Morning Brief, Thursday, September 6

2008

Paul Drinkwater/NBC Universal

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson officially announced his candidacy for U.S. president, overshadowing Thursday night's Republican debate with an appearance on Jay Leno's show.

Europe

German authorities are seeking 10 more men thought to be involved in a foiled terror plot.

A deadly mosquito-borne virus arrives in Europe.

Serbia is threatening to keep Kosovo by force.

Concerned about a credit crunch, Europe's central bank dumped liquidity into the markets again Thursday.

Middle East

Breaking: Syria says it fired on Israeli jets.

An independent report by retired U.S. military officers says that Iraq's security forces are a mess. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki discussed the idea of setting up "a government of technocrats" with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf.

Congressional Democrats are showing new flexibility on Iraq.

Sixteen Saudis returned from Guantanamo Bay prison.

Asia

Monks in Myanmar briefly took some 20 government officials hostage. U.S. First Lady Laura Bush has made Myanmar her personal cause.

In Sydney, Australia, U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao discussed a range of contentious issues. Bush also met with Australia's likely next prime minister. 

Elsewhere

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon found himself "humbled and shocked" in Darfur, Sudan.

Sierra Leone's upcoming presidential run-off election is proving to be tense.

Apple shares dropped 5.1 percent after the computer maker cut $200 from the price of its iPhone and unveiled a new line of iPods.

Beloved operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 71.

Today's Agenda

• Somali Islamist groups are meeting in Eritrea to discuss forming a political alliance against the Transitional Federal Government.
• The short list for the Man Booker Prize is to be announced in London.
• A group of U.S. religious leaders begins 40 days of fasting in support of a bill to bring debt relief to 67 poor countries.

Yesterday on Passport

• The most polluting man on the planet?
• Does Chelsea Clinton still play with Barbies?
• Swiss party wants to revive Nazi policy