Hundreds of Taliban fighters retreated in trucks and motorbikes from a key southern Afghan community they overran last February as Afghan and international troops closed in on the town’s center.

Kabul – After six years of war, thousands of casualties and billions of dollars spent, the Taliban remains a bold force to be reckoned with, and seems far from being eliminated. As the first flakes of snow fall on the mountains, yet another year is passing without any clear hope …

The European Union joined the United States on Monday in expressing concern about new Israeli settlement activity and urged Israel to stick to its commitments in Middle East peace efforts.