Pakistani officials say they have arrested 35 people in connection with the suicide car bombing Tuesday that killed three American military trainers and four Pakistanis in northwest Pakistan. Police official Naeem Khan said Thursday that Pakistani police are questioning the suspects to determine who orchestrated the attack in Lower Dir district. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility. Three of the Pakistani victims were schoolgirls, and the fourth was a local soldier.

Zimbabwe has had to start importing grain before the end of the agricultural season because a prolonged drought has reduced estimated food harvests. Agriculture Minister Joseph Made says Zimbabwe must import 500,000 tons of corn (maize) to ensure food stability.  This is in response to the protracted dry spell that has seen crops dying in most of the country. But Commercial Farmer's Union President Deon Theron told VOA his organization had advised the government that crops needed to be planted early because of a forecast el-Nino effect that would create an abnormal season. "If you loo

The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that if Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is ready to accept an international proposal that would ease concerns about the country's nuclear program, it would be welcomed news.  But U.S. officials say Iran must communicate its intentions to the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Officials here say they are taking Mr.

Afghan border police began an advanced border police and customs course at Camp Arena, Herat province, Monday. The training, provided by the Italian Guardia di Finanza, is designed to increase the efficiency of customs duty collection and help ABP better secure the border. The course includes practical study of Afghan and international customs laws, customs documents, anti-smuggling measures and anti-corruption training. In 2008, approximately 26 percent of customs duties levied by the government of Afghanistan came from Herat province, about 5 billion Afghanis or approximately 72 mil

An Afghan-international security force searched a series of compounds around the village of Saleh Kheyl in the Jaghatu district of Ghazni province last night after intelligence information confirmed militant activity. The joint force captured a Taliban sub-commander and another insurgent responsible for conducting IED attacks and ambushes against Afghan and international troops. The security force also found multiple weapons. In Helmand, Feb. 3, a joint security force searched a vehicle northwest of Marjah in Nad Ali district after intelligence information indicated militant activity.

A Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy aircrew delivering over 85,000 pounds of equipment for troops supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the first C-5M to land in Iraq in late January. Dover AFB officials have three C-5M aircraft that have completed the operational testing phase and are about to enter the conversion phase. "It's satisfying to get the aircraft into the fight delivering much needed supplies to the troops in the field," said Lt. Col.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., for flight deck certification Feb. 2, three days after successfully completing Sea Trials. Bush embarked elements of Carrier Air Wing 8 to conduct flight deck certification and carrier qualifications following the ship's redelivery to the fleet. The crew recently completed an intensive seven-month Post Shakedown Availability/Selective Restrictive Availability (PSA/SRA) at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding, concluding with Sea Trials Jan. 27-29. "USS George H.W.

When Maj. Andrew Morgan came to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), he already knew the value of ultrasound machines from being an emergency physician at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg. He brought that knowledge with him to the group in the summer of 2007 when he became the battalion surgeon for 1st Battalion, 3rd SFG, and he quickly pushed to have more ultrasound machines at his unit. He and his staff realized a deficiency in the arena of medical imaging after they reviewed the medical capabilities of the battalion's Special Forces operational detachment alpha teams.

First Lt. Rebecca M. Turpin received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device at Combat Logistics Battalion 3’s Warriors’ Field on 4 September for her actions under enemy fire during the battalion’s last deployment to Afghanistan, October 2008 to May 2009.