US Military-- 4 Terrorists Killed, Dozens detained in Raids Across Iraq

IRAQ: The U.S. military in Iraq says coalition forces have killed four suspected terrorists and detained dozens in operations across the country. The military said Iraqi and U.S. troops carried out several raids early today (Tuesday) in Baghdad and in the Tigris River Valley, north of the capital. It says four Mahdi Army militiamen were killed and eight others detained In Baghdad's Sadr City. The military says the suspects were believed involved in attacking coalition troops and moderate Iraqis. At least 16 other suspects were detained during operations in Baghdad and in areas north of the capital (-- near Baqubah, Taji, and Balad).

THAILAND POL: Thailand's Supreme Court has approved arrest warrants for deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on corruption charges. The court made the ruling after Mr. Thaksin and his wife (Pojamarn) ignored a summons to respond to the charges in court today (Tuesday). Prosecutors accuse the former prime minister of illegally influencing a real estate deal in 2003 so that his wife could buy land from a government agency at a bargain price. Mr. Thaksin and his wife have denied the charges. They are living in Britain. Thai prosecutors say they will consider extradition proceedings if the couple does not show up at a new hearing set for September 25th.

KOREAN SUMMIT: South Korean officials say President Roh Moo-hyun will travel by land to North Korea for a rare meeting with leader Kim Jong Il later this month. Representatives from both countries agreed that Mr. Roh will cross the heavily fortified border by motorcade, rather than by train as Seoul initially proposed. They discussed the plans today (Tuesday) in the North Korean border city of Kaesong. Officials say South Korea will send about 200 delegates to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, for the three-day talks starting August 28th. The leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation and North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

NOKOR FLOODS: South Korea says it is considering sending aid to North Korea, where floods are reported to have killed hundreds of people. South Korea's Unification Ministry said today (Tuesday) it is exploring ways to help North Korea, but that Pyongyang has not asked for assistance yet. North Korea's state-run news agency (the Korean Central News Agency) says 30-thousand buildings have been damaged or destroyed since heavy rains began falling last week. It says the rains also have washed away tens of thousands of hectares of farmland, raising concerns about a possible food shortage.

WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON: The world's oldest person, a 114-year-old Japanese woman, has died. Caretakers say Yone Minagawa died Monday at a nursing home in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka. Born on January 4th, 1893, Minagawa raised five children by selling flowers and vegetables. She enjoyed eating sweets and was particularly fond of Japanese cakes filled with red bean paste. The Guinness Book of World Records named her the world's oldest living person in January after American Emma Faust Tillman died at the age of 114. With Minagawa's passing, the title goes to Edna Parker, a 114-year-old woman from the U.S. state of Indiana.

World News in Lao.