Lebanon Violence: Lebanon's army says at least 20 Islamist militants and two soldiers were killed in a battle today (Sunday) near a Palestinian refugee camp.
Authorities say the fighting broke out when Fatah al-Islam militants tried to flee the Nahr al-Bared camp near Tripoli in northern Lebanon. Security forces said several militants were captured.
Lebanese officials believe fewer than 100 Fatah al-Islam militants remain at the shantytown, where they have battled Lebanese troops since May 20th.
The army has vowed to continue attacking the militants until they surrender unconditionally.
The fighting has killed around 150 Lebanese soldiers and more than 120 militants and civilians.
Most of the more than 30-thousand people who normally inhabit the camp fled to other areas in the early weeks of the battle.
SoKor – Hostages: Nineteen South Koreans held hostage for six weeks by the Taleban in Afghanistan have arrived in Seoul for an emotional reunion with their families.
The group was greeted by a frenzy of journalists in the South Korean capital today (Sunday) after flying in from Dubai.
At the Incheon International airport, the former captives bowed in a gesture of respect. A man in the group (Yoo Kyung-sik) apologized to the Korean public for the pain and worry the hostage ordeal had caused.
The group then headed to a hospital for psychological and medical care.
Taleban gunmen kidnapped 23 South Korean Christian church workers in southern Afghanistan on July 19th. Most of the hostages were women. Two male hostages were killed, and two women were released a few weeks ago.
US – NoKor: Negotiators from the United States and North Korea are to wrap up talks today (Sunday) on North Korea's nuclear program after reporting progress in their first day of discussions.
The two sides expressed optimism Saturday about the progress of a six-nation agreement to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill said that he and North Korea's Kim Kye Kwan had reached a "substantial understanding" Saturday in Geneva on what needs to be accomplished in the coming months.
Kim said he expects the meeting will produce "fruitful" results.
The envoys are trying to determine how to normalize relations and establish what needs to be done to remove North Korea from a U.S. list of terrorism sponsors.
Iran Nuclear: Iran has warned it would review its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency if the U.N. Security Council passes a third sanctions resolution.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters in Tehran today (Sunday) that if there is a new U.N. resolution, Iran would consider different options.
Hosseini did not specify what the options might be.
The United Nations has already imposed two sets of sanctions against Iran, and Washington is seeking another.
The United States and its allies accuse Iran of seeking to build atomic weapons under the cover of a civilian program.
Australia - APEC: Australian police have arrested 12 environmental activists for protesting as the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum opened in Sydney.
The Greenpeace activists painted anti-APEC slogans on a coal ship in the Australian port of Newcastle, north of Sydney today (Sunday).
The New South Wales premier (Morris Iemma) warned activists that the full force of the law would be used against any violent protesters during the meeting.
Australia is taking unprecedented security measures to protect the leaders from APEC's 21 economies, including the presidents of the United States, China and Russia.
The officials are to focus on global trade talks, regional economic integration and climate change.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard says the 21 governments likely will not agree on targets to reduce pollution.
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