AP – A Swiss court granted Roman Polanski bail on Wednesday, accepting $4.5 million to allow him to remain under house arrest at his chalet. The director will stay in prison for up to 10 days while the Swiss government decides whether to appeal. Read more

AP – The Taliban’s reclusive leader issued a Muslim holiday message on Wednesday calling on Afghans to break off relations with the government, which he described as a ‘stooge’ administration. Read more

AP – An Iranian cleric says religious authorities have started taking control of schools, part of a wider ideological drive by hard-liners to wage what authorities call a “soft war” against Western influence. Read more

AP – Pakistan charged seven men on Wednesday in last year’s Mumbai terror attacks, its first indictment in a case being watched closely by India and the United States to see if Islamabad makes good on promises to bring those responsible to justice. Read more

AP – A wedding was called off because international troops killed the groom. A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a police patrol. An old woman was beaten by the Taliban after she tried to stop them from taking her son. Read more