Morning Brief, Monday, August 21

Cease-fire in Lebanon

The UN peacekeeping force faces more trouble: Several EU countries delay a decision on contributing troops until the mission is more clearly defined. Coming just a few days after Israel staged a raid deep inside Lebanon, new fears that the cease-fire won't hold are spreading.

Perhaps after pressure from the American and Israeli governments, Turkey has prevented Iranian and Syrian airplanes from flying to Lebanon after it was suspected the planes were carrying arms for Hezbollah.

Iran's nuclear deadline

With just a day to go before Iran's self-imposed deadline for a response on the nuclear incentives package, the country denies UN inspectors access to its underground nuclear facility, an unprecedented refusal. And over the weekend, it staged large-scale military exercises, fired off a few missiles, and declared nuclear suspension off the agenda.

Iraq

Despite heavy US and Iraqi security, gunmen kill 20 during a Shiite pilgrimage yesterday. Saddam refused to enter a plea at his second trial for genocide today.

Elsewhere

Fierce fighting in Afghanistan over the weekend as Taliban fighters attack NATO and Afghan troops. A blast in a Moscow market has killed 10; investigators are still unsure of the cause. Election results in the Democratic Republic of Congo force an October run-off after none of the candidates gets 50 percent of the vote. 

South Korea arrests an alleged spy from North Korea who took pictures of military sites in the country. Another close election in Mexico, this time in Chiapas. Pinochet gets his immunity lifted and may be prosecuted for fraud.

And spend them while you can: Zimbabweans rush to spend their old banknotes since the currency will cease to be legal at midnight.