Morning Brief: The Takeover

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Top Story

Hezbollah fighters have taken over the Muslim section of Beirut in Lebanon's ongoing sectarian strife. Eleven people have been killed in the fighting so far.

Middle East

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert admitted to taking cash from an American businessman during the 1990s but says he will not step down unless indicted.

Contradicting earlier reports, the man arrested in Mosul yesterday is not al Qaeda in Iraq commander Abu Ayyub al-Masri, according to the U.S. military.

Asia

Burma's government said they would be happy to accept aid for cyclone victims, but don't want foreigners working in the country to distribute it.

The cyclone continues to drive up global rice prices.

The U.S. dropped former Guantanamo commander, General Jay Hood as its proposed military envoy to Pakistan after protests from the local media.

Japan has just joined the military space race.

South America

Bolivia will hold a vote of confidence in President Evo Morales.

Chile's volcano may continue to erupt for weeks or months, experts say.

Africa

South African president Thabo Mbeki is in Zimbabwe to hold talks on resolving the election crisis, though it's not clear whether he even plans to talk to the opposition.

A Harvard study said money for AIDS prevention in Africa is being wasted.

Europe

EU foreign ministers will visit the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia this weekend to try to diffuse the crisis there.

The UK's ruling Labour Party has the lowest approval rating in British history.

U.S. Campaign

The Barack Obama campaign is shifting gears and preparing to attack John McCain.

Hillary Clinton has vowed to fight on, and controversially touted her appeal to working-class white voters.

Today's Agenda

• London's newly elected mayor Boris Johnson will meet with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
• Dmitry Medvedev will preside over Russia' victory day celebrations.

Yesterday on Passport

• Burma is still waiting
• City on Steroids
• Lebanese unrest turning back the clock