Morning Brief, Friday, March 7

Middle East

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images

The death toll from a Palestinian gunman's attack on a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem now stands at eight. Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, while Hamas praised it and Hezbollah's TV station appeared to link it to the recent death of its military leader, Imad Mougniyeh.

The deadliest attack in Iraq in nine months has claimed at least 68 lives and wounded 120 people.

Asia

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf pledged his support to the incoming government, so long as "peace is maintained."

China's envoy to Darfur called the situation there a "humanitarian disaster" and said China was "working hard" to stop the bloodshed.

Australian police rescued 10 South Korean women from sexual slavery.

Europe

For five years, the United States may have to rely on Russian spacecraft to reach the International Space Station.

And with Pakistan's reliability in question, NATO is asking Russia to consider allowing goods destined for Afghanistan to transit its territory.

2008 U.S. Elections

Democrats are deeply divided over what to do about Michigan and Florida's delegates, but a compromise seems likely.

Barack Obama's campaign raised a record $55 million in February.

In comments for which she later apologized, Obama advisor Samantha Power called Hillary Clinton a "monster" who is "stooping to anything" to win the Democratic nomination.

Elsewhere

The Washington Post examines Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's ties to FARC, the Colombian rebel group.

Analysts say Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe can't win reelection in a free and fair contest.

Americans have lost $533 billion in household wealth thanks to declining housing prices.

Capital flowed in record numbers to emerging markets last year, according to the International Institute of Finance.

The U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights is resigning, ostensibly for "personal reasons," when her term expires in June.

Today's Agenda

• Sparks will likely fly between Colombia and its neighbors at today's Rio Group summit in the Dominican Republic.
• John McCain will address the Council for National Policy, an influential conservative group.
• U.S. President George W. Bush is slated to meet with relatives of Cuban dissidents.

Yesterday on Passport

• John McCain loves Lady Liberty
• Google was allowed to street-level map a U.S. military base
• Breaking: Terrorist attack in Jerusalem