October 2009

Safety fears over swine flu vaccine

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

China has begun rolling out its voluntary swine flu vaccination program, with authorities encouraging those most at risk to take part. As winter approaches, the program aims to cover about five per cent of the population. But a new survey shows there's widely held safety concerns, and about half of those surveyed do not want the vaccine.

Singaporeans oppose market reform

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

The ubiquitous high-rise housing estates in Singapore are undergoing a transformation that not everyone likes.Wet markets that were once commonplace in suburban neighbourhoods, are now making way for air-conditioned supermarkets.

Indian prince gives boost to HIV prevention campaign

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

India's first openly gay royal is visiting Australia, as part of his HIV/AIDS prevention work in the Asia Pacific region.

Top anti-graft officials detained in Indonesia

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

Indonesian police have arrested two deputy commissioners from the countries celebrated anti-corruption agency.

Oil industry struggles to deal with rig leaks

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

An Australian oil industry says while oil rig leaks are rare, they are notoriously difficult to seal.

Second oil rig leak reported in Timor Sea

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

The reputation of the oil and gas industry has taken another hit after confirmation of a second leak from an oil rig in the Timor Sea, off northern Australia.

Asylum claims need one international tribunal, says expert

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

A prominent refugee scholar has backed calls by an Australian judge for a single international tribunal to process asylum claims. Melbourne Law School Dean James Hathaway says states and the UNHCR are deciding refugee applications in radically different ways. And he says that's encouraging asylum seekers to travel to countries where they're likely to get a fairer hearing. The dean is echoing the concerns of Australian federal court judge Tony North, who's told Fairfax newspapers the process resembles a lottery.

Australia's PM dogged by a fortnight of asylum seeker politics

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:29

The focus on improving Australia-China relations could be a welcome distraction for the Australian Prime Minister from the politically challenging Sri Lankan asylum seeker standoff in Indonesia. Almost two weeks on there is still no solution to the fate of the 78 people on board the Australian customs vessel the Oceanic Viking moored in Indonesia.

China's heir apparent begins key visit to Australia

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:29

The man tipped to be China's next premier Li Keqiang has arrived in Australia. He'll be meeting prime minister Kevin Rudd, and sign a series of agreements on illegal logging, educational exchanges and cultural heritage.

Sun powered race across Australian desert

Updated 30/10/2009 11:57:28

Student engineers from around the world have been putting a range of solar-powered vehicles through their paces this week, driving across Australia. Last Sunday, the participants in the biennial Global Green Challenge began their journey in the northern city of Darwin. And by midday Friday, they should have covered the 3,000 kilometres to the South Australian city of Adelaide.

Fair access to health care critical to the world's poorest

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

A leading public health expert has called for a new international pact to improve the health and survival capacity of the world's poorest people.

Coming to grips with race and national identity in Malaysia

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

A state parliament in Malaysia descended into chaos yesterday, as the government and opposition escalated a tussle for control, with MPs shouting at each other and issuing rival motions.

Malaysia, NZ conclude free trade pact

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

After protracted negotiations, Malaysia and New Zealand this week signed a free trade agreement in a bid to boost bilateral trade that is worth about two billion dollars.

US military allows first turbaned soldier into active service

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

For the first time, a Sikh will be allowed to serve in the US army, and wear his turban and beard.

Taiwan, China pursue closer ties with free trade talks

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

In the latest cross-strait overture - China has signalled willingness to begin negotiations that may ultimately lead to a free trade agreement with Taiwan.

Australian PM faces mounting political storm over asylum-seekers

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

Australia's Prime Minister is under mounting domestic pressure and criticism from within the ruling Labor Party over what's been dubbed his "Indonesia solution".

Peshawar attack piles pressure on Pakistan government

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

Even for a city like Peshawar, which has long suffered violence and terrorist attacks, the attack on the market, which killed at least 90 people and injured mroe than 200, was particularly callous.

Pakistan, Afghanistan attacks kill more than 100

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:32

A huge car bomb ripped through a busy market in Peshawar, killing at least 90 people and injuring more than 200 others, most of them women and children. It was the deadliest attack in Pakistan this year, as the Taliban vows to retaliate against a military offensive against them in South Waziristan. Across the border in Afghanistan, security forces are on alert, after attacks on foreigners at a guesthouse and a luxury hotel in Kabul.

The latest violence came as the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the region, promising American support for the fight against terrorism.

Tasmanian lobsters face over-fishing threat

Updated 29/10/2009 12:59:31

The highly regarded Tasmanian lobster is under threat and fishermen are so worried about the decline in its numbers they're telling the government to cut the commercial catch quotas.

Race, religion remain potent cards in Malaysia's political game

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:34

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak is trying to convince the Malay UMNO party to recognise there are other races in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, to retain government.The opposition Pakatan Rakyat Alliance last year won an unprecedented one-third of seats in parliament.

Private firms defend role in ensuring global food security

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:34

Recent figures show the world will need to produce 70 per cent more food in the next 40 years, to feed a ballooning population. Food multinationals and a range of experts say only private-public partnerships and markets can provide the means. The view that research and development by private companies can deliver food security has broadly dominated the annual international conference in Canberra of The Crawford Fund, an Australian fund encouraging international agricultural research. But there is a dissenting opinion.

