Morning Brief: A temporary reprieve

Israel halted its military operation in Gaza for three hours in order to allow aid to enter the territory through "humanitarian corridors." This is the first planned daily cease-fire, though the BBC reports that there were at least two airstrikes during the first minutes of the pause.

After an attack on a U.N. school yesterday killed 30 people, Israel is mulling an Egyptian proposal for an indefinite cease-fire, which has been backed by the United States and Europe. At the same time, Israeli leaders are considering a "final push" into Gaza's urban centers to bring the operation to its conclusion.

Europe

Gas supplies continue to fall throughout Europe as Ukraine and Russia failed to resolve their pricing dispute. Twelve European countries are now completely without gas from Russia.

Greece's finance minister was fired in an effort to calm public opinion over the country's economic slump.

U.S. Presidential Transition 

Obama is working to assuage congressional concerns over his controversial CIA director pick, Leon Panetta.

After days of silence, Obama finally commented on Gaza, calling the loss of civilian lives a "source of deep concern."

Obama named CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta as surgeon general.

Asia

China detected its first bird flu case of 2009.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari called for more aid, but not more troops, from allies in the fight against terrorism.

Indian PM Manmohan Singh said that Pakistan authorities "must have had" a hand in the Mumbai attacks.

Middle East

Al Qaeda deputy commander Ayman al-Zawahiri released a message blasting Barack Obama and the Egyptian government for their silence on Gaza.

Iraqi Shiites have turned the holiday Ashura into a show of force after recent attacks on Shiite pilgrims. Women were barred from a major Shiite shrine in Baghdad due to security concerns.

Americas

Venezuela expelled its Israeli ambassador to protest the invasion of Gaza.

Blagojevich appointee Roland Burris was blocked in his attempt to be sworn in as Illinois senator.

Gunmen attacked a TV station in Northern Mexico

Africa

The U.N. proposed a "Green Zone" style safe zone for aid workers in Somalia.

Congolese rebels have given a vote of confidence to embattled commander Laurent Nkunda.

The hostages taken by pirates from a French ship off the coast of Nigeria over the weekend were freed.

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