U.S. financial regulators could draw some lessons from Japan's experience of the 1990s, when the implosion of a real estate bubble led to a systemic crisis in the country's banking sector.

The impact of U.S. economic woes on foreign policy and national security programs is not yet clear, but sectors from defense to development aid are bracing for tighter budgets.

President Bush's AIDS initiative, reauthorized for another five years this summer, wins widespread praise even from those highly critical of other administration policies. Yet some health experts worry AIDS funding has grow disproportionately large compared with other U.S. development spending.

U.S. financial woes have thrown global markets into turmoil, undermining Western European banks, sending oil prices plummeting, and bringing harrowing losses to some developing economy stock indices.

The Bush administration is pushing an Iraq-like surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and pressing Pakistan to crack down on cross-border infiltrations. But Afghans say they are losing hope as poverty and unemployment spike.

A financial crisis in the final stages of the U.S. presidential race, rather than sidelining foreign policy, could demonstrate how it intersects with U.S. domestic concerns.

With Wall Street careening from one crisis to the next, financial institutions focus on drawing a line to stanch the bleeding. A broader debate over systemic medicine has also kicked into gear, with talk of major reforms in store for the financial sector.

Raul Castro's changes to Cuba's agricultural sector could foreshadow larger economic shifts to come.

As in the United States, the upcoming presidential election in Afghanistan has the look of a referendum on a country's future.

A more aggressive domestic energy policy has emerged as a Republican Party priority, setting the stage for heightened debate with Democrats in the presidential race this fall.

U.S. economic concerns are a constant refrain on the presidential campaign trail. It's not yet clear how the candidates' divergent positions on energy and trade will connect with voters.

Russia has emerged as a policy issue in the presidential campaign, adding to a list of top-tier issues including energy policy, Iran, and Iraq.

Both parties will use presidential conventions to boost their candidate's credentials on the economy and national security, at a time when both issues overlap.

Analysts are studying whether al-Qaeda in Iraq, severely diminished over five years of war, is moving its war against the West to Afghanistan.

Russia's invasion of Georgia has rubbed raw relations with the West, complicating cooperation in several crucial areas.

Immigration reform gets scant mention on the U.S. election trail, but experts expect either leading presidential candidate to make policy reforms a priority.

Struggles continue for Detroit's automakers. Experts say the road to recovery requires looking overseas.

Despite the sputtering U.S. economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to dominate debate on the presidential campaign trail.

The Bush administration has increased resources for public diplomacy with a focus on Muslims. But criticism remains about how the "war of ideas" is waged.

Troubles at U.S. mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac renew fears that housing woes will rock global financial markets.