The wife of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to three years in jail for tax fraud.

Pojaman Shinawatra, her brother Bannapot Damapong, who was also given three years, and her secretary, who was handed a two-year sentence, were all found guilty of evading a tax of 546m baht ($16.3m) in a 1997 shares transfer in the family telecoms business. The three were released today on bale, pending an appeal.

This is the first of several cases against the family. Thaksin, who is being tried in the Supreme Court for alleged corruption, has always denied any wrongdoing by his family and insists the charges are politically motivated.

Andrew Chant and Andrew Drummond in Bangkok are covering this story.

 

 The former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, is to appear before the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague today to be formally charged with war crimes.

Mr Karadzic was indicted on 11 counts of crimes against humanity and genocide in connection with the 1990s Bosnian conflict, but the exact charges will only be revealed in court. He will also be asked to enter a plea, but has 30 days to do so.

The former leader does not recognise the court and plans to defend himself. Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade last week after 13 years on the run and was extradited on Wednesday to the Netherlands.

Alix Rijckaert in The Hague and Ana Uzelac, Shiv Sharma and Neil MacDonald in Belgrade and Balkan expert Tim Judah are across this event.
 

Pensioner Florina Serban is facing jail after police found her growing cannabis which she pulped up to make carpets. The 71-year-old told cops that her family had used the cannabis plants for years to make hemp, a fibrous material from which she was able to make her carpets.

When police told her she was being arrested for having a marijuana plantation in her back garden in Recea, southern Romania, she told them she thought it was a joke. She said: "I don't know what cannabis is. For me it's just a plant to make carpets of."

Austrian Times correspondents are available in Vienna and GRN correspondents are available in Romania.

 A truck bomb has killed at least 12 people and injured 14 near a passport office in a busy Sunni area of Baghdad. Reports suggest the parked vehicle exploded near al-Maghreb street in the northern district of Adhamiya.

LA Times correspondent Said Rifai is reporting on continuing violence in the Iraqi capital.

 

 Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, renowned for exposing Stalin's labour camps in his novels has died at the age of 89. He was the author of 'The Gulag Archipelago' and 'One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich' and was imprisoned by Stalin for criticizing him in a letter.

After spending 20 years in exile he returned to Russia in 1994 and wrote about Russian history and its identity. Solzhenitsyn was a Nobel laureate.

GRN's Carl Schreck is in the Russian capital covering reaction and mourning.

 

Former US President Bill Clinton has told a world Aids conference in Mexico that a 50% rise in funding is needed to keep up with expanding drug programmes. Figures released ahead of the conference in Mexico's capital show the number of people with HIV worldwide has decreased slightly. However, infection rates are still rising in some countries including Russia, China, Germany and the UK. The UN General Assembly and the Group of Eight (G8) have set the goal of achieving universal access to treatment and therapy by 2010. Some 33 million people are affected by HIV, two thirds in sub-Saharan Africa. The conference started Sunday and will continue through till Friday. James Blears is reporting from the conference in Mexico City and secured an interview with Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox, a spokeswoman for Oxfam.
 

Thousands of soldiers are in the streets of the South Korean capital getting ready to secure the city for a two-day visit by US President George W Bush. President Bush is to hold talks with President Lee Myung-bak and then continue to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The main concern for the US Presidents security are from angry demonstrators, protesting about a controversial beef import deal. The protests forced Bush to shelve his original plan to visit South Korea in July. At least 20,000 security workers have been deployed to handle protests. The protestors claim that Korea agreed to resume the import of US beef without getting sufficient assurances for adequate protection against BSE, also known as mad cow disease. Anna Fifield in Seoul is following George Bush's visit to South Korea.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called an all-party meeting in an attempt to calm the worsening situation in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The meeting comes as protests continue in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley and the Hindu-majority Jammu region. Jammu protesters are angry at the state government's decision to repeal a move to allot land for a Hindu shrine in the Kashmir valley. Eight protesters have been killed and many more injured in protests over the last couple of weeks.

According to reports, the prime minister is expected to ask the other parties, in particular the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to help resolve the situation in Kashmir.

Randeep Ramesh and Sanjay Jha in New Delhi are following developments in this story.

The funeral for the Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn is being held today at Moscow's Donskoi monastery following an all-night vigil.

