Afghan Presidential Challenger Withdraws
Afghan opposition candidate Abdullah's decision creates new political turmoil just six days ahead of the vote
US Secretary of State Says Israel, Palestinians Should Resume Talks Without Preconditions
Hillary Clinton meets with Netanyahu and Abbas to pressue both sides to resume talks
![[insert caption here]](http://www.voanews.com/english/images/PakistanKhyberPass.jpg)
Bomb Kills 7 Pakistani Soldiers
Officials say bomb attack occurred in Khyber tribal area, home to Khyber Pass, main route for moving supplies to international forces fighting in Afghanistan
Former World Leaders Remember Fall of Berlin Wall
Germany's ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl, former US president George H. W. Bush, and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev honored at gathering in Berlin
 |  | Afghanistan's election is thrown into confusion after President Karzai's rival says he will pull out of the second round next week. |
Dr Abdullah's announcement| Six bodies have been found in the home of a convicted rapist in the US city of Cleveland, police confirm. | | Singer and pianist Sir Elton John is forced to postpone several more concerts this month because of ill-health. |
| Interview | |
 | A United, Collective VoiceThe new Canadian ambassador to Thailand wants to see an unambiguous Western policy on Burma leading up to the 2010 election. |
US Officials to Meet Junta, Opposition Leaders |
| By LAWI WENG |
| A US delegation led by two senior officials will meet members of Burma’s ruling junta and leaders of the country’s main opposition groups. |
Adding Bounce to Asia’s Rebound |
| By SIMON ROUGHNEEN |
| To sustain their recovery from the global economic downturn, Asian economies will need to find ways to decrease their dependence on trade with the West. |
Weekly Business Roundup (October 31, 2009) |
| By WILLIAM BOOT |
| The Chinese government has come under a barrage of petitions asking it to abandon plans to build gas and oil pipelines through Burma. |
FFSS Founder Defies Court Summons |
| By THE IRRAWADDY |
| The founder of the Rangoon-based Free Funeral Services Society has defied an order to appear before a court to answer a charge that the organization is continuing to operate its clinic despite an official order to close. |
Drug smuggling to Thailand mounts
Two drug smugglers were shot dead by Thai security forces in gun battles in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai province, north of Thailand even as the Thai government expressed......US inches closer to dialogue with junta
A United States top level “fact-finding mission” is due to arrive in Rangoon on Monday. The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia, Kurt Campbell and the US Ambassador to...Editorial, Opinion and Analysis
Nationality verification of Burmese migrants: A meaningful debate
(Commentary) The Thai Government recently reiterated its policy to formalise the status of around two million migrants from Burma working here - nationality ver...
Burmese-American’s case transferred
The case relating to the Burmese born American, Nyi Nyi Aung (alias) Kyaw Zaw Lwin, has been transferred to Rangoon’s Southern district court by the special court in Rangoon’s Insein...Burmese artists shortlisted for international art prize
A Burmese refugee women’s group, Kumjing Storytellers, and a renowned detained poet, Saw Wei, have been named among the shortlisted finalists for the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize,...| How international pressure helps The Island (subscription) Unfortunately, experience (Lanka, Burma, Sudan, Israel) has been that accommodation usually turns into appeasement, and eventually nothing is achieved. ... See all stories on this topic |
| US President Obama to invite ASEAN leaders to Washington Earthtimes (press release) ... revealed during an informal talk with international participants attending a conference in Washington on Burma (Myanmar) last week that Obama would make ... See all stories on this topic |
| Arrests of Burmese journalists on the rise Oct 30, 2009 (DVB)–Around 20 journalists and entertainers have been arrested in the past month while many more have gone into hiding, a reporter at a Rangoon-based news journal said. - more |
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| Refugee swell sparks clinic funding crisis Oct 30, 2009 (DVB)–Increasing numbers of refugees crossing from Burma into Thailand have placed extra strain on a border clinic that treats thousands of Burmese each year, the director of the clinic said. - more |
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| Security threats in eastern Burma ‘increasing’ Oct 30, 2009 (DVB)–The fallout from conflict in eastern Burma is likely to deteriorate in the coming year as greater militarization causes further unrest in the region, an aid agency said. - more |
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| Burmese satirists could face death sentence Oct 30, 2009 (DVB)–Comedians and performers who poke fun at Burma’s ruling junta could face the death sentence, an article written by Burmese police has warned. - more |
