May 2008
Australian high commissioner in Fiji get second death threat
Updated 15/05/2008 19:36:26
Australia's High Commissioner in Fiji has received a second death threat amid strains in the relationship between Canberra and the military-ruled South Pacific nation. The threat to James Batley was received in a letter.
ASEAN defends its response to Burma
Updated 15/05/2008 19:36:30
ASEAN is in damage control after being criticised for being too slow in responding to the disaster in Burma.
Relief effort in Burma hampered by rain
Updated 15/05/2008 19:36:35
It's now twelve days after the cyclone and storm surge and too little has been done to tackle starvation and disease. Now the emergency effort is also being hampered by wet and miserable conditions.
China ramps up relief efforts for quake victims
Updated 15/05/2008 19:36:39
China has ramped up its relief efforts with more troops and helicopters as the search for earthquake survivors continues in Sichuan province. The extra 30-thousand troops will bring in food and water and help rescue survivors.
Nobel laureates call for release of jailed Indian rights worker
Updated 15/05/2008 19:36:17
A group of 22 Nobel laureates has sent a letter to the Indian government criticizing the jailing of prominent doctor and human-rights worker Binayak Sen. They've asked that Dr Sen be released to receive a global health award later this month.
Manila warned to finalise peace deal with Muslim separatists
Updated 15/05/2008 19:36:21
Manila has been warned to finalise a peace deal with Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines or risk fresh outbreak of violence.
Australia's foreign aid boost
Updated 14/05/2008 19:51:04
The Australian government has given the aid community a budget shot in the arm, kicking in half a billion Australian dollars towards overseas assistance.
India blast has hallmarks of Al Qaeda
Updated 14/05/2008 19:51:08
Police in India are sifting through the sites of eight bomb attacks that killed at least 80 people in the north-western city of Jaipur. Police have questioned four people in connection with the attacks which left about 200 people injured.
Outrage over ASEAN's slow response to Burma
Updated 14/05/2008 19:51:12
The voices of outrage over the slow reponse by Southeast Asian nations to help the estimated two million victims of Burma's cyclone are getting louder. So far there's been no co-ordinated response from ASEAN.
Rescue teams struggle in China
Updated 14/05/2008 19:51:16
The full horror from China's massive earthquake has begun to emerge as rescuers discover entire towns in Sichuan province all but wiped off the map. The death toll now stands at 20-thousand.
Protests against Jakarta's fuel price hike
Updated 14/05/2008 19:50:59
Thousands of Indonesians have taken to the streets this week protesting against a government plan to raise fuel prices before the end of the month.
Australia announces boost to Asian language teaching
Updated 14/05/2008 19:50:59
The Australian government has also announced major investment into Asian language teaching. Over the next three years, 59 million US dollars will be provided as extra funding for Asian language studies in Australian schools.
Pakistan ruling coalition on brink of collapse
Updated 13/05/2008 20:34:54
Pakistan's six-week old coalition government is looking shaky. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif says he's pulling his party out of the government because of its failure to reinstate the judges who were sacked by President Musharraf last year.
Bad weather worsens life for Burma's cyclones victims
Updated 13/05/2008 20:34:59
The wheels of bureaucracy and diplomacy must seem slower than ever for the survivors of Burma's cyclone Nagis. The UN estimates around two million people are in urgent need.
Australian Treasurer hands down budget
Updated 13/05/2008 20:35:12
The Australian Treasurer has just presented his first budget to Parliament. The national budget is predicting a recession in the United States but a continuing commodities boom for Australia because of demand from China and India.
China to build its own jumbo jet
Updated 13/05/2008 20:34:43
China moves a step closer to fulfilling its dreams of building its own jumbo jet.
UN in East Timor lambasted over controversial appointment
Updated 13/05/2008 20:34:48
In East Timor, the United Nations is on the defensive after being lambasted by their own top lawyer in New York for hiring a disgraced former defence minister Roque Rodrigues as a presidential security advisor.
Death toll from China quake soars
Updated 13/05/2008 20:35:24
The official death toll from the most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years stands at ten thousand with many more injured in the south-western province of Sichuan.
Pakistan to buy spy planes from Australia
Updated 12/05/2008 20:15:58
Pakistan wants to buy surveillance aircraft from Australia to help patrol Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters along the two thousand plus kilometre border.
Colombo claims victory in key provincial elections
Updated 12/05/2008 20:16:03
The Sri Lankan government has claimed victory in key provincial elections in the east of the island, describing it as a major boost in its war against the Tamil Tigers.
