Photo: AP
President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on his way to Copenhagen, 17 Dec 2009
President Obama Heads to Copenhagen as Climate Conference Draws to Close 
Mr. Obama will join leaders of over 100 other nations for final day of UN Climate Change conference
Photo: AP
Pakistan's Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar (file photo)
Pakistan's Defense Minister Barred From Leaving Country
Earlier, two suspected US drone attacks in tribal areas along Afghan-Pakistan border reportedly killed at least 17 people
Photo: AP
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (file photo)
Senate Panel Votes to Confirm Bernanke for Second Term 
Move to approve nomination of chairman for second term as head of US central bank paves way for vote by full Senate in January
Photo: AP
U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev outside the Kremlin, 07 Jul7, 2009
Obama, Medvedev to Discuss Arms Deal in Copenhagen
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday accused US negotiators of slowing down talks
- International Community Looks at Options to Stop Iran From Producing Nuclear Weapons
- Yemen: Strikes Foil Planned al-Qaida Attacks
- Timing of Iranian Missile Test Questioned
- US Jobless Claims Rise
- Egyptian Mediator to Visit Israel to Discuss Prisoner Swap
- Experts Concerned US Homegrown Terrorism On the Rise
- Coalition Troops Launch Major Offensive East of Kabul
- Human Rights Watch says Guinea Military Planned Attack on Civilians
- Madagascar Leader Calls Parliamentary Elections, Rejects International Mediation
- Global Economic Upturn Seen as 2010 Approaches
- Talk of Swine Flu Parties Goes Viral
- Western Sahara Activist Returns Home After Month-long Expulsion
 |  | A deal at the UN climate summit looks more likely after a frantic day of diplomacy, as China offers to make concessions. |
| Travel ban for Pakistani minister Pakistan's defence minister says he has been stopped from leaving the country as a result of a corruption inquiry. | | Deepest volcano caught on video Extraordinary video is obtained in the Pacific Ocean of the deepest undersea volcano eruption ever recorded. |
| UOTE OF THE DAY | |
 |  We hope this is a step towards a meeting between Aung San Suu Kyi and the entire Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy.  —US State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly |
Oslo's Message for Burma |
| By AUNG ZAW |
| US President Barack Obama was right when he told the Nobel Peace Prize audience in Oslo that nonviolence can't defeat the armed forces of a repressive regime. |
Stiglitz Advises Regime to Use Oil and Gas Revenues Wisely |
| By BA KAUNG |
| Nobel Economics Laureate Joesph Stiglitz has told a forum in the Burmese capital, Naypyidaw, that revenues from oil and gas, if well used, could open up a new era for the country. |
Than Shwe to Meet Chinese Vice President |
| By WAI MOE |
| China's Vice President Xi Jinping will meet with Junta Supremo Than Shwe during a scheduled two-day visit to Burma this weekend. |
Call to Reorganize NLD Garners Support, Questions |
| By ARKAR MOE |
| NLD leaders embrace Aung San Suu Kyi's call to reorganize Burma's most prestigious opposition party, while raising questions about timing and and other matters. |
Thai Government Urged to Investigate 'Long Neck' Tourist Village |
| By LAWI WENG |
| The Thai government is being urged to investigate a businessman who allegedly moved more than 20 Padaung so-called “long necks” from their homes in northern Thailand to become a tourist attraction near Chiang Mai. |
US Welcomes Suu Kyi Meeting with NLD Leaders |
| By LALIT K JHA |
| The US has welcomed the Burmese regime's decision to allow opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to meet three senior members of her National League for Democracy and has urged the junta to enter “genuine dialogue” with all the country's stakeholders. |
‘Economics and politics inseparable’, Stiglitz tells Burma
Nobel Laureate Prof. Joseph Stiglitz said Burma needs an all inclusive economic process ...ADB will not expand TFFP in Burma
Ethnic Karen in Rangoon and Karen State on Wednesday celebrated their New Year in ...| Bomb kills six on restive Burma border Dec 18, 2009 (AFP)–Six people have been killed and 12 injured when a time bomb exploded in Burma’s restive Karen state on Wednesday night, an official told AFP Thursday. - more |
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| Is Stiglitz speaking the obvious to deaf ears? Editorial |
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| Swiss bank fined $536mln for Burma ties Dec 17, 2009 (DVB)–A Swiss banking giant has been fined $US536 million after being found guilty of violating US sanctions through years of undetected transactions with so-called “rogue” regimes, such as Burma. - more |
