The time is 23:30 (UTC) on July 12th, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

Israel
Israel has launched an incursion into southern Lebanon claiming this is a search for two Israeli soldiers. The soldiers were taken Wednesday by Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia, during an incursion into Israel.

United Nations
China and Russia have today put forward a jointly-crafted resolution regarding sanctions against North Korea. The document was released to counter a Japanese alternative, which was written in response to last week's Taepodong-2 missile tests.

Iraq
A group allegedly linked to al Qaida, Mujahedeen Shura Council in Iraq, posted a web video Tuesday which purported to show two U.S. soldiers' mutilated bodies and claimed the soldiers were killed to avenge the rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza. 

Russia
A G8 summit has been planned to take place from 15-17 July in St Petersburg, Russia. Several sources have reported that a systematic police crackdown on people participating in alternative meetings (a Libertarian Forum and the Russian Social Forum) and critical of the official meeting has begun almost a week prior to the summit. Estimates range from dozens to one or two hundred arrests or detainments.

United Kingdom
Police have arrested Lord Levy, chief fundraiser to the Labour Party and close associate of Tony Blair. Lord Levy was arrested by the Specialist Crime Directorate of London’s Metropolitan police as part of an on-going investigation into the cash-for-peerages row which has troubled the Labour government since the start of the year.

United Kingdom
The British government has given permission for new nuclear power stations to be built in the United Kingdom. This decision follows months of public debate and controversy over the proposal.

Scotland
A controversial defamation court case is continuing today in Edinburgh after hearing fresh allegations against one of Scotland's most influential politicians. Tommy Sheridan, a Member of the Scottish Parliament and convener of the Scottish Socialist Party, is pressing ahead with the case despite claims of orgies and other sexual acts by tabloid newspaper The News of the World.

New Zealand
Tonight, July 12, the New Zealand Police have arrested a man for murdering Tony Stanlake.
The murderer, 21-year-old, will be in Wellington's District Court tomorrow morning.

computers
Microsoft launched its free online classified listing site, Windows Live Expo today in the United States market, announcing that it is no longer a public pre-release beta version, but "a fully fledged Windows Live service". The corporation is readying a UK version, too.

sports – football or soccer
Zinedine Zidane has apologised on French TV for his actions on the World Cup final, Wednesday. Zidane had headbutted Italian player Marco Materazzi and was sent off as a result.

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Wikinews:Briefs/July 12, 2006