Rising violence clouds claims of progress in five-year conflict with Taliban
U.S. and NATO commanders say they have blunted the Taliban's threatened spring offensive, killing dozens of commanders and 2,000 insurgents. But suicide bombings and civilian deaths inflicted by international forces are all on the rise, threatening to derail the five-year mission to pacify and rebuild Afghanistan.

Scent of oil may have brought corruption to a tiny African country
The first drop of oil has yet to be produced, but little São Tomé may have attracted ample supplies of oil-related corruption, U.S. investigations suggest.

Chinese foreign minister begins visit to North Korea
Pyongyang's promised nuclear disarmament is expected to be a key topic for their talks.

Trial starts for murder of Armenian journalist
More than six months after the killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist, 18 suspects went on trial Monday in a case widely seen as a test of whether the Turkish judiciary will be able to investigate allegations of official negligence in the slaying.

Court rejects evidence against suspended Pakistani judge
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's attempt to remove Pakistan's chief justice received a setback Monday when a Supreme Court judge rejected government evidence and ordered a sweep of courts and judges' homes for spying devices.

Son of Chad's leader found dead in Paris
The son and onetime heir apparent of President Idriss Déby of Chad was found dead in the garage of his apartment building outside Paris early Monday, and the authorities opened a murder investigation, French police and court officials said.

Bomb at Yemen temple kills 9
Six Spanish tourists were among the dead Monday when an attacker drove his car into the site of the Queen of Sheba temple.

UN progress report on development goals is mixed
Halfway through a 15-year global development plan, millions of people are being lifted out of dire poverty, but hunger and high maternal and infant mortality rates are still too prevalent.

A political program to exit Iraq
What America and the world need is not unilateral withdrawal but a vision of a sustainable political end to the conflict.

The break-in that history forgot
The meltdown in personal integrity has lessons for today.

Meanwhile: The six stages of e-mail
It's so easy. It's so friendly. It's a community. Wheeeee! I've got mail!