GEORGIA:
Fighting between Georgian and Russian forces continued today (Monday), despite Georgia's offer for a cease-fire.
Georgian Foreign Ministry officials say as many as 50 Russian fighter jets carried out raids throughout the country overnight.
A commander (Marat Kulakhmetov) with Russia's peacekeeping forces told the Interfax news agency today (Monday) that Georgian forces are continuing to fire on Tskhinvali - the capital of the breakaway province South Ossetia.
Russia says it has complete control of the capital. It has not directly
responded to Georgia's call for a cease-fire and peace talks.
THAILAND-THAKSIN: Thailand has issued arrest warrants for deposed Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra and his wife after they skipped bail and fled to Britain
rather than face corruption charges.
Thailand's Supreme Court issued a statement today (Monday)
saying that since the defendants had violated their bail conditions, an
arrest warrant was issued and the bail money was seized.
Mr. Thaksin and his wife Pojaman failed to appear before the court today to defend themselves in a real estate scandal.
OLYMPICS-CHINA: U.S. President George Bush has wrapped up a four-day visit to the Beijing Olympics.
Before departing today (Monday), Mr. Bush told NBC
television in an interview that while there are disagreements between
the United States and China, the two countries can work together.
Mr. Bush also said that it was important for him to attend the Beijing Olympics to show respect for the Chinese people.
World records fell in four events in the pool, with American Michael
Phelps continuing his quest for eight gold medals at the Beijing
Olympics.
OLYMPICS WRAP: Phelps and his American teammates shattered the world record in the
four-by-100 meter freestyle relay with anchorman Jason Lezak touching
the wall to set a new record (3:08.24). President Bush was on hand for the record-setting event.
Australia's Eamon Sullivan set a new world record in the 100-meter freestyle in the lead-off leg of the race (47.24 seconds).
Earlier, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima smashed the world record and
successfully defended his Olympic title in the men's 100-meter
breaststroke (58.91 seconds).
AFGHANISTAN: The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan says eight civilians and 25
militants were killed in an air strike by U.S.-led troops Sunday in the
southern province of Uruzgan.
A coalition statement said today (Monday) that the rebels
had retreated to a compound after ambushing coalition troops and that
the troops called for an airstrike without knowing eleven hostages,
including children, were inside.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged international forces to change
their strategy in the war on terror, saying NATO and U.S. air strikes
in Afghanistan are only killing civilians.
Audio in Lao.
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