Trafficking victim awarded for human rights work

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:34

A woman who was trafficked from Vietnam into sexual slavery has won a human rights award in the United States for her work helping other victims.

Hundreds gather to show support for Burmese democracy

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:34

Sydney Opera House has provided the backdrop to a demonstration in support of democracy in Burma. Several hundred people including the wife of the Australian Prime Minister stood together on the opera house steps to show their support for Burma's imprisoned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Australian refugee advocate calls for government policy rethink

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:35

A Melbourne lawyer and refugee advocate recently visited 11 different locations where asylum seekers from Asia, are housed in Indonesia. She says the conditions ranged from comfortable to appalling, and she wants the Australian government to rethink its asylum seeker arrangements with Jakarta.

Asylum seekers refuse to leave Australian ship

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:35

As Indonesia's central government negotiates its way through the provincial disquiet the Oceanic Viking and its human cargo has provoked, it's also facing stubborn resistance from the asylum seekers themselves. Senior Jakarta-based official went aboard the Oceanic Viking yesterday, and he's told our Indonesia correspondent the Sri Lankans on board are refusing medical checks and have no intention of disembarking voluntarily.

Indonesia 'in no rush' to process Sri Lankan asylum seekers

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:35

Two groups of Sri Lankans are still waiting for Indonesian authorities to process their claims for asylum. The first group of more than 260 asylum seekers were headed for Australia, when they were intercepted by the Indonesian navy off the Java coast earlier this month. Another group is waiting for similar answers onboard the Australian customs vessel the Oceanic Viking, anchored of the northern Riau Islands.

The long road to a better Australia, India relationship

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:32

Former Australian High Commissioner in India says relations between Canberra and New Delhi finally take off, after languishing for decades, but not without a few hiccups.

Nursing in the Pakistan conflict zone

Updated 28/10/2009 14:31:32

Pakistan's south Waziristan region resembles a war zone, as the military continues its offensive against the Taliban. The army last weekend claimed a victory in the key Taliban town of Kotkai, after days of bombardments.

Asia's tough laws work against HIV/AIDS prevention, say experts

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

International experts are warning that Asia is facing a new wave of HIV/AIDS partly because tough local laws are hampering disease control efforts.

Australian colleges feel pinch of post-graduates shortage

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

Education is one of Australia's biggest exports, and at the more popular end, international students enrolled in vocational programs earn a chance to migrate to Australia in exchange for filling a skills shortage.

Timor Sea oil leak worsens

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

Two months after an oil well ruptured, environmental campaigners say millions of litres of oil are still pouring into the Timor Sea.

Afghan presidential candidate calls for sacking of top election office

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

A political row in Afghanistan has erupted over the future of the head of the country's election commission.

Australia partners with WFP to boost food aid

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

Australia has just made its largest commitment to help alleviate global hunger which now affects more than a billion people.

Flaring border dispute reflects wider China, India tension

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

Chinese and Indian leaders have met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Thailand in an effort to diffuse rising tensions over the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The two nations went to war nearly five decades ago over the region and it's strained their relationship ever since. More recently, India's prime minister Manmohan Singh has rebuffed China's wishes that it bar the Dalai Lama's plans to visit the state. Some observers say the tensions are a sign of a deeper rivalry over who will emerge as the dominant power in the region.

Australia moves to quell tension with China

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

Australia's hoping a speech by foreign minister Stephen Smith in Canberra will draw a line under six months of tensions with China. Mr Smith is pointing to the expected visit to Australia this week of China's vice-Premier Li Keqiang as evidence of a thaw. Eminent China watchers have been calling on the Australian government to spell out a framework for the future of the Australia-China relationship, dogged as it has been by issues from the detention of Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, to Chinese foreign investment rejections and Australia's defence white paper.

No longer a fantasy, blue roses to hit Japanese market

Updated 27/10/2009 13:31:09

It's an Australian tradition to have something old, something new and something blue at a wedding. And now, in Japan, finding something blue is about to get easier with the world's first genetically-modified blue roses going on sale in November. The roses were developed by Japanese company Suntory with help from Australian biotechnology researchers.

Detained asylum seekers being landed in Indonesia

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:49

The Australian customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking is expected at the port of Kijang on the Indonesian island of Bintan later today.

Chinese government bond sale oversubscribed

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:50

Chinese government bonds are red hot in the Hong Kong market at the moment, with the sale of nearly one billion US dollars worth of sovereign bonds has attracted great interest.

Former top Cambodian anti-drug official charged

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:50

The former head of the anti-drug trafficking bureau in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, has been charged for possessing 100-thousand US dollars worth of methamphetamine. Touch Muysor has been suspended after a joint investigation by local authorities and America's Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Climate change activists stage global protest

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:50

Activists around the world have taken to the streets in an effort to mobilise public opinion against climate change. The theme was "350" - that's the figure scientists believe is the maximum parts per million of carbon dioxide that the atmosphere can bear to avoid runaway global warming.

