June 2009
HK lifts smoking ban exemption for bars, baths, and mahjong joints
Updated 30/06/2009 20:50:14
For the last two-and-a-half years, bars, clubs, bathhouses, massage parlours, and mahjong joints in Hong Kong have been exempt from a ban on smoking in public places, but that changes on Wednesday when Hong Kong's department of health lifts the exemption. Hong Kong's Tobacco Control Office says more than 88 per cent of people living in the special administrative region do not smoke, and most people are in favour of the public smoking ban. But the business community says it will hit them - where the global recession has already hit them hard.
Jobless figures in Japan hit five year high
Updated 30/06/2009 20:50:14
Unemployment in Japan has hit its highest level in more than five years, with companies still slashing jobs to stay afloat and cope with the nation's worst ever recession. Analysts warn the worst is yet to come as international demand for Japanese goods continues to slump. And any economic recovery in neighbouring Asian economies is unlikely to ease Japan's problems.
East Timorese president defends prime minister over rice scandal
Updated 30/06/2009 20:50:14
The East Timorese president, Jose Ramos-Horta, has defended prime minister Xanana Gusmao's approval of a multi-million dollar contract, which was awarded to a company linked to Xanana Gusmao's daughter. Dr Ramos-Horta says he fully supports the prime minister.
How food security is becoming national security in Asia
Updated 30/06/2009 20:50:13
With the global recession continues to bite, and the issue of global warming shows no signs of cooling, analysts believe that food and fuel have moved beyond mere markets to become an issue of national security - and one that is wrapped up in the global response to our changing environment. And that's no different in Asia.
Reporters suffering on both sides of Iran election protest
Updated 30/06/2009 20:50:13
Journalists have been among the key targets of a government crackdown after the recently disputed election in Iran. Iranian journalists who don't follow the government line are at extreme risk and several are under detention. And those who work in government media are denounced by protesters as propaganda agents and are targeted in street actions.
South Korea's opposition vows to continue parliamentary blockade
Updated 29/06/2009 20:32:48
In South Korea, opposition members of parliament and their aides are physically blocking the doors to the country's national assembly and are demanding an investigation into the death of the former president, Roh Moo-hyun, who apparently threw himself off a mountain in May. But some say that by blocking parliament the opposition are hampering such an investigation from being set up.
Australia hard pushed to fulfil pledge to assist Pacific
Updated 29/06/2009 20:32:48
Australia's newest defence white paper promises to continue Australia's role in assisting Pacific states that are hit by instability and crisis, but there may not be enough Australian personnel to fulfil the pledge. And there's a reluctance to move on ideas for a regional response body because of concerns about militarising the region.
Timor government defends rice deal
Updated 29/06/2009 20:32:48
East Timor's government has defended prime minister Xanana Gusmao's authorisation of a multi-million dollar contract to company in which his daughter was a major shareholder. The government says it's taking action to eliminate corruption in government. And East Timor's parliament has now approved plans to establish an anti-corruption commission in East Timor. But the leader of the National Unity Party, MP Fernanda Borges, says the new commission's first task should be to investigate the prime minister's office.
Questions over how to deal with a resurgent China
Updated 29/06/2009 20:32:46
The issue of North Korea and the perceived threat of its nuclear programme has raised expectations of China - and questions about how it hopes to position itself as it becomes more and more involved in strategic world affairs. And perhaps the most immediate of those questions is how Asia and the United States will deal - or come to terms - with China as a resurgent great power.
Dubai Islamic banks eye Australia
Updated 29/06/2009 20:32:46
With middle eastern Islamic finance looking for a home in Australia, a delegation from the the United Arab Emirates has been exploring opportunities during its first Islamic financial services mission to Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. The Dubai-based bankers are also interested in commodities like agriculture and mining.
Chinese military targets graduate recruits
Updated 26/06/2009 19:45:54
Amid the global financial crisis, the Chinese military has intensified its campaign to recruit university students.
PNG's growing number of orphans
Updated 26/06/2009 19:46:10
Latest figures show about one in eight children in Papua New Guinea is an orphan.
Debate over role of hunting in giant kangaroo extinction
Updated 26/06/2009 19:45:38
Researchers in Australia have put forward a theory that a species of giant kangaroo, weighing more than 200 kilograms, was hunted to extinction by humans 45-thousand years ago.
French Polynesia rejects nuclear compensation
Updated 26/06/2009 19:45:38
The courts in French Polynesia have rejected nearly half of the nuclear compensation claims filed by former workers of France's nuclear testing site in the Pacific.
Australia slips in international anti-corruption rankings
Updated 26/06/2009 19:47:03
Australia slips down the international anti-corruption rankings because of the AWB food for oil scandal.
East Timor PM accused of corruption
Updated 26/06/2009 19:47:15
The father of East Timorese independence, Xanana Gusmao, is at the centre of a new corruption scandal.
