Asia
Civil war spreads across north west Pakistan
By James Cogan, November 23, 2009
Islamists and tribal militants now consider themselves in a fight to the death with the pro-US government of President Zardari.
Chinese mine explosion kills more than 100
By John Chan, November 23, 2009
China’s state-owned coal mining industry recorded another bloody day last Saturday, when at least 104 miners died in a massive gas explosion.
Sri Lanka: SEP/Balmoral Action Committee hold plantation workers meeting
By our correspondents, November 23, 2009
The meeting in Sri Lanka’s central plantation district took place despite attempts by the Balmoral Estate management, unions and police to intimidate Action Committee members and bully workers into ...
Obama leaves Asia empty-handed
By John Chan, November 21, 2009
South Korea, the final leg of Obama’s Asian trip, was no more successful that his other stops. Obama failed to make any advance toward a free-trade agreement between the two countries.
Obama’s China trip
By Barry Grey, November 20, 2009
At the beginning of his eight-day tour of Asia, President Obama declared himself the “first Pacific president” and announced that his trip would reassert American leadership in the region.
US prepares contingency plans to seize Pakistani nuclear triggers
By James Cogan, November 20, 2009
According to veteran journalist Seymour Hersh, US officials have pushed for an “understanding” that American forces can enter Pakistan to secure its nuclear arsenal in the event of a direct threat...
Obama warns of new sanctions against Iran
By Peter Symonds, November 20, 2009
The Obama administration is preparing for new sanctions against Iran after Tehran called for modifications to an agreement reached last month over its stockpile of low-enriched uranium.
Karzai inaugurated amid state of siege in Kabul
By Bill Van Auken, November 20, 2009
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated Thursday amid a state of siege in Kabul. Western officials who were present issued hypocritical demands that Karzai fight corruption.
Rising Indian influence in Afghanistan worries US and Pakistan
By Ajay Prakash, November 19, 2009
In a sign of the escalating conflicts across the region, the top US military commander in Afghanistan has warned that India’s growing influence in Afghanistan could “exacerbate regional tensions...
Huge contradictions behind China’s stimulus-driven recovery
By John Chan, November 19, 2009
US President Obama’s visit to China focussed attention on the country’s rising economic power, high growth and large currency reserves. A closer examination, however, reveals that China’s hothou...
Top Sri Lankan general touted as presidential candidate
By K. Ratnayake, November 19, 2009
The emergence of Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s former Chief of Defence Staff, as a likely presidential candidate has highlighted the intense political crisis in Colombo following the end of the countr...
Indonesian police shoot two refugees trying to reach Australia
By Mike Head, November 18, 2009
The real face of the Rudd government’s hoped-for “Indonesian solution” for asylum seekers began to emerge last week. Indonesian police shot and seriously wounded two men trying to reach Australi...
