Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he would like to add significant U.S. forces to the war in Afghanistan before national elections scheduled for next year, and that grim depictions of backsliding in the seven-year-old war are "far too pessimistic."

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A bomb exploded next to a vegetable market in eastern Afghanistan early Saturday, killing two people, officials said. At least 17 others were wounded -- 16 civilians and a private security worker -- said Taher Khan Sabari,

KABUL, Afghanistan-- A bomb exploded next to a vegetable market in eastern Afghanistan early today, killing two people, officials said.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan could oppose the presence of foreign troops on its soil if they do not cooperate with Afghan forces to defeat the Taliban-led insurgents across the country, the foreign minister said Saturday.

A bomb exploded next to a vegetable market in eastern Afghanistan early Saturday, killing two people, officials said.

Reuters reports on President Hu Jintao's visit to Peru during his Latin American tour:In an address to Peru's Congress, Hu made no mention of the United States and its regional dominance. But he made the case for China playing a

In the old Qianmen hutongs, young Beijingers get their share of fun, via sheilaz413.

Overseas political commentator Liang Jing just wrote the following essay, thanks to Dr. David Kelly for the translation:Paul Krugman's latest op-ed predicts that by the time Obama enters the White House, the US unemployment rate will have risen from the

A new report from the US National Intelligence Council identifies China and India as potential 'heavyweights" in the balance of world power. From AFP:Titled "Global Trends 2025 -- A World Transformed," the 121-page report was released Thursday to stimulate debate

On November 20th, the Chinese government announced new safety measures for the milk industry in China:The State Council, China's cabinet, issued several new rules that it says will govern all aspects of the industry, from cow breeding and animal feed

BusinessWeek reports on the urbanization of China, and the benefits and problems that come along with it:The numbers are overwhelming: Over the next 17 years, 350 million rural residents (more than the entire U.S. population today) will leave the farm

From AFP:Chinese President Hu Jintao met here with a senior Taiwan envoy in the highest-level meeting to take place overseas between the rivals since their split in 1949.Taiwan's former premier Lien Chan, who is honorary chairman of the island's ruling

From AP:Hundreds of Tibetan leaders debating how to advance their struggle for freedom Saturday will likely continue to support the Dalai Lama's path of compromise with China, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile said.Tibetans from all over the world

To date, only one quarter of the 70,000 Sichuan Earthquake victims have been identified:Soldiers took photographs and hair and blood samples before burying victims in mass graves in the hope that DNA testing might identify bodies in the future.But given

From RFA:A man who tried to lodge a complaint against official corruption in his hometown in the central Chinese province of Hubei was detained in one of a growing number of "black jails" or unofficial detention centers and severely beaten,

See how the current situation in India with its calamitous dollar-a-day poverty and vast and heinous social injustices demonstrates the utter failure of Sathya Sai Baba's boast that he has come to set Indian right and then save the rest

Year after year, Sathya Sai Baba insists on have a huge birthday celebration for himself. Of course, his devotees support this, because for them he is God Incarnate and his will must be done. Sathya Sai Baba could easily stop

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met in Tallinn with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to discuss bilateral relations and the situation in the South Caucasus. "Being a member of the ...

Yesterday the President of Estonia Hendrik Ilves received the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan. During the meeting the President and the Foreign Minister discussed bilateral relationship ...

In the eighth round of World Chess 38th Olympiad Armenian teams of men and women have had perfect victories over their rivals. In the eighth round Armenian men team met with French team and Armenians ...