China television critical of Australian gold mining firm
Updated 12/05/2008 20:16:09
An Australian mining company with a majority holding in China's second-largest gold mine has been the focus of a scathing attack on Chinese state television.
Powerful quake hits western China
Updated 12/05/2008 20:15:53
A massive earthquake has hit western China. The quake's epicentre in the southern province of Sichuan, less than 100-kilometres from the provincial capital Chengdu.
Aid bottleneck in Burma
Updated 12/05/2008 20:15:53
The first American aid flight from Thailand has arrived in Burma loaded with water, mosquito nets and blankets. But the Burmese junta is still refusing to allow rescue workers into the country, saying it wants to handle the distribution process on the ground.
Vietnam optimistic on bird flu vaccine
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:28
Vietnam says it's had good results with the first stage of human testing of its locally developed bird flu vaccine.
East Timor to tackle corruption
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:32
East Timor's Prime Minster Xanana Gusmao has revealed his plans to tackle corruption in the fledgling nation.
Deposed Fiji prime minister under investigation for graft
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:38
Fiji's deposed prime minister is being investigated for corruption but he says he's not worried.
New Australia Asia literary prize mooted
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:24
Western Australia says it wants to set up an Australia Asia Literary Award to rival the prestigious booker prize.
Burma regime urged to delay referendum
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:53
The United Nations says the Burmese junta should postpone a referendum on a military-drafted constitution in order to focus on the emergency response to the devastation.
Australian forces accused of abusing Taliban detainees
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:58
The Australian Defence Force is investigating claims that Australian soldiers have mistreated Taliban detainees.
Australia's aid to Burma under question
Updated 09/05/2008 19:40:44
Australia's former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Australia's aid donation of three million dollars to Burma is pathetic.
Japan and China talks move forward
Updated 08/05/2008 20:07:41
The leaders of China and Japan have held a groundbreaking summit where they have pledged to take a more 'forward looking' approach to the bilateral relationship.
Death threat made against Australian high commissioner in Fiji
Updated 08/05/2008 20:07:47
Investigations are underway into a death threat made against Australia's High Commissioner James Batley in Fiji.
Burmese news website innundated
Updated 08/05/2008 20:07:52
Mizzima News is a news organisation run by a group of Burmese journalists in exile. The multi-media group has been a prime source of information in the wake of cyclone Nargis.
International aid still at Burma's doorstep
Updated 08/05/2008 20:07:58
The scale of the tragedy from the Burma cyclone just keeps increasing. Thailand, China, India and Indonesia have managed to fly in some emergency supplies. But the visa approval process is still delaying international relief work.
Fuel prices set to rise in Indonesia
Updated 08/05/2008 20:07:19
Indonesia is facing several weeks of economic uncertainty with rising fuel prices.
Australia pledges aid to East Timor
Updated 08/05/2008 20:07:19
Australia has pledged a development aid package for East Timor.
East Timor's power struggle
Updated 07/05/2008 19:51:59
The future of East Timor's coalition government is under a cloud after a key party member announced a pact with the opposition.
South Koreans protest over US beef imports
Updated 07/05/2008 19:52:06
The South Korean government's decision to lift U-S beef imports has seen thousands of young people taking to the streets in protest.
Aid agencies struggle to get access to Burma's victims
Updated 07/05/2008 19:52:10
Questions raised over how much unrestricted access will be granted to international aid agencies by Burma's military regime reach devastated regions.
Burma faces new threat of disease and hunger
Updated 07/05/2008 19:52:14
They're still counting the dead in Burma, while aid agencies continue to agonise about the plight of the living. Disease, hunger and thirst are now the new threat to at least a million people left homeless by cyclone Nargis.
Australian head of Pacific Islands Forum quits
Updated 07/05/2008 19:51:55
The Australian Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Greg Urwin has resigned halfway through his second term, citing medical reasons. He was the first Australian to hold the forum's top position in its 37 year history.
Difficulties remain with reintegration of Aceh's former rebels
Updated 07/05/2008 19:51:55
Three years after separatist fighters with the Free Aceh Movement signed a peace deal with the Indonesian Government, their reintegration into Acehnese society is proving to be less that smooth.
Two ministers quit in Taiwan's diplomatic scandal
Updated 06/05/2008 20:09:45
A dipomatic scandal has seen two of Taiwan's senior government ministers quit. The foreign minister and vice premier have resigned over the disappearance of 30 million U-S dollars in an apparent botched bid to win over Papua New Guinea.
