Via Al Jazeera The Afghan government has announced it is to take over the running of women’s shelters despite concerns from human-rights groups that such a move could put lives at risk.

AssociatedPress More than a dozen veterans are suing the Pentagon in a bid to change the way the military handles rape and sexual assault allegations.

The 2003 invasion of Iraq was sanctioned largely because of claims the country had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The source of some of the alleged intelligence behind the claims was an Iraqi defector living in Germany, someone who has now admitted the evidence he provided was false. Al Jazeera’s…

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

via NATOCOMMUNITY U.S. Army General Petraeus, the Commander of ISAF in Afghanistan has been to the east of the country to visit Governor Azizi in Laghman Province. He also met pupils from a girls school.

via Reuters Shrouded in taboo those affected by the disease go underground and face stigma. Maryam Ishani reporting.

via RussiaToday Violence and intimidation has forced hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians to flee their homeland. Experts view them as one of the biggest victims of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, with the minority group a continued target of extremists.

via english.aljazeera.net Crowds in central Cairo reacted with jubilation to Omar Suleiman’s announcement of Hosni Mubarak’s resignation. Many responded by chanting “we have brought down the regime”, while others were seen crying, cheering and embracing one another.

via AlJazeeraEnglish Most of the world’s past conflicts have inspired protest songs to reflect the spirit of resistance. Now Egypt has its own. Inspired by the resilience of the demonstraters, several notable musicians from North America have teamed up to release a rap song. Omar Offendum, a Syrian-American rapper, was interviewed…

via PBSNewsHour In other news Thursday, more than 3,000 Iraqis protested prisoner abuse and court-system corruption in the streets of Baghdad. The demonstrations were one of the biggest since political unrest began in Egypt and Tunisia. In northwestern Pakistan, a suicide bomber killed at least 31 troops at an army…