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To defang Taliban, some look to private schools
The schoolhouse is so tiny that dozens of pupils have to sit outdoors. They're lucky if their teachers have more than a basic education. And the chanting of math equations and Quranic verses gets so loud that the children have a hard time hearing themselves. (Associated Press Writer, 11:41 a.m.)
UN: About 200 staff to be pulled from Afghanistan
The U.N. says hundreds of its staffers will be temporarily pulled out of Afghanistan in the wake of an Oct. 28 attack that killed five of its workers, but it's still determining exactly how many. (AP, 7:20 a.m.)
Afghan ministry: NATO strike kills Afghan soldiers
NATO and Afghan authorities were investigating Saturday whether an airstrike during the intensive search for two missing U.S. paratroopers mistakenly killed eight Afghans and wounded more than 20 Afghan and American forces. (Associated Press Writer, 10:52 a.m.)
Obama to meet Myanmar, other ASEAN leaders
President Barack Obama will meet leaders of Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar, in a high-level affirmation of Washington's new policy of engaging the military-ruled country despite its dismal human rights record. (Associated Press Writer, 5:22 a.m.)
Afghan gov't says UN representative out of line
Pushing back against international criticism, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the top U.N. official in the country overstepped his authority by giving instructions on how to rid the government of corruption and warlords. (Associated Press Writer, 10:22 a.m.)
Pakistan: 12 militants killed in offensive
Pakistani soldiers killed 12 militants in gunbattles over the past day, officials said Saturday, as government forces pressed on with their offensive in the mountainous Taliban sanctuary of South Waziristan. (Associated Press Writer, 7:12 a.m.)
Pakistan's fashionistas defy Taliban
Some women strode the catwalk in vicious spiked bracelets and body armor. Others had their heads covered, burqa-style, but with shoulders -- and tattoos -- exposed. Male models wore long, Islamic robes as well as shorts and sequined T-shirts. (Associated Press Writer, 7:42 a.m.)
Thaksin on a mission to humiliate Thai government
Thailand's fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has spent much of the past three years roaming the globe, shopping for diamonds in Africa, golfing at Asian resorts -- and humiliating the government from a distance. (Associated Press Writer, 12:51 a.m.)
Unique homecoming to Vietnam for US commander
On the day his side lost the Vietnam War, Hung Ba Le fled his homeland at the age of 5 in a fishing trawler crammed with 400 refugees. Thirty-four years later, he made an unlikely homecoming -- as the commander of a U.S. Navy destroyer. (Associated Press Writer, 8:51 a.m.)
25 on manhunt hurt in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 25 members of international and Afghan security forces were injured yesterday in fierce fighting in northwest Afghanistan while carrying out a large-scale manhunt for two missing American soldiers, military officials said. (Los Angeles Times, 12:23 a.m.)
Britain wants reform in Afghanistan
LONDON - Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Washington’s closest ally in Afghanistan, toughened his tone yesterday with this harsh message for the Afghan leadership: Clean up your act - for real this time - or risk a cutoff of support. (Associated Press, 12:28 a.m.)