AP - Pakistan has beaten the Taliban in a major stronghold close to the Afghan border, is close to victory in another and expects to pacify most of the remaining tribal areas before the end of the year, commanders said Saturday.
AP - Iraq’s parliament pushed back voting Saturday on this year’s budget and could be forced to make further cuts because of falling oil prices.
AP - President Barack Obama challenged the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo.
AFP - Southeast Asian leaders called Sunday for increased cooperation and urgent reform to deal with the global financial crisis as they wrapped up a summit dominated by their economic woes.
Reuters - Paul Harvey, who captivated millions of radio listeners daily with his staccato delivery, firmly set opinions and old-fashioned outlook, died on Saturday at the age of 90, ABC News said.
AFP - China’s parliament opens this week with the plotline of the annual Communist Party political show centred squarely on the government’s plans to rescue the country from economic gloom.
AP - When archaeologists on a dig in southern Portugal last year flipped over a heavy chunk of slate and saw writing not used for more than 2,500 years, they were elated.
Reuters - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday any unity government with Hamas would have to agree to a two-state solution with Israel, a demand quickly rejected by his Islamist rivals.
Reuters - President Barack Obama has decided to nominate Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services and will formally announce the decision at a White House ceremony on Monday, a U.S. official said on Saturday.
Reuters - Britain’s main opposition leader David Cameron said on Saturday the sudden death of his young son had left his family with a “hole in our life so big that words can’t describe it.”