Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Friday that the United States could start holding Afghanistan’s government accountable for corruption by withholding money for projects “where we control the flow of dollars.”

An Afghan journalism student sentenced to death for allegedly ’insulting Islam’ had his conviction upheld but his sentence reduced to 20 years in prison by an Afghan central appeal court today.

Bidding will open at £14,500 for a full sized, teeth-baring alien head made by the Aliens creators at an auction of Hollywood memorabilia this month. More than 1,000 iconic movie props and ultra-rare publicity posters will be bid for by fans in...