Australia approves Chinese acquisition of mining concern

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:50

The Australian government has given an initial approval to the biggest takeover by a Chinese company even seen in Australia. Coal miner Yanzhou will take over mining concern Felix Resources, in a deal worth more than three billion US dollars.

Australia, Japan pitch rival plans for new regional community

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:50

As the ASEAN summit wrapped up on Sunday, Asian leaders heard competing plans from Australia and Japan for an EU-style economic and political bloc.

ASEAN summit ends without upset

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:50

Massive security and meticulous planning have allowed ASEAN's current chair, Thailand, to host a trouble-free summit in the beach resort of Hua Hin.

Military base row threatens to overshadow US Obama visit to Japan

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:49

Japan's new Democrats government is facing its first major test as it finds itself squeezed between the Obama Administration in Washington and the people of the southern islands of Okinawa.

Why some Muslim Australians feel marginalised

Updated 26/10/2009 13:06:49

Australia's multi-cultural policy is over 20 years old, even though that waxed and waned under different governments.

New exhibition throws spotlight on 'golden age' of Cambodian film

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

A new exhibition under way in Cambodia's capital city that looks back at the nation's 'golden age' of cinema, the period in the 1960s when hundreds of films were made. But Cambodia's subsequent history means the event holds mixed emotions.

Nuclear disarmament push gathers pace

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

The International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament has been meeting in Hiroshima, the city hit by the world's first atomic bombing in World War Two.

Chinese water project prompts mass relocation

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

China has started to relocate more than 300,000 people in Hubei and Henan provinces to make way for the government's south-north water diversion project. It's the second largest resettlement plan following a similar move during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

Australian journalist honoured for contribution to Asia Pacific

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

The director of Australia's Asia Pacific Journalism Centre is being honoured for his work in helping journalists from developing countries across the region.

Opium still fuelling terrorism in Afghanistan

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

A new United Nations report has found that opium poppies grown in Afghanistan are fuelling a $US65 billion trade that feeds 15 million addicts around the world.

Conditions tough in closely-guarded Sri Lankan camps

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

The Sri Lanka government has announced it is moving around 40,000 people from camps in the island's north.The move comes almost five months after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers and the end of decades of civil war.

Temperature rises in Australia's asylum seeker debate

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

Australia's already volatile debate on asylum seekers continues to escalate, even as an international expert charged with thinking about Australia's international image has warned the issue could yet seriously damage the country's standing.

Senior US envoy prepares to head to Burma

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

Burma has confirmed that it will host a US diplomatic mission next week, after Washington's announcement that it's embarking on a series of meetings to engage Rangoon's military leaders.

ASEAN summit getting under way amid tight security

Updated 23/10/2009 11:56:55

ASEAN countries will inaugurate their first regional human rights agency, when they meet in the town of Hua Hin in Thailand.

Arroyo successor ready for Philippines presidential race

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

It's only six months away from the Philippines presidential election. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who's been leading disaster relief work in the country, is also President Gloria Arroyo's appointed successor and candidate for president. He is facing some strong competitors. Among them the son of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, Senator Benigno Aquino.

Indonesia president announces new ministerial team

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has unveiled his new cabinet. The presentation of his new team came a day after being sworn in for a second five-year term.

Australia mulls fresh solutions to people smuggling

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

The Australian government is considering a new set of proposals to boost its campaign against people smuggling.

UN says 'be prepared' is key to disaster mitigation

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

The Asia Pacific region has been hit by multiple disasters in the past few weeks, with the earthquake in Indonesia's Sumatra province, the tsunami in Samoa and wild storms and typhoons in Asia.

UN appeals for quick release of former child fighters in Nepal

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

The United Nations has called for the swift and orderly release of child soldiers from Nepal's Maoist army.

Minister's comments spark debate Australia 's Afghanistan presence

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

A flurry of speculation about Australia's intentions in Afghanistan has been played down by Canberra, after comments by defence minister John Faulkner were headlined as signalling plans for an early pullout.

UN closes aid centres in Pakistan amid security fears

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

The United Nations World Food Program has temporarily shut aid distribution centres in the northwest of the Pakistan, amid a heightened security threat and intense fighting in the south Waziristan region.

Car factory drives South Korean investment in Cambodia

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

South Korean president Lee Myung Bak is beginning a two day visit to Cambodia Thursday, prior to the ASEAN meeting in Thailand. The two countries are hoping to strengthen bilateral relations, and the South Korean ambassador to Cambodia says the country is an important recipient of overseas development aid from Seoul. But, investment dollars are also welcome, and the construction of a car assembly plant in Cambodia, thanks to South Korean investment, is a sign that greater foreign investment in Cambodia is on the way.

Cambodia's report card mixed on development goals

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

Cambodia's progress towards meeting its Millennium Development Goals has been mixed - while three of the goals look likely to be met by 2015, success in the remaining six is less certain.

Hong Kong penthouse sets world record sale price

Updated 22/10/2009 12:12:17

A luxury apartment in Hong Kong has sold for more than $US110,000 a square metre, setting a new world record for an apartment. The sale has heightened concerns of a possible property bubble and a subsequent price plunge seen during the 1998 Asia financial crisis.