President Dmitry Medvedev joined mourners at the monastery's cathedral, which is the final resting place of many Russian poets, philosophers and historians. Solzhenitsyn's work - the Gulag Archipelago and One Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich - exposed Stalin's prison system and resulted in 20 years in exile from the former Soviet Union. Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, who was an officer in the KGB secret police during the Soviet era, was among the thousands of mourners paying their respects as the Nobel laureate's body lay in state on Tuesday.

Solzhenitsyn returned to Russian from exile in 1994. He died of heart failure at his home near Moscow.

Kevin O'Flynn, Carl Schreck and LA Times correspondent Megan Stack in Moscow are available for 2-ways.

 The Olympic torch has been paraded through China's capital on the final leg of its global relay, accompanied by cheering, flag-waving crowds.

Over three days more than 800 torch bearers will carry the flame to Beijing's landmarks, ahead of the start of Friday's Games. The flame's arrival was also marked by a protest by four Free Tibet activists from the UK and the US who unfurled banners close to the Olympic stadium.

On Tuesday, the flame passed through Sichuan province, which was devastated by an earthquake in May. A minute's silence was held in Guang'an city, honouring almost 70,000 people who were killed in the quake.

Athletes' health remains a concern as a haze settled over Beijing on Wednesday, although Beijing officials said air quality remained "fairly good".

Daniel Schearf and Jamila Trindle in Beijing are following the run-up to the Olympics.

Deadly clashes between Pakistani forces and pro-Taliban militants in the tribal area along the Afghan border have killed up to 25 people.

There is no independent verification of figures, but a Taliban spokesman, Maulvi Omar, said that 15 soldiers had been killed in the fighting. He did not have details of militant casualties.

Clashes began late on Wednesday in the Loi Sum area in Bajaur, part of Federally Administered Area (Fata), when militants intercepted a security vehicle. Fighting continued overnight with army helicopters striking militant hideouts in the mountainous region, according to reports.

There are regular clashes between government troops and pro-Taliban militants in the lawless tribal region bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Shaheen Buneri in Peshawar is covering this event.

US President George W Bush has expressed his "deep concerns" over China's human rights record as he prepares to travel to Beijing to attend the Olympic Games.

Speaking in Thailand's capital, Bangkok on Thursday, the US President said the "..the US believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings." However, he said he was optimistic about China's future and said change would arrive on "its own terms". The speech also included criticism of Burma.

China promised to make reforms in human rights, media freedoms and the provision of heath and education when it was awarded the games in 2001. However, human rights campaigners, such as Amnesty International, say China has not lived up to these promises.

Andrew Chant and Andrew Drummond in Bangkok are available for 2-ways. GRN's Daniel Schearf is in Beijing covering the final preparations for the Games.

The 2008 Olympic Games is to open today in China's capital Beijing amid pollution concerns. The lavish ceremony at the city's national stadium - known as the Bird's Nest - will involve around 10,000 performers and will be watched on TV by an estimated global audience of 4 million.

Visibility is very poor today and there has been an official warning that the cloud could interfere with the ceremony.

The run-up to the elections has been dogged by issues such as China's human rights record, internet access and pollution. President Hu Jintao hit back at criticisms over its rights record calling criticisms made by President George W Bush yesterday as "interference" in its internal affairs and insisting it put its people first.

Daniel Schearf and Peter Foster will be reporting from the "Bird's Nest."
 

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai are to hold make-or-break talks in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, on Sunday aimed at finalising a power-sharing deal, a South African newspaper reported today.

Business Day said that it was understood the two were coming closer to an agreement, though central issues remain unresolved.
The paper said South African President Thabo Mbeki, the lead mediator in Zimbabwe, was expected to fly to Harare for talks on Saturday on Sunday.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change began talking over two weeks ago to resolve a crisis that came to a head after the 84-year-old Mugabe was re-elected in a widely condemned June poll boycotted by the opposition. ZANU-PF and MDC officials were not immediately available for comment on the report.

Bill Corcoran and Sebastien Berger in Johannesburg are across this story.
 

Chinese officials have admitted to hiring "cheerleaders" to fill empty venues and improve the atmosphere at some Olympic events.

Wang Wei, a senior official with the Beijing organising committee (Bocog), said local authorities have hired volunteers, dressed in yellow shirts, to fill empty seats. He said that other Olympics had experienced similar problems.

