Asia Pacific

International air travel is facing an unprecedented crisis from which it may never recover, according to the giant International Transport Federation, which represents over half a million aviation workers worldwide.

There are signs of a military buildup by the United States.

As the search for bodies goes on in the twisted mess of the World Trade Centre, America is also trying to stem the economic damage caused by last week's attacks.

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharaf has said in a televised address to the nationa that support for US moves against terrorism was a case of doing what was right and what was best for Pakistan.

Tougher economic times in Southeast Asia have produced trade progress for Australia and New Zealand, when this year's meeting of ASEAN economic Ministers in Hanoi agreed to a Closer Economic Partnership to promote economic integration among the 12 countries.

One of Indonesia's top political leaders has described those behind the terrorist attacks in the United States as fundamentalist, stupid and narrow minded.

Afghanistan's ruling Taliban has indicated it would rather face a massive US military attack rather than hand over Osama bin Laden.

Efforts to combat international terrorism will top the agenda when Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri meets her President George W Bush in Washington later today.

The organisers of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting are insisting that leaders from about 50 countries will turn up, as planned, in the Australian city of Brisbane early next month.

Amid heightened sensitivies in the Islamic world as the U-S shapes its response to last week's attacks on its soil, the President of the world's biggest Muslim nation has added her voice to those backing Washington's stance.

Questions are being asked if someone had prior knowledge of last week's vicious attacks on the United States and profitted from that knowledge on the share market.

Thousands of Afghans are deserting the country's cities and heading for refuge amid fears of American retaliatory strikes because Afghanistan, shelters the man suspected of masterminding the attacks on the United States.

Japan's Central Bank has announced it will follow America's lead and drop interest rates to an historic low of zero point one percent to help stimulate economic activity, following yesterday's fall in the wake of the Trade Centre attack.

Militant Islamic groups in Pakistan are preparing strikes and demonstrations to protest against possible military action against neighbouring Afghanistan.

The Australian Government has introduced new laws to tighten its borders against asylum seekers.

The UN has warned of a massive humanitarian crisis if the US launches retaliatory military strikes against Afghanistan.

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri is on her way to Washington and a meeting with President George W Bush.

In Indonesia, President Megawati's drive for constitutional reform has run foul of parliament, and is even being opposed by members of her own party.

The turmoil in the American sharemarket and economy pales beside the problems of Japan.