Merry Christmas

We'll be taking things a bit easier over the Christmas period.  Asia Pacific Brief's daily coverage of news and current affairs will resume in the new year.  We will, however, continue to bring you the latest news from the Bangladesh elections.

Until then we wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009.

Bangladesh Votes - 23 December 2008

The latest from the campaign trail in Bangladesh

• Khaleda has no illegal wealth
  
• Pabna DC changed
  
• BNP lambasts ACC
  
• Foreigner spilled the beans
  
• Vote for BNP to save Islam
  
• SC directive ignored
  
• It’s legally verified
  
• BNP lambasts ACC
  
• Rebel, rookie, veteran face woman factor
  
• Rebel relief in BNP    
  
• Polls fever too intense
  
• EC to blacklist observers if found biased
  
• No waving at crowds
  
• Media can use info from result sheets hung at polling centres
  
• Fuel made a little cheaper
  
• Know who you vote for
  
• Child, 2 others bullet-hit in shooting at election camp
  
• Hatirjheel gets Tk 420cr more
  
• Pintu gets bail in last case
  
• Falu freed on bail
  
• Vow to vote down war criminals

Daily Round Up - 23 December 2008

Afghanistan

• Suicide Blast in Afghanistan 3 killed, 5 injured
  

Australia

• Terror laws face revamp
  
• PM confused on spending: Bishop
  
• Haneef verdict: charges unfair but minister clear
  
• Indian doctor hopes Australian terror probe will vindicate him
  
• Number of homeless 'may increase'
  
• Internet censor scheme 'flawed'
  
• Web filter plan extends further
  
• Australia to Support Bangladeshs Election
  
• Canberra sends Holden a lifeline as sales stall
  
• Holden to build all-new small car in Australia
  
• PM backs green machine
  
• Holden small car to create 1200 jobs
  
• Rudd praises Holden small-car plan
  
• Rudd urged to toughen Zimbabwe stance
  
• Australia hints retaliation towards Fiji
  
• Whaling boats chased through blizzards
  
• MPs' new perks in tough times
  
• Online grocery price watch rebooted
  
• Well groomed: Taxpayers foot GG's wardrobe revamp
  
• Online grocery price watch rebooted
  
• Wage hike in IR reform hard to swallow
  
• Watchdog savaged over petrol prices
  
• Air travel bookings in nosedive
  
• One in three indigenous kids fail test
  
• ATO gives Wickenby target $1m
  
• Workers scared to top up as funds fall
  

China

• China cuts interest rates to protect jobs
  
• Sentiments in Chinese stock markets to remain weak in 2009
  
• China Industry Report: Dec. 22
  
• China gives urgency to fight against organised crime
  
• China plans crackdown as economic crisis spurs gang-related crimes
  
• China plans new anti-gang effort
  
• China's forex reserves fall for first time in five years
  
• China says firms can reduce social security payments
  
• Facing complaint, China says it opposes protectionism
  
• Hong Kong's inflation rises on end of housing subsidy
  
• Asian markets lower amid bleak global economic outlook
  
• China Offers US$19 Billion Aid to Taiwanese Firms
  
• China says it will chase foreign investors who flee debt
  
• India, China can't compensate for lost US spending (AP via Yahoo! News)
  
• Can China’s Mattress Banks Beat the Recession?
  
• China to include mental distress in civil rights law (China Daily)
  
• Heavy security for pandas' departure from China
  
• Two Chinese giant pandas head for Taiwan
  
• Taiwan-bound panda pair to bid farewell to China
  

Fiji

• Expulsion threat against NZ High Commissioner dropped
  
• New team to work with NZ
  
• $220m scrutiny
  
• Coup villagers seek pardon
  
• Fiji hits out at New Zealand's 'bullying' tactics
  
• IFJ concerned about journalist rights
  
• HFC reviews loan product policy
  
• Australia hints retaliation towards Fiji
  
• High office under cloud
  
• Unions for election
  
• Diplomatic post 'live option' for Clark - Key
  
• Editorial: Government must tread warily on deficits
  

India

• Mumbai martyrs set to get Ashoka Chakra
  
• Judge finds Haneef was charged without evidence
  
• India will have to deal with Pak problem on its own: Pranab
  
• India hands Kasab's letter to Pak mission
  
• Marriott blast by 'Lashkar-e-Jhangvi'
  
• Rupee ends at 48.01/48.03 per dollar
  
• Delhi blast accused in police remand
  
• Bihar power station official shot dead
  
• Indian envoy 'upsets' Nepal ministers
  
• India wants more pressure on Pakistan, gives gunman's letter
  
• Indian Envoys Meet in New Delhi
  
• India Keeps Open Option of Military Strike on Pakistan
  
• India builts diplomatic pressure on Pak
  
• India steps up vigil along Rajasthan border
  
• Mumbai: Almost all of Taj's art safe
  
• Bangalore panics over polio vaccine scare
  
• Parliament erupts over Antulay, Oppn demands sacking
  
• India, China can't compensate for lost US spending (AP via Yahoo! News)
  
