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Top stories include a Chinese dissident who left the U.S. embassy has received assurances he'll be freed from house arrest but there are doubts; Taliban insurgents attack points in Kabul after President Obama departs following a lightning visit.

Actress Michelle Yeoh portrays Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi in the new biopic The Lady. Before she played a symbol of nonviolence, Yeoh began her film career as a fighter in martial arts pictures. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Yeoh about the film and her career.

The pace of political reform in Myanmar has surprised many and, coupled with recent election results, has led to an easing of economic and political sanctions by the West. But the reforms are by no means irreversible, nor are the poor nation's myriad problem easily solved.

As Sunday's election approaches, there's a flurry of activity in Myanmar. People from all over the world have come in search of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate and leader of the opposition National League for Democracy. The chaotic environment is a reminder of how far the party has to go to be ready for the political prime time.

Mynamar political leader and Nobel peace prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi says campaign irregularities mean Myanmar's election on Sunday is neither free nor fair. She continues to campaign for a parliament seat.

After a half-century, Myanmar's military rulers have been easing their grip on power just a bit. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her party are campaigning for the parliamentary seats at stake in Sunday's ballot.

Daily Beast and °µºÚ±¬ÁÏweek editor Tina Brown highlights a book and an article on two titanic individuals at the center of political change: Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin and pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.

Myanmar is opening up, after a nominally civilian government replaced a decades-old military regime last year and began political changes. The metamorphosis is occurring from the top down. But crucial questions remain unanswered, and it's unclear whether the moves are permanent.

Aung San Suu Kyi is campaigning for a seat in parliament to represent a rural district four hours from the country's biggest city, Yangon. It's a scene that seemed impossible only a few months ago, before the country's military-backed government began a process of reform aimed at ending international sanctions.

McConnell was the architect of the sanctions against Myanmar and over the past few months, he's seen country race toward democracy.