U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged Friday that the United States is facing a "very tough test" in fighting to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan. "But I'm sure we will rise to the occasion the way we have many times before," he told a news conference in Krakow, Poland, where NATO defense ministers are meeting. Gates said the United States hopes other nations involved in Afghanistan will contribute to the anti-Taliban campaign any way they can. "If other ...

Kyrgyzstan's president has signed a bill to close an air base that the U.S. military uses as a route for troops and supplies heading into Afghanistan, the president announced on his Web site Friday. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed the bill into law on Friday. Once the Kyrgyz government officially hands the bill over to U.S. representatives, the U.S. military will have 180 days in which to withdraw from the base, a government spokesman said this week. The U.S. Embassy ...

A jury in Moscow on Thursday acquitted three men charged with involvement on the murder of independent journalist Anna Politkovskaya. The not guilty verdicts followed a two month trial that was hampered from the start by the man accused of masterminding the shooting, Rustam Makhmudov. Sergei Khadzhikurbanov -- a former Moscow police officer -- and Makhmudov's brothers, Ibragim and Dzhabrail were found not guilty of shooting dead Politkovskaya, a Kremlin critic, outside her Moscow home in October, 2006. ...

Chelsea posted losses of £65.7 million ($93.91m) as they were left to count the cost of managerial departures. The results for the financial year ending on June 30, 2008 revealed that £23.1 million ($33.02m) had been paid in compensation to former Blues managers Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant and five coaching staff. They do not include the payout that Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to receive, reported to be in the region £8 million ($11.44m), following his sacking this ...

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could appoint a special envoy for North Korea before leaving for Asia next week, senior administration officials told CNN. The officials said Stephen Bosworth, the dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and a former State Department official, has been offered the job. Bosworth would replace Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill, who is expected to replace Ryan Crocker as U.S. ambassador to Iraq. The officials spoke on the ...

English Premier League side Chelsea confirmed Thursday that Guus Hiddink will take charge until the end of the season following the dismissal of Luis Felipe Scolari. The veteran Dutchman currently coaches the Russian national team, which he led to the semifinals of last year's European Championship. Chelsea said it thanked the Russian Football Union for its "understanding and cooperation." It was unclear whether Hiddink would continue as Russian coach. Asked if he could combine both high-profile jobs in an ...

Chelsea began their hunt for a successor to Luiz Felipe Scolari on Tuesday with Guus Hiddink and former boss Avram Grant the early favorites to replace the sacked Brazilian. Russia coach Hiddink was odds-on with most English bookmakers with Grant also reported to be in the running, just eight months after departing Stamford Bridge following Chelsea's defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League final. Dutchman Hiddink has an impeccable record in club and international football and his agent ...

The United States is looking for opportunities for "face-to-face" dialogue with Iran after nearly three decades without diplomatic ties, President Barack Obama said Monday, but still has "deep concerns" about Tehran's actions. "There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so it's not going to happen overnight," Obama said during his first prime-time news conference Monday night. He said his administration is reviewing existing U.S. policy toward Iran, which supports groups Washington has branded terrorist organizations and ...

The sudden exit of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea has left Ray Wilkins temporarily in charge, and the door is wide open for a new manager at the London club. But who should take Scolari's place Early media reports have suggested former Chelsea manager Avram Grant is the subject of interest from the Blues, in a possible combination with current Russia manager Guus Hiddink. Who do you think should replace Scolari at Stamford Bridge And what do you ...