Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from the Afghan capital, Kabul, discusses the Taliban's announcement that it plans to open a foreign negotiation office outside of Afghanistan.

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Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith wraps the latest developments in Syria.

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Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett and Bernard Smith report on the reactions in Washington and Kabul to President Obama's statement that US troops are set for a partial withdrawal.

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Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports on French gendarmes operating in Sorobi district, the only part of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, that has not been handed over to Afghan security control yet.

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For two weeks many children in Pakistan's Swat Valley have been isolated from their parents and the sick unable to get medical help as all the bridges over the river Swat were destroyed by the heavy flooding. The military has taken the lead in trying to restore transport links but for now locals have created large baskets on pulleys to move people across the river, with 700 people a day using it. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Swat in northwest Pakistan.

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For the first time Afghan security officials have released a recording of intercepted phone calls between a Pakistan based rebel group and Taliban fighters who attacked a Kabul hotel. Twenty-one people died when eight suicide bombers stormed the hotel in a nighttime raid. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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US Marine Corps General John R Allen, commander of the combined NATO and US forces in Afghanistan, spoke to Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith.

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The US and Afghan governments have reportedly begun secret three-way talks with the Taliban. The Wall Street Journal newspaper reports that Afghan President Hamad Karzai confirmed talks have taken place and that the Taliban are "definitely interested" in a peace settlement. But if the talks are to have any hope of success, the Taliban leadership will need to bring all of its disparate fighters on board. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from the Afghan capital, Kabul, on the chance that the negotiations will succeed.

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Riot police have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters on the streets of Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The rally has been organised by opposition leader Raila Odinga to protest against the controversial re-election of President Mwai Kibaki. Odinga hopes to attract a million supporters to the rally, which has been banned by the government. As Bernard Smith reports for Al Jazeera, the streets of Nairobi are extremely tense, with fears of violent clashes between protesters and police. Additional reporting comes from Al Jazeera's correspondent Mohammed Adow who was with the protestors in central Nairobi when they clashed with riot police.

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There are fears of possible reprisal attacks in Afghanistan, after a US soldier went on a deadly shooting spree. The attack took place in two villages of Kandahar's Panjwai district, with the serviceman going from house to house as he opened fire. Sixteen civilians, including women and children, were killed. Barack Obama, the US president, has expressed his deep sadness, and has offered his condolences to the families of the victims. However, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has called the deaths "international murders". Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from the capital Kabul.

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Sportsworld's Bernard Smith reports on South Africa's preparations for the first World Cup on African soil.

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One of Afghanistan's biggest hotels has been attacked by the Taliban. At least ten civilians were killed in the fighting at the Inter-Continental Hotel, in Kabul, on Wednesday The five-hour siege was finally put to an end by Afghan and international forces. The attack on the Inter-Continental hotel has once again raised doubts about the ability of Afghan forces to secure the country, once foreign troops start leaving. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul, Afghanistan.

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An all female motor-racing team is challenging stereotypes in the West Bank. The 'Speed Sisters' have been rally-driving in Ramallah for more than a year. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports. June 26, 2010

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Many children in Afghanistan are among the most exploited members of society, being forced to work almost as soon as they can walk. This brick factory where young boys work to pay off their family's debts is just one of many examples of child labour in the country. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

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After online calls for a "day of dignity", protesters demanding an end to alleged government corruption took to the streets of cities across Syria on Friday. But they were met with a violent crackdown orchestrated by state security forces. In one video subsequently posted online, water cannon are used on crowds of protesters. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports on the "Facebook youth" who appear to be keeping one step ahead of the authorities.

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Afghanistan's natural resources could one day provide an almost endless supply of energy for its citizens. This year the Afghan government plans to ask for bids for a series of exploration projects for oil and gas in the north and west of the country. At the end of a long violent conflict, there are still significant hurdles to overcome before the dream of energy prosperity becomes a reality. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Mazar-e-Sharif.

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Secretly recorded footage has emerged showing horrific conditions inside a Zimbabwean prison, where inmates are deprived of food and medical care. Roy Bennett, an official in Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, has likened conditions in Zimbabwe's prisons to Nazi death camps. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports.

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At least 10 people have been killed and dozens of others injured after a fuel tanker targeted by a bomb burst into flames in northern Afghanistan, sources tell Al Jazeera. The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Bagram district of Parwan province, 40km north of Kabul. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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Women's boxing makes its debut as at the 2012 Olympics, and 17-year-old Sadaf Rahimi will be there to represent Afghanistan. Despite a lack of proper training facilities, proper sparring partners, or even a boxing ring, Rahimi won a silver medal at a match in Tajikistan and has been invited to compete in the world games. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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The Afghanistan government has welcomed news that the US will withdraw troops from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban has dismissed the news. The Taliban says this move by the US is only "symbolic". They have demanded that the US leaves immediately. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul, Afghanistan.

