '79 in Bolivia?

Middle East and Africa

Iraq is scoring "satisfactory" on 15 of 18 benchmarks, according to the White House.

In Jerusalem, a Palestinian drove a bulldozer into Israeli traffic, killing at three and wounding dozens of others.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader rejects unity talks with the ruling Zanu/PF.

Global Economy

In a leaked letter, World Bank President Robert Zoellick warned G-8 leaders that more foreign aid is needed to avert widespread starvation.

The OECD expects unemployment to rise by 9 percent through 2009 in member countries.

Lehman Brothers predicts "two years of sub-par growth" in the United States.

Decision '08

Stephen F. Cohen wants to know where the candidates stand on Russia.

Iran going nuclear is "the most dangerous crisis we are going to face potentially in the next three to 10 years," top Obama advisor Anthony Lake tells Edward Luce of the Financial Times.

John McCain has begun his tour of Colombia and Mexico. Yesterday, he urged Congress to pass the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement.

Today's Agenda

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson visits London.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband is hosting Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to discuss Gibraltar.