Top story: Around 15,000 delegates from 192 nations have gathered in Copenhagen to attempt to reach an international agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
"The clock has ticked down to zero. After two years of negotiations the time has come to deliver," said Yvo de Boer, the head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat.
U.S. President Barack Obama will attend the conference and pledge a 17 percent emissions cut by 2020, and pledge an 83 percent reduction by 2050. Major emitters India and China have also pledged cuts, though all are short of the 25 to 40 percent by 2020 sought by the U.N.
The delegates will also attempt to reach a deal to provide developing nations with aid to help them cut emissions. South Africa committed this week to cutting emissions 34 percent by 2020, contingent on international assistance.
The talks also kick off amid growing skepticism over the basic science of climate change sparked by the recent circulation of e-mails sent between climate scientists. Addressing the scandal, Rajendra Pachauri, head of the U.N. panel of climate scientists, said, ""The internal consistency from multiple lines of evidence strongly supports the work of the scientific community, including those individuals singled out in these email exchanges."
Despite Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen's affirmation that "A deal is within our reach," most leaders say this week's talks are unlikely to result in a binding treaty and that the goal, instead, is to create a blueprint for future talks.
Walking back: U.S. administration officials sought to reassure critics that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan would only begin in 2011 and troops could remain much longer.
Middle East
- After numerous delays, the Iraqi parliament passed an election law last night, setting the stage for a vote in late February.
- Iranian security forces attacked protesting university students in Tehran.
- A bombing at a Baghdad school killed at least seven students.
Asia
- At least ten were killed in a suicide bombing outside a courthouse in Peshawar today.
- Police clashed with clan gunmen in the first violence since martial law was declared in the Philippines' southern region last week.
- China's leaders vowed to keep economic stimulus measures in places.
Europe
- Romania's incumbent president Traian Basescu appears headed for victory in this weekend's close presidential runoff.
- Protesters rioted in Athens on the first anniversary of a police shooting.
- Moldova's parliament failed in its latest attempt to elect a president.
Americas
- Bolivian President Evo Morales was overwhelmingly reelected.
- Hugo Chavez's government arrested some of Venezuela's most powerful bankers.
- A deadly shooting between police and drug traffickers broke out near Monterrey, Mexico.
Africa
- Sudanese authorities cracked down on opposition leaders after an unauthorized protest in Khartoum.
- Hundreds of Somalis marched in protest of the al Shabaab, the militant group blamed for last week's suicide bombing in Mogadishu.
- Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba was overwhelmingly reelected.
ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images)
Read More
(0)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE