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A moderate, stable Afghanistan is crucial to the United States, its NATO allies and the southwest region of Asia. To that end, NATO is leading some 40,000 troops from 37 nations under the umbrella of the United Nations-mandated International Security Assistance Force. Civil-military provincial reconstruction teams populated by U.S. and coalition forces also have been hard at work refurbishing schools so that 5 million children can be educated and fixing up hospitals so that health care can be a reality. These and other developments have given rise to cautious optimism among many Afghan observers, but sustained security remains key to that country’s long-term success, especially given a recent increase in violence.

Although it has taken a long time in U.S. history, today women commonly serve on the highest courts in the country. Many of these women overcame great obstacles to achieve their positions. The composition of the American judicial system is "very different than when I joined the court and there were all white men," said Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. "That is not the America I know today."

Although it has taken a long time in U.S. history, today women commonly serve on the highest courts in the country.  Many of these women overcame great obstacles to achieve their positions.  The composition of the American judicial system is "very different than when I joined the court and there were all white men," said Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. "That is not the America I know today."

Two young inventors are perfecting a device that gives back the power of speech to people who suffer from diseases or disabilities that have taken away their ability to talk. The device, called the Audeo, translates thoughts -- or, more precisely, brain signals sent to the vocal cords -- into synthesized speech.  Using the same technology, inventors Michael Callahan and Thomas Coleman also have created a mechanized wheelchair that moves, turns and stops in response to intercepted brain signals.

As the number of deaths in Iraq declines and the coverage of the issue in the news media decreases, polls indicate that Americans are as concerned or more concerned about economic issues. Economic concerns commonly dictate voters' choices in American elections, says NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd. And presidential candidates are paying attention and adjusting their campaign strategies.

As the number of deaths in Iraq declines and the coverage of the issue in the news media decreases, polls indicate that Americans are as concerned or more concerned about economic issues.  Economic concerns commonly dictate voters' choices in American elections, says NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd. And presidential candidates are paying attention and adjusting their campaign strategies.

American professors of medicine at Columbia University in New York quietly have been repairing facial deformities in Honduran children for nearly two decades, giving thousands of youngsters a chance to lead normal lives.  Dr. Howard Smith, 88, and Dr. Joseph Haddad, 50, go beyond performing the delicate procedures of repairing cleft lips and cleft palates.  Largely at their own expense, the two humanitarians also are training Honduran doctors to do the operations and providing them with financial support during apprenticeships.

Vaccinating its highest-risk populations of chickens and ducks has been an expensive and logistically complex effort for Vietnam’s central government, but animal health officials say it has slowed deadly outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza among birds in the Southeast Asian nation and, critically, among people.

Campaign committees for both major political parties in the United States spend substantial time and effort recruiting the best potential candidates for key election districts around the country. Their drive to recruit winning candidates comes against the background of a 2006 congressional election in which the Democrats took over 30 previously Republican seats in the 435-member House of Representatives, moving into majority status after 12 years of Republican control.

Campaign committees for both major political parties in the United States spend substantial time and effort recruiting the best potential candidates for key election districts around the country. Their drive to recruit winning candidates comes against the background of a 2006 congressional election in which the Democrats took over 30 previously Republican seats in the 435-member House of Representatives, moving into majority status after 12 years of Republican control.

The U.S. House of Representatives values the efforts of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi so highly that it votes to award her the United States' highest civilian honor. The moves by the House, along with new proposals to tighten further U.S. economic sanctions, are a small part of a wider U.S. policy to join with the international community to urge the military government in Rangoon to end political crackdowns, release Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and enter into talks with democracy movement leaders.

In the four years since highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu began infecting and killing the chickens, the ducks and eventually the people of Vietnam, the government has made changes on the ground and across the animal and human health infrastructure that will serve the nation far beyond the threat of avian flu. In this serious venture, the Vietnamese government has had help from many international donors. In addition to international assistance, the government of Vietnam has put great commitment, time and resources into efforts to stop the spread of avian flu. USINFO talks with health officials in Hanoi and surveys the government’s bird flu efforts.

American congressional districts come in all sizes and shapes. While each of the 50 states gets two at-large senators, House of Representatives’ districts are apportioned by population. The geographically smallest district covers only a few square blocks of Harlem in New York City. The largest covers the entire state of Alaska, which, despite its enormous size (nearly as large as Iran), has so few inhabitants that it is entitled to only one representative. USINFO looks at one district, Oregon’s 1st, and examines how demographic and economic changes over the years have transformed its political landscape.

American congressional districts come in all sizes and shapes. While each of the 50 states gets two at-large senators, House of Representatives’ districts are apportioned by population. The geographically smallest district covers only a few square blocks of Harlem in New York City. The largest covers the entire state of Alaska, which, despite its enormous size (nearly as large as Iran), has so few inhabitants that it is entitled to only one representative. USINFO looks at one district, Oregon’s 1st, and examines how demographic and economic changes over the years have transformed its political landscape.

Amy Jaffe is surprised that only very few people think she and her colleagues are crazy. What the Massachusetts Technology Institute senior, about 400 other students and 30 faculty members from around the world want to do is not a small feat.  The group plans to build, in just three years, a hyperefficient, supersafe four-passenger to six-passenger car called VDS Vision that will be produced and used with 95 percent less energy and toxic materials throughout its lifetime than an average existing vehicle.

The political season has kicked off in southwest Texas as those seeking election announce their candidacies, raise funds and take the pulse of the region. Texans say health care and Iraq are their top domestic and foreign concerns, and candidates are responding. “Health care continues to be the main issue, with the exception of those international issues such as Iraq,” says Representative Ciro Rodriguez, incumbent Democratic Party congressman of the Texas 23rd Congressional District. USINFO talks with district voters and political leaders about the election issues in the district.

The political season has kicked off in southwest Texas as those seeking election announce their candidacies, raise funds and take the pulse of the region. Texans say health care and Iraq are their top domestic and foreign concerns, and candidates are responding. “Health care continues to be the main issue, with the exception of those international issues such as Iraq,” says Representative Ciro Rodriguez, incumbent Democratic Party congressman of the Texas 23rd Congressional District. USINFO talks with district voters and political leaders about the election issues in the district.

More than 250 members of the Jewish, Islamic and Christian communities in Frederick, Maryland, share a meal together at the second annual Hanukah, Christmas and Hajj Festival. Dinner was served potluck style -- families contributed their favorite dishes of the season and placed them side by side with those of their neighbors on long banquet tables. There was something for everyone -- from green bean casserole and homemade saffron bread to matzoh ball soup, keema kabob and vegetable pilaf.

From product safety to financial sector reform, energy and the environment, tensions between two of the world’s largest economies make frequent headlines. The United States and China have a complex relationship -- increasingly connected, occasionally at odds.  Managing that relationship and addressing the wide array of related issues requires the top-level, multifaceted approach found in the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, which held its third meeting December 12-13 near Beijing.

With the presidential election primary season beginning -- and possibly ending -- earlier than ever before, candidates face many new challenges, political experts say. With the first race in the 2008 presidential contest just two days after New Year’s Day, in Iowa, the candidates’ final days of campaigning in that state will coincide with the holiday season, which could pose a challenge for those who are running behind. The scheduling of nominating contests in 22 states on the same day in 2008 also will require that candidates carefully allocate their advertising resources and campaign staffs to win party votes.