NAUDERO, Pakistan – Benazir Bhutto’s 19-year-old son — a student with no political experience — was named symbolic leader of her party Sunday, while her husband took effective control, extending Pakistan’s most enduring political dynasty.

MA’SUM GHAR, Afghanistan – A Canadian soldier headed to the relatively cushy Kandahar Airfield for a little New Year’s rest and relaxation died early Sunday after his armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday ruled out relaxing Israel’s grip on the occupied West Bank until the Palestinians rein in militants after a shooting attack killed two off-duty Israeli soldiers.

SANKASAR, Iraq – Since Turkish warplanes turned her village home into a heap of rubble last week, mother of eight Aziya Rasheed says she has lost all hope for the future.

DUBAI – Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused Washington of plotting to take control of Iraq’s oil and urged Iraqis to reject efforts to rebuild a U.S.-backed national unity government there.

BAGHDAD – U.S. and Iraqi commanders on Saturday hailed a big improvement in security over the past year, while al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused the Americans of seeking to exploit Iraq’s oil wealth.

TBILISI – Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is likely to win a new term in a snap election on January 5, but the vote will have to be squeaky clean if he is to regain his tattered reputation as a champion of democracy.

KARACHI – Two suspected suicide bombers were killed in Pakistan’s central Punjab province early on Sunday when the devices they were carrying exploded prematurely in an apparent botched attack on a former minister, police said.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s nuclear capability brings balance of power to the region and strengthens Muslim and Arab world against the Zionist regime of Israel, a former Lebanese minister said.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that talks and dialogue between Tehran and Washington are not the goal pursued by his country’s attendance in negotiations with the US over Iraq, “rather we accepted to attend these talks to help Iraqi nation and government”.