US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday visited Afghanistan for military and government talks that highlighted tensions and disagreement between President Hamid Karzai and his top Western sponsor.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders launched their first direct negotiations in 20 months on Thursday, agreeing to meet every two weeks in a bid to reach a lasting peace settlement within a year.

Singapore's next General Election is not due till February 2012. But the country's Elections Department has appointed its logistics contractors, ST Synthesis and SingTel, to carry out some site visits.

Cricket's world governing body charged three Pakistan stars accused in a betting scam with anti-corruption offences and provisionally suspended them on Thursday, as the trio protested their innocence.

The most important lesson to come from the financial crisis is that banks must not be allowed to become "too-big-to-fail," Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.

True tales that will make you laugh,cry and cheer the indomitable spirit.

The Galaxy Tab will be launched in Europe in mid-September, and in other markets including South Korea, the United States and Asia in the coming months.

Generous doses of humour, along with foul language, cross-dressing and sexual references make "The Vlee Conference" a rude yet wickedly funny show.

Eight listed small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore including ARA Asset Management and Baker Technology, have made it to Forbes Asia's annual ranking of the best 200 firms in the Asia-Pacific region.