Cindy McCain (l) and Laura Bush at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, 01 Sep 2008

US POLITICS:  The U.S. Republican Party is hoping to get its national convention in St. Paul, Minnesota back on schedule today after the opening sessions were scaled down in response to the hurricane situation on the U.S. Gulf Coast.Cindy McCain, the wife of pending presidential nominee John McCain, joined first lady Laura Bush in addressing delegates at Monday's abbreviated session, urging them to put aside partisanship and contribute to relief efforts.Senator McCain himself appeared at an emergency relief center hundreds of kilometers away in Ohio.

A Louisiana National Guard vehicle in New Orleans, 01 Sep 2008

GUSTAV:  Gustav has been downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression as it continues across the southern U.S. state of Louisiana.Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (in Miami) say Gustav now has maximum sustained winds of just 55 kilometers an hour. The storm is expected to continue to slow and lose strength as it moves north and west across western Louisiana and into the neighboring state of Texas.Forecasters say Gustav will produce between 15 to 30 centimeters of rain over portions of Louisiana and Texas, as well as Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma through Thursday.

Thailand's army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda speaks during a news conference at army hall in Bangkok, 02 Sep 2008

THAILAND POLITICS:  Thailand's army chief says he will not use force against protesters in the capital of Bangkok.General Anupong Paochinda told a news conference today that soldiers confronting protesters will not carry firearms and would try to negotiate a peace.The statement came hours after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej declared a state of emergency in the city, following a deadly clash between groups of rival protesters. Mr. Samak also put General Anupong in charge of keeping order in the capital.An announcement broadcast earlier in the day said gatherings of groups of more than five people are banned.

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Secretary General Taro Aso speaks during a press conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, 02 Sep 2008

JAPAN - PRIME MINISTER:  Following a surprise resignation of Japan's prime minister Monday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has begun its process of selecting a successor to Yasuo Fukuda. Party leaders met today to discuss a schedule for electing a new party president, who is all but assured of becoming the country's next prime minister. LDP Secretary-General and former Foreign Minister Taro Aso is seen as a frontrunner. Aso narrowly lost to Mr. Fukuda in last year's race for prime minster. Aso noted his qualifications for the job today, but did not directly say whether he would run.

Tony Banbury says more than half of households in N. Korea are surviving on just two meals a day

NOKOR AID:  The U.N. World Food Program says it needs a half billion dollars over the next 15 months to stave off a famine in North Korea.The WFP's regional director for Asia told reporters in Beijing today that donors should put politics aside and look at the operation from a purely humanitarian point of view.Stalinist North Korea has relied on foreign assistance to feed its population since the mid-1990s. But, the collapse of the Soviet Union, high food prices and tensions with South Korea and Japan have caused food imports to drop. Also, China - the North's primary contributor - has put restrictions on export licenses for grains and flour in order to control domestic inflation.

Australia

AUSTRALIA - DROUGHT:  Australian officials say drought in the country's main food growing region has worsened, with no end in sight.The Murray-Darling Basin Commission, which monitors water supplies in the east coast region, said today (Tuesday) that the water level entering the Murray River is at a record low.The Commission's chief executive, Wendy Craik, told reporters that the drought is worsening and there is no indication conditions will improve in the immediate future.Weather experts said the system needs an extended period of torrential rains, but that no such pattern is on the horizon.

Russia Georgia South Ossetia Abkhazia

RUSSIA - AUSTRALIA:  An Australian newspaper reports Russia is warning Canberra not to block uranium exports to Moscow over the Georgia conflict."The Sydney Morning Herald" quotes Russian Ambassador Alexander Blokhin as saying both countries will suffer economically if Australia does not go through with a deal to sell uranium to Russia for its nuclear power plants.Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Monday warned that if Russia does not withdraw its troops from Georgia, Canberra may refuse to ratify an agreement to sell billions of dollars worth of uranium to Moscow.

Indonesian Muslim women attend an evening prayer called 'tarawih', the night before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, 31 Aug 2008

RAMADAN:  Muslims around the world are beginning to observe the holy month of Ramadan.Most of the world's Muslims marked the first day of Ramadan on Monday, but the starting date varies in some countries depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq and Iran begin observing the holy month Tuesday, while Libya's Muslims started their observance on Sunday.During the month, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations from dawn to sunset.After nightfall, Muslims break the fast with a meal called "iftaar."

Listen to our World News for details.