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Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says three suspected assassins who killed a Hamas leader abused Australian passports.

Australia-Indonesia people-smuggling framework to remain secret

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:17:00 +1100

Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, says the new Australia-Indonesia framework on people smuggling is not an instant solution to the problem.

Activists have used the visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyano to Australia to raise the issue of Papua. [ABC]

Canberra backs Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:52:00 +1100

Activists have used the visit of the Indonesia's president to Australia this week to call on Canberra to raise alleged human rights abuses in the region.

Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Michael Somare will welcome the Indonesia president. [AFP]

Indonesia president heads to Papua New Guinea

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:33:00 +1100

Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, arrives in Port Moresby this afternoon for a two-day state visit.

Thailand has witnessed a series of violent protests. [AFP]

Thailand gets new security laws

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:45:00 +1100

Tough new security provisions akin to martial law have come into effect in Thailand today, ahead of a major protest.

The immigration department is starting to transfer people away from Christmas Island. [ABC]

Australian navy rescues asylum seekers off northern coast

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:57:00 +1100

Australia's immigration department says the navy has rescued a boat off the Northern Territory coast with 24 asylum seekers on board.

Pitcairn Island has got a new constitution. [ABC TV]

Pitcairn's governor says new constitution will protect human rights

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:44:00 +1100

The British Pacific territory of Pitcairn Island has a new constitution.

Taronga Park Zoo's baby Asian elephant takes a well-deserved break while his mother Porntip plays with sawdust. [ABC]

Australia's new baby elephant 'progressing well'

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:31:00 +1100

Staff at Taronga Zoo in the eastern Australian city of Sydney say a baby Asian elephant is progressing well after its dramatic birth yesterday morning.

A policeman inspects the destroyed offices of aid group World Vision. [Reuters]

Australia condemns of attack on World Vision staff

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:03:00 +1100

The Australian government has condemned a deadly attack on a World Vision office in Pakistan.

Chinese officials say the world has no choice but to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. [Reuters]

China says Climate change is a fact

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:39:00 +1100

A deputy director of China's most powerful economic ministry has come out swinging against climate change denial.

Eight men were found guilty of planning to kill Commodore Frank Bainimarama. [AFP]

Fiji authorities to investigate alleged assassination mastermind

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:45:00 +1100

Fiji interim Prime Minister has declined to comment on allegations made in court last week that the mastermind of an assassination plot against him, has escaped punishment.

Pacific warned of slowing in tourism growth

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:58:00 +1100

The Asian Development Bank has warned the Pacific will see a new slowing of tourism growth in this year.

Australia to help protect New Caledonian reef

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:08:00 +1100

Australia has agreed to help New Caledonia protect its massive coral reef, the world's second largest after Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.

Tropical depression spotted northeast of Wallis

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:16:00 +1100

A tropical cyclone alert has been issued for Wallis and Futuna.

US troops are not due to start withdrawing until the middle of next year. [AFP]

US indicates earlier Afghan withdrawal

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:33:00 +1100

United States defence secretary Robert Gates has raised the prospect of some American troops withdrawing from Afghanistan earlier than expected.

Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has hailed reports that Dulmatin is dead. [Reuters]

Indonesian PM welcomes Bali bomber's death

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:02:00 +1100

Indonesian counter-terrorism forces say they have killed a man believed to have been one of the masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings.

The money is to be transferred directly to the Catholic church in Concepcion, the worst affected area. [Reuters]

Australia's Chilean community sends aid to quake victims

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:04:00 +1100

The first donation from Sydney's Chilean community to help the victims of the Chilean earthquake will be handed over on Thursday.

Joe Biden has criticised Israel's plan to build more houses in Jerusalem. [Reuters]

Israeli minister apologises for settlement announcement

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:59:00 +1100