In Pakistan a new controversy — and a national strike of religious parties — is emerging over proposed changes in draconian blasphemy laws. One of the laws says if you insult the Koran, you can be executed. The proposed changes are in part the results of pressure from the West, which is coming up against religious conservatives in the country. We're joined for more on the story by Jill McGivering, who is reporting for our partner the BBC. 

Millions in Pakistan are still without a home as winter quickly approaches. The BBC's Jill McGivering just returned from one of the most affected regions. McGivering reports that many of the victims say government officials are corrupt and are withholding resources, including blankets, money and shelter. But Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik tells McGivering "this is dishonesty on the part of the people."

Perhaps no one has seen the damage wrought upon Afghanistan's infrastructure more than the country's bus drivers, who can often spend hours on the roads traveling just small distances. Our partners at the BBC spoke with several bus drivers and passengers in Afghanistan about how violent and dangerous buses have become since the American invasion of Afghanistan began. On roads in Afghanistan, you're more likely to be caught in the middle of crossfire than running a red light.

Ad Pakistan struggles to cope with a devastating flood, the U.S. has stepped in, delivering aid, boxes of biscuits and sacks of flour, and evacuating people from flooded areas by helicopter.  The U.S. has become the single biggest international donor to Pakistan during these troubles and their presence and aid has shifted Pakistani perceptions of America. However, this may not necessarily mean a consistently positive relationship on a political level.

We look ahead to the coming week with Chris Hayes, Washington editor for The Nation, and Jill McGivering, BBC's Asia editor.  On the agenda: this morning's Senate deal on health care reform; where U.S. and Pakistani relations are headed; when Guantánamo Bay might close; the end results of climate meetings in Copenhagen; and the president's coming vacation in his home state, Hawai'i.

We look ahead to events that are making the news for this week including health care, trade relations between the U.S. and China, Congressman Joe Wilson and the war in Afghanistan. To go over the details, we talk to Marcus Mabry, international business editor for The New York Times and Jill McGivering, Asia editor for the BBC.

 

For this week's agenda, we look ahead to President Obama's upcoming speech to school children across the country, the week on Wall Street after the long holiday weekend, and the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Joining us today is Marcus Mabry, international business editor for The New York Times. And from Bush House in London Jill McGivering, Asia editor for the BBC World Service.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest after an American man swam out to her lakeside home back in May. BBC Asia expert Jill McGivering tells us about the sentence and the uninvited lakeside visitor.

For this Monday's agenda segment, we talk about the news for the week ahead including NAFTA, health care, Pakistan and Secretary of State Clinton's visit to Africa. Joining The Takeaway for this agenda segment is The Nation Magazine’s Washington Editor Chris Hayes, and the BBC Asia Editor Jill McGivering.

North Korea and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have launched a war of words. In a speech in Thailand, where she is attending a regional summit, Secretary Clinton urged North Korea to renounce nuclear weapons; North Korea's official media responded by calling Clinton "an unintelligent funny lady." North Korea also announced that the six-party talks on disarmament were dead. Jill McGivering, the BBC's Asia correspondent, joins The Takeaway to explain what's at stake.

Here is more on Secretary Clinton's trip to the ASEAN summit and her call for changes in Myanmar and North Korea:

Taliban attacks today rocked two eastern cities in Afghanistan. In the city of Gardez, Taliban militants dressed as women in burqas tried to set off explosives but were shot before they could do so. The AP reports that 13 Taliban militants and Afghan security forces have died in the attacks. The Takeaway talks to Jill McGivering, a BBC reporter in London.

For this Monday's agenda segment, we talk about the Senate Finance Committee's bipartisan plan and President Obama's health care reform. The Takeaway also talks about Hillary Clinton's trip to India, the Taliban video of the captured U.S. soldier and how some banks are making big money again. The Takeway is joined by Marcus Mabry, International Business Editor for The New York Times and Jill McGivering, Asia Editor for the BBC.

An American man swam across a lake in Myanmar and, as a result, a pro-democracy leader is imprisoned. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel peace prize laureate, has been taken to a top security prison in the capital for violating the terms of her house arrest, after John Yettaw, the American man, swam across a lake to enter her home, uninvited. It’s a mysterious story and the BBC’s Asia analyst Jill McGivering has been following it.

Dozens of people are dead in Lahore, Pakistan this morning after gunmen attacked a police training center. Pakistani troops have now taken control of the academy after gunmen seized a number of hostages. For more on this disturbing situation, we talk to BBC Correspondent Jill McGivering in Lahore.