Palau President says Uighurs safe from China in his country
Updated 25/06/2009 20:45:49
Palau's President says fears his country can't provide a safe haven for Guantanamo detainees are unfounded. The President's statement follows concerns raised by the detainees that they will be under threat from China if they agree to take up an offer to resettle in Palau. Palau President Johnson Toribiong says they have nothing to worry about. But a lawyer for two of the detainees says there is no formal offer on the table.
Taiwan to decriminalise prostitution
Updated 25/06/2009 20:46:44
Taiwan is planning to decriminalise prostitution by revising laws punishing sex workers . It's also considering allowing red-light districts. Under existing laws, prostitutes face being detained for three days or a fine of up to 900 US dollars.
Mixed economic outlook for Australia and Asia
Updated 25/06/2009 20:47:05
Australia's economy will be the best performer of any advanced nation this year but its recovery will be fragile. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development forecasts Australia will shrink by around half a per cent, before returning to positive growth in 2010. That compares to a contraction across the OECD's 30 industrialised members this year of four per cent. But in its latest report the OECD says the world economy is through the worst of the global ecession.
Changes to immigration detention in Australia
Updated 25/06/2009 20:47:20
A much-criticised feature of Australia's immigration detention is set to be erased by the Rudd Labor government and a handful of conservative M-Ps .
Taiwan still source of US-China tension
Updated 25/06/2009 20:46:12
China and the United States have hailed defence talks in the Chinese capital as a step forward in mutual understanding.
Pakistan's displaced fear returning home
Updated 25/06/2009 20:46:33
Earlier this month the Taliban attacked a hotel in the Pakistan city of Peshawar.
SBY cruising to victory in Indonesia's presidential elections
Updated 24/06/2009 21:01:35
In three weeks, Indonesians will vote for their president in an election that will determine the pace of reform in Southeast Asia's biggest and most influential country. The incumbent president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has gone in for debates with his rivals - former president Megawati Sukurnoputri and vice president Jusuf Kalla - on issues ranging from the rule of law to human rights and good governance.
Sharp criticism levelled against Australian defence white paper
Updated 24/06/2009 21:01:35
Australia's latest defence white paper has been heavily criticised for pretending that Australia's military could eventually deliver a knockout blow to China in the event of a full scale conflict. One of Australia's most prominent strategic policy makers, emeritus professor Paul Dibb, says the Australian government has failed to explain how it would even develop the force structure for such a blow. But professor Dibb's views have not gone unchallenged.
Democracy advocate charged with subversion
Updated 24/06/2009 21:01:35
A leading Chinese activist, jailed since last December, has been charged with subversion after calling for improved human rights in China. Liu Xiaobo is a prominent scholar who has been in prison before for his support of the democracy movement. Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and called for his immediate release.
Big pharma teams up with Indian generic drug maker
Updated 24/06/2009 21:01:32
A deal between the global pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and an Indian manufacturer of cheap generic drugs could potentially mark a new era in the global medicine business. Generic drugs are cheaper versions of medicines which are otherwise sold at higher prices by leading pharmaceutical companies. And the big companies have often been accused of trying to stop generic drugs from cutting into their profits. But one of the biggest medicine companies in the world has now teamed up with a large generic drug manufacturer in India.
Concerns raised over Fiji police Christian 'crusade'
Updated 24/06/2009 21:01:32
Concerns have been raised by some of Fiji's political and religious leaders that the police may have embraced an evangelical church crusade. Since the start of the year, police commissioner Esala Teleni has been ordering police to take part in the Christian crusade - no matter which religion they follow themselves. The crusade, which is led by the police commissioner's brother, has been taken to the streets of Suva and other towns.
China accuses Google of 'disseminating pornography'
Updated 23/06/2009 21:03:14
The Chinese government has accused the US based internet search engine Google of 'disseminating pornography'. Authorities have ordered Google China to disable some of its online functions, raising renewed concerns over China's increasingly fierce internet censorship.
Bi-election shows Thaksin still popular in rural Thailand
Updated 23/06/2009 21:03:14
If the result from a by-election over the weekend is anything to go by, Thailand's fugitive and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra still has influence in some rural regions. The Pheu Thai party, which is backed by Mr Thaksin, won convincingly in the Sakon Nakhon by-election against the Bhum Jai Thai party, which is headed by a former Thaksin ally. Many of Mr Thaksin's relatives were reportedly in the province, helping the Pheu Thai campaign. But support overall may be waning.
Budget stabilisation fund cited for PNG's expected LNG windfall
Updated 23/06/2009 21:03:14
Policy heads have been meeting in Canberra to discuss Papua New Guinea, and it's where PNG's ambassador to Australia has said his country might put profits from Exxon Mobil's planned liquefied natural gas project into a budget stabilisation fund. But there's also some concern about the enthusiasm that some have shown to spend the money years before it's been earned.
Maoists considered India's biggest internal security threat
Updated 23/06/2009 21:03:14
The government considers the Maoist Communist Party of India the biggest threat to the country's internal security and it's now officially banned the Maoists in what some are calling a 'technicality' to close a loophole. The Maoists avoided a ban five years ago when individual factions regrouped as as The Communist Party of India (Maoist), who are different from other - more mainstream - Communist parties which work within the electoral system. But the ban comes as the Maoists have been staging a strike to protest against alleged atrocities by police in areas that the Maoists control in West Bengal.