China and Japan meet for historic talks
Updated 06/05/2008 20:09:50
China's President Hu Jintao has touched down in the Japanese capital Tokyo to begin his five day state visit. But with hopes on both sides of improving relations, the range of difficult issues that exist between the two economic giants, will be kept off the agenda.
ASEAN vows to help Burma
Updated 06/05/2008 20:09:55
Southeast Asian nations have always been split on how to treat Burma given its reluctance to explicitly embrace democracy.
But now ASEAN nations are being urged to put their differences aside and support Burma's cyclone victims.
Death toll climbs in Burma cyclone
Updated 06/05/2008 20:10:00
It's taken three days, but the Burmese junta is now co-operating with international humanitarian agencies to do something about the devastation of Cyclone Nargis. Burma's State media is now reporting that at least 15-thousand people are dead.
Vanuatu banks and businesses embroiled in tax scandal
Updated 06/05/2008 20:09:35
Vanuatu's financial and banking sector has raised concerns about the way Australia is targetting banks in the island nation, with allegations they are involved in tax fraud.
ADB says it needs more money
Updated 06/05/2008 20:09:39
The Asian Development Bank says unless it gets a fresh injection of funds from donor countries it will be out of money by 2010. The Bank says funds are needed to rescue millions from hunger and malnutrition.
Asian airlines accused of contributing to global warming
Updated 05/05/2008 20:31:47
Asia's airlines have been accused of complacency when it comes to tackling climate change.
China meets Tibet envoys
Updated 05/05/2008 20:31:54
Envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama have held talks on the weekend in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.
Hollywood gets behind Free Burma campaign
Updated 05/05/2008 20:32:00
A new virtual campaign in the US has enlisted a number of Hollywood celebrities to give the Free Burma message the same critical mass coverage as campaigns focusing on Darfur and Tibet.
Hundreds dead in Burma cyclone
Updated 05/05/2008 20:32:06
The scale of the devastation caused by the cyclone in Burma is now only becoming clear. More than 350 people are believed to be dead but aid groups on the ground are still trying to reach some affected areas.
Warnings over China's nickel mining project in PNG
Updated 05/05/2008 20:31:39
China's hunger for resources has led it to Medang in PNG, where the state owned MCC company will mine for nickel. But the project has been plagued by controversy.
Australia claims new clean coal technology is breakthrough
Updated 02/05/2008 19:34:40
Australia has described a new clean coal technology as a breakthrough which will help China, India and Indonesia meet their energy needs in a more environmentally friendly way. But environmentalists are sceptical.
Pakistan deal on sacked judges
Updated 02/05/2008 19:35:02
There's been a deal reached on reinstating Pakistan's judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf last November. Meeting in Dubai, the leaders of the ruling alliance have agreed the judges will be restored through a parliamentary resolution.
Fiji's interim government defends publisher's deportation
Updated 02/05/2008 19:35:08
Fiji's interim government has defended the deportation of Australian publisher Evan Hannah.
Fiji's media council denounces publisher deportation
Updated 02/05/2008 19:35:18
Fiji's military regime has defied a court order to deport Evan Hannah, the Australian publisher of the Rupert Murdoch owned Fiji Times. Fiji's media council held an emergency meeting to denounce the deportation.
IOC warning over continued Tibet protests
Updated 02/05/2008 19:34:58
International Olympic Comittee member Gerhard Heiberg has warned that continued pressure on China from the West over Tibet could ruin the Olympic Games.
Australia's future defence policy
Updated 01/05/2008 19:43:00
Warnings Australia's military could slide from being a regional big boy, to being the local runt, dwarfed by the emerging military might of its neighbours.
Southern Philippines province declared peace zone
Updated 01/05/2008 19:43:06
The capital of one of the Philippines most dangerous, lawless and gun-soaked provinces has been declared a peace zone.
Nepal asked to respect rights of Tibetan exiles
Updated 01/05/2008 19:43:10
The U-S ambassador to Nepal has asked the Prime Minister to respect the rights of Tibetan exiles protesting in Kathmandu.
New Australian film about Balibo five
Updated 01/05/2008 19:42:30
It's been more than 30 years since five Australian based newsmen were shot dead at Balibo in East Timor. Now, the Balibo story is being made into a feature-length film.
Bangkok proposes fixing price of rice
Updated 01/05/2008 19:42:30
Thailand's Prime Minister has come up with a proposal that's sure to horrify economists. Samak Sundaravej wants Mekong nations to form a cartel to fix the price of rice and strengthen their bargaining power on the world market.
