A landmark Australian project that mitigates the extent and severity of natural savannah blazes by deploying traditional Indigenous fire management techniques is being hailed as a model with vast global potential in the fights against climate change and biodiversity loss.

China, Japan To Enhance Defense Exchanges — CCT Visiting Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie has met with his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa in Tokyo. The two sides have agreed to enhance defense exchanges as part of efforts to further boost ties and mutual trust. The Chinese defense minister attended a military ceremony at the Japanese [...]

President Obama is expected this week to announce an increase of at least 30,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Democratic and Republican lawmakers are discussing a war “surtax” to help defray costs. (Shawn Thew / European Pressphoto Agency / November 24, 2009) Obama Prepares for Afghan Speech, Senators Offer Advice — Voice of America As U.S. [...]

Armed men under the orders of Haji Baran, district commander of the Taliban in Ghazni province. Karim Ben Khelifa / Oeil Public From Time Magazine: While much of the focus on Tuesday’s unveiling of President Obama’s revamped Afghanistan strategy will be on the number of U.S. troops he’s expected to send, that decision is really [...]

Authority to Spy on Americans Unclear as Patriot Act Expires — ABC News House Defies White House and Renews Two of Three Expiring Provisions. Rushed into law by Congress just weeks after Sept. 11, 2001 three controversial provisions of the Patriot Act granting officials far-reaching surveillance and seizure powers in the name of national security, [...]