By the time Wright and Qasim arrived in the village of Chowray to help Abdul Rehman, the police chief, the Taliban had departed.

NEWYORKER: After America

"It's preparing for marriage, " the wife of the village chief told me.

BBC: NEWS | Special Reports | Path to adulthood in the divided world

In the first incident, Mukarram Shah was killed in an explosion as he entered his car in the village of Banjot, said Abdullah Khan, police chief of the nearby city of Mingora.

NPR: Pakistani Taliban Target Secular Party, Kill 1

The regeneration of Isle of Man town and village centres can play a vital role in supporting economic growth, the Chief Minister has said.

BBC: Regeneration 'will support growth' minister says

Village chief Margaret Thole explains that they have started to tell people in the village of the importance of delivering in a hospital.

BBC: NEWS | Africa | Malawi: A mother's race against time

At an open meeting in the village on Monday, the chief executive of the Western Health Trust said they had tried to remove the brothers from the community for their own safety after reports that stones had been thrown at their house - but their options were very limited.

BBC: Donagh abuse brothers 'need to move': victim

At Africa's traditional village level, a chief is chosen by the Queen Mother of the royal family to rule for life.

CNN: Why Western-style democracy is not suitable for Africa

Tribal leader Malik Samad and district chief Muhammad Haqbeen told CNN that Joseph and an Afghan doctor were abducted near the village of Jegdalek in the Sarobi district, just outside Kabul.

CNN: American doctor rescued in Afghanistan: Thank you

The village chief and the local schoolmaster can often influence votes without visibly campaigning: a hint of new buildings or wells can make up wavering minds.

ECONOMIST: On democracy��s front line