The comments come after spectators and journalists noted that certain venues were far from full, despite all events being sold out. Mr Wang attributed this to a number of factors including the hot and humid weather in Beijing and said that some spectators were turning up only for specific events, even though they had tickets for a whole session.

Daniel Schearf, Jamila Trindle and Peter Foster in Beijing are reporting from the Olympics.

Georgia now appears to be facing military assaults on two fronts as Russian- backed rebels in Abkhazia say they have launched an offensive against Georgian forces.

The rebels, who began their attack at 0600 local time (0200GMT), say they are trying to push Georgian troops from a strategic gorge in the west of the breakaway province. Elsewhere, Georgian troops have withdrawn to defend the capital against a Russian assault. Some reports say that Russian troops now control many key bridges and roads across Georgia, leaving the capital isolated.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy, whose country currently chairs the EU, is visiting Russian and Georgia today where he will hold talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili. The visit comes as Russia's envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, dismissed a three-point French peace plan put to the Security Council, saying "I cannot see us accepting this French draft".

Moscow has called for an emergency meeting of NATO to discuss the conflict, which erupted when Georgia launched a surprise offensive on Thursday night to retake South Ossetia, prompting Russian retaliation.
Diana Petriashvili, Giorgi Lomsadze, Margot Dunne and LA Times correspondent Megan Stack in Tbilisi and Kevin O'Flynn in Moscow are available for 2-ways.

Please note Georgia is now classified as a conflict zone. Hazardous environment rates will now apply to all bookings.

The outgoing commander of British forces in Iraq indicates that a massive withdrawal of UK forces in the country may be imminent. Major General Barney White-Spunner says the Iraqi-led attack on Shia militia groups in Basra had improved security, and that the militias would not be able to regain control over the city. There is obvious "scope" for the government to review troop numbers, he added. Previously, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the mission is to change in 2009, but the Ministry of Defence insists it is too early to be specific. Major General White-Spunner, who has just completed a six-months duty as the British commander in Iraq, described Basra as a "happier and more secure" city, with property prices doubling, due to interest by foreign investors. Said Rifai, Tina Susman and Nathaniel Parker in Baghdad, and Christopher Walker in London are covering this story.

Poland and the US have signed a preliminary agreement for hosting part of the US missile defence shield. According to the agreement, the US will install 10 interceptor missiles at a base on the Baltic coast. In return, Poland will receive help in strengthening its air defences. The US says the system will protect itself and Europe against long range missile attacks by "rogue states". The deal may heighten tension between the US and Russia, already stressed over Georgia. Moscow has already warned that it will be forced to redirect its missiles at Poland, as the new missiles "will upset the military balance in Europe". Adam Easton in Warsaw, James Gerstenzang in Washington and Kevin O'Flynn in Moscow are available for two-ways
 

Pakistan is facing a political crisis, when for the first time in it's history an Impeachment process is set to take place. All the collation parties have united in an attempt to get rid of the President, Pervez Musharraf. They have prepared a charge sheet against him which will be presented in the National Assembly on Friday. A Senior Pakistani government official says a deal has been brokered with President Pervez Musharraf for his resignation, according to a number of local sources. Washington still treats the reports of Musharraf's intended resignation as part of the "rumour mill", says White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. Ms Perino added the United States considered the leadership of Pakistan to be "an issue for Pakistanis". Mr. Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup but has been isolated since his allies lost a February election. Musharraf's chief spokesman, retired Major-General Rashid Qureshi, says he does not know of any plan by Musharraf to step down or indeed that any negotiations on his resignation are taking place. However, Tariq Azeem Khan, a politician close to Musharraf and a former deputy government minister, confirms talks were under way. "Well-wishers are trying to ensure that matters are settled amicably through discussions rather than going through a long, protracted impeachment process," he said. In his Independence Day address on Thursday Musharraf called for reconciliation in order to tackle economic and security problems. His appeal was rejected with coalition officials saying steps to impeach the president are on track.

Graham Walsh and Saeed Shah in Islamabad are following Musharraf's impeachment crisis.