Asia enhances global leadership skills amid the financial crisis
Updated 23/06/2009 21:03:14
Some say the global recession demands that the international economy be rebuilt and restructured with new leaders at the top - but while Asia has had a relatively good crisis so far, is it time for the region to take the lead?
Japan looks to triple army and boost defence budget
Updated 22/06/2009 19:24:34
A draft of Japan's new mid-term defence policy guidelines is calling for an increase in military personnel and equipment upgrade in the face of growing regional tensions. The Kyodo news agency, which has obtained a copy, says the draft recommends Japan reverses its policy of reducing its defence budget in response to North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests and China's rise as a major military power.
Australian aid officials concerned about Chinese aid
Updated 22/06/2009 19:24:34
Australian aid officials have questioned whether China has boosted aid to Fiji since the December 2006 coup. They say it's difficult to determine what's aid and what's not in China's spending in developing countries such as Fiji and that there is a need for greater clarity from China.
China lifts ban on share market listings
Updated 22/06/2009 19:24:34
In another sign of confidence in China's economy, regulators there have lifted a nine month ban on companies making new stock market listings. A small pharmaceutical company has been given approval to list on the stock exchange and issue shares. The ban on so-called initial public offerings (IPOs) came after China's main stock market index lost 65 per cent last year. But it is one of the better performing global stock markets .
Australian arts in Asia
Updated 22/06/2009 19:24:31
There are calls for Australia to pay greater attention to promoting Australian arts in Asia - at a time when the Australian director Colin Schumacher is currently in Bangkok, at the helm of the Metropolitan Opera of Bangkok's production of Carl Maria von Weber's, 'Der Freischutz'.
Cambodian opposition MPs stripped of parliamentary immunity
Updated 22/06/2009 19:24:31
Cambodia's opposition says it's under attack because of what it describes as a new round of politically motivated lawsuits and a vote by the National Assembly which has resulted in two opposition MPs being stripped of their parliamentary immunity. Mu Sochua, former Cambodian minister of women's affairs, and Ho Vann, a Phnom Penh municipality representative, had their immunity lifted after a single show-of-hands vote by the National Assembly. They both face defamation lawsuits in Cambodia's notoriously corrupt courts.
Optimism in Seoul About Asia's Prospects
Updated 20/06/2009 08:25:48
World government representatives and financiers meeting in the South Korean capital, say prospects for Asian economies are brighter than they were a year ago. The vote of confidence was given at the World Economic Forum which ends later today in Seoul.
Big changes in Pitcairn government
Updated 19/06/2009 18:19:19
Big changes in the way Pitcairn Island is governed are not enough to be labelled a new constitution, according to the island's British administrator. The tiny island south-west of French Polynesia, only has around 55 inhabitants, descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives. Pitcairn's British Governor, George Fergusson, who is based in the New Zealand capital, Wellington, says the changes are to bring the island into line with the European Convention on Human Rights.
SBY plays it safe in election campaign
Updated 19/06/2009 18:19:25
With less than a month left until Indonesia's presidential elections, the candidates have been hitting the campaign trail.
Protests mark Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday
Updated 19/06/2009 18:19:07
Burma's detained Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi turns sixty-four today her 14th birthday spent in detention.
Mud volcano could wreak havoc for 30 years say scientists
Updated 19/06/2009 19:39:28
Scientists studying Indonesia's now infamous Lusi "mud volcano"says it continues to pose a threat to more than 100-thousand people and could keep flowing for another 30 years. Three years ago an eruption in a densely populated area of East Java spewed scalding hot mud which devoured 11 villages and has caused 14 deaths. Scientists say there's no end in sight to the destruction by the unstoppable mudflow, which is filling the equivalent of 50 olympic sized swimming pools every day.
Cricket easing tensions over attacks on Indian students in Australia
Updated 19/06/2009 19:39:28
Cricket is playing a part in easing tensions over attacks involving Indian students in Australia. Prominent Australian all rounder Brad Hodge, joined Indian students and members of Victoria Police today for a game of laneway cricket in central Melbourne. Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Evans also met with representatives of Melbourne's Indian community to discuss the recent violent attacks on foreign students.
Farm land being bought for golf courses in Vietnam
Updated 19/06/2009 13:32:14
Golf is a sport on the rise in Vietnam. People are turning to the game at a phenomenal rate. But in a country where agriculture is so important, convincing authorities that golf courses are a good use of land is a tough ask.
