Morning Brief, Monday, August 27

Washington

ALEX WONG/Getty Images News

Embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales finally resigned. No replacement has been named, but Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff’s name is being whispered.

Middle East 

Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki fired back at his critics, including New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. France, for its part, is happy to apologize for causing offense.

There are now more Iraqi children than foreign fighters in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq.

The head of the Pentagon’s “buy Iraqi” program is under investigation for mismanagement. 

Iraq’s rump Baath party is not impressed by new measures that would relax de-Baathification. 

Europe

Wildfires in Greece have killed 63 people over the past three days.

Russian authorities arrested 10 people for the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

In a speech billed as a major foreign-policy address, French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed the G8 become the G13 and called for a strong Europe.

Asia

Shinzo Abe, Japan’s struggling prime minister, reshuffled his cabinet.

Indian police are investigating possible leads after bombs killed over 40 people in Hyderabad Saturday.  

A top Chinese official says that U.S. designers should share the blame for unsafe toys.

Elsewhere

A $20,000 “quick ship” incentive by the U.S. military is winning recruits. 

Sudan’s government ejected the local head of Care, a major international aid agency operating in Darfur.

Economists predict the median price of U.S. homes will drop for the first time in nearly 60 years. 

Today’s Agenda

• Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, hosts the world bog snorkeling championships.
• Singapore Airlines begins auctioning off tickets on the new Airbus A380.
• The National Association of Realtors are to deliver a highly anticipated report on July home sales.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting China.