Iranian Police Clash with Protesters

IRAN-PROTEST: Iranian riot police have clashed with protesters in the capital, Tehran, as opposition supporters gathered for anti-government protests on Iran's National Student Day. Witnesses say hundreds of police used batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators gathered in the streets of central Tehran. Other police were reported to be blocking areas leading to Tehran University, where pro-reform students also are holding rallies. National Student Day commemorates the killing of three Iranian students during an anti-American protest in 1953. Reformist opposition activists were expected to turn the state-authorized event into a protest against the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iranian authorities have aid their Internet and cell phone services had slowed or had been disconnected in advance of planned demonstrations by student activists. Opposition sources suspect that communications are being limited to deprive demonstrators of the ability to mobilize. The government also has banned foreign journalists from covering news, revoking their work permits in Tehran from December 7 to December 9.

PHILIPPINES-MASSACRE: The Philippine government says forcesloyal to a powerful Muslim clan in the south have engaged federal troops in a gunfight.
Presidential press secretary Cerge Remonde said Monday there were no casualties in the clash in southern Maguindanao province, which is under martial law. He said a firefight took place Sunday evening in Datu Unsay township, near the site of the November 23 killing of 57 people traveling in an election convoy.
Thousands of troops have taken control of the province to crack down on the powerful Ampatuan clan. That family is accused of planning the election-related massacre. Philippine troops have arrested at least 68 people with suspected links to the Ampatuan family.

NOKOR NUCLEAR: A U.S. envoy met with South Korean officials Monday, before his visit to North Korea for the first one-on-one talks between Washington and Pyongyang since U.S. President Barack Obama took office. Stephen Bosworth met in Seoul with South Korea's six party talks negotiator Wi Sung-lac ahead of his trip to North Korea on Tuesday. He also is to see the South Korean foreign minister before his trip. Bosworth is seeking North Korea's return to the six-party disarmament talks.The world's largest international conference on climate change has opened in Copenhagen, with representatives from more than 190 nations seeking a new agreement to halt global warming.

CLIMATE CONFERENCE: The two-week conference opened Monday, with many attendees seeking controls on carbon emissions that have been linked to climate change. One top U.N. official has called for $30 billion in aid to help poor countries with efforts to lessen their emissions. United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer described emergency funding from wealthy nations -- a proposal endorsed by the European Union -- as an "urgent need."
Pre-summit talks have failed to produce consensus on how much rich nations should contribute to helping poorer countries develop clean industries. Developing nations also are demanding that rich countries commit to far deeper emission cuts than previously declared.Police in northwest Pakistan say a suicide bomber has killed at least seven people and wounded several others.

PAKISTAN:Police in northwest Pakistan say a suicide bomber has killed at least seven people and wounded several others. Authorities say the bomber blew himself up Monday after security officials stopped him from entering a courthouse in Peshawar.
Militants in Pakistan have killed hundreds of people in bombings since military forces launched a major offensive in the South Waziristan tribal region two months ago. Many of these attacks have targeted Peshawar, including a bomb blast late last month that ripped through a police vehicle and killed three police officers.

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