Tuesday's global agenda: Ethiopian leader's death leaves power vacuum

Your morning global affairs speed-read

Ethiopia's longtime prime minister, Meles Zenawi, a close U.S. ally in the war against Islamist militants in Somalia with a checkered human-rights record, died late Monday, leaving the African country's future in doubt. [Associated Press]

Rebels in Syria say U.S. promises of communications aid have gone largely unfulfilled. [Washington Post]

The European Union is probing whether the sale of cigarettes to Syria by a Switzerland-based unit of Japan Tobacco Inc. violated sanctions against the country and helped fund Bashar Assad's crackdown on opponents. [Wall Street Journal]

In other news: 

Iraq rejects report it is helping Iran avoid sanctions [Reuters]

A Colombian police general pleaded guilty in U.S. court to aiding a right-wing terrorist group. [Wall Street Journal]

Do you have an event or upcoming report you'd like to share? Any comments / complaints / suggestions?

Please contact me at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 202-628-8527

Follow me on Twitter @JPecquetTheHill

Note to readers: This morning roundup will be published at 8 a.m. during the summer recess and will go dark the week of Sept. 3.