Skorea, EU secure free trade pact

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

South Korea has signed a free trade deal with the European Union.

Typhoon Lupit threatens Philippines north

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

The Philippines is bracing for its third typhoon in four weeks, and residents in three zones in the north are on evacuation alert. Typhoon Lupit, or Rahmill as its locally known, is about 800 kilometres off the northeast corner of the Philippines, and contains winds of up to 196 kilometres an hour. The national weather bureau says if it makes landfall as predicted on Thursday, without weakening, it will be much stronger than typhoons Ketsana and Parma which killed more than 850 people and left hundreds of thousands of others displaced.

Tokyo-based foreign envoys press child abuduction issue

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

Tokyo is under international pressure to allow divorced foreign parents access to their children. The issue was thrown into the spotlight when an American man was arrested for snatching his two children from his Japanese ex-wife in the Japanese city of Fukuoka. Japan is the only G7 country that hasn't signed a 1980 convention which obliges countries to return abducted children to their country of residence. Late last week, ambassadors from countries including the United States, Britain and Australia met with Justice Minister Keiko Chiba to press the issue.

Indonesia, Australia strike asylum-seeker deal

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

Australian and Indonesia have agreed to work on setting up a new framework to deal with asylum seekers intercepted in international waters. The agreement was reached during a meeting between the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta.

Date set for Afghan poll re-run EXTRA

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

Nazif Shahrani, Professor of Central Asian Studies at Indiana University, tells Linda Mottram constitutional change to decentralise power should the world's priority in Afghanistan, as it heads to a Presidential run-off.

Date set for Afghan poll re-run

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to a run-off vote under intense international pressure. The date has been set up as November the seventh in a race against the coming winter and to save some credibility for the battered election process.

Nation divided over Pakistan military anti-Taliban offensive

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

The Pakistani military's offensive in south Waziristan has divided public opinion in the nation. Together with rising tension and security uncertainties, this has presented huge challenges to the civilian government.

Pakistan Taliban strikes at Islamic university

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

Schools and colleges in Pakistan have closed due to fears of further militant attacks, after seven people were killed and 12 injured in two suicide bombings. The attacks took place at the Islamic University on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad.

Hellfire Pass anniversary brings tears to new generation

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

This month marks a dark milestone for Australian and other prisoners of war involved in building the "death" railway between Thailand and Burma during the second World War. It was at this time 66 years ago that the project was completed, allowing the Japanese to move supplies freely through the territories it held across South East Asia.

Scientists warn of dramatic implications of Asian climate change

Updated 21/10/2009 12:51:13

Climate scientists are warning that the Himalayan glaciers are melting at such an alarming rate that in two decades they might cover only 20-percent of their current area.

Democracy robust in Indonesia

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:38

Indonesians have embraced democracy with enthusiasm, at a time when other emerging democracies are either going backwards or suffering a crisis of governance.

Australian government, opposition close to climate deal

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:38

One of the most far reaching structural reforms of Australia's economy, a carbon pollution reduction scheme, could be in place before the global climate summit in December in Copenhagen.

SKorean distrust remains despite northern overtures

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:38

South Korea remains deeply suspicious about Pyongyang's real intensions, even North Korea has been reaching out to Seoul and Washington in recent months.

Veteran Yakuza express concern over porn push

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:38

Japan's leading police agency is acknowledging for the first time that some of the Yakuza, Japanese mafias are delving into child pornography.

Asylum seeker issue clouds Australian PM's Jakarta visit

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:38

Australian prime minister has gone to Jakarta to attend the Indonesian president's inauguration, amid a brewing diplomatic storm over the fate of 78 asylum seekers now on board the Australian customs ship the Oceanic Queen.

Challenges ahead for Indonesian president's second term

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:39

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is being sworn in as Indonesia's head of state for the second time with a much stronger political position.

Election watchdog confirms Afghan election re-run likely

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:39

The American election watchdog Democracy International was among those with observers on the ground in Afghanistan during the August election.

Afghan president under pressure over fraud rulings

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:39

Afghan president Hamid Karzai is under mounting international pressure to accept a second election, after the much-disputed presidential polls held in August. Mr Karzai says he will respect the country's constitutional order, and is expected to announce his decision tomorrow.

Pain management gains recognition in region

Updated 20/10/2009 13:22:35

One in five Australians will suffer chronic pain in their lifetime - that is, pain that persists for three months or more.

Millions turn out for this year's UN Millennium Campaign

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:03

The United Nations Millennium Campaign attempted to break its own Guinness World Record this weekend, and for a very good cause. It wanted to achieve the largest mobilisation in recorded history for one single cause -- the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and an end to extreme poverty.

Aboriginal elders give up on government housing

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:03

Aboriginal communities in Australia often encounter the problem of lacking decent housing.

Indonesian people-smuggler reportedly among detained boat crew

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

It's been revealed that a notorious people-smuggler is among the six Indonesian crew caught aboard a wooden cargo boat being held in western Java.

