Now, call the Taliban to marry against your family’s wishes in Swat !

ISLAMABAD - After publicly executing men, women on charges of having illicit relations, the Taliban has now taken up the job of arranging marriages too.

North Korea strongman Kim Jong-il admits to fatigue

SEOUL - Reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has confessed that he feels fatigue from his tough schedule, the communist state’s official media said on Friday.

Domino’s pizza workers face charges over YouTube ’special’ sandwich stunt

NEW YORK - Two Domino’s pizza workers are facing charges over a YouTube video, in which one of them was shown making “special” sandwiches after stuffing cheese up his nose.

China urges US, DPRK to engage in dialogue

BEIJING - China wants the United States to engage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) directly to ease escalating tensions over Pyongyang’s renewed nuclear weapons activities.

Miliband says Pakistan’s domestic issues causing terrorism

GLASGOW - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that Pakistan’s internal problems are a major factor for the spread of terrorism in the country, not the presence of United States and British forces in Afghanistan.

Pak-Taliban chief says sharia-opposing politicians no longer Muslims

MINGORA - Pak-Taliban chief Sufi Muhammad has said that the National Assembly members who opposed the peace deal between the Pakistan Government and the Taliban in Swat, are no more Muslims.

Now, “barbaric” Taliban publicly execute man, woman over illicit relations in FATA

ISLAMABAD - In yet another incident of Taliban’s brutal ways of handing out punishments to people according to its own rules, the outlawed insurgents shot dead a man and a woman on charges of having illicit relations in Hangu district near the border of Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Sarah Palin considered aborting fifth child

NEW YORK - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin admitted having considered abortion when she was pregnant with her fifth child.

Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (Hekmatyar) contacts US for troops pullout

PESHAWAR - The United States based Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) (Hekmatyar) stalwart Daud Abidi has confirmed holding meetings with high-ranking American officials and handing over a letter of Engineer Hekmatyar addressed to US President Barack Obama.

Bids for German teen’s online virginity break £5,500 barrier

LONDON - A teenage student in Germany, who is auctioning her virginity on the Internet, has revealed that three persons have raised bids up to more than 5,500 pounds ever since a doctor has confirmed that she is still innocent.

PCB disappointed, ex-players angered over Pakistan’s exclusion as 2011 World Cup host

PCB disappointed over World Cup hosting loss

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Cricket Board expressed disappointed Saturday after the game’s governing body removed it as co-host of the 2011 World Cup because of security fears.

Hostage captain arrives to cheers in Vt. small town welcome, thanks Navy SEAL ’superheroes’

Pirate hostage captain gets small town welcome

UNDERHILL, Vt. — A small Vermont town welcomed home its hero, an unassuming shipping captain who many have lauded for helping his crew survive a high-seas, international hostage drama off the coast of Somalia.

Hostage captain arrives home in Vt. to cheers, thanks Navy SEAL ’superheroes’ who rescued him

Pirate hostage captain praises SEAL ’superheroes’

UNDERHILL, Vt. — The unassuming ship captain who escaped the clutches of Somali pirates made a triumphant return home Friday, insisting he’s no hero, just an ordinary seaman. Richard Phillips said the U.S. Navy, which pulled off the daring high-seas rescue that ended his five-day captivity, deserves the credit.

Kidnapped Swiss Red Cross worker freed in Philippines, Italian man still held by militants

MANILA, Philippines — A Swiss Red Cross worker was freed Saturday after three months of captivity in a Philippine jungle, but al-Qaida-linked militants were still holding an Italian hostage who is ill and needs surgery, officials said.