Morning News Roundup

Afghanistan

Coalition soldiers kill 18 'extremists' in Afghanistan
18 insurgents killed in Afghanistan
U.S.-led troops kill 18 in Afghanistan
Ambush, bombs kill 20 in rising Afghan violence
Four dead in Afghanistan blasts
Beheaded bodies of two Afghans found in Pakistan tribal area

China

Report: China seeks air marshal training
China Calling for Dialogue With Iran
Report: North Korean leader might be in China
Iran envoy and China's foreign minister discuss nuclear issue

Europe

Italian, French PMs to meet on Lebanon deployment

Hezbollah

Annan to request that Iran and Syria stop transferring arms to Hizbullah
Hizbullah says Israeli soldiers won't be freed unconditionally
Hizbullah: We're rearming for next confrontation with Israel
Arab Journalist In January Forecast Hizbullah War
American Military Experts Say Hizbullah Remains Strong
Foreign Media Focus On Israeli Blockade, Play Down Hostage Issue
Hizbullah Agents Eliminated by Elite Police Force
Hizbullah: No unconditional release of soldiers

Iran

Annan to request that Iran and Syria stop transferring arms to Hizbullah
China Calling for Dialogue With Iran
UN not likely to confront Iran until mid-September
Iranian VP visits Lebanon as aid package takes shape
Ex-Iran President Khatami gets U.S. visa
Iran faces risk of sanctions
Iran's atomic chief to visit Russia next week
Iran envoy and China's foreign minister discuss nuclear issue
U.N. may hold off on confronting Iran

Iraq
Iraqi forces strike truce with Shiite militia after battles kill at least 80
Early Iraq pullout "ruinous" to U.S. security: Cheney

Israel

Chairman of Pensioner's Union: Decrease of poor pensioners ridiculous
Peretz: Defense budget won't come at expense of poor
Israeli FM, UN Chief hope ceasefire deal will evolve into full peace
Foreign Media Focus On Israeli Blockade, Play Down Hostage Issue
Peres, Annan Agree That Hostage Release Is Top Priority
Braverman Warns Labor Party May Split Up
Burglars Strike the Home of IDF Intelligence Chief
Report: State Comptroller Expected to Act on Olmert Bribery Allegations
Pilots Accused of Abandoning Ground Forces During War in Lebanon
Israelis Instructed to Leave Sinai
Annan: Cannot Confirm Soldiers Are Alive
Lebanon: IAF jets fly over Beirut, eastern Lebanon
Olmert defends self-appointed members of war probe
Olmert: I hope cease-fire will create new reality
Israel rejects U.N. blockade appeal
Lebanon refuses contact with Israel
Annan: Israel must lift Lebanon blockade
Annan demands Israel lift Gaza closure
Israeli PM hopes for direct contact with Lebanon

Jordan

Jordan Islamist prisoners end hunger strike
Jordan PM visits South Korea for labour talks
Jordan prince warns over Mideast arms race
Jordan parliament OKs terrorism law

Lebanon

Lebanon to compensate bombing victims with USD 33,000 per house
EU commission will pledge USD 54 million at Lebanon
Foreign Media Focus On Israeli Blockade, Play Down Hostage Issue
Annan: We Hope to Double Size of Force
Spanish troops arrive in Beirut on recon mission
Lebanon: IAF jets fly over Beirut, eastern Lebanon
Iranian VP visits Lebanon as aid package takes shape
Brammertz brings probe back to Beirut
Israel rejects U.N. blockade appeal
Lebanon refuses contact with Israel
Annan: Israel must lift Lebanon blockade
Israeli PM hopes for direct contact with Lebanon
Crowd beats up protestors opposed to Turkish force in Lebanon
Italian, French PMs to meet on Lebanon deployment

North Korea

US warship arrives in Japan on N. Korea concerns
Report: North Korean leader might be in China

Pakistan

Protestors block main highway in troubled Pakistani region
Beheaded bodies of two Afghans found in Pakistan tribal area
Protesters block roads in south Pakistan
Pakistani militants decapitate 2 men
Pakistan again detains Kashmiri militant chief