Hong Kong government calls for education shake up

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

Hong Kong's education sector is set for a shake up. The country's chief executive, Donald Tsang has indicated he wants more international students, as well as private institutions, participating in the country's system.

Matchmakers bring hope for Japan's dateless young

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

With a plunging birth rate in the world's most rapidly ageing population, Japan is facing a demographic disaster.

Philippine prepares for onset of new typhoon

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

The Philippines is bracing for a fourth typhoon in many weeks, as wild weather claimed at least 900 lives. Officials have put rescue teams on standby and stockpiled emergency supplies as they prepare for Typhoon Lupit.

Human rights groups criticise China's Xinjiang trial

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

China has handed out death sentences to 12 people accused of taking part in the violent July protests in Urumqi, in China's western Xinjiang region.The July riot left almost 200 people dead and 1600 injured.

Defeating Taliban remains daunting task for Pakistan military

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

The Pakistani milliary admits it has been a slow progress in fighting with the Taliban in the South Waziristan region, and there is concern that major ground operations will not be completed before winter sets in.

Pakistan Taliban warns of further counter strikes

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:04

Taliban fighters in Pakistan's South Waziristan region have mounted fierce resistance as jets pounded their bases and troops push deep into Taliban territory.

Soccer: China's dangerous game

Updated 19/10/2009 12:54:03

Two brothers from Sydney, Joel and Ryan Griffiths have become soccer stars in Beijing, but they have discovered that playing football in China can be a dangerous pursuit.

Australian Greens call for swift processing of asylum seekers

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

The asylum seeker issue is putting renewed political pressure on the Australian government, with the Opposition pressing for a tougher government line with boat arrivals.

UN warns of continuing food crisis for world's poor

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

Two UN agencies say the global economic crisis has hit poor nations hardest, revealing a fragile world food system which is in urgent need of reform.

Human rights groups call for action on Cambodian evictions

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

Forced land evictions in Cambodia are increasing in frequency, most taking place in the name of development.

Top China military delegation visiting Canberra

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

China and Australia have been conducting their first annual strategic dialogue in Canberra since both countries published their new defence white papers this year.

Japan confirms end to Indian Ocean naval mission

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

Japan has formally informed the United States that it will end a naval refuelling mission for its war in Afghanistan. Instead it has proposed new, non-military support for Kabul, such as job training for former Taliban soldiers.

Detained asylum seekers stage hunger strike in Indonesia

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:42

The standoff between Tamil asylum seekers and Indonesian authorities is continuing after the group refused onshore accommodation and chose to stay on their wooden boat and stage a hunger strike.

Pakistan reeling after wave of Taliban attacks

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:42

Almost 40 people have been killed in five separate terrorist attacks by the Pakistani Taliban in less than 24 hours.

Asian contenders battle for World Cup hosting rights - part 2

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

Part two of our series looking at the countries from the region that are bidding to host soccer's showpiece event, the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.

Taiwan KMT calling for sedition charges against former president

Updated 16/10/2009 12:10:41

Taiwan prosecutors have begun investigating sedition charges against former President Chen Shui-bian, after he filed a controversial petition in a US military court.

Late Cahill goal secures vital win for Socceroos

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:35

Australia left it late, but finally managed to come up with the crucial winning goal in the Socceroos' Asian Cup Qualifying match against Oman in Melbourne.

Australian charity targets homeless families

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:35

Homelessness is a problem in most world cities, but here in Australia, one local charity is trying to forge a new way for people with nowhere to live.

Moves to improve Afghan aid coordination

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:35

UN special adviser Mark Ward speaks from Kabul to Linda Mottram about efforts to improve aid co-ordination in the country.

Afghan aid efforts an 'uncoordinated mess'

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:36

An adviser to President Barack Obama on US policy in Afghanistan, says aid efforts in the country are 'an uncoordinated and unmanaged mess'.

Hong Kong authorities under fire over extradition case

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:36

Hong Kong's Democrats have accused local authorities of acting illegally, when they handed over a former student dissident to the Chinese police.

Estrada to run again for Philippines presidency

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:36

The former president of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada, says he will run again in next year's presidential election.

Drill simulates deadly Indian Ocean tsunami

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:36

From Indonesia to the South African coast, 18 countries have been involved in a tsunami practice drill across the Indian Ocean.

Regional countries commit to fighting people smuggling

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:36

Police commissioners together with Justice and Home Affairs ministers from 187 countries are meeting in Singapore, for the first Interpol/UN ministerial meeting, with people-smuggling high on the agenda.

Sri Lankan asylum seekers plead with Australia to take them in

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:36

A group of 255 Sri Lankans on a boat moored off west Java in Indonesia, are pleading with Australia and other countries to consider their request for asylum.

Asian contenders battle for World Cup hosting rights

Updated 15/10/2009 13:13:35

As the countdown continues to the World Cup in South Africa next year, the competition to host the next two tournaments is about to begin in earnest.

Taiwan calls off summit meeting with regional allies

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:50

There's fresh evidence that the intense diplomatic rivalry between Taiwan and China is cooling, with a summit of Taiwan's regional allies cancelled for a second consecutive year.