Similarities btwn NKorea crisis and Cuban missile crisis
Updated 18/06/2009 20:12:15
As the world moves towards tougher sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, the International Crisis Group has appealed for a diplomatic push by the United States to resolve the situation. But an Australian think-tank says after 16 years, hope for diplomacy is all-but dead and the path ahead looks a lot like the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
World Bank cautious optimism on China growth
Updated 18/06/2009 18:37:57
At the start of the global recession many had pinned their hopes on China as the engine that would drive the world's economy back into positive growth. That hope faded as China also felt the effects of shrinking credit and collapsing exports. But in its latest report the World Bank has raised its economic forecast for China from 6-point-five per cent to 7-point-two-per cent this year.
Democrats polling well ahead of Japan election
Updated 18/06/2009 18:38:31
In Japan, a judicial panel has ruled that prosecutors should re-open a case of alleged illegal fundraising by a government minister's support group.
Thousands sign a Mekong River anti-dam petition
Updated 18/06/2009 20:12:16
To south east Asia now and in an unprecedented move more than 15-thousand people from countries along the Mekong River system have signed a petition urging governments to abandon plans for hydropower along the river's mainstream. There are 11 dams proposed along the lower Mekong, 7 in Laos, 2 at the Laos Thailand border and another 2 in Cambodia. The dilemma facing the region is that while the 11 dams will create hydropower energy that'll increase the countries economic potential, the dams could also destroy the fisheries and other aquatic wildlife, ruining the lives of the thousands of people who depend on the Mekong for their day to day existence and income.
Pacific islanders hit by visa scam in New Zealand
Updated 18/06/2009 20:23:45
A police investigation is underway in New Zealand after hundreds of Tongans and Samoans were conned into buying fake visas. The inquiry is being hampered by the fact that many of the Pacific Islanders who've lost money have been reluctant to make a complaint as they may have overstayed their original visas.
Billions to be spent on Trans-Asian Railway Network plan
Updated 17/06/2009 20:42:45
An agreement to coordinate the development and operation of international rail routes, which connect 28 countries throughout Asia and Europe has come into force. The Trans-Asian Railway Network aims to increase trade and cultural exchanges within Asia, and between Asia and Europe, and it is hoped it will help stimulate recovery from the current economic slowdown.
New laws to protect victims of people trafficking in Australia
Updated 17/06/2009 20:42:45
The Australian government has announced significant changes to its scheme for protecting victims of people trafficking, which has protected 131 people since 2004, but which, advocates say, could have done a lot more for many of those subjected to one of the world's worst trades. Victims will no longer be forced to become police informants in order to get government help and an Australian visa to allow them to stay in the country.
Possible Geneva Convention breaches in Sri Lanka
Updated 17/06/2009 20:42:45
The next US ambassador to Colombo says she will press the Sri Lankan government to deal humanely with the Tamil population and bring to justice to those responsible for extrajudicial killings and attacks on the media. Almost 300,000 Tamils, including three Australians, have been interred in camps since the Sri Lankan military claims to have defeated the Tamil Tigers separatists in May. And now the International Commission of Jurists says more governments should be applying pressure on Sri Lanka to observe its obligations under the Geneva Convention.
Malaysia considers making English compulsory for school leavers
Updated 17/06/2009 20:42:42
English could soon become a compulsory component of final examinations for high school leavers in Malaysia, but there are fears that such a move would disadvantage students from rural areas. The Malaysian government is concerned that the pass rate in English is falling and wants to act soon. But there is already opposition to the use of English in teaching other subjects, such as maths, and critics say the idea should only be considered as a final option.
Japan to trial a mobile solution to slow the spread of disease
Updated 17/06/2009 20:42:42
There are plans in Japan to use mobile phones to stop the spread of diseases such as swine flu or SARS. The idea is to track every individual on their mobile phone GPS and to warn them if they have crossed paths with someone who has been diagnosed with a highly contagious illness. Trials are due to start in schools in the next few months. But some are concerned about whether the technology is even up to the task.
Calls for rich nations to transfer green technology developing ones
Updated 16/06/2009 20:38:16
China believes the West is not transferring enough green technology when the technology could be used to help alleviate the dangerous effects that climate change is having on our environment. 'Technology transfer' is a process by which countries transfer or sell new technology to one another, with mutual benefits. But analysts say the West is worried about losing green jobs to China.
Governments to spend big on broadband future
Updated 16/06/2009 20:38:16
Asia's biggest telecommunications trade fair is underway in Singapore this week with hundreds of new gadgets and software vying for people's attention. And in a closed door conference, industry leaders will be discussing how to move ahead with broadband technology and what role governments will play.
India and Pakistan meet for first time since Mumbai attacks
Updated 16/06/2009 20:38:16
India's prime minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari have met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Russia, and Dr Singh's first words were a clear rebuke - that Pakistan should not allow itself to be used for terrorism. It's the two leaders first meeting since last November's Mumbai terrorist attacks, which India blames on Pakistani based militants linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba group.
Prehistoric elephant found in East Java
Updated 16/06/2009 20:38:13
Australian researchers have made the rare discovery of an almost complete prehistoric elephant skeleton, thought to be about 200,000 years old. The skeleton was found on a cliff face near the Solo River in East Java, Indonesia. It's one of the most complete elephant skeletons of an extinct species ever discovered in Indonesia and has triggered worldwide interest.
