Rescue crews battled gale-force winds and massive waves as they struggled to rescue hundreds of people trapped on a burning ferry adrift between Italy and Albania.

A helicopter on contract to Nato-led forces crashed today in southern Afghanistan, killing six civilians on board and an Afghan child on the ground.

US-led troops attacked a compound where Taliban leaders were meeting in western Afghanistan, killing 30 militants, American and Afghan military officials said today.

Special forces soldiers rescued two Italian military hostages in western Afghanistan early today.

Snow clouds closed over Kabul early today, complicating plans for Nato and government forces to resume their search for a passenger jet carrying 104 people, including about 21 foreigners, after it disappeared near the mountain-ringed Afghan capital.