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As the US scales down its troop presence in Afghanistan, the Afghan army is taking on more responsibilities. Foreign combat troops are due to leave the country at the end of 2014. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith travels to Paktika province in the east of the country, where the Afghan army and police are beginning to take a leading role in providing security.

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The issue of Nato troops in Afghanistan is likely to top the agenda at the alliance's upcoming summit in Romania. NATO is still struggling to bring security to many parts of the country. The Taliban has regained control of some areas of Afghanistan, particularly in the south, 7 years since the US led invasion drove them from power. This instability in part fuels the poverty and corruption gripping the country. Bernard Smith went to meet one family in the capital, Kabul, to see if their life has changed since the fall of the Taliban.

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Indian migrant workers are being duped by agents and forced into debt as they make their way to the Gulf to find work. On their return to India many are finding the burden too much. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports.

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A classified document leaked by the Taliban detailing security arrangements for an upcoming meeting to discuss strategic relations with the United States has been confirmed as authentic by senior Afghan officials. Senior police and intelligence officials told Al Jazeera on Monday that although the leaked plan was real, almost all of the arrangements had been changed since the security breach. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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Asia is having to deal with two massive natural disasters. First a devastating cyclone in Myanmar, then a powerful earthquake in China. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith looks at how the two countries have dealt with their respective disasters, and William Hess from Global Insight talks to us about why both relief efforts have been so different.

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As US President Barack Obama announces specifics of a troop withdrawal, Afghan forces are preparing to take their country on by themselves. While the move will shift resources in some ways, the foreign forces have much stronger fire power and a larger wealth of other resources. In the meantime, NATO and US troops will continue to be stationed alongside some Afghan forces, although their role will not be for combat but rather for support and advice in the withdrawal transition. By the end of 2014, when NATO forces are planning to be withdrawn completely, foreign forces hope that Afghan forces will be ready to secure their country on their own. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Afghanistan.

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Foreign combat troops are expected be out of Afghanistan within three years. But a decade into their mission, security remains precarious. In Sar Howza in Paktika province, a new district governor has been appointed - the second in just four weeks - after the previous governor was killed in a Taliban attack. Mohammed Hakim, a mullah or religious teacher thought to be linked with the attack, is now in custody. But many people in the district fear the Taliban will take revenge on them if he is not released. With no permanent security presence in most villages, the government cannot get an influential foothold - a challenge that is experienced all along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from eastern Afghanistan.

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The kingdom of Swaziland, home to some of the poorest people in Africa, has held extravagant and expensive celebrations for the king and for the country - both are marking their fortieth year. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Swaziland where the events $10m price tag has angered many people.

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The situation in Somalia is worsening by the day and it's the civilians who are bearing the brunt of the fighting. There are now more displaced people in Somalia than any other country in the world. Al Jazeera has obtained exclusive pictures from inside Somalia on the young men who are launching deadly attacks across the country. Bernard Smith has the story.

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Afghanistan is responsible for ninety per cent of the world's supply of heroin. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith has been given exclusive access to a group of smugglers as they prepared to cross the border into Iran with a large delivery of heroin.

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Afghan president Hamid Karzai, in meeting with families of 16 victims, says his investigators were denied access to the rogue US soldier who killed civilians during a shooting spree. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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After NATO removed all of its military advisers from Kabul following a week of protests over Quran burning by US soldiers, Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports on what effects this has had on the Afghan army.

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It is being described as the biggest attack in Kabul in the last 11 years as the Taliban easily penetrated one of the most secure parts of the country. Fighting continued for almost 18 hours and defence officials say 36 fighters were killed and 18 captured in the capital Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan. Afghan security sources reveal that that for the past five days the attackers had smuggled explosives and weapons into this site hidden in cement bags and paint pots. Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, called the attacks an intelligence failure both for his government and NATO forces. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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A week into the new Afghan school term and hundreds of schools in Ghazni province are unoccupied. Thousands of pupils are stuck at home because of a Taliban campaign of intimidation. It is all linked to a province-wide ban on unlicensed motorbikes. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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Afghanistan's president says he is considering holding presidential elections a year early, in 2013, and does not want to put too much pressure on the country as NATO leaves in 2014. AL Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul.

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An Indian doctor accused of tricking and sometimes forcing hundreds of India's poorest people to give up their kidneys, has been arrested in Nepal. The case has highlighted the dark underside of India's growing popularity as a destination for medical tourists. But this scandal has shocked the country, sparking debates about medical ethics and organ transplant laws. Bernard Smith reports.

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