Last month, General Fonseka lost the presidential election the incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse, but has rejected the results and vowed to challenge them. [AFP]

Sri Lanka arrests former army commander, presidential challengerVideoAudioPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:40:00 +1100

Sri Lanka has arrested former army commander and losing presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

The 2010 Prius has been recalled by Toyota after complaints of brake problems. [AFP]

Toyota issues mass recall of PriusVideoPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:58:00 +1100

Toyota has lodged a recall in Japan of 200,000 of its latest model Prius cars after complaints of brake problems in the hybrid car.

Cyclone Oli tore across the Cooks, before battering French Polynesia - destroying hundreds of homes. [Ocenia Flash]

New cyclone develops near Cook IslandsPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:35:00 +1100

Tropical Cyclone Pat has started to alter course, and forecasters say it may threaten the southern Cook Islands by early Wednesday.

Smoke and flames billow from the boat SIEV 36 and people swim in the water as Navy vessels move in to help near Ashmore Island in April 2009. [ADF]

Refugee retracts statement on fatal Australian boat blastPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:43:00 +1100

The first refugee to give evidence at an Australian coronial inquest into last year's fatal SIEV 36 boat blast says he cannot remember telling police that a fellow passenger threatened to blow up the boat.

At a conference in Vanuatu, the Asian Development Bank says providing social safety nets for the poor in the Pacific needs to be a priority. [AFP]

Pacific social safety nets needed says ADBPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:56:00 +1100

The Asian Development Bank says providing social safety nets for the poor in the Pacific needs to be a priority.

East Timor's new anti-corruption chief, Aderito Soares has rejected concerns that his position will have no real power to deal with corruption at a high level. [Reuters]

East Timor's anti-graft chief rejects concerns over positionPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:53:00 +1100

East Timor's new anti-corruption chief has rejected concerns that his position will have no real power to deal with corruption at a high level.

A meeting  between government, unions and the Garment Manufacturers' Association of Cambodia, over a pay increase for workers has ended without agreement. [AFP]

Cambodian garment workers fail to win pay risePhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:50:00 +1100

Discussions between Cambodia's government, manufacturers and unions over a pay increase for garment workers have ended without agreement.

Reports on Japanese deal to scale back research whaling

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:15:00 +1100

Japanese media is reporting that the country's Fisheries Minister is considering scaling back research whaling in the Antarctic.

A new skirmish over whaling is about to erupt in Japanese court room.

Activists to face court over Japan whaling clashesAudioPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:02:00 +1100

Two members of Greenpeace are facing up to 10 years' jail in the latest skirmish to erupt over Japan's whaling activities.

The Austral Island of Tubuai is the worst hit, with over half of the buildings on the island either damaged or destroyed. [AFP]

French Polynesia begins assessing Cyclone Oli damageVideoAudioPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:50:00 +1100

Inhabitants of French Polynesia's Tubuai island have begun assessing the damage from this weekend's Cyclone Oli.

MV Princess Ashika before it sunk in August 2009. The inquiry into the sinking has heard there were concerns over the training for crew members onboard the ferry. [NZ Defence Dept]

Ten year old training concerns raised at Tongan inquiryPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:02:00 +1100

The Tongan Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika has heard there were concerns over the past 10 years about the standard of training for Tongan seafarers.

Sichaun earthquake activist jailed

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:46:00 +1100

A Chinese activist who tried to document the poor construction of buildings that collapsed in the Sichuan Earthquake has been sentenced to five years in jail.

Duncan Kerr has stood down as Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs, but there is concern he has yet to be replaced. [ABC News]

Australia's Pacific commitment not diminished by resignation: FMPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:56:00 +1100

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says Australia's committment to the Pacific region will not be diminished by the resignation of Labor MP Duncan Kerr.