Prominent lawyer jailed in Vietnam
Updated 16/06/2009 20:38:13
The jailing of a prominent Vietnamese lawyer, who is well known for having defended a number of Vietnam's pro-democracy activists, continues to raise international concern. Le Cong Dinh's crime, according to police, is to have written a new constitution for Vietnam.
US clears way for American firms to trade with Laos and Cambodia
Updated 15/06/2009 20:22:24
America has removed Laos and Cambodia from a trade black list and that's opened the way for American companies to do business with both countries. The US says the policy change is in response to a commitment shown by both countries to open up their markets.
China yet to decide on Rio - BHP deal
Updated 15/06/2009 20:22:24
When Rio Tinto rejected a tie-up worth US$20billion from a Chinese company two weeks ago it threatened to start a potentially damaging diplomatic row. Canberra and Beijing have downplayed its significance. But the waters have just been muddied with a threat from China that it could impose trade sanctions if Rio's alternative plan goes ahead.
Pakistan could be planning high risk strategy in South Waziristan
Updated 15/06/2009 20:22:24
Officials from Pakistan and unnamed US officials say Pakistani forces are set to target the lawless tribal region of South Waziristan in an effort to kill or capture Pakistani Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, who's based there. And if they do, it could be a high risk strategy in the country's battle against Taliban militants. But leading experts say Pakistan should first consolidate what it's gained in the Swat Valley.
China still demonstrating 'ambiguous' stance on North Korea
Updated 15/06/2009 20:22:25
The United Nations' latest resolution on North Korea, which includes fresh sanctions over the country's atomic test last month, significantly received the support of Russia and China, but some say this does not signal a complete change in Beijing's ties with Pyongyang. One prominent North Korea watcher, Dr Leonid Petrov, says China's position is ambiguous, and that none of the UN Security Council members are willing to change the status quo too drastically.
Asia's first comedy festival kicks off in Bangkok
Updated 15/06/2009 20:22:21
Thailand hasn't had much to smile about lately but it is known as the land of smiles and this week it's hosting Asia's first international comedy festival. The festival organisers hope that laughter will prove to be the best medicine for Thailand's ailing tourism market.
One Laptop Per Child scheme takes off in Pacific
Updated 15/06/2009 20:22:21
The Marshall Islands have become the latest country to adopt scheme the One Laptop Per Child educational programme, which taking off in the Pacific. The OLPC hopes to supply every child in less developed countries with a high-tech laptop that's suitable for each country's climate. The laptops have been piloted in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Niue, Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Australian students under flu lockdown in Samoa
Updated 12/06/2009 18:32:13
Health authorities in Samoa are waiting for the results of four possible swine-flu cases affecting Australian schoolgirls. Authorities were alerted when a number of students from an Australian school presented themselves to a doctor with symptoms of the flu.
Aust PM criticised over pursuit of Asia Pacific community
Updated 12/06/2009 18:31:53
An Australian foreign policy expert says Kevin Rudd's displaying a poor understanding of regional dynamics as he pursues his vision for a new Asia Pacific Community. John Lee, who is Foreign Policy Fellow at Australia's Centre for Independent Studies, has just completed a visit to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and says Kevin Rudd is getting nothing more than a polite hearing in the region with the idea. Mr Rudd is persisting. After months of diplomacy by his special envoy he's now written to regional leaders proposing a summit on the idea next year. John Lee says Mr Rudd is mis-reading regional dynamics and trying to impose an institution that's neither wanted nor needed.
WHO declares swine flu pandemic
Updated 12/06/2009 18:32:04
For the first time since the 1960s, the World Health Organisation has declared a global flu pandemic, and one of the factors is the big rise in the number of cases in Australia. In the past week, the number of cases in Australia has tripled to more than 1300. Worldwide, there are now nearly 30,000 cases of swine flu and 141 people have died from it.
Arroyo in bid to extend leadership
Updated 12/06/2009 18:39:30
She's been dubbed the most unpopular Philippine President since the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos with surveys showing half the population does not trust her leadership.
Malaysia transit point for asylum seekers
Updated 12/06/2009 18:45:13
Malaysia has become a transit point for illegal migrants seeking refugee status in Australia.
Lawyers prepare case for Fiji nuclear test victims
Updated 12/06/2009 18:48:54
British lawyers acting for Fijian veterans affected by nuclear testing during the fifties and sixties are hoping that the British Ministry of Defence will finally agree to sit down and discuss compensation. The legal team is back in London after meeting in Fiji with the surviving servicemen and relatives of those who have died. A British court has ruled that the nuclear veterans are able to pursue their claims.
Former South Korean president calls for diplomacy with North
Updated 12/06/2009 18:49:11
It's been nine years since his historic meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, and last night, former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung addressed a packed hall on the issue.
