So much for Summer being the time of doldrums. While the Western Hemisphere (or at least the northern part of it) was preoccupied with the firing of Gen. McChrystal and the ongoing catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, the rest of the world was quietly going about their own dramas. The days long siege in Jamaica over the capture of drug lord Christopher Coke finally came to an end. Australia elected it's first Female Prime Minister. The G20 Summit got off to it's usual start (even though it's in our hemisphere, the demonstration are international in flavor). The Catholic Church was the recipient of the gift that keeps on giving, this time it's Belgium's turn and arrests in the shooting of a Rwandan exile in South Africa are keeping that region under a nervous gaze.

(Christopher Coke - some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed)

After a siege that went on seemingly forever and leaving some 75 dead in the process, Jamaican drug lord Christopher Coke finally surrendered to authorities to face the next chapter in the drug soaked saga of the Caribbean.

(Julia Gillard - a first for Australia)

For the first time in their history, a woman became Prime Minister of Australia. ABC Radio National's Politics Program took a look at the historic election and the ramifications for the country.

(Now it's Belgium's turn)

Fresh new allegations of sexual abuse and pedophilia by Catholic priests surfaced, this time in Belgium which prompted the Belgian Police to stage a raid on the Archdiocese in Brussels this week. As reported on the BBC World Service's Newshour, records files and mountains of paper were carted away in what is another in a long line of embarrassing situations for the Vatican to pretend never happened.

(It's that time again)

Amidst the flurry of accusations of financial bungling in its hosting, Toronto opened the G20 summit talks this week. The legions of protesters arrived, as did the teargas canisters, nightsticks and horses. While all raged on outside, the financial crisis gripping just about every country the world was raging inside. All in all, a great place to set up a Valium concession. The CBC program The Current did a run down on the first days events.

(Stanley has left the building)

Even our misfortunes didn't escape the scrutiny of the world Press. As reported by the BBC's Lyse Doucet from the From Our Own Correspondent Series, observations and opinions on the aftermath and reactions to the firing of General Stanley McChrystal reverberated all over.

(Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa - no place to hide)

And finally, arrests in the shooting of Faustin Kayumba Naywasa, the exiled General also alleged to have participated in the Rwanda genocide, sparked a wave of concern the tip of the iceberg had been viewed and more was to come.

Perhaps the Dog Days of Summer will finally catch up to the rest of the world. But the rate things are going, it isn't likely. We'll find out soon enough in the next day or so.