U.S. Plans a Shift to Elite Forces in Afghanistan In ending its combat role in Afghanistan a year earlier than expected, the United States will rely more on special forces that hunt insurgent leaders and train local troops, officials say. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:10:05 GMT Related Article »  Protesters Throng Frozen Moscow in Anti-Putin March Antigovernment protesters managed to gather a third huge crowd in the center of the Russian capital, undeterred by arctic cold. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:43:40 GMT Related Article »  Russia and China Block U.N. Action on Syrian Crisis A United Nations Security Council effort to end the violence in Syria ended in acrimony hours after the Syrian military attacked the ravaged city of Homs. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:03:24 GMT Related Article »  International Students Pay Top Dollar at U.S. Colleges At the University of Washington, 18 percent of the freshmen are foreigners, and each pays about three times as much as students from Washington State. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:54:37 GMT Related Article »  Greek Talks at a Delicate Point, Official Says The Greek finance minister said that debt talks on a second rescue deal were “on a razor’s edge,” with major issues unresolved ahead of a crucial deadline on Sunday. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:14:39 GMT Related Article »  In Egypt, More Deaths Reported as Clashes Continue On Saturday, a standoff between police and protesters ended with stone throwing and tear gassing. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:52:03 GMT Related Article »  Collecting: Early Japanese Imports Find Admirers Bargain-price Japanese cars from the ’70s and ’80s are being revisited by a generation of enthusiasts who grew up riding in the back seats. Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:39:50 GMT Related Article »  In Myanmar, Karen Rebels Deny Signing a Cease-Fire The defiant stance of the rebels’ leadership appears to be a significant setback for the government’s efforts to end ethnic and civil conflicts that have divided the country for decades. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:46:47 GMT Related Article »  F.B.I. Admits Hacker Group’s Eavesdropping The group known as Anonymous listened in on a call between the bureau, Scotland Yard and other foreign police agencies about their joint investigation of the group and its allies. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:43:46 GMT Related Article »  Damascus Avoids Syrian Uprising’s Blood, but Not Pain Life is growing harder in the Syrian capital, President Bashar al-Assad’s stronghold, as residents complain about electricity rationing, shortages of food and gas, and soaring prices. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:37:19 GMT Related Article »  U.N. Says Somalia Famine Has Ended, but Crisis Isn’t Over A bumper harvest and a surge in emergency food aid have ended a famine in Somalia that killed tens of thousands of people, the United Nations said on Friday. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:56:51 GMT Related Article »  This Land: Maine Residents Struggle to Heat Their Homes Cuts in a federal energy-assistance program have left some families struggling to pay for oil to heat their homes. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:40:45 GMT Related Article »  Cultured Traveler: On the Vodun Trail in Benin On the West African coast, exploring the rituals of vodun, Benin’s ancient religion. Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:22:06 GMT Related Article »  Heads Up: Bangkok for Wine Lovers? A rash of wine bars and restaurants have opened in the last three years with the result that imbibing in the Thai capital has never been more accessible or more interesting. Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:43:58 GMT Related Article »