Taliban militants released a kidnapped Pakistani official in exchange for two of their men in the troubled Swat Valley, government officials said Monday. Kushal Khan was on his way to take up his new post as the district coordination officer Sunday when unknown gunmen kidnapped him and six members of his security detail near Mingora, the valley's main city. Late Sunday, Khan and his security guards were released after two Taliban militants were freed in a swap, said Syed Muhammad ...

A top official in Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley was kidnapped Sunday -- a day after a cease-fire between the government and Taliban militants was supposed to go into effect. Kushal Khan was on his way to take up his new post as the District Coordination Officer when unknown gunmen kidnapped him and six members of his security guards near Mingora, the valley's main city, officials said. Khan was nabbed a day after the provincial government declared a permanent cease-fire agreement ...

The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed they have terminated all contractual links with Sir Allen Stanford -- the Texan billionaire charged with an alleged nine billion dollars fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All negotiations between the ECB and Stanford were immediately suspended when the news broke on Tuesday -- and the governing body has now formally announced they will not play any further Stanford Twenty20 matches in Antigua as well as shelving plans for the Quadrangular ...

The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed they have terminated all contractual links with Sir Allen Stanford -- the Texan billionaire charged with an alleged nine billion dollars fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All negotiations between the ECB and Stanford were immediately suspended when the news broke on Tuesday -- and the governing body has now formally announced they will not play any further Stanford Twenty20 matches in Antigua as well as shelving plans for the Quadrangular ...

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pledging $730 million (? 580 million) in economic aid to France's Caribbean territories in an effort to head off escalating protests, his office said Friday. Sarkozy made the announcement after a meeting in Paris with leaders from French Caribbean territories. He also proposed adding €200 ($253) a month to the salaries of low-paid workers. The French territory of Guadeloupe has witnessed a month of sometimes violent demonstrations over low wages and living conditions. At least ...