Palestinian Situation

Annan: Lebanon war should divert attention from Palestinian problem
Families of Palestinian prisoners protest in Ramallah
Palestinian president criticizes Hamas government
DF Success Mounts in Gaza Operation
Arab Terrorist: 'IDF Hostage Shalit in Good Health'
IDF Uncovers Terror Tunnel at Karni
Attacks Against IDF Soldiers in Gaza Continue
Damascus Hamas leader: No new Shalit developments
Gaza: IDF finds tunnel to be used in terror attack
IDF kills Palestinian operative in Gaza City
IDF arrests five wanted Palestinians overnight
Annan demands Israel lift Gaza closure
Israeli fire kills six Palestinians in Gaza Strip
Abbas calls for end rocket attacks from Gaza
Abbas' party OKs Hamas unity government

Russia

Russian FM, Hariri discuss Lebanon ceasefire
Iran's atomic chief to visit Russia next week

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia releases 9 Gitmo detainees

Somalia

World donors urge power-sharing deal for Somalia
Five killed, thousands displaced as heavy rains flood Somali capital
Somali Islamists send senior delegation to talks
Somali Islamists mull limiting food aid to boost local production
Somali port gets first use in 11 years

Sudan

Sudan police crack down on protests
U.S. and UK seek vote on U.N. Darfur troops
Sudan president claims West conspiracy
Sudan to send envoy to Washington
Sudan's Beshir to send envoy to meet Bush in Washington

Syria

Previously unknown Syrian group threatens to kidnap Israeli soldiers
Annan to request that Iran and Syria stop transferring arms to Hizbullah
Venezuela Allied with Syria
Damascus Hamas leader: No new Shalit developments
Chavez visits Syria, pledges solidarity against US
Chavez vows to stand by Syria
Chavez says Syria, Venezuela united

Turkey

Explosion in southern Turkish city injures 1
Kurdish splinter group vows to wreak havoc on Turkey
Crowd beats up protestors opposed to Turkish force in Lebanon
Blast in Turkish port wounds one-officials
Turks march to protest Kurdish bombings
Militant Kurds warn of wreaking havoc
Kurdish rebels warn of "hell" after Turkey blasts

UK
British terror suspects appear in court
Three more appear in London court over terror plot
Three terror suspects due to appear in court
U.S. and UK seek vote on U.N. Darfur troops

UN

Israeli FM, UN Chief hope ceasefire deal will evolve into full peace
Annan to request that Iran and Syria stop transferring arms to Hizbullah
Peres says release of kidnapped soldiers is first step towards real truce with Lebanon
Peres, Annan Agree That Hostage Release Is Top Priority
Annan: Cannot Confirm Soldiers Are Alive
Annan: We Hope to Double Size of Force
Annan: Israel must lift Lebanon blockade
UN chief pushes for blockade lift in Israel talks
Annan demands Israel lift Gaza closure
U.N. may hold off on confronting Iran

US

Republicans target 'Islamic fascism'
Teams vie for U.S. border security contract
Americans back anti-terrorism racial profiling: poll
U.S. Navy says officer passed secret Guantanamo data
Ex-Iran President Khatami gets U.S. visa
U.S. wants more access to airline passenger data
Rumsfeld lashes out at Bush's critics
Chertoff seeks more air travelers data
Early Iraq pullout "ruinous" to U.S. security: Cheney
U.S. and UK seek vote on U.N. Darfur troops
Sudan to send envoy to Washington
Chavez visits Syria, pledges solidarity against US
U.S.-led troops kill 18 in Afghanistan

Venezuela

Chavez vows to stand by Syria
Chavez says Syria, Venezuela united
Venezuela Allied with Syria
Chavez visits Syria, pledges solidarity against US
Venezuela's Chavez arrives in Syria
Arab hero' Chavez to visit fellow US-foe Syria

Terrorism

Three more appear in London court over terror plot
Homegrown terror suspects raise concern
Report: China seeks air marshal training
U.S. wants more access to airline passenger data
Jordan parliament OKs terrorism law