Iraq's provincial elections provide signals about the maturity of the country's political system, as well as highlight new power brokers in the provinces.

President Obama has signed one of the largest rescue packages since the Great Depression to revive the U.S. economy. Economists warn of the need to keep spending targeted, timely, and temporary.

The Sunni awakening movement and the Sons of Iraq security forces it inspired helped restore peace. Iraq's long-term stability could hinge on keeping the movement satiated, experts say.

Retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair, President Obama's director of national intelligence, is a former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command with long military experience.

The Bush administration's approach to the detention and prosecution of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. But the battle continues.

U.S. experts say any new approach to bringing stability to Afghanistan must be regional in scope. Saudi Arabia, with historic ties to the Taliban and Afghan Pashtuns, could hold a principle seat at the table.

Vietnam's stock market has plunged and its economic growth has dwindled since 2006, when it was seen as a model for emerging country growth. The country's experience highlights the problems confronting emerging markets in the 2008 financial crisis.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act has boosted U.S.-Africa trade and is viewed favorably by economists. But experts say African states must build trade capacity to benefit fully.

James L. Jones, a retired Marine commandant, brings extensive military and diplomatic experience to his new post as national security adviser for President Barack Obama.

Robert M. Gates, a Cold War veteran selected to remain as defense secretary, has won bipartisan praise for his pragmatism and handling of the Pentagon amid two wars.

Janet Napolitano, experienced in federal law enforcement and immigration issues, has been selected for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

India not only faces evolving threats from Kashmiri militants, but also an increasingly violent Maoist insurgency.

India has been battling terrorism for as long as it has been a sovereign nation. This backgrounder examines the country's counterterrorism efforts.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner brings experience in global financial crisis management for the Fed, expertise on Asia, and perspective from work with the International Monetary Fund.

The global financial crisis threatens to hamper poverty alleviation efforts in India and China, responsible for lifting the largest numbers of the world's poor out of extreme poverty.  Political or social instability are concerns.

Terrorist attacks and an emergent Russia are posing new challenges to Turkey's energy strategy, but some analysts warn it could be Western Europe that gets squeezed.

President-elect Barack Obama made many promises on defense spending and strategy during his two-year run for the White House. But analysts say economic constraints and political pressure could make implementation difficult.

Iraqi lawmakers approved new ground rules for the U.S. troop presence, including a U.S. withdrawal by 2011. But questions about the accords' legal longevity remain.

A profile of ETA, a terrorist separatist group operating in the Basque regions of Spain and France.

As military leaders in Washington revise their war strategy for Afghanistan, analysts say enlisting Afghan tribesmen could aid in security. Others warn that what helped stabilize Iraq may play very differently in the more complex tribal culture of Afghanistan.