For Barack Obama and the American people, it is the best opportunity for them to celebrate during the recession period as US Senate has approved the universal health care reform bill. Since American people have suffered a lot since the financial crisis, it is a precious and the best gift in Christmas.

This approved bill will be consolidated with the House-passed medical reform version, and finally reach a compromise version to be submitted in the next year. Obama is expected to sign it in...

On 30 August, 2009, Yukio Hatoyama, the leader of Japan's largest opposition party - Democratic Party, leaded Democrats in the House of Representatives to win an overwhelming election victory for the first time as they defeated the Liberal Democratic Party to come into power. This victory not only contains meaningful influence in Japanese politics, but also brings emotional expectations for the Japanese people.

There is an interesting fact that a "honeymoon period" exists as the new leader...

The new Asian exchange reserve scheme will be constructed on next 3^rd, March among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and other three key Asian powers (China, Japan, Korea). As the name of this scheme tells that it is aimed to ensure sufficient liquidity of foreign reserve in the event of the financial crisis.

The once horrible Asian financial crisis in 1997 is a tragedy for Asia. During this crisis, the IMF arranged a series of financial loans (more than 1000 billion US dollars...

Copenhagen, by no means, will be the focus during these weeks since all important leaders will attend, discuss, and then conclude a seemingly "homework", otherwise, the international momentum to address climate change will lose. In other words, it is the opportunity for us to make a new global climate deal, more in perspective, to replace the old Kyoto agreement.

First, it is very important to identify key players in this negotiation and what is their standpoints for this global challenge.

Americ...

Countries have been searching for alternative energy sources for decades. To explain main driven forces, Rajagopal and Zilberman (2007) suggest that it derives from high petrol prices due to increasing consumption and diminishing oil reserves, increasing concern about individual countries' energy security and commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions under global climate change. The Energy Information Administration (2007) estimates that the world's energy demand will soar by 57 percent by...

Option A: Government intervention. As the government endeavours to develop the biofuel industry, they should also provide the agricultural industry with various incentives to promote its development. For example, the government could invest more to develop agricultural technology; encourage farmers to reclaim idle lands and utilize more machines; provide subsidies to farmers.

Benefits can then be obtained by doing so. First, substantial capital could be invested in agriculture to ensure...

It has been announced three days ago that Wen Jiabao, Chinese Prime Minister will attend the Copenhagen UN summit between 7-18 December, to negotiate with policy makers from other countries for the issue of the climate change. The Copenhagen talks, as media predict, will take over the Kyoto Protocol and create a new CO2 reduction commitment internationally.

As the largest emitter of CO2 in the world, China should take the responsibility to clean away the gloomy mood globally before the...

As members in the EU have their own specific political consideration, candidates for the EU "President" and "Foreign Minister" become involved in the political, geographic and gender balance - a complex game.

The first person consuming ponder

Herman Van Rompuy, only appeared recently on the EU's candidate list of the first "President". Prior to his tenure as the Belgian Prime Minister and the speaker of the House, Herman Van Rompuy has not held any key positions. Then, why do leaders in the EU...

On November 19, the European Union (EU) announces that it has selected its first full-time president - Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy. Catherine Ashton, once British commissioner, is also chosen as the first EU high representive for foreign and security policy.

Compared with another candidate Blair, Herman Van Rompuy owns less reputation in international politics. He was born in 1947, and elected as Belgian Prime Minister last December. As the former speaker of the House in Belgium...

The United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Copenhagen on 7-18 December, 2009. This immediate conference was launched in Bail, December 2007, when all parties agreed on the Bail Action Plan - a two-year process leading to an agreed outcome on climate change action in Copenhagen.

However, it is better not to expect any real outcomes in the Copenhagen conference since the recently held negotiations on climate change in Barcelona indicate that there are still a number of inevitable...