TOP STORIES

Nearly 200 more arrests over Philippines massacre

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +1100

The Philippines has charged 196 more people with murder over a pre-election massacre in Maguindanao province in November, which left 57 dead.

NKorea 'committed' to no-nukes: China

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +1100

Chinese state media has reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has told China he is committed to ridding the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons.

Sri Lanka to court martial Gen Fonseka

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +1100

The authorities in Sri Lanka say they intend to bring the losing candidate in the general election, General Sarath Fonseka, before a court martial.

At least 24 dead after Afghan avalanche

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +1100

A series of avalanches around a mountain tunnel in Afghanistan has killed at least 24 people with at least 40 others feared dead.

UN to monitor Iran's nuclear enrichment

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +1100

The UN nuclear watchdog says that a team of its inspectors is in place in Iran to monitor Iran's plans to start enriching uranium to higher levels.

US refuses to write off Cambodian debt

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +1100

The United States has refused a request by Cambodia to write off more than $US300 million in debt.

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.

China cracks down on hacking website

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

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

Iran informs UN about nuclear enrichment plans

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:19:00 +1100

Iran has formally informed the UN nuclear watchdog of its plans to start enriching higher-grade nuclear fuel.

PNG bank head relieved about criminal's recapture

Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:19:00 +1100

The head of Papua New Guinea's largest bank is extremely happy the country's most wanted criminal has been recaptured.

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 clashes

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.

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 inquiry

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.

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 Korea

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.

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 blast

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.