Middle East

KEVIN FRAYER/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. President George W. Bush vowed again to push for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by the end of 2008.

The United States has sent a formal diplomatic protest to Iran regarding Sunday's speedboat incident.

Public executions are surging in Iran.

Asia

Investigators from Scotland Yard have reportedly delivered their preliminary report on the Bhutto assassination to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Japan's ruling party steamrolled a new anti-terrorism law through parliament.

Afghanistan's government welcomed a U.S. plan to send 3,000 additional troops to the country.

Nepal scheduled its long-delayed elections for April 10. 

Europe

EU ministers are expected to give the go-ahead for a European peacekeeping force in Chad and the Central African Republic.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy flip-flopped on the 35-hour workweek.

Germany and the United States have reportedly agreed to recognize an independent state of Kosovo.

2008 Election

John Kerry endorsed Barack Obama.

Elsewhere

The chairman of Hasbro called for a new set of global standards for toy manufacturing.

Sir Edmund Hillary, who first conquered Mt. Everest together with Nepal's Tenzing Norgay, died at age 88.

Wall Street surged briefly Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled further cuts in interest rates.

Colombia's FARC rebels released two hostages.

Kenya's opposition party is calling for nationwide rallies to protest the recent elections. 

Today's Agenda

• President Bush meets with former British PM Tony Blair before heading to Kuwait.
• A WTO deadline for the EU to end its ban on imported genetically modified foods is due to expire.
• Liverpool kicks off its year as Europe's "capital of culture" by having a bunch of guitarists play on rooftops.

Yesterday on Passport

• Pentagon unsure if Iran threatened to blow up Navy ships
• Radioactive material seized en route from Kyrgyzstan to Iran
• The Model T of India: the $2,500 Tata Nano