Kosovo Albanians who fought Serbia for independence eight years ago seem disillusioned as their dream nears fulfillment and the reality sinks in that prosperity is going to take years of work.

Canadian and Afghan troops pushed into a Taliban heartland in southern Afghanistan, fought off fierce counter-attacks and fortified an outpost on Sunday to stay in the area.

With violence levels dropping across the city, Baghdad’s hard-working ambulance drivers now find time to sit and sip tea instead of each rushing to four or five emergency calls a day.