My Way News - Afghan leader confirms peace talks; Kabul attacked
My Way News reports: "President Hamid Karzai acknowledged that the U.S. and Afghan governments have held talks with Taliban emissaries in a bid to end the nation's nearly 10-year war [...] talks may be gaining momentum after the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday to treat al-Qaida and the Taliban separately when it comes to U.N. sanctions, a move aimed at supporting the Afghan government's reconciliation efforts."

My Way News - Where the Afghan war is fought hardest
My Way News reports: "The southwest province of Helmand, where Nawzad sits, is where the Afghan war is being fought the hardest. With a population of about 1.4 million, the majority Pashtun province is both a homeland and a thoroughfare for the insurgency, and houses its economic base, opium. Another sign of Helmand's strategic importance: More NATO service members, upwards of 700, have died in this province than any other."