Morning Brief, Thursday, August 2

Middle East

AFP/Getty Images

Sunni leaders quit the Iraqi government, leaving Nuri al-Maliki with a parliamentary majority but diminished credibility as a non-sectarian prime minister. 

Under certain conditions, Saudi Arabia will meet with Israel for the first time since 1991. 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed the peace process with Palestinian cabinet members. 

Europe

Europe is having a lousy summer, at least in terms of weather.

As promised, a Russian submarine planted the Russian flag on the seabed beneath the North Pole. 

Bosnia plans to deport over 400 people, mostly Arabs, who fought there in the 1990s. 

Asia

Executing corrupt officials is the way to go, Beijing says.

Some folks in Taiwan are planning a "human rights torch relay" to protest the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

North Korea is demanding that it be taken off the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Elsewhere

Stocks are back up after last week's selling frenzy.  

In case you hadn't heard: A bridge collapsed in Minnesota.

Can things possibly get worse in Zimbabwe? 

Today's Agenda

• U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte leaves the ASEAN regional security conference and heads to Japan.

Yesterday on Passport

• Much ado about Murdoch
• President Obama would make war on Pakistan, love to Iran
• Russia: The North Pole belongs to us!