Asia-Pacific Daily News Summary - 04 March 2009
HAWAII
US Voices Confidence It Can Down North Korean Missile
Judge Denies Accused Maui Spy's Motions To Suppress Evidence
ASIA
AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU)
Denpasar Reduces Status Of Bird Flu And Rabies
UN Warns Vietnam To Be 'Vigilant' On Bird Flu
SIX PARTY TALKS
Differences On Verification Hold Back Six-Party Talks
IAEA Urges Progress On N.Korea Nuclear Talks
NORTHEAST ASIA
CHINA
Mainland
World Media Keeps Close Watch On ‘Two Sessions’
Chinese Leaders Call For Crisis Fight In Political Advisory Discussions
Congress 'Must' Pass Stimulus Package
Bank Of China To Lend $44B In Sichuan For Rebuilding
China To Stimulate Growth In Bank Loans
New Twist To Looted-Treasures Story
Spokesman: China's Political Reform Fits Nation's Conditions
Advisory Body Session Focuses On Economic Growth
Sanyuan Buys Scandal-Hit Sanlu Dairy Company At Auction
Hong Kong
Iran Eases Pyongyang's Launch [North Korea Aims High, Part 2]
Taiwan
Chen Launches Barrage In Court Over His Detention
Premier Denies ‘Political’ Bias In ECFA Plan
OCAC Wants To Keep Functions After Merger
Chen Questions Reliability Of Koo Testimony
Level Of Cross-Strait Tension At Record Low: President Ma
ECFA Would Be No Silver Bullet: Lee
Other
HK Concern Over Macau Entry Ban
China's Defense Budget To Rise 14.9% In 2009
US Envoy, Chinese Officials Discuss N.Korea
US, China May Be Divided Over Sanctions On N.Korea
Oasis: China Axed Shows Over Free Tibet Concert
Judge Denies Accused Maui Spy's Motions To Suppress Evidence
China Fuels Sri Lankan War
China Sought To Open Mission In Okinawa
Aso To Visit China In Late March
China's Parliament Session To Focus On Coping With Global Financial Crisis
Thousands Clash With Police Over China's Three Gorges Dam
Russian Military Officials Face Fraud Charges Over Arms Disposal
Sri Lanka Still Sourcing Arms From Pak, China
JAPAN
Japan May Consider Tougher Sanctions Against North
S. Korean Culture Minister To Visit Japan Over Tourist Exchange
Aegis Ships May Target Missile From North
DPJ Leader Ozawa Says He Will Not Step Down
Prosecutors Raid Japan Opposition Leader's Office Over Donation Scandal
Aso To Visit China In Late March
2 MSDF Destroyers To Leave For Antipiracy Mission March 14
Japan Prepares For First Use Of 'Son Of Star Wars' Missile Defense
Japan To Deploy 2 Destroyers, 400 Personnel For Anti-Piracy Mission Off Somalia
Okinawa Assembly Passes Ordinance To Help Dud Shell Accident Victims
China Sought To Open Mission In Okinawa
Marines’ Plans Could Go Before Guam Voters
ROK/DPRK
US Voices Confidence It Can Down North Korean Missile
N. Korea Vows To Retaliate If S. Korea, U.S. Intrude 'Even 0.001 Mm' Into Its Land
N. Korean Missile Launch Not Imminent: Unification Minister
South Korean Minister Says North Korea Missile Launch Not Imminent
N. Korea Must Drop Smear Campaign: Hyun
N. Korea, U.S.-led U.N. Command To Hold Additional Talks Before Weekend: Officials
Japan May Consider Tougher Sanctions Against North
Aegis Ships May Target Missile From North
N. Korea Calls U.S. 'Champion Of Human Rights Violations'
NK Fires Back Over Seoul’s Human Rights Remarks
U.N. Command Attends Talks With North Korea
S. Korean Culture Minister To Visit Japan Over Tourist Exchange
Succession Takes Time
Waiting Tactics Effective for South Korea
New Envoy To U.S. Says More Time, Effort Needed For FTA
Lee Wishes N. Korean Leader "Well," Says He Is Needed For Peace
Unification Minister Renews Call for Inter-Korean Talks
N.Korea Informs Firms in Gaeseong of Labor Rules
S.Korean Abductee Seeking New Probe
S. Korean President Eyes FTA, Green Technology On Australia Visit
Lee Launches Green Diplomacy In Australia
In Australia, Lee Calls For Joint Efforts
President Says It’s Best If Kim Jong-Il Retains Rule
S. Korea, U.S. Agree On Annual Anti-Terror Exercise
Japan Prepares For First Use Of 'Son Of Star Wars' Missile Defense
