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![Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse (C) and First Lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa (R) arrive at parliament. [AFP] (ABC)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200906/r380442_1772338.jpg "Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse (C) and First Lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa (R) arrive at parliament. [AFP] (ABC)")
Sri Lankan president has 'unchecked power': former UN official
A former United Nations official in Sri Lanka says there's no longer any credible check on the power of the Sri Lankan president.
![Australia's PM Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at a function only hours after Ms Gillard secured minority government. [ABC] (AFP)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201009/r634609_4350806.jpg "Australia's PM Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at a function only hours after Ms Gillard secured minority government. [ABC] (AFP)")
Australia's Opposition urged to support new parliament
The Australian government and the Greens Party have warned the Liberal National Opposition not to act as spoilers in the new Parliament.
![Madav Kumar Nepal annnounced his resignation as Nepal's PM in June. [AFP] (AFP)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201007/r593349_3812172.jpg "Madav Kumar Nepal annnounced his resignation as Nepal's PM in June. [AFP] (AFP)")
Nepal in leadership vacuum
Nepal's parliament has again failed to elect a prime minister, prolonging a four month leadership vacuum.
![Australia's Defence Force Chief Angus Houston has been consulting defence officials in India about security during the Commonwealth Games. [ABC] (ABC)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201007/r594006_3820640.jpg "Australia's Defence Force Chief Angus Houston has been consulting defence officials in India about security during the Commonwealth Games. [ABC] (ABC)")
Australia seeks assurances over Games security
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Angus Houston is seeking assurance from his Indian counterpart that Australian athletes will be safe at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
![Four men have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the sinking of the Princess Ashika. [NZ Defence Dept] (ABC)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200908/r416932_1977025.jpg "Four men have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the sinking of the Princess Ashika. [NZ Defence Dept] (ABC)")
Not guilty pleas over Tongan ferry tragedy
Four men have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the sinking of the Princess Ashika ferry in Tonga last year.
![New Zealand Prime Minister John Key surveys the damage in Kaiapoi. [AAP/NZPA] (AAP)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201009/r634971_4355939.jpg "New Zealand Prime Minister John Key surveys the damage in Kaiapoi. [AAP/NZPA] (AAP)")
Earthquake affected residents being counselled in NZ
New Zealand's government is warning that it could take months for the citizens of Christchurch to recover from Saturday's earthquake and the following aftershocks.
![Investigators say police may have inadvertently shot some of the tourists being held hostage in last month's bus siege. [Reuters] (Reuters)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201008/r625353_4225314.jpg "Investigators say police may have inadvertently shot some of the tourists being held hostage in last month's bus siege. [Reuters] (Reuters)")
Hostages possibly killed in crossfire say Philippines investigators
Philippines officials investigating the handling of a siege in Manila two weeks ago, now say police may have inadvertently shot some of the tourists who were being held hostage.
![The main entrance of the parliament building in Port Moresby. Parliament may be recalled before November. [www.flickr.com/Steve Shattuck] (Unspecified)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201009/r636105_4372074.jpg "The main entrance of the parliament building in Port Moresby. Parliament may be recalled before November. [www.flickr.com/Steve Shattuck] (Unspecified)")
PNG parliament may be recalled early over budget
The Papua New Guinea parliament may have to be recalled before a budget session scheduled for November.
![Fiji is looking at ways of addressing worsening water shortages. [ABC] (ABC)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201002/r519915_3133654.jpg "Fiji is looking at ways of addressing worsening water shortages. [ABC] (ABC)")
Fijian officials outline water shortage strategy
Fiji's National Drought Steering Committee has wrapped up a meeting to discuss the country's worsening water shortages, but has stopped short of declaring a drought.
![Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to a 19-month low with 53,100 full-time jobs created in August. [ABC] (ABC)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200904/r356971_1643164.jpg "Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to a 19-month low with 53,100 full-time jobs created in August. [ABC] (ABC)")
Australian unemployment rate beats expectations
Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to a 19-month low, beating expectations.
![East Timor's deputy PM Mario Carrascalao has resigned. [AFP] (AFP)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201007/r607558_3993355.jpg "East Timor's deputy PM Mario Carrascalao has resigned. [AFP] (AFP)")
![Japan's Coast Guard has seized a Chinese fishing boat near a disputed island on September 7. [AFP] (ABC)](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201009/r636126_4372155.jpg "Japan's Coast Guard has seized a Chinese fishing boat near a disputed island on September 7. [AFP] (ABC)")
Maritime incident inflames tensions between China and Japan
China has demanded that Tokyo immediately release the captain of a Chinese trawler who was arrested after his boat allegedly rammed two Japanese coast guard vessels.