Russia is to begin withdrawing troops from Georgia, following a pledge by President Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Medvedev promised to abide by the terms of a ceasefire brokered to end a week of fighting in Georgia and its breakaway province of South Ossetia. However, Moscow says it has the right to keep some troops as peacekeepers in a buffer zone around South Ossetia.

European leaders warned Russia on Sunday to withdraw its forces from Georgia or face unspecified consequences. Russian troops still remain in large tracts of the country well beyond the two separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The French President Nicholas Sarkozy told Russia yesterday that more delays would have 'serious consequences on relations between Russia and the European Union'.

NATO ministers are expected to gather this week to discuss the crisis. The US is backing efforts by both Georgia and Ukraine to join the alliance, and on Sunday Mrs Merkel offered her support to Tbilisi's bid.

LA Times correspondent Megan Stack in Tbilisi, Margot Dunne, Giorgi Lomsadze and Diana Petriashvili and Kevin O'Flynn in Moscow are available for 2-ways.

At least nine people have been killed when a suicide bomber drove a car into the gate of a US base in eastern Khost province of Afghanistan, officials say. The dead were all Afghan civilians. The attack comes as Afghanistan celebrates its independence from Britain 89 years ago; amid warnings that militants are planning attacks to coincide with the festivities.

Thousands of soldiers have been deployed in the capital, Kabul, and police check points set up at nearly every intersection in the city and the main entry points into the capital. A planned address by President Hamid Karzai has been called off and UN staff told to work from home. Violence has escalated in Afghanistan this year. The UN now classifies almost half the country as "extremely risky" for their staff - a classification that did not even appear three years ago.

Jerome Starkey, Jon Boone and Rachel Reid in Kabul are across this event.

The US state of Florida is preparing for the onslaught of Tropical Storm Fay, which is thought to have claimed dozens of lives as it travelled through the Caribbean.

Forecasters are warning Fay could reach hurricane force, with the potential to top sustained winds of 74mph by the time it his the west coast of Florida early on Tuesday.

Florida's Governor Charlie Crist warned that Fay threatened a "major disaster", but insisted the state was prepared. At least 22 school districts, a number of colleges and a university have cancelled classes and residents of Miami have been stocking up on bottled water, fuel and other vital supplies.

Jacqui Goddard, Richard Luscombe and LA Times correspondent Carole Williams in Miami are following this story.

At least 15 people have been killed in a bomb attack on a hospital in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, officials say. There has also been fighting between militants and soldiers in the Bajaur district on the Afghan border.

This comes in the wake of the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf on Monday. One of the main challenges of the ruling coalition, who are meeting in Islamabad today to discuss who will succeed the former president, is to improve security. Leaders of the coalition - consisting of the parties of the late Benazir Bhutto and ex-Prime Minister Muhammad Sumroo - held a first round of inconclusive talks on Monday. Sources say that talks are focused on who will succeed Mr Musharraf and the restoration of the deposed judges.

Caretaker President Muhammad Sumroo will lead the country until a new election is held by parliament. It is not clear whether Mr Musharraf will face prosecution now he is out of power.

Shaheen Buneri in Peshawar, Saeed Shah and Nadeem Ahmad Sarwar in Islamabad are covering these stories. GRN can also provide footage of the scene of the hospital bombing.

A massive fire broke out at Egypt's upper house of parliament on Tuesday night, injuring six people. Police and officials say the injuries were a result of smoke inhalation and minor burns. Flames and clouds of smoke were visibly billowing from the three floors building in central Cairo. State television said the cause of the blaze is believed to be a short circuit. Witnesses said helicopters hovered over the river Nile to scoop water up into containers suspended beneath them before flying to parliament and dumping the water over the burning building. The flames caused the parts of the ceiling on the top floor to collapse. The army had been called in to help fight the fire. Police forces sealed off the area around the building.
Reem Nada in Cairo is covering this story.
 

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Warsaw for the singing of a deal to locate part of the US's controversial missile defence system on Polish soil. The singing ceremony will to take place today at 09:30 (GMT) following 18 months of negotiation. Ms Rice and Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski are to sign the agreement. Russia is angered by the deal, and has warned the base could become a target for a nuclear strike. Washington claims the system is designated protect the US and most of Europe against missile attacks by "rogue elements" in the Middle East or from Iran. The agreement involves both US missiles and servicemen stationed on Polish soil.
Adam Easton in Warsaw is covering this story.