US Envoy, Chinese Officials Discuss N.Korea
US, China May Be Divided Over Sanctions On N.Korea
Air Force To Get South Korean Planes
South Korea Approves U.S. Use Of Money For Relocation
RUSSIA
Medvedev Rejects Obama Missile Defense Deal
The Obama-Medvedev Turbo Shuffle
Obama Enlists Russia Cooperation
Kremlin Says No U.S. Quid Pro Quo
Russia-NATO Council 'Could Restart This Month'
Russia's Pacific Fleet To Cut 5,000 Personnel In Next 3-4 Years
Medvedev Urges For More Women In Government
Russian Military Officials Face Fraud Charges Over Arms Disposal
OCEANIA, SOUTH ASIA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
Half EU Aid For ASEAN To Benefit Cambodia
AUSTRALIA
East Timor Leader Welcomes 'Assassination' Arrest
Australian PM Defends Stimulus Package As Economists Warn Of Recession
Worst Of Australian Bushfire Season 'Over'
S. Korean President Eyes FTA, Green Technology On Australia Visit
Lee Launches Green Diplomacy In Australia
In Australia, Lee Calls For Joint Efforts
President Says It’s Best If Kim Jong-Il Retains Rule
Australian Govt Still Deems RI Unsafe
Auditors Called In To Check Army Chiefs Are Not Docking Pay
No Surprise If US Requests More Australian Troops For Afghanistan
Australia Reiterates Commitment To Bougainville
Australia To Help Ethnic Rohingya Refugees
Pakistan Needs 'International Help' With Security: Australia
BANGLADESH
Plans To Bring Power From Nepal, Bhutan: PM
Major Shuffle In Admn
US Official Says FBI Will Assist
Australia To Help Ethnic Rohingya Refugees
Bangladesh PM Fears More Attacks After Mutiny
BHUTAN
Plans To Bring Power From Nepal, Bhutan: PM
World Bank Warns Bhutan Of Vulnerability
BRUNEI
Two US Jets In Emergency Landing In Sultanate
BURMA
Two Blasts Hit Main Burmese City
Australia To Help Ethnic Rohingya Refugees
USDA Going to Press?
Burma Must Treat Rohingyas Better: Malaysia FM
Burmese Junta Tentatively Schedules Elections For March 2010
Pressure Mounts On KNU To Move Out Of Thailand: Sources
CAMBODIA
Ex-chief of Cambodian Military Forces To Become Deputy PM
U.S. Provided $5.6 Mln Of Aid To Cambodia In 2008
Cambodian Genocide Court Accused Of Lack Of Transparency
Half EU Aid For ASEAN To Benefit Cambodia
COMOROS
Militias Being Set Up Ahead of Comoros Vote
EAST TIMOR
East Timor Leader Welcomes 'Assassination' Arrest
East Timor Says Optimistic On Site Of LNG Plant
FIJI
Commonwealth Ministers To Meet On Fiji
Lawyers Claim Undue Influence By Fiji's Military
GUAM
Marines’ Plans Could Go Before Guam Voters
INDIA
India Prime Minister Back At Work
DRDO Says Brahmos Test A Success, Army Sceptical
Postpone IPL, Security Agencies Tell Government
Identity Of Two More Mumbai Attackers Traced To Pakistan
India Plan Massive Security For 2010 Games
Kashmiri Leaders Condemn Lahore Attack
Indian Hand Can't Be Ruled Out
India, Pakistan Will Survive Or Sink Together
Chidambaram Rubbishes Indian Link To Lahore Attack
INDONESIA
Australian Govt Still Deems RI Unsafe
E. Java Police Appeals To Female Officers To Wear Headscarf
Aceh Party Angered by Army Interference in Elections
Navy Eastern Fleet Command Conducts Fire Fighting Training
Army Chief of Staff: TNI Personnel Must Remain Neutral
Air Forces Special Forces Commander Inspects Special Forces 2nd Wing Readiness
Indonesia – UK Conduct International Border Security Seminar
MALAYSIA
Malaysia On Brink Of Recession: Think Tank
Malaysia Capable Of Facing Global Economic Crisis
Burma Must Treat Rohingyas Better: Malaysia FM
NEPAL
Plans To Bring Power From Nepal, Bhutan: PM
PLA Recruitment Not A Good Sign For Peace Process: UML Chairman
Nepal Maoists 'Recruit Thousands'
Rival Armies Put Nepal Peace Process In Trouble
Koirala's Astonished As PM 'Does About Face On PLA Recruitment Issue So Soon'
Rival Armies Put Nepal Peace Process In Trouble
NEW ZEALAND
Tonga Names First High Commissioner To NZ
PAKISTAN
Pakistani Lawyers, Opposition, Gear Up For Protest