Australian mail used for drug trafficking
Updated 11/06/2009 20:29:15
The Australian Crime Commission, says international drug traffickers are increasingly using the postal system to send drugs to Australia. In its latest report, the country's national crime intelligence agency says the largest number of border detections of illegal drugs has come through the mail. The ACC has also identified south-west Asia as in increasing source for Australia's heroin supply. The Commission's CEO John Lawler says as a result 100per cent of overseas letters and packages sent by air or sea are now screened for drugs.
Palau agrees to resettle Guantanamo Uighurs
Updated 11/06/2009 20:29:15
The pacific island nation of Palau has accepted a request from the United States to resettle up to 17 Guantanamo Bay detainees. The group of ethnic Uighurs, from western China were accused of having trained at terror camps in Afghanistan. But the United States has now cleared the group of involvement in terrorist activities. But Washington has also decided the Uighurs can't return to China because of fears they'll be persecuted. Palau is one of a handful of countries that does not recognize China, maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead. Negotiations between Washington and Palau over the prisoners coincided with discussions over a $200 million assistance package on which the island, a former US territory, depends. But Palau's Minister of State Sandra Pierentozzi says the renewal of the aid package has nothing to do with the Uighur resettlement.
Australian government funding for indigenous projects
Updated 11/06/2009 20:33:33
The Australian government has announced funding for a list of new projects for indigenous Australians, including housing and market gardening projects, as it continues to work on it's "Closing the Gap" Strategy. The strategy's aims for indigenous Australians, include halving infant mortality, more access to early childhood education and halving the gap between black and white people in employment. Australian of the Year, Professor Mick Dodson says it'll take a long time to reconcile the material inequalities but at least the government has goals.
Public anger in China over Rio Tinto-BHP Biliton deal
Updated 10/06/2009 21:13:47
Rio Tinto's joint venture with rival BHP Billiton is attracting criticism around the world - not least in China - with the merger of iron ore operations of the two mining giants being called a monopoly. It faces competition challenges in several jurisdictions. And there's also public anger in China over the collapse of an earlier offer by Chinalco to come to Rio's rescue.
Philippines conflict leaves 300,000 displaced
Updated 10/06/2009 21:13:47
In the last six weeks, tens of thousands of people have been displaced as the Philippine army has stepped up its operations against 'rogue' commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south around Mindanao. There are now more than 300,000 people living in evacuation centres and homestays. Many have been there since last August when peace talks broke down between the government and the MILF. And when the ABC's Kesha West visited Mindanao she found both side were reluctant to return to negotiations.
Afghanistan renewes call for joint 'war on terror' with Pakistan
Updated 10/06/2009 21:13:47
The Afghan president Hamid Karzai has again called for a joint 'war on terror' in his condemnation of another suicide attack in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, close to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. Pakistan blames the attack on Taliban militants, who are said to be retaliating for Pakistan's offensive against the militants in its north western region of the Swat Valley. But those militants have also fought back in the capital Islamabad.
Chinese students head overseas to avoid intense competition
Updated 10/06/2009 21:13:46
For more than 10 million Chinese high school graduates, this week has been a life-changing time as they have had to sit the country's fiercely competitive college entrance examinations. But this year many other students decided not to take part and are trying for foreign universities instead.
Australian govt accused of reneging on pledge to ban illegal logging
Updated 10/06/2009 21:13:46
The environment group Greenpeace has accused the Australian government of backtracking on an election promise to ban illegal timber imports. The Australian government says it has agreements with two key sources of illegal timber, namely Indonesia and now Papua New Guinea, and negotiations with China are well advanced. Such agreements are aimed at ensuring logs sent to Australia are certified as legitimate and aimed at helping source countries to deal with forestry issues. But Greenpeace says that's not a ban.
Indonesian presidential candidate says rights record no barrier
Updated 09/06/2009 21:05:12
Campaigning for the presidential elections in Indonesia are in full swing - with president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono giving his campaign a green touch, and the Megawati-Prabowo campaign firmly focussed on the nation's impoverished.
Doha Round on trade liberalisation gets big push at Bali meeting
Updated 09/06/2009 21:05:12
The Cairns group of agriculture producing nations has given a big political push to efforts for a new global agreement on free trade - the Doha Round - which is seen by many as vital for the world to get out of its current deep recession. Australia's trade minister, Simon Crean, says a final communique from the latest meeting in Bali has additional clout because it's been backed by the US and India, whose disagreements on agriculture were key to the failure of the Doha Round almost a year ago.
Thai insurgency reignites in the south
Updated 09/06/2009 21:05:12
The Thai government has again been taken unawares by Monday's attack on a mosque in the south of Thailand in Narathiwat, where eleven people were killed when the attackers opened fire during evening prayers. It's been described as some of the worst violence in Thailand's restive south since 2004. The current prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said he would make the insurgency in the south a priority. But some observers say this latest incident has shown just how powerless his government is and how unable it is to control the security forces down in the south.
Australia's species meltdown
Updated 09/06/2009 21:05:11
An alarm has been sounded about the rate at which Australian species are dying out and a top Australian ecologist says Canberra has delayed releasing a report on just how poorly the government is responding. Professor David Lindenmayer says Canberra is taking poor advice and is spending too little money.
