Asia Pacific

The Australian government has again been urged to speak out against the death penalty in Indonesia, after three local men were executed by firing squad early this morning.

With the dust settling on the Federal Budget, the Government's gone on the offensive over Opposition leader Tony Abbott's plans if the Coalition wins the September poll.

In Australia, New Zealand, America and across the Pacific, doctors, dentists, and military engineers are gearing up to take their skills on tour.

With violence against women in India in the spotlight, so too is the portrayal of women in Bollywood and how much it may perpetuate a culture of misogyny.

Australia's mining industry and government criticised on transparency record.

Malaysia's Prime Minister has unveiled a cabinet which observers say is packed with conservatives, with few MPs from the Chinese and Indian communities.

The Australian Government can now send all asylum seekers who arrive by boat to offshore processing centres.

Japan's nuclear watchdog has refused to give the go-ahead to commission a trouble plagued fast breeder reactor due to safety concerns.

China's Ministry of Land Resources has once again issued an emergency notice calling for an end to forced, illegal land requisitions.

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.