The avalanche hit the Indian army's High Altitude Warfare School in northwest Kashmir, a mountainous region near the border with Pakistan. [APTN]

Kashmir avalanche kills Indian soldiersVideoPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:52:00 +1100

At least 11 Indian soldiers are dead after an avalanche hit a training base in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Dongfan

US citizen jailed for passing space shuttle secrets to ChinaPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:07:00 +1100

An ex-Boeing engineer who was found guilty last year of passing space shuttle secrets to China has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Australian mining boss in billion dollar mix-up

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:01:00 +1100

Confusion over a multi-billion dollar coal deal has led to a Chinese company issuing a denial to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Michael Jackson's former doctor Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the singer's death last year. [Reuters]

Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guiltyPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:00 +1100

Michael Jackson's former doctor Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the singer's death last year.

UN officials observe former Maoist child soldiers board buses to leave the Dudhauli camp, 100 km southeast of Kathmandu January 7, 2010. The Maoists will be demobilising underaged soldiers who fought for the Maoists during Nepal's decade-long civil war and releasing them from the Maoist camps under an agreement with the government. [Reuters]

Thousands of former child-soldiers released from Nepal campsPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:45:00 +1100

Nepal has completed the release of thousands of former Maoist child soldiers from UN-monitored camps.

Australia's FM expresses sympathy for Indian victims

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:38:00 +1100

Australia's foreign minister Stephen Smith has again expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of Indian students who have been victims of attacks in Australia.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced his country is going to enrich uranium to a higher level, moving it closer to being able to produce nuclear weapons. [AFP]

US, France urge new Iran sanctionsPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:34:00 +1100

The United States and France are vowing to push for fresh United Nations sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

ABC managing director Mark Scott speaks at a senate estimates hearing at Parliament House, Canberra, on February 8, 2010. [ABC News]

ABC denies Chinese pressure over Uighur filmPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:48:00 +1100

ABC managing director Mark Scott says suggestions that the ABC decided not to screen a controversial film about Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer because of pressure from China are "ludicrous".

More than 10 million South Korean are terrestrial subscribers to mobile phone television services, and more than two million are subscribed via satellite. [AFP]

Mobile phone television growing in South KoreaPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:16:00 +1100

South Korean technology firms are predicting in-home television in the country may go the same way as landline phones, with growing popularity from mobile phone TV.

The freestyle and snowboard site, just to the north of Vancouver, has been plagued by a drastic lack of snow caused by the warm temperatures. [Reuters]

Enough snow at Winter Olympic venues: Organising CommitteePhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:45:00 +1100

Vancouver Olympic organisers say they'll be able to stop dumping snow on Cypress Mountain tomorrow and the venue will be ready for competition.

Kiwi have been found staggering around during the day, dehydrated and starving in New Zealand's North Island. [AAP]

Drought hurting NZ's iconic birdPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:06:00 +1100

Drier than usual conditions in New Zealand's North Island are hurting the country's iconic bird, the kiwi.

Hacking from China has received international attention since Google threatened to quit China last month after a serious hacking attempt. [Reuters]

China shuts hacker training schoolPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:17:00 +1100

China has closed what it claims to be the largest hacker training website in the country and arrested three of its members.

A Pakistani man mourns the death of his relative at a hospital in Rawalpindi after a gun attack on senior Pakistani politician Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. [AFP]

Gunmen attack Pakistani ex-minister's officePhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:21:00 +1100

Gunmen have opened fire at the election office of a former Pakistani government minister in the city of Rawalpindi.

It is expected to be the final launch in darkness for NASA's shuttle fleet. [AFP]

Endeavour space shuttle takes offPhoto

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:10:00 +1100

The space shuttle Endeavour has finally taken off from Cape Canaveral in Florida after delays caused by the weather.

Japan pledges to help grow Palestinian economy

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:46:00 +1100

Japan's Prime Minister has agreed to help grow the economy of the Palestinian territories.

New migration rules will reward those students studying highly-skilled work. [AFP]

Australia changes skilled migration rulesVideoPhoto

Last Updated: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:26:00 +1100

Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Evans says changes to the skilled migration program will shift the emphasis from a supply driven system to one more focussed on demand.

Australia's foreign minister Stephen Smith has announced a 40 per cent in aid to Burma over the next three years. [Reuters]

Australia increases aid to BurmaAudioPhoto

Last Updated: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:43:00 +1100

Australia has pledged a 40 per cent increase in humanitarian aid to Burma over the next three years, saying the country can't be allowed to decay completely while waiting for political change.

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