Morning Brief: Opening the gates?

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Top Story

After a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Burmese leader Than Shwe has agreed to let in all relief workers, regardless of nationality.

Asia

Meeting in Beijing, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao have signed an agreement condemning the U.S.'s proposed missile defense plan.

Four soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan.

China's earthquake toll passed 55,000.

Singapore won a territorial dispute with Malaysia over a small island in the Malacca Strait at the International Court of Justice.

Europe

Conservatives won big in Britain's by-election, their first by-election win since 1982.

Union protests in response to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms are growing.

Italy plans to resume building nuclear plants after two decades.

Africa

South Africa's anti-immigrant rioting has spread to Cape Town.

UN Sanctions have not kept arms out of the hands of Somali militants.

A Tuareg rebel attack killed 32 in Mali.

Middle East

U.S. Iraq spending lacked oversight and accountability, a Pentagon audit has found.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert was questioned again by fraud investigators.

Israeli incursions in the Gaza Strip killed 5.

Latin America

The U.S. congress has cut back anti-drug funding for Mexico.

Tens of thousands have been evacuated due to flooding in Chile.

Colombia is investigating opposition politicians for ties to Farc guerillas.

2008 U.S. Elections

John McCain renounced controversial pastor James Hagee.

McCain and Barack Obama sparred on the Senate floor over veterans' benefits.

Bill Clinton is rumored to be pushing his wife to aim for VP.

Today's Agenda

• Russian President Dmitry Mevedev visits China
• Greek and Cypriot leaders meet for peace talks in Nicosia

Yesterday on Passport

• Naples' malodorous disorder
• Pakistan's wild Northwest
• Which candidate makes the best drinking buddy?