Investment In Pakistan -- Not Worth Dying For
Pakistan Was Safer Under Musharraf: Former CIA Official
Nawaz Warns Zardari Of Indefinite Agitation
Pakistan Needs 'International Help' With Security: Australia
FBI Director Arrives In Pakistan
Lack of Security Left Us "Sitting Ducks", Says Broad
Pakistan Shares Leads Of Lahore Terrorist Attacks With Sri Lanka
Pakistan President In Gunmen Vow
Pakistan Detains Around Two Dozen People Over Cricket Attack
Lahore Attack Grips Pakistan, Police Hunt Gunmen
Pakistan Following "Important Leads" In Lahore Probe
Terror's Guns Don't Discriminate
Pakistan's Militants Ready For More
Zardari Apologises For Terror Attack On Lankan Players
PM: Pakistan-Sri Lanka Ties Not Affected By Terror Attack
Sri Lanka Government Explains Their Decision Of Sending National Cricket Team To Pakistan
US Calls It Attack On Sri Lanka, Pakistan Relations
US, UN Concerned Over Lahore Attack
Warning Of Attacks On Sri Lanka Cricket Team Was Ignored
Pakistan Declines FBI Offer
Pakistan Police Fled During The Attack: Match Referee
Pakistan Press Blames Al-Qaeda For Cricket Attack
Sri Lanka Still Sourcing Arms From Pak, China
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
At Least 7 Killed In Papua New Guinea Landslide
Recovery Effort Underway After Deadly PNG Landslide
Australia Reiterates Commitment To Bougainville
PHILIPPINES
Air Force To Get South Korean Planes
Bomb Blasts Injure Six In Southern Philippines
4 Hurt In Cotabato City Blast; MILF Blamed
Security Forces Battled Kidnappers In Zamboanga City
Sub-Leader Of Kidnap Group Falls In Zamboanga City
Rebels Admit Difficulty In Abduction Case
RP Claims Significant Progress In Fight Vs Piracy
Culling of 'Ebola Pigs' Over Tomorrow
Philippines Soldiers Convicted of Aquino Assassination Freed
Singapore, South Sulawesi Discuss Ways To Boost Trade, Cultural Ties
SAMOA
Samoan Minister Says Key Trade Post Must Be Filled
SINGAPORE
No Purpose In Having Early Elections, Says MM Lee
Singapore, South Sulawesi Discuss Ways To Boost Trade, Cultural Ties
SRI LANKA
Emergency Passed In Sri Lanka Parliament
Sri Lankan Troops Advance To East After Capturing Puthukkudyiruppu
Sri Lanka Troops Say Close To Finishing Off Tigers
Sri Lankan PM Rules Out Ceasefire With Rebels
Sri Lanka Faces War 'Catastrophe'
Conflicts Among LTTE Leaders
Sri Lanka Seeks $1.9 Billion From IMF
Rebels Admit Difficulty In Abduction Case
China Fuels Sri Lankan War
Lack of Security Left Us "Sitting Ducks", Says Broad
Pakistan Shares Leads Of Lahore Terrorist Attacks With Sri Lanka
Pakistan President In Gunmen Vow
Pakistan Detains Around Two Dozen People Over Cricket Attack
Lahore Attack Grips Pakistan, Police Hunt Gunmen
Pakistan Following "Important Leads" In Lahore Probe
Terror's Guns Don't Discriminate
Pakistan's Militants Ready For More
Zardari Apologises For Terror Attack On Lankan Players
PM: Pakistan-Sri Lanka Ties Not Affected By Terror Attack
Sri Lanka Government Explains Their Decision Of Sending National Cricket Team To Pakistan
US Calls It Attack On Sri Lanka, Pakistan Relations
US, UN Concerned Over Lahore Attack
Warning Of Attacks On Sri Lanka Cricket Team Was Ignored
Pakistan Declines FBI Offer
Pakistan Police Fled During The Attack: Match Referee
Pakistan Press Blames Al-Qaeda For Cricket Attack
Sri Lanka Still Sourcing Arms From Pak, China
Postpone IPL, Security Agencies Tell Government
Identity Of Two More Mumbai Attackers Traced To Pakistan
India Plan Massive Security For 2010 Games
Kashmiri Leaders Condemn Lahore Attack
Indian Hand Can't Be Ruled Out
India, Pakistan Will Survive Or Sink Together
Chidambaram Rubbishes Indian Link To Lahore Attack
THAILAND
Army Chief Denies Existence Of Secret US Jail In Thailand
Democrat: Police Must Hold 4MPs Accountable For Aiding Fugitive Thaksin
Pressure Mounts On KNU To Move Out Of Thailand: Sources
TONGA
Tonga Names First High Commissioner To NZ