• Too many Indian parties 'unwise'
  
• Rupee falls 14 paise against dollar
  
• A smugglers' tunnel under the border
  
• Four HC judges transferred over role in PF scam
  
• India Started Deploying Troops Along Rajasthan Border
  
• Sonia Gandhi, India Can give befitting reply to terror elements in Pakistan
  
• Parliament passes bill for mobile village courts
  
• Uproar in Parliament over Antulay, Oppn wants sacking
  
• 'More cuts' in fuel prices before Lok Sabha polls
  
• Eleven Chhattisgarh ministers sworn in
  
• Avoid Escalating Tension India Urged
  
• Bill proposes lower capital for health insurers
  
• Govt may cut subsidy burden on explorers
  
• Cairn India finds more reserves in Rajasthan
  
• Gap between co, govt bond yields widens
  
• Economy to recover in Q4 with real GDP growth of 7.7%: CMIE
  

Indonesia

• Indonesia, China sign US$4b in energy and trade deals
  
• Sukarno asked Japan to monitor '64 ceasefire
  

Japan

• Phased sales tax hike eyed
  
• What did the ASDF do there?
  
• Followup meet to TICAD set for late March
  
• Last cargo planes back from Kuwait
  
• Areva, Mitsubishi announce nuclear fuel tie-up
  
• Bridgestone cuts forecast by more than three-quarters
  
• Japan's global invisibility
  
• Japan refused to promise NPT passage in '73 statement with U.S.
  
• No-nuke policy ruled out years before declaration
  
• Sukarno asked Japan to monitor '64 ceasefire
  
• Deal with the reparations
  
• Toyota projects operating loss for year
  
• Japan's emperor turns 75 with worries over royal future
  
• Toyota braced for historic loss
  
• Whaling boats chased through blizzards
  
• Japan ready to bid for both World Cup, Olympics
  
• Foreigners march for job security
  
• BOJ matches U.S. rate cut
  
• Nation's drive toward export-driven economy documented
  
• Japan exports plunge record amount on weak demand
  
• Japanese economy likely to be mired in recession for next 6 months
  
• Recession bites
  

Korea

• US, South Korean intelligence spot movement of Kim's train
  
• South Korea 'believes' Kim well
  
• SKorean automaker delays payroll as sales slump
  
• S.Korea denies seeking secret contact with N.Korea
  

Malaysia

• Non-Muslim groups say screening not foolproof
  
• AirAsia, Sime Darby to build new Malaysian budget airport
  
• EDITORIAL:Breeding prejudice
  
• Nizar: Screen non-Muslims, too
  
• State to open 24-hour shops
  
• Simply having HIV does not a leper make
  
• Party suspends 2, warns 3, clears 5
  
• Nizar slammed over HIV quarantine proposal
  

New Zealand

• Balance of payments worsens
  
• New Zealand current account deficit widens
  

Pakistan

• Suspected U.S. missile strikes kill 8 in Pakistan
  
• Terror will consume Pak if it fails to act: Rice
  
• Missile Attack Reported In South Waziristan
  
• No Use of Nukes in Case of War: Mukhtar Ahmed
  
• Deadly missile strike in Pakistan
  
• If War Thrust on US Pak Have Full Rights to Defend It: Qureshi
  
• ‘Obama admt will put pressure on Pak’
  
• Declare Pak terrorist state: Indians in US
  
• US drones kill seven in Pakistan
  
• Pakistan terror infrastructure threat to world: Pranab
  
• How BN became change agent
  
• Pakistan probes Red Mosque weapons theft
  
• Pak Taliban Imposes Sharia in Upper Orakzai
  
• PAF jet Fighters Fly over Lahore and Pindi
  
• Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s Daughter Given Diplomatic Post
  
• War wont serve any country: Foreign Minister Qureshi
  

Philippines

• Legarda: No Erap team-up
  
• CARP advocates pin hopes on SC
  
• Kaya Natin! leaders back CARP extension
  
• Landlords’ revenge in joint resolution
  

Singapore

• Singapore Airlines Cargo accused by Australian watchdog of price fixing
  
• Singapore shares close 2.78% lower
  
• CPF cut not justified at this point in time, says Lim Boon Heng
  
• Moody's reaffirms Temasek Holdings' Aaa issuer rating
  
• DBS to raise capital through S$4b rights issue
  
• Singapore's manufacturing sector expected to rebound in H2 2009
  
• Builders must be licensed to carry out building works by June 2009
  

Sri Lanka

• Tamil Tigers ‘kill 60 Sri Lankan soldiers’
  

Thailand

• New Thai cabinet sworn in
  
• Thai king swears in new cabinet
  
• Alleged Russian arms dealer tells Thai court he was framed
  
• Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo congratulates new Thai counterpart
  

Viet Nam

• Vietnam customs seize five tons of frozen pangolin meat