Morning Brief, Thursday, March 27

Asia

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The U.S. military is stepping up its use of unilateral airstrikes in Pakistan out of fear that the country's new civilian government won't allow them. Pakistan's new prime minister has vowed to fight terrorism with "determination," but stressed parliament's role in setting policy.

About 30 Tibetan monks burst into a news conference in Lhasa to say that Chinese authorities were lying about events there. Nearly 1,000 people have surrendered to authorities, China says.

The chief munitions supplier to Afghanistan's army and police, run by a 22-year-old and an ex-masseuse, has been selling 40-year-old bullets.

North Korea ejected 11 South Korean managers from a joint industrial park.

Burmese junta leader Than Shwe announced that a civilian government will take control of the country in 2010.

Middle East

Fighting between the government and local militias has turned into a stalemate in Basra. In Baghdad, thousands of followers of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched to demand the ouster of the government of PM Nuri al-Maliki.

Sovereign wealth fund managers in the Persian Gulf say they are motivated by profit, not politics.

Saddam Hussein secretly bankrolled a prewar trip to Iraq by three U.S. congressman.

Europe

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting London, offered French expertise on civilian nuclear power. Sarkozy is considering sending French troops to Afghanistan, a proposition that has the French left up in arms.

Ukraine and Georgia are adamant about joining NATO.

Heathrow's Terminal 5 is open for business.

2008 U.S. Elections

In a speech outlining his foreign policy, John McCain said the United States has a "moral responsibility" to stay in Iraq and called for the creation of a "League of Democracies."

Hillary Clinton's positive rating has dropped to 37 percent, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. Chuck Todd comments.

Elsewhere

Are potatoes the answer to the global food crisis?

A virus is killing millions of Chilean salmon.

Researchers in the United States are struggling to explain a mysterious die-off of hibernating bats.

Today's Agenda

• Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd kicks off an 18-day tour with a visit to the United States.
• U.S. President George W. Bush plans to speak about the war on terrorism in Dayton, Ohio.

Yesterday on Passport

• Bosnians beat Sinbad to the punch on Clinton in Tuzla
• Al Gore refuses to gamble on the environment
• This Week in China