Connect Asia

Former Australian Army colonel and leading counter-terrorism expert Dr David Kilkullen says the United States will need to persuade the Taliban to talk to the Afghan Government when peace negotiations begin this week.

The Australian Government has denied claims it's refusing to resettle Somali refugees on the basis of race.

Rights groups are concerned that a raft of proposed changes to Sri Lanka's media laws have the potential to damage free speech.

The US administration's intelligence officials have made a forceful defence of the government's sweeping phone and internet surveillance programs.

The humanitarian aid group, Médecins Sans Frontières, says the Indian government has to act now to tackle a crisis in the public health system.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has described qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a "beautiful feeling" and vindication of his methods.

As Australia, South Korea and Iran have secured their World Cup tickets hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have marched through through major cities across the country, in protest at the rising cost of living.

Southeast Asia is suffering its own pollution woes, with severe air pollution from forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island choking Singapore and parts of Malaysia.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has deferred a decision whether or not to put the Great Barrier Reef on its "in danger" list.

Petrol prices in Indonesia are set to rise by 44 per cent and diesel will jump 22 per cent under a new plan approved by Parliament in Jakarta.

Four American troops have been killed in an attack on Kabul's Bagram Air Base the day after Afghan forces assumed full control of security in the country.

The move to open negotiations with the Taliban has been welcomed by some of the key players in Afghanistan, including Pakistan, Britain and the United Nations.

While the international community has welcomed the announcement of peace talks between the US and the Afghan Taliban, security analysts say the country won't see a formal ceasefire any time soon.

Taiwan is fighting to combat the country's perennil brain drain problem as more and more young professionals leave to pursue their careers.

Somali refugees waiting in Indonesia, say they're being forced to take dangerous boat voyages because Australia is refusing to resettle Africans.

The Indonesian parliament has approved measures that pave the way for the government to end fuel subsidies, which could lead to price rises of around 33 per centIf approved, it would be the first hike in fuel prices since 2008.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has held talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambung Yudhyono during his first official state visit to Indonesia.

China will today launch its first pilot carbon trading scheme in the booming city of Shenzhen, one of seven it plans to trial ahead of a national program.