>><!--top1-->Pakistan<!--top1End--> - <!--top1Content-->According to information released today, U.S. President Bush gave orders in July allowing U.S. special forces to execute ground assaults in Pakistan without obtaining permission from Pakistan's government. This development clearly highlights the ongoing mistrust by the U.S. of Pakistan's military and intelligence services. It is unclear upon what legal grounds the U.S. can pursue such a policy.<!--top1ContentEnd-->

>><!--top2-->North Korea<!--top2End--> - <!--top2Content-->After days of speculation about the health of Kim Jong-il following his absence from North Korea's 60th birthday party parade, intelligence services from the U.S. and South Korea have reported that the leader suffered a stroke in mid-August. His death is not believed to be imminent. It is unclear which of his four children, if any, is next in the line of succession.<!--top2ContentEnd-->

>><!--top3-->Bolivia<!--top3End--> - <!--top3Content-->Evo Morales has expelled the U.S. ambassador, Philip Goldberg, after claiming that he was trying to break up the country. The U.S., apparently not informed of the decision in advance, called the claims "baseless." In the last few weeks, groups seeking greater autonomy from the central government have rioted in Bolivia's eastern provinces.<!--top3ContentEnd-->

• Remembering 9-11
• You Can Still Eat Meat in London, Mr. Johnson
• A Big Announcement on Mobile Phones and Global Public Health
• Biden's Substitute
• The Candidates' Worst Ideas

>><!--top1-->China<!--top1End--> - <!--top1Content-->Speaking in Thailand yesterday, President Bush denounced China's treatment of political dissidents and limitations put on the press and religion hours ahead of his arrival in Beijing. President Bush is in the middle of a seven-day trip to Asia, which also included a stop in South Korea and will culminate with his attendance at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in China on Friday.<!--top1ContentEnd-->

>><!--top2-->Pakistan<!--top2End--> - <!--top2Content-->Pakistan's ruling coalition today agreed to initiated impeachment proceedings against President Musharraf, expected to begin next week in the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly. It is expected that Musharraf will be asked to call a vote of confidence, and, if he refuses, the impeachment will begin. In order to be impeached two-thirds of both the upper and lower houses would need to approve; Musharraf would be the first. It was also announced today that Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics Games, not Musharraf as previously planned.<!--top2ContentEnd-->

>><!--top3-->Mauritania<!--top3End--> - <!--top3Content-->A bloodless coup d'etat was executed in Mauritania on Wednesday by a group of senior military officers who arrested the president and the prime minister, the first democratically elected government in two decades. The coup directly followed the president's firing of the officers, some of whom were instrumental in the 2005 coup that led to President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi's election and were his supporters. The officers have committed to holding elections soon. The UN, U.S., EU, and AU all condemned the coup.<!--top3ContentEnd-->

• On the lighter side...
• Myanmar Three Months Later
• Tapping the diplomatic reservoir
• Day 4 @ Bellagio: Commitments to mHealth & the Magic of Bellagio
• UNMIL Action Photos

>><!--top1-->China<!--top1End--> - <!--top1Content-->In what the state news agency has called a "terrorist attack," 16 policemen in Xinjiang were killed and 16 were injured when a truck rammed a group of police jogging and then attacked with explosives and knives. Xinjiang is home to a Muslim Uighur population that feels oppressed by Chinese rule.<!--top1ContentEnd-->

>><!--top2-->Bangladesh<!--top2End--> - <!--top2Content-->Bangladeshis voted in the first stage of local elections today, the first poll held since the military took power through an interim government in 2007. All candidates were "independents" as political parties have been banned. A series of local elections will be held, concluding in October. No voting irregularities have yet been reported.<!--top2ContentEnd-->

>><!--top3-->AIDS<!--top3End--> - <!--top3Content-->The Global Aids Conference opened in Mexico today, 25 years after the disease first became prevalent. Ahead of the meeting, new figures show that the number of affected people worldwide has decreased, although some nations are still seeing an increase in infections and many cannot get access to the correct treatment. Over 20,000 officials, scientists, and others, including President Clinton and Mark Goldberg, will be in Mexico for the meeting.<!--top3ContentEnd-->

• With President Clinton in Africa: The Promise of "Health Extension Workers"
• Day 3 @ Bellagio: mHealth = Global Health

>><!--top1-->Zimbabwe<!--top1End--> - <!--top1Content-->President Mugabe's negotiators have left power-sharing talks in Pretoria to return to Zimbabwe for a fresh round of consultations, what most analysts have declared a sign of near collapse. The sticking point is over opposition leader Tsvangirai's position in the new government. Mugabe's negotiators are only authorized to offer him the vice presidency, a position the MDC finds untenable. There is no word on when or if talks will resume.<!--top1ContentEnd-->

>><!--top2-->Pakistan/India<!--top2End--> - <!--top2Content-->Soldiers from Pakistan and India engaged in a 12-hour gunfight last night, in what some have called the most "serious violation" of the ceasefire agreement in five years. India claims that the fighting was sparked by a raid by Pakistani soldiers that left an Indian soldier dead. Pakistan claims that Indian troops were attempting to build a post on Pakistan's side. Some analysts have suggested that this may simply be an attempt by Pakistan's military to grab power from the new government by making it look weak on national security.<!--top2ContentEnd-->

>><!--top3-->Australia<!--top3End--> - <!--top3Content-->Australia will no longer immediately detain asylum seekers who arrive without visas. This controversial policy had left many immigrants in jail for up to three years while their status was being resolved. The UN has censured Australia 14 times for the policy.<!--top3ContentEnd-->

• Programming Note--Off to Africa and Mexico
• Blue bag helmets
• Yosri Fouda
• Alastair Miller
• Peter Bergen