New variables are changing America's foreign policy strategies.

While partisan differences sometimes impede the approval of free trade agreements in the U.S., economic benefits flow throughout the national economy and down to the consumer level when trade barriers are lowered and tariffs come down.

Politics often get in the way of good policy but now it appears that the issues that prevented Congress from approving new free trade agreements may have been worked out.

A severe drought in the Horn of Africa has added considerable pressure to an already deteriorating situation in Somalia.

Afghans mark the first day of Ramadan with no clear signal from the Taliban on whether they will observe a break in fighting. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

France and other members of the EU are imposing new sanctions on Syria in response to their bloody suppression of anti-government protesters. Terrell Brown reports.

Foxconn, a Chinese electronics company, is planning to replace its human workers with robots by 2014. Up to a million workers could be replaced by the robots. Foxconn makes several Apple products, and is looking to cut costs. Maureen Aladin has more.

Chinese officials are trying to get some political mileage out of the U.S. debt ceiling debacle by criticizing Washington for putting Chinese holdings at risk. CBS News correspondent Celia Hatton reports.

Hundreds of Palestinians attend the funeral for two men killed in an Israeli army raid in the West Bank. Nick Rowlands reports.

The Norwegian parliament holds a moment of silence for the 77 people killed in a bombing and shooting spree last month. Andrew Raven reports.

Eunice Yoon takes a look at China's reaction to the U.S. debt deal and what lessons China could learn from it.

Lauren Goodrich examines the reasons behind Moscow's plan to privatize strategic Russian firms.

International condemnation of Syria's violent actions in Hama and other cities has been swift, but NATO has ruled out any intervention to stop the violence.

The site of a gun battle in June, Kabul Intercontinental Hotel is undergoing a facelift and is said to be secure.