Pakistan is making progress against miltancy, says Australian govt

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:50

Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, is the latest in a line of government figures who've been visiting India in recent weeks.

India, Fiji under Commonwealth fire

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:51

The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation has warned New Delhi it can't afford any more delays if it wants to be ready to host next year's Commonwealth Games. The Federation has also announced that Fijian athletes will be excluded from the 2010 Games after Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth in September.

Thailand rejects arbitration over border dispute

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:51

Thailand has rejected a suggestion from Cambodia, to seek arbitration on its border dispute.

Malaysian PM vows to wipe out political corruption

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:51

Malaysia's prime minister Najib Razak has promised to reform the ruling Malay party and stamp out deep-seated corruption.

China and Russia strengthen trade links

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:51

China and Russia have firmed their trade relationship with the signing of billions of dollars' worth of new deals, during a visit by the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.

Apart from several commercial cooperation agreements, Moscow and Beijing also reached a security understanding, committing each country to notify the other, each time it launches a ballistic missile.

Minister defends Australia's action on asylum seekers

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:51

Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Evans says there are a lot of Sri Lankans and Afghans seeking refuge, and Australia is acting in a humane way.

Australia's illegal immigration debate heats up

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:51

Reports from Indonesia suggest a group of 260 Sri Lankan asylum seekers are threatening to blow up their boat if the navy forces them ashore.

Breakthrough in mental illness diagnosis

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:50

Australian researchers have unveiled a new tool that could revolutionise the way mental illnesses are diagnosed.

One in five Aussie children develops asthma before fifth birthday

Updated 14/10/2009 12:37:50

Australia has one of the highest asthma rates in the world, and a new study shows that more than one in six Australian children will have shown symptoms by the age of three.

Australia's education reputation shows signs of an upswing

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

It's been a tumultuous year for the Australian education industry, but a new survey has found that Australia's reputation may be back on track.

Electoral boost for Sri Lanka's ruling party

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

Sri Lanka's ruling coalition has received a boost, with the United People's Freedom Alliance comfortably winning a by-election in Southern Province, the home of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

First woman wins Nobel prize for economics

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

The American economist Elinor Ostrom has become the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Economics since its inception 40 years ago. She shares the honour with Oliver Willimson.

Malaysia's ruling coalition secures resounding by-election win

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

Malaysia's ruling coalition has ended its losing streak, with a resounding by-election victory in central Negri Sembilan state. Barisan Nasional says it did well among all ethnic groups.

Australian unions call for crack down on 'modern-day slavery'

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

Australia is set to launch its first prosecution against an illegal labour hire operation, as pressure continues over the exploitation of workers, in a number of different industries.

Philippine flood relief effort switches focus

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

The Philippines has turned its focus from rescue operations to sending relief to the northern provinces devastated by floods and cut off by landslides, with the death toll from two typhoons in two weeks now over 650.

The government has ordered imports of 250-thousand tonnes of rice, as parliament rushed to approve funding for the immediate rebuilding of farms and roads badly damaged by the storms.

Afghanistan heading for election run off, says Aust military chief

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

The head of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, says claims of voter fraud in the Afghanistan presidential election are disappointing and he believes the incumbent Hamid Karzai is likely to face a run off with his nearest rival.

Car bomb kills dozens as Pakistan prepares anti-Taliban offensive

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

At least 41 people have been killed by a suspected suicide car bomber in Pakistan's Swat Valley. The bomber targeted a security convoy in an area recently reclaimed from Taliban militants by the army.

The message in the music for Cambodian landmine educators

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:29

There's long been a focus on land mine education in Cambodia, but now the message is being delivered in a new way that's designed to capture the imagination of the country's youth.

Concern over use of lap band surgery in Aboriginal communities

Updated 13/10/2009 12:50:30

Many health professionals in Australia are worried by plans to treat indigenous obesity, and type two diabetes, with lap band surgery, a technique that reduces the size of the stomach.

China buys GM's Hummer brand

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

America's General Motors has struck a deal to sell its gas-guzzling, all-terrain Hummer sports vehicle line to Tengzhong, a Chinese heavy industrial machinery company.

Indonesia bucking global recession of democracy

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

Indonesia is bucking a global "recession of democracy" by successfully entrenching democratic institutions since the end of military rule in 1998.

Blast boat Afghans granted permanent protection in Australia

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

Dozens of Afghan men who arrived in Australia in dramatic circumstances earlier this year have been granted permanent protection visas.

UN's top diplomat in Afghanistan denies political prejudice

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

The head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, has defended himself against accusations he was biased in favour of the incumbent President, Harmid Karzai during last month's disputed election.

Cocos council worker dispute goes to the courts

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

The Australian government has refused to intervene in the case of a council worker in the Indian Ocean territory of Cocos Islands, who is going to court after he was sacked for disputing a ban on Malays speaking their own language in the workplace.

Australia's pleges aid package to help quake struck Indonesia rebuild

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

Australia is sending $17 million in aid to Indonesia, following the recent earthquakes.

