>><!--top1-->China<!--top1End--> - <!--top1Content-->Chinese authorities are evacuating 150,000 citizens who are threatened by a gigantic lake that formed in Tangjiashan when a river was blocked by mudslides set loose by the earthquakes this month. Engineers continue to dig drainage areas in hopes that the lake's size might be decreased. Meanwhile, a 5.4 magnitude aftershock destroyed 420,000 houses in Sichuan's Qingchuan county and injured 63. China is seeking help from Japan's military.<!--top1ContentEnd-->

>><!--top2-->Israel<!--top2End--> - <!--top2Content-->Israel's defense minister Ehud Barak called for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down today, a day after American businessman Morris Talansky testified in a Jerusalem District Court that he had handed Olmert envelopes full of up to $150,000 in cash. Both Olmert and Talansky have admitted the transfer but denied it was a bribe.<!--top2ContentEnd-->

>><!--top3-->Syria<!--top3End--> - <!--top3Content-->In a meeting with British members of Parliament, including the Interior Minister, Syria's president Bashar al-Assad said that Syria intends to maintain normal relations with Iran while negotiating with Israel, contrary to Israel's demand that it abandon its alliance. The two nations confirmed indirect talks last week, the first since 2000.<!--top3ContentEnd-->

• IHT: Even With Access, Distributing Aid in Myanmar is a Challenge
• Ambush on UNAMID Peacekeepers
• UN Plaza: Talking Human Rights Council Elections

Africa

• Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai says 50 killed in poll violence
• South Africa - 30 dead in South Africa as bus drives off cliff and crashes into river
• South Africa - S Africa to set up refugee camps
• Sudan - South Sudan ministers pull out of talks with U.S.
• Sudan - In Rare Move, 3 Candidates Join in Pledge on Darfur
• Somalia - More action needed to combat civilian deaths: U.N.
• Guinea - Official in Guinea Fired Amid Revolt
• Uganda - Ugandan law on protests repealed

Americas

• Chile - Pinochet Security Forces Arrested
• Mexico - 7 Federal Police Officers Killed in Shootout With Drug Cartel
• Colombia - Floods threaten Colombia
• Colombia - Colombia offers bounty for FARC founder's body
• Brazil - Brazil environment chief sworn in
• Argentina - Argentine ex-army chief on trial

East Asia

• China - China works around the clock to drain quake lake
• China - China Rushes to Evacuate 150,000 People
• China - China and U.S. resume human rights dialogue
• China - Two Aftershocks in China Destroy 400,000 Homes; No Deaths Reported
• Japan - China seeks Japan military help after quake
• Japan - Japan vows to double Africa aid, investment
• Myanmar - Myanmar junta extends Suu Kyi house arrest
• Myanmar - Progress for Aid Workers in Myanmar
• Myanmar - The mammoth aid task in Myanmar
• Myanmar - When It Comes to Politics, Burmese Say, Government Is All Too Helpful
• Vietnam - Vietnam's inflation rate surges above 25%
• Korea - China urges progress in North Korea nuclear talks
• Korea - U.S. seeks progress from North Korea talks
• Indonesia - Indonesia to pull out of Opec
• Taiwan - Historic China-Taiwan talks held

Europe

• Germany - Hard Times for Germany’s Far Right Party
• Germany - Nazi gay memorial opens in Berlin
• Italy - Twenty-five arrested over Naples rubbish
• France - Sarkozy suggests cap on fuel tax

Middle East

• Iran - Iran nuclear envoy made speaker
• Iran - Iran speaker in IAEA warning
• Israel - Olmert 'took cash in envelopes'
• Israel - Barak calls surprise news conference in Olmert case
• Lebanon - Lebanon's majority picks Siniora to lead new govt
• Iraq - A Sunni Bloc Pulls Back on Rejoining Iraqi Cabinet
• Iraq - Sadr Urges Followers To Protest U.S.-Iraq Pact
• Turkey - Turkey's $12bn package to woo Kurdish region
• Syria - Syria's Assad dismisses Israel demands over Iran

Russia and Former Republics

• Russia - Georgia demands Russian apology over spy plane
• Russia - McCain Urges New Arms Pact With Moscow

South Asia

• Nepal - Nepalis celebrate the 'dawn of the republic'
• Pakistan - US blacklists Pakistan militants
• Pakistan - Britain defense sec endorses talks with Taliban
• Bangladesh - Bangladesh parties decline talks