(Associated Press: 0825 PT, May 11, 2011) The Chinese middle class is enjoying bounty at the dinner table, but the urban poor are seeing lean times. Observers warn the gap could create problems for China's communist rulers.

Two contrasting reports from Afghanistan on attempts to create local police and military forces capable of controlling the troubled country when the US and NATO leaves.

Afghan Special Ops Units May Be Key to US Exit

(Associated Press: 0851 PT, May 10, 2011) US personnel have been training and fighting alongside Afghan special operations forces. The development of such commandos may be key if Americans are to reduce their presence in the country.

Politics Dominate Afghan Police Force

(Al Jazeera English: 0238 PT, May 10, 2011) The Afghan Local Police (ALP) has been expanding fast across the country over the past year. Community-based units, they are seen as a pet project of NATO commander General David Petraeus, who has described the ALP as having a significant impact. But the police force has also faced allegations of theft, abduction and intimidation. Al Jazeera's James Bays reports from Maidan Wardak province.

(Associated Press: 0458 PT, May 9, 2011) Syrian authorities were conducting fresh raids, detaining hundreds of people as part of a widening crackdown on protests, one activist said Monday. Video about the situation in Syria is coming from state television and activists.

(Associated Press: 1040 PT, May 5, 2011) Pakistan's army has admitted to shortcomings in its efforts to find Osama bin Laden, and insists that no Pakistani officials knew his whereabouts. They have also warned the US not to launch similar operations without Pakistani involvement.

(Associated Press: 0904 PT, May 2, 2011) Chris Brummitt, AP bureau chief in Islamabad, Pakistan, talks about how the killing of Osama bin Laden happened so close to several Pakistani military installations, and what his death could mean for US-Pakistan relations

(Euronews: 0413 PT, May 2, 2011) World leaders have been reacting to the death of Osama bin Laden. In Kabul, Afghan president Hamid Karzai said that the al-Qaeda leader's killing showed the fight against terrorism should be focused in neighbouring Pakistan. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Bin Laden's death proved that all terrorist group leaders would eventually face justice. British Prime Minister David Cameron struck a cautious tone, welcoming Bin Laden's death but warning that the threat of terrorism had not yet been defeated.

(Associated Press: 0606 PT, May 2, 2011) Leaders, experts and citizens around the world are reacting to news of the death of Osama bin Laden in a US military operation.

(Euronews: 0925 PT, May 2, 2011) Reaction in the Arab world has been mixed. In the Gaza strip, Hamas's leader Ismail Haniyeh was guarded, yet also clear he saw no change for the better coming from it: "If the news is correct, we regard this as a continuation of the American policy that is based on oppression and shedding the Muslim and Arab blood."

(ITN News: 0724 PT, May 2, 2011) Former UK prime minister Tony Blair responds to death of Osama bin Laden.

(Al Jazeera English: 0633 PST, April 22, 2011) Rula Amin reports from Damascus, as anti-government protests rock the country.

Raw Video: Massive Protests in Syria

(Associated Press: 0745 PST, April 22, 2011) Witnesses say at least 15 Syrian protesters have been killed during clashes with security forces who fired live bullets and tear gas at tens of thousands of people shouting for freedom and democracy.

(Associated Press: 0519 PST, April 20, 2011) Security forces opened fire on protesters in Yemen Tuesday, killing at least three. And on Wednesday gunmen on motorcycles strafed demonstrators in a port city, killing another, according to an opposition activist.

Protests Spur International Efforts to Resolve Yemen Crisis

(Euronews: 2334 PST, April 19, 2011) The United Nations has called for restraint and political dialogue as it discussed the escalating violence in Yemen for the first time. But no public statement was released despite anti-government protests having continued there for the past three months.

The instability has also galvanized foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council to try to get direct talks between the Yemeni government and opposition groups back on track.

(Associated Press: 0818 PST, April 19, 2011) Syria issued a stern warning to the nation to stop protesting, hours after security forces opened fire on hundreds of anti-government demonstrators during a pre-dawn raid that killed at least one person.

WikiLeaks Reveals US Support for Syrian Opposition

(Euronews: 0727 PST, April 19, 2011) Human rights groups say Syrian security forces used "heavy fire" against anti-government protesters in the city of Homs overnight. At the same time, WikiLeaks documents have revealed the US has secretly spent $6 million since 2006 supporting Syrian opposition groups. The Syrian government has repeatedly blamed the recent unrest on foreign interference.

Syrian Protesters and Goverment Walking Fine Line

(Al Jazeera English: 0101 PST, April 19, 2011) Al Jazeera's Rula Amin reports from Damascus on the fine line being walked by both protesters and the government, after a sit-down protest in the city of Homs was reportedly dispersed by gunfire Monday night.

(Associated Press: 0430 PST, April 12, 2011) Japan raised the crisis level at its stricken nuclear power plant to 7, the highest on an international scale and on a par with the 1986 accident at Chernobyl.