Asian leaders call for quick restart of North Korea nuclear talks

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

The leaders of China, South Korea and Japan are calling for an early resumption of talks on North Korea's nuclear program, after the countries' three leaders met in Beijing.

Rare meeting with western diplomats for Aung San Suu Kyi

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

Burma's detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has held a rare meeting with senior Western diplomats. She spent an hour with the American, British and Australian ambassadors in Rangoon.

Siege at Pakistani army HQ raises more questions about security

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

Security forces remain on alert after a deadly siege at the headquarters of the Pakistani army, during which militant gunmen took as many as 40 hostages.

Lanka bourse booms as country emerges from civil war

Updated 12/10/2009 12:36:08

Investors have been showing a strong interest in the small but vibrant Colombo stock market, as Sri Lanka recovers from from a long and bloody civil war.

Singapore government workers happier: survey

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

In Singapore, a recent survey of white-collar professions shows that employees in Singapore who work for the government seem to be happier than those in the private sector.

A campaign for a living wage in Asia

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

Labor activists and union leaders in Asia have joined forces to campaign for wage rises for workers in the region's garment industry.

Promoting social enterprise in China

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

Traditionally the aim of a business is to maximise profits for its owners, but there's another kind of business whose aims are just as much social or environmental as they are financial.

Thai gold prices near record highs

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

The near record high price for gold on the world market has triggered increased trading in Asia, where gold trading has a long tradition, especially as an investment.

North Korea prison abuses

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

North Korea's prison system has long been deemed a brutal one, and one which plays a central role in the regime's suppression of political dissent.

Cambodian Gov't officials asked to testify at war crimes trial

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

In Cambodia, the United Nations-backed Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal has summoned six senior government ministers and legislative officials to appear as witnesses.

Maoists' deadly ambush in eastern India

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:01

At least 17 police officers have been killed in a deadly ambush by hundreds of Maoist rebels in India's eastern state of Jharkhand.

UNESCO recognises Asia's 'cultural heritage'

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:00

A country's dances, songs and rituals help make a people who they are, and are treasures in their own right.

Cross-strait cultural sharing between China and Taiwan

Updated 09/10/2009 12:08:00

The much-celebrated National Palace Museum in Taipei is celebrating its 84th anniversary, with an exhibition featuring exhibits on loan from the Beijing National Palace Museum.

Bangkok climate talks heating up

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:10

In Bangkok, frustration has emerged from a climate change conference, in the lead-up to the Copenhagen summit in two months.

The pros and cons of Mongolia's mining deal

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:11

The Mongolian government has welcomed with relief the long-awaited signing of a deal with two foreign mining firms, saying it will significantly boost the economy.

Pakistan urges US to stay the distance in Afghanistan

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:11

Pakistan has urged the United States to learn from past mistakes and make a long-term commitment to the country and the region.

US soldiers killed in Philippines explosion

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:11

The US military has temporarily withdrawn from a village in the southern Philippines, after a roadside bomb killed two American soldiers and a Filipino soldier.

UN whistleblower says many of Karzai's votes fraudulent

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:11

Leaked United Nations data on Afghanistan's presidential elections indicates the votes tallied in some provinces exceeded the number of voters by 100,000, with up to 30 per cent of incumbent President Hamid Karzai's votes under suspicion.

Working around the clock in Padang

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:11

Over a week after the destructive earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the United Nations says aid is reaching most places in need.

Still cleaning up from India's floods

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:11

Nearly a week after late monsoon rains sparked southern India's worst floods in a century, thousands of troops and relief workers are still trying to reach marooned villages in the worst-hit states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Astronomers discover new giant ring around Saturn

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:07

A new ring has been discovered around the planet Saturn.

Aquaculture's economic contributions

Updated 08/10/2009 12:40:07

An Indonesian fisheries expert has been awarded the 2009 Crawford Fund Derek Tribe Award, in recognition of his work and leadership in aquaculture - particularly among Indonesia's poor coastal fishing communities.

Philippines 'death squad killings' condemned

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

Some courts in the Philippines have been accused of hampering investigations into death squad killings.

Cambodian garment workers face employment crisis

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

While economists are talking up a slow recovery from the global economic crisis, its effect continues to haunt developing countries.

SLanka accuses Tamil asylum seekers of being fighters

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Australia claims that large numbers of his countrymen seeking asylum are former members of the Tamil Tigers.

Mongolia signs huge copper mining deal

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

Mongolia has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with the Canadian firm Ivanhoe Mines and the Anglo-Australian giant Rio Tinto, to develop one of the world's richest copper deposits.

Reading North Korea's diplomatic signals

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

North Korea has signalled it is willing to return to six-party talks, but as usual, there are conditions attached, including a request to talk to the United States bilaterally, beforehand.

Flooding destroys Asian farm crops

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

Millions of farming communities in Asia are facing severe hardship in the wake of the past fortnight's severe floods.

Looking after the living in Sumatra

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

A week after the devastating earthquake struck off the coast of West Sumatra, attention has shifted away from searching for the dead and towards looking after the living.

Typhoons still a risk for Japan, Philippines

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:57

Asia's island nations are in varying states of typhoon readiness, as storms pass over the Pacific.

