Russia says Islamist rebel leader killed

Russia says Islamist rebel leader killed
Explosions hit Iraq ahead of poll
Two peacekeepers missing after Darfur ambush
Deadly Najaf Bomb Before Poll
U.S. Enriches Companies Defying Its Policy on Iran
In Afghan War, Letting Women Reach Women
Channeling Toyota to Beat Toyota
In Basra, Iraqi Shiites Face Off Again
Scholes winner sends Man Utd top
UN chief visits Chile quake city
Possible loss of top Taliban leader in Pakistan a further blow to militants
Taliban fight in Afghan south led by ex-Gitmo inmate
Hurt Locker in final Oscar sprint
Mediator sees progress in Venezuela, Colombia spat
Several wounded in Yemen clashes
US city hands out female condoms
Stevie Wonder receives top French honour
Taliban leader in Swat Valley killed in airstrike
Iran warns Italy over journalist's detention: report
UN pledges aid to quake-hit Chile

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 12:01 PM PST

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service chief on Saturday confirmed the death of a prominent Islamist rebel who he accused of plotting a bomb attack on a Moscow-to-St Petersburg train that killed 26 people last year.

Explosions hit Iraq ahead of poll

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 12:42 PM PST

Blasts in Ramadi and Najaf leave three dead and more than 50 injured in election run-up.

Two peacekeepers missing after Darfur ambush

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 11:40 AM PST

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Two international peacekeepers are missing in Sudan's Darfur region after armed men ambushed their patrol and held the force overnight, officials said on Saturday.

Deadly Najaf Bomb Before Poll

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 08:32 AM PST

An Iraqi police official says a car-bomb blast in the holy city of Najaf killed at least three people and injured more than 50.

U.S. Enriches Companies Defying Its Policy on Iran

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 12:00 PM PST

A Times analysis shows that the U.S. has rewarded companies with more than $107 billion in contracts and other benefits while they were doing business with Iran, despite efforts to block investment there.

In Afghan War, Letting Women Reach Women

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 11:45 AM PST

Women will accompany men on patrols in Afghanistan to try to win over rural Afghan women who are culturally off limits to outside men.

Channeling Toyota to Beat Toyota

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 10:57 AM PST

As Toyota stumbles through its recall ordeal, G.M. and Ford have been handed a big chance to make their argument on quality to American consumers.

In Basra, Iraqi Shiites Face Off Again

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 11:32 AM PST

The fact that men on opposing sides in a war have become mere political rivals in the space of two years is a testament to the progress made by Iraq's democracy.

Scholes winner sends Man Utd top

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 11:23 AM PST

Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes scores his 100th Premier League goal as Manchester United labour to a 1-0 win over Wolves that takes them to the top of the table.

UN chief visits Chile quake city

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 11:29 AM PST

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon visits a Chilean city badly hit by the earthquake as doctors warn that debris poses a health risk.

Possible loss of top Taliban leader in Pakistan a further blow to militants

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 10:57 AM PST

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN -- Pakistani officials said Saturday that a top Taliban leader had probably been killed in an airstrike, dealing another blow to a militant group that fighters say has been leaderless since January.

Taliban fight in Afghan south led by ex-Gitmo inmate

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 11:19 AM PST

KABUL (Reuters) - Insurgency in the most violent part of Afghanistan is being led by a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, set free by the Afghan government in a botched attempt at reconciliation with tribes, a NATO official said on Saturday.

Hurt Locker in final Oscar sprint

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 10:37 AM PST

The final countdown to the 2010 Oscars begins, with The Hurt Locker and Avatar going head-to-head for the best picture award.

Mediator sees progress in Venezuela, Colombia spat

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 10:43 AM PST

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia and Venezuela are making progress in negotiations to end a diplomatic dispute that has battered trade and unnerved the Andean region, said the Dominican Republic's president, who is brokering talks.

Several wounded in Yemen clashes

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 10:01 AM PST

At least 13 people reported injured in crackdown on separatists in country's south.

US city hands out female condoms

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 09:46 AM PST

Washington DC will become the first city in the US to make female condoms available for free, local media say.

Stevie Wonder receives top French honour

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 10:16 AM PST

US singer Stevie Wonder collects one of France's top cultural honours in Paris, 30 years after he was first named to receive it.

Taliban leader in Swat Valley killed in airstrike

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 09:51 AM PST

More than two dozen militants were killed Friday in a Pakistani military airstrike that targeted high-value Taliban leaders, a Pakistani military official told CNN Saturday.

Iran warns Italy over journalist's detention: report

Posted: 06 Mar 2010 09:31 AM PST

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran warned Italy on Saturday it may retaliate in kind over Rome's detention of an Iranian journalist, state broadcaster IRIB reported.