Statistics over the past decade have shown that housing prices in Vietnam’s major cities usually grow 3 to 4 times faster than the growth of the average per capita income increase.

Throughout history men have gone to war for a variety of reasons, from patriotism to honor and even love, but the main drivers behind man’s insatiable warmongering have been - and remain to this day – power and money.

China is preparing to usher in a new generation of leaders. Just don’t expect too much in the way of change, argues Axel Berkofsky.

A few weeks ago, in a debate at the Copenhagen Business School, moderator and CNN anchor Richard Quest was asking panelists and students which of the numerous and important elections this year would be more instrumental in setting the tone globally – both from an economic and political point of view. US? France? Russia? China? Greece? All of the above? Or will none change the course of the world in any radical way?

ISAF are scheduled to begin leaving Afghanistan in 2014. Peace and stability may lead to Afghanistan becoming a major energy transit corridor, consumer and producer -- a development that will also benefit its neighbors.

Ten days before it takes over the rotating EU presidency, Cyprus said it would “put on the back burner” the long-standing reunification talks with Turkey to focus instead on a complex Union agenda. Meanwhile, EU Commissioner for enlargement Štefan Füle urged Nicosia to proceed on both tracks.

In the world, there are nations which are far more ancient than France, yet the French sentimentality towards her history as a universal history is rather unique. There is only one other nation in the world that rivals France in its perception of its history, evincing a belief in a permanent mission on behalf of humanity: the United States of America. Hence, the asymmetric rivalry between Paris and Washington.

A new al-Qaeda affiliate threatens Yemen's post-revolutionary political transition.

The Georgian media is enthusiastically discussing recent comments made by Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, who stated that the top priority of Georgia at this moment is its return to the Russian market.

By Giorgio Fiacconi

As seen from Central Asia, the SCO meeting in Beijing is full of announcements and declarations but with very little practical results.