Afghanistan, eight years on and policy under question

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:51

Exactly eight years ago, the United States invaded Afghanistan with the intention of driving out the Taliban in three months.

Thailand looks to mangroves to stave off erosion

Updated 07/10/2009 13:16:51

Thailand is currently hosting global climate change talks, but has its own environmental problems to deal with.

Not to be confused with the Nobel prize ...

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:06

Not to be confused with the Nobel prizes - the Ig Nobel prizes are parody awards given to what's considered trivial scientific research.

Australian-born academic wins Nobel prize

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:06

The Australian-born academic, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, helped change the way scientists think about ageing and disease, with her pioneering work into the building blocks of life - cells.

Resettlement money increased for displaced East Timorese

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

More than three years since fighting forced 150,000 East Timorese from their homes, hundreds of displaced families still live in temporary housing managed by humanitarian organisations.

UNDP report warns of abuse of economic migrants

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

Contrary to popular perceptions in the West, most economic migrants aren't heading from poor countries to wealthy ones.

Philippines recovery continues

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

Ten days ago, Typhoon Ketsana dumped a month's worth of rain in one day on Manila.

Poorest are hardest hit by season's storms

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

The death toll from heavy floods in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and India this past week has surpassed 700 and continues to rise.

Multiple disasters spark worries of compassion fatigue

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

The Red Cross has seen almost $1 million donated from Australia alone, but with so many disasters in the last week, there are fears of compassion fatigue.

Red Cross update from Padang

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

In Padang, survivors of the Sumatra earthquake are trying to move forward.

On Sumatra, little hope of survivors

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, authorities have all but called off their search for survivors, nearly a week after two destructive earthquakes.

Pakistan bomb attack kills UN aid workers

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:07

In Pakistan, a suicide bomb attack in Islamabad has killed five workers of the United Nations World Food Programme.

'First clown in space' could be last space tourist

Updated 06/10/2009 13:04:03

At the moment, floating above the earth, is a man dubbed the first clown in space.

Australian artist to document Afghanistan war

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

The Australian War Memorial has appointed Shaun Gladwell as its Official Artist and will be sending him to Afghanistan.

Pressure on Obama to change Afghanistan strategy

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

In the United States, there is more pressure on the White House to make a decision about increasing troop numbers in Afghanistan.

Carbon document being watered down: UN official

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

Two months before world leaders meet in Copenhagen to thrash out a new climate deal, rich and poor nations are already discussing their differences.

New movie addresses Taiwan's turbulent past

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

A Taiwanese American filmmaker has taken on the challenge of explaining the complicated history of political relations between Taiwan, China and the United States.

SLanka army denied shelters damaged by winds

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

In Sri Lanka, local media are reporting that more than 2,000 temporary shelters for civilians displaced in Sri Lanka's ethnic war have been destroyed by gale force winds.

Floods sweep away homes in southern India

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

In southern India, hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated after torrential rains and floods swept away their homes.

Storms making Philippines prison life even more difficult

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:09

A series of storms hitting the Philippines has flooded the country's capital, Manila.

Typhoon Ketsana does damage in Laos

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:10

Typhoon Ketsana has torn across the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, killing hundreds of people.

Abandoning the search in Indonesia

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:10

Thousands of people could still be buried in mud, rubble and debris after last Wednesday's devastating earthquake on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Alice Springs moves on public camping

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:08

The central Australian town of Alice Springs attracts tourists from all over the place.

Korean families reunite amid hopes for six-party talks

Updated 05/10/2009 12:12:08

China's Premier Wen Jiabao has been warmly welcomed in North Korea, embracing reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, who made a rare public appearance at the airport.

Malaysia's new polygamy club

Updated 02/10/2009 12:11:28

Malaysia's Ikhwan Polgygamy Club is trying to match several women to one husband, in the name of Islam. They say it's a way to help women who are isolated or marginalised - like widows or former sex workers - and to promote positive values.

Australian police management of asylum seekers

Updated 02/10/2009 12:11:28

Australian police concede it's possible they will never know the full truth behind the explosion earlier this year which killed five people on board a boat carrying asylum seekers.

Warning: climate change poses risk to Asia's food security

Updated 02/10/2009 12:11:28

The Asian Development Bank has warned that climate change posed "fundamental threats to Asia's food and energy security" which, the bank said, could trigger an upsurge in migration. The report also warns of sharply rising food prices and potential shortages.

Relief efforts continue in the Philippines

Updated 02/10/2009 12:11:28

Almost a week after Tropical Storm Ketsana caused mass flooding and 277 deaths in the Philippines, hundreds of thousands of people are still homeless, sheltering in evacuation centres like churches, schools and gymnasiums. Now, weather forecasters are warning another storm is on its way.

Explaining seismic activity in Asia Pacific region

Updated 02/10/2009 12:11:29

Natural disasters have hit the region this week - with floods in Southeast Asia, as well as earthquakes and tsunamis in the South Pacific. While the tremors may not be directly linked, they are part of a flurry of seismic activity on the so-called "Ring of Fire" and have tested the region's tsunami warning systems.

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