President Bush is greeted by Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in Bangkok, 06 Aug 2008

BUSH - ASIA: U.S. President George Bush has arrived in Thailand, where he will criticize China's human rights record on the eve of his attending the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. The White House released excerpts of a speech to reporters today aboard Air Force One during a flight to Bangkok, the second leg of the president's three-nation Asian tour. Mr. Bush will say the United States "stands in firm opposition" to China's detention of political, human rights, and religious activists. The president will also call on Beijing to trust its people with greater freedom, saying it is the only way for China to reach its full potential.

Chinese NBA basketball icon Yao Ming passes 2008 Olympic Games flame to next torchbearer on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, 06 Aug 2008

CHINA - OLYMPICS: The flame of the Beijing Olympics has arrived in the capital city for the final leg of its international relay ahead of Friday's opening ceremonies. Thousands of enthusiastic residents cheered and waved Chinese flags as today's relay began with a lighting ceremony at the Forbidden City. China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, was the first to carry the torch, followed by other Chinese celebrities, including National Basketball Association star Yao Ming. Despite the tight security in Beijing, foreign activists staged two separate demonstrations to protest China's human rights record.

Thai soldiers enter to a Cambodian Buddhist pagoda, near Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, 22 Jul 2008

CAMBODIA - THAILAND: Cambodia and Thailand have withdrawn their military forces from an armed standoff at a second disputed ancient temple along their border. Today's redeployment of troops from around the Ta Moan Thom temple is expected to help lower tensions in the region. The latest standoff began last week, when Cambodia said its soldiers were prevented from entering the 13th century temple by Thai soldiers who had recently been deployed there. Thai military officials deny the allegations, saying its troops have been deployed at that location for decades.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a press conference, Wednesday, 06 Aug. 2008

MALAYSIA - ANWAR: Authorities will formally charge Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim with sodomy during a court appearance Thursday. Anwar received a letter today ordering him to appear in court. He is accused of having sexual relations with a former male aide. Speaking to reporters after receiving the summons, Anwar accused Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of personally ordering the charges Anwar faces a 20 year prison sentence if convicted. The former deputy prime minister was forced out of the government in 1998 after he was accused of corruption and sodomy.

Cyclone-affected residents wait for food aid distribution from private donors in Mawlamyingchun, Irrawaddy Delta in Burma, 03 Jul 2008

UN - BURMA AID: A United Nations official says that three months after Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma's Irrawaddy delta, aid workers still face a challenge in delivering enough relief supplies to survivors. The U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Burma, Daniel Baker, said Tuesday that the agriculture sector will need an additional 51 million dollars. Eighty-five percent of seed stocks were lost in cyclone-affected areas. Since the cyclone, more than 25-thousand tons of food has been delivered to affected areas, reaching 684-thousand people.

President Pervez Musharraf

PAKISTAN - POLITICS: Pakistan's president has abruptly canceled plans to attend the opening of the Olympic Games in China, as Pakistan debates its political future. President Pervez Musharraf had planned to attend the opening ceremony in Beijing and meet with Chinese leaders, but officials now say he will remain in Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed the cancellation today but did not give an explanation. The announcement comes as Pakistan's ruling coalition met for a second day (today) to discuss the possible impeachment of Mr. Musharraf.

IRAQ

US - IRAQ - BUDGET: U.S. congressional auditors say the Iraqi government has spent little of its growing oil revenues on rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure. The Government Accountability Office said in a report Tuesday that Iraq could earn oil revenues of up to 79 billion dollars this year. It says that could give Iraq a 2008 budget surplus of up to 50 billion dollars. The U.S. report says Baghdad spent only a fraction (three-point-nine billion dollars) of its earnings on security and upgrading its oil, electricity and water facilities in the past three years. It blames the limited Iraqi spending on a shortage of trained budgetary staff, weak procurement systems and violence.

Republic of South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA - STRIKE: South Africa's labor unions are preparing to hold a nationwide striketo protest the rising cost of food, fuel and electricity. The Congress of South African Trade Unions says more than two million of its members will participate in today's action. The walkout is expected to halt production in the nation's mines as well as car manufacturers and other businesses. The labor organization says the strike is in response to the danger of layoffs in the mining sector and elsewhere, due to reductions in the energy supplies by South Africa's national power company, Eskom.

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