When President Barack Obama said during his campaign that "the United States must maintain a military that is second to none," he was echoing what has become a common refrain among candidates of both parties since the late 1940s, says Emory University's T. Jeremy Gunn.

Development agencies and United Nations officials are exasperated at the obstructiveness of the Burmese junta toward an international aid effort aimed at bringing desperately needed supplies to victims of the recent cyclone.

A Catholic priest has taken part in last week's early-morning non-violent action against the Waihopai military satellite communications interception station, near Blenheim, New Zealand.

Within Christianity there is a long history of trouble making, says Glynn Cardy. And rightly so if it is about building the vision and reality of a different kind of world in which all may flourish.

The British government is to face the Information Tribunal next week concerning its refusal to disclose documents relating to arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The first case is being brought by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).

The Christmas message is that God in Jesus commits to transforming human ordinariness, not to fantasies about a super-hero figure or military conquerer, the President of the Methodist Conference has said in his seasonal message.

Pro-democracy activists are continuing to protest on the streets of Asia as the United Nations' envoy arrives today in Burma for talks with government leaders - amid receding hopes of divisions emerging among the ruling junta.

As yet unconfirmed reports from military sources in Burma say that there is significant unrest in the army, with reports of mutinying in some areas and claims that a coup is taking place. Meanwhile the death toll of protesters has been growing significantly.

At least nine people were killed in Rangoon yesterday in continuing clashes between the military and demonstrators. They included eight protesters and a Japanese photo-journalist. Monks have been beaten and arrested in the crackdown. But the protests continue.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) international policy committee has sent a message to the American government urging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to increase efforts with the international community to establish peace, stability and political reform in Lebanon.