As China and India rise in tandem, their relationship will shape world politics.

Taiwan's legislature approved a bill Thursday to allow Chinese students to study at local universities, dismantling another barrier in a bid to further ease hostilities between the once-bitter rivals. The bill, to take effect in early 2011, will allow local colleges to admit up to 2,000 mainland students a year to enrol in all areas except military, police and security-related studies.

China and Tanzania enjoys deep and traditional friendship with richer and richer cultural exchanges between the two countries, a senior Chinese diplomat said in Dar Es Salaam,on Thursday. Liu Xinsheng, Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the exhibition of "Henan in the Eyes of World Photographers", stressing the role of cultural exchange in enhancing the bilateral relations.

Pakistan said on Thursday it is still mulling over India's offer of aid for flood-affected communities, despite a serious shortage of funds hampering Islamabad's ability to provide relief to the eight million people in need...India last week offered $5 million, but a Pakistani diplomat said Islamabad has not yet decided whether to accept, despite the massive scale of the flooding and its lack of resources to respond effectively.

Disputes between Gulf Arab states and the maker of the Blackberry smartphone over access to encrypted communications highlight a growing nervousness over looming regional security threats, from Iran to al Qaeda.

The security obsessed Israeli military is confronting a new adversary - trying to control what its own soldiers post to the Internet. Facebook, along with YouTube and other popular sites, is turning into a formidable nuisance for the army, as young recruits in this tech-crazy country post embarrassing and potentially sensitive information online, circumventing tight military controls.

It is common to use words like "reclusive" and "secretive" when writing about North Korea. But last Thursday, the North Koreans created a Twitter account - @uriminzok, a shortened version of a Korean word that translates as "our people".

Pakistan is experiencing one of the worst disasters in history. Floods have devastated the country killing more than 1500 people and leaving many people homeless.Pakistan is experiencing one of the worst disasters in history. Floods have devastated the country killing more than 1500 people and leaving many people homeless...What makes India (and Indian media) ignore the unfolding disaster in Pakistan?