Fewer than 10 Britons are reported to be missing in the area of

Fewer than 10 Britons are reported to be missing in the area of Indonesia that was struck by a powerful earthquake on Monday, the Foreign Office in London said. It had been feared that the number would be higher, but a Foreign Office spokeswoman said the figure dropped overnight on Tuesday "as some people thought to be missing have got in touch". Inquiries were continuing into the whereabouts of the others, she added. One of the missing Britons was identified by her mother on Wednesday as Jo-Anne Wau, 27, who runs a backpackers' hostel and restaurant at Sorake Beach on Nias with husband Robin, 22, an islander whom she married last year. -- AFP

Laura to back women's education

U.S. first lady Laura Bush visited Afghanistan for the first time on Wednesday to promote education for women, which was forbidden by the Taliban government overthrown by U.S.-led forces three years ago. Shortly before Bush landed in Kabul, a car bomb attack, which the Taliban claimed responsibility for, killed one person and wounded another in the city of Jalalabad, 120 kilometers east of the capital. Bush flew into Kabul by helicopter after landing at the U.S. base at Bagram and dined with troops at the base before leaving just a few hours later. Addressing an audience at Kabul University, Bush spoke of women's role in democracy as Afghanistan moves on from the success of October's presidential election. -- Reuters