"Did you just say somethin' hit the World Trade Center?" an incredulous military official asked shortly after the beginning of America's terrorism nightmare on September 11, 2001.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China repeated its opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan on Wednesday, saying they put the peaceful Sino-U.S. relationship at risk, as the Obama administration's decision on a weapons deal for the self-ruled island draws near.

US Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley was in Iraq on Tuesday for a visit that an Iraqi defence ministry spokesman said included talks on F-16 fighter jets, which Iraq is seeking to buy.

Taiwan is expected to mass produce a potent new missile system designed to nip a Chinese invasion in the bud by striking airfields and harbours on the mainland, according to a lawmaker.

Israel was mulling Friday its response to Turkey's decision to expel its ambassador and suspend military accords with its former ally amid a row over last year's Israeli attack on a Gaza aid flotilla.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Washington and Baghdad have made significant progress on a deal for Iraq to buy Lockheed Martin F-16 warplanes but do not have a signed contract, a U.S. military official said on Wednesday.

Lithuanian and French NATO military jets collided on Tuesday in mid-air during a routine exercise patrol over the Baltic state but all three pilots escaped unscathed, officials said.

ON BOARD AIR FORCE TWO (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday the U.S. economy needed more stimulus, putting in a plug for government intervention shortly before the White House unveils new proposals to boost job growth.

ON BOARD AIR FORCE TWO (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday the U.S. economy needed more stimulus to get it moving, putting in a plug for government intervention shortly before the White House unveils new proposals to boost job growth.

China is increasingly focused on naval power and has invested in hi-tech weaponry that will extend its reach in the Pacific and beyond, the Pentagon said.

China's military is increasingly focused on naval power and has invested in high-tech weaponry that will extend its reach in the Pacific and beyond, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

BEIJING/CHENGDU, CHINA (Reuters) - During Vice President Joe Biden's visit to China, Beijing and Washington confined their brawling to the basketball court, and for now economic and political needs should keep tensions in the diplomatic arena from spiraling into fully-fledged feuds.

Turkish planes bombed Kurdish PKK positions in northern Iraq for a second night Thursday, the rebels and news agencies said, hours after Ankara vowed new tough measures to counter the outlawed group.

US Vice President Joe Biden, starting a visit to China under a cloud of criticism over the US debt crisis, told his hosts Thursday that the two nations held the key to global economic stability.

US Vice President Joe Biden told his Chinese counterpart Thursday global economic stability depended on the two nations, as he began an official visit under a cloud of criticism over the US debt crisis.

US Vice President Joe Biden will meet the man widely expected to become China's next leader as he begins his first official visit on Thursday under a cloud of criticism over America's debt crisis.

Vice President Joe Biden arrives in China Wednesday under a cloud of criticism over the US debt, as he seeks to build a rapport with the man expected to be the rising Asian power's next leader.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite festering tensions over debt, deficits and currency, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has one top priority during his trip to Asia this week: get to know China's next generation of leaders.

A White House official pledged Monday that the United States will remain committed to Taiwan's defense after a report said that Washington has rejected the island's pitch to buy F-16 fighter jets.

TAIPEI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has refused Taiwan's request for 66 new Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter jets which China had warned Washington would risk inflaming tensions between the two big powers, Defense News reported, citing a Taiwan defense official.