U.S-Pakistan-Afghanistan : The U.S. military says militant attacks have tripled in Afghanistan along the border with Pakistan. A spokesman for U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan (Lieutenant Colonel John Paradis) says the increase in attacks was greatest near North Waziristan -- a tribal area where Pakistani authorities agreed to a truce with militants. The spokesman did not say if the militants behind the attacks in Afghanistan were based in Pakistan's North Waziristan region.
Japan-SoKor-China: The leaders of Japan and South Korea have agreed to meet soon to try to repair the two countries' frayed relations. Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun agreed to the meeting during a telephone conversation today (Thursday). No specific date was set for their talks.
Thailand: Officials in Thailand say at least five soldiers have been wounded by a bomb in the country's restive southern region. The men were injured today (Thursday) in Narathiwat province when a roadside bomb exploded near their military vehicle. The conflict in Thailand's mostly Muslim southern provinces has claimed more than 13-hundred lives in the past two years. But, since last Tuesday's military coup, little violence has been reported throughout the country.
Georgia-Russia : Russia has reacted angrily to Georgia's detention of five Russian officers on suspicion of spying. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov referred to the spying accusations as absurd and demanded Georgia release the five officers immediately. Georgian officials say the Russian officers were detained Wednesday in the capital, Tblisi, and the Black Sea port of Batumi. Authorities also arrested 12 Georgian citizens suspected of belonging to the purported spy ring.
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