Asia Pacific

Conservationists in Hong Kong say the Fijian carrier, Air Pacific is helping feed the trade in sharks fin in Asia by transporting them into China.

A natural world heritage site, Bangladesh's Sundarbans is under threat from plans to build a major coal-fired power plant.

The Japanese share market jumped by more than two per cent to close at its best level in over five years.

Aid organisations working in the Pacific have expressed disappointment with Australia's aid commitment in its budget.

The Australian government has increased funding for aid to Indonesia by 100 million Australian dollars in this year's budget.

The Australian budget papers confirm that aid to Afghanistan remains steady at around 180 million dollars next year.

An estimated 150 Rohingya Muslim refugees may have perished at sea, trying to escape a cyclone.

The Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan has handed down his sixth budget, announcing a 19.4 billion dollar deficit.

As Australia's Treasurer outlines budget cuts and further delays to reaching Millenium Goal targets for foreign aid in the federal budget - one of the world's leading advocates for the advancement of women has urged Australia to maintain its commitment to aid programmes in the Asia Pacific region.

There's a National Day of Mourning today for the plight of women in Papua New Guinea.

Chinese women in the sex industry in China are often treated as if they have given up their rights entirely, and are subject to harassment, beatings and torture from police, arbitrary detention and a lack of health services, says a new report.

Philippine voters on Monday chose their representatives for the nation's Congress and local government.

Confidence in the outcome of Pakistan's just-concluded election in Pakistan has been reflected in the bouyant Karachi stock exchange, which hit an all-time high today.

Australia's foreign aid program has been confirmed as a casualty of this year's budget.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has secured funding support from the Australian government for its massive Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.

Each year, dozens of school leavers - mostly from Australia and Britain - find themselves in remote corners of the Pacific.

A record number of voters are expected to turn out for the Pakistan's historic elections tomorrow.

Melbourne is hosting the Indian film festival and the winning piece for the short film category is called 'Sati'.