Advocates say rights should be higher on Indonesia election agenda
Updated 09/06/2009 21:05:11
At least one leading human rights activist says human rights should be a bigger issue in Indonesia's presidential election campaign. The current president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrat Party
Presenter: Karon Snowdon
Speaker: Usman Hamid, director, KONTRAS, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, Jakarta
Cambodia rejects US corruption claims
Updated 08/06/2009 20:01:05
Cambodian officials admit corruption exists within Cambodia but say that assessments made by the US embassy are biased and unfounded. US ambassador Carol Rodley says Cambodia loses US$500 million every year to corruption. But Cambodia describes the claims as 'politically motivated and unsubstantiated'.
Growing humanitarian crisis in the southern Philippines
Updated 08/06/2009 20:01:05
The Philippine army has again increased its attacks on Muslim insurgents on the southern island of Mindanao, but while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front says it is retaliating, it also accuses the government of having created a growing humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians have either been caught up or displaced by the fighting between the MILF separatists and government forces - much like the recent situation in Sri Lanka. Peace negotiations in the Philippines collapsed last August and there is no sign that either side will return to the table.
US Journalists get 12 years hard labour in NKorea
Updated 08/06/2009 20:01:05
North Korea has sentenced two American journalists to 12 years in a labour camp on charges of illegally crossing the border and for unspecified 'grave crimes'. The two women were arrested while researching a report for Current TV, which was co-founded by the former US vice president, Al Gore. The US state department says it is 'deeply concerned' about the ruling and is calling for the journalists to be released.
Gay pride festival in Shanghai told not to go on parade
Updated 08/06/2009 20:01:03
Shanghai is hosting what's believed to be China's first ever gay pride festival, but lawyers have told the event organisers that holding a parade could get them into trouble with the Chinese authorities.
Australia pushes dairy case in Bali
Updated 08/06/2009 20:01:03
Ministers and officials from 19 farm exporting countries, including the United States and India, are meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali to revive world trade talks against the backdrop of the global economic slump. The Cairns Group, which also includes Australia, Brazil, and Canada, is expected to call for a fresh start to the Doha Round of trade liberalisation talks and to condemn growing signs of protectionism.
Tongan bows to Chinese govt Falun Gong pressure
Updated 05/06/2009 13:02:33
The Tongan Government has been accused of caving-in to Chinese pressure over it's treatment of two Falun Gong members. The two women from New Zealand say they were visiting Tonga to teach locals about the Chinese spiritual movement.
Naval stand off between Malaysia and Indonesia
Updated 05/06/2009 19:32:56
Malaysia has called for calm, amid reports that its warships entered oil-rich waters off north-eastern Borneo claimed by Indonesia.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudyono has sent a stern warning, telling Malaysia to ensure its navy steers away from the disputed waters. Malaysia's military chief Abdul Aziz Zainal denies Malaysian warships entered the disputed zone, adding that he will visit Jakarta next week to discuss the issue.
Afghanistan conflict difficult for embedded reporter to cover
Updated 05/06/2009 19:32:56
Last night Barack Obama said the United States did not want to keep troops in Afghanistan and would gladly bring US forces home when the problem of violent extremists was eradicated.
Mixed response to Obama's speech in Indonesia
Updated 05/06/2009 19:32:56
President Obama's outreach drew mixed responses in Indonesia, the country with the world's largest Muslim population.
More political fallout as Rio rebuffs Chinalco
Updated 05/06/2009 19:32:52
After months of pressure and speculation, Rio Tinto has pulled the plug on a 20-billion dollar deal with China's Chinalco. Rio will instead issue new shares to raise money to pay down its massive debt.
Calvinism influencing growing Chinese Christian community
Updated 04/06/2009 19:25:57
With the rapid growth in the number of conversions to Christianity in China, one church is proving to be particuklarly attractive to intellectuals and students - Calvinism.
Australian Defence Minister quits
Updated 04/06/2009 19:26:02
As one of the Australian government's most senior ministers, Joel Fitzgibbon has overseen some important policy shifts in just over 18 months in office. There was a new defence policy paper; a radical reform program for an at-times resentful defence department; and there were big changes in Australia's role in two major conflicts, in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
China moves to shut down blogs and social networking sites
Updated 04/06/2009 19:26:02
Blogs, internet forums, and social media sites, such as Twitter, have been switched off-line in China.
Reflections on Tiananmen Square massacre 20 years on
Updated 04/06/2009 19:26:02
The Communist authorities in China have maintained heavy security around Tiananmen Square today, the 20th anniversary of the Tinanmen Square massacre. Several hundred police, paramilitary and other security personnel are patrolling the square in the heart of Beijing. The anniversary is hugely sensitive for the central government in Beijing.
Victory Parade held in Sri Lanka
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:44
Sri Lanka's military has staged a victory parade in the capital Colombo to celebrate last month's defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels.
First woman speaker for India's parliament
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:44
India's parliament has elected its first woman speaker, who's also a member of the low-caste Dalit community.
Fiji looks to China for more trade boost
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:44
Fiji has hosted 40 Chinese officials in the capital, Suva, in a bid to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
Vigil staged in Hong Kong Park
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:45
In Hong Kong's Victoria Park crowds are beginning to swell lighting candles and drawing the generations together to mark the 20 year anniversary of the bloodshed.
China prepares to mark 20 years since Tiananmen Square massacre
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:45
In China, some people are gearing up for tomorrow's 20th anniversary of the protests in Tiananmen Square.
Food upgrade for Australian soldiers in Afghanistan
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:44
Australia's soldiers in Afghanistan are not happy. But it's not the war that's the problem. It's the food, provided under contract to the Coalition forces in southern Afghanistan by the Dutch military.
Indonesia offers to rent islands to climate change refugees
Updated 03/06/2009 21:27:44
Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is considering renting some of its islands to climate change refugees.
US China agree to cooperate on economy measures
Updated 02/06/2009 20:43:25
It was all smiles and handshakes when US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met with China's leaders in Beijing today. Disagreements - if there were any - were kept carefully behind closed doors. That's because any sign of discord could have upset bond and currency markets as they track the US dollar and America's expanding deficit.
North Korea signals heir to ruling dynasty
Updated 02/06/2009 20:43:25
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has signalled the anointment of his youngest son as heir to the ruling family dynasty.
Australia ponders US Uighur request
Updated 02/06/2009 20:43:25
Australia is considering a United States request to accept up to 10 Chinese Uighurs detained in Guantanamo Bay. While the United States says the Muslims from China's western Xinjiang region no longer pose a threat to society, others disagree.
Australia's relations with India tested
Updated 02/06/2009 20:43:25
Australia's relations with India are being tested with frantic diplomacy from Canberra aimed at reassuring New Delhi over a series of attacks on South Asian students studying in the city of Melbourne.
ACTU says Pacific workers not being paid their full entitlements
Updated 02/06/2009 20:43:24
The Australian Council of Trade Unions says some Pacific islanders who have come to Australia as part of the Rudd government's pilot seasonal work program are not being paid their full entitlements. Thousands of Pacific workers travel to New Zealand each year to work under that country's popular seasonal work program. But Australia has been much slower to act - despite urging from Pacific governments. Opposition to seasonal work schemes from some Australian unions was one of the reason's for Australia's cautious approach.
Malaysia's main Islamic party looks to the future
Updated 02/06/2009 20:43:24
Malaysia's Islamic party PAS is at the political cross-roads - whether to return to its conservative roots, or to evolve into a more moderate organisation.
The issue may lead to a power struggle at the PAS annual general meeting this weekend, pitting hardline clerics against young moderates, who wish to re-brand the party.
Hundreds of thousands displaced by Pakistan's Swat offensive
Updated 01/06/2009 21:00:22
Pakistan's military says it has closed in on the Taliban in the Swat Valley and that the offensive could be over in two days. Its campaign in the northwest of the country is in its sixth week since Taliban fighters advanced to within 100 kilometres of the capital Islamabad. The army says it's regained full control of Mingora, the main town in Swat. But the Red Cross say they were 'gravely concerned' about the humanitarian situation there.
Presenter: Steve Holland
Speakers: Retired Lt-General Talat Masood; General Syed Athar Ali, secretary of defence, Pakistan; Major General Athar Abbas, Pakistan army spokesperson
General Motors subsidiaries in Asia look safe for now
Updated 01/06/2009 21:00:23
The largest car maker in the United States, General Motors, is filing for bankruptcy protection, but its affiliated companies in Asia can breathe a sigh of relief for now - at this stage they aren't up for sale. But most can expect a tough year ahead.
Presenter: Karon Snowdon, finance correspondent
Speaker: John Bonnell, director of forecasting, JD Power, Asia Pacific
Search continues for international response to North Korea
Updated 01/06/2009 21:00:23
As another North Korean missile inches towards a new launch site, United States diplomacy is at work in North Asia. Diplomats are looking for a response to Pyongyang in the wake of its recent nuclear blast. Although the diplomatic temperature is high, Washington continues to put hope in reviving the six-party disarmament talks. Australia's foreign minister is also planning a conversation with his Chinese counterpart this week, with China a vital player in pressuring North Korea.
Indonesia compels people with disabilities to wear signs
Updated 01/06/2009 21:00:22
Disabled pedestrians in Jakarta have it tough, but the government has introduced a new law which forces disabled citizens to wear a sign that identifies them if they go out for a walk. And the law has angered many people in the busy Indonesian capital.
More and more people killed by old bombs in Vietnam
Updated 01/06/2009 21:00:22
It's almost 35 years since the Vietnam War ended in 1975, but as the country continues to develop more and more people are dying from old bombs and other ordnance left over from that war. There have been great efforts to clear the ground of bombs, but because many of them were originally part of cluster bombs, which explode in mid-air and scatter over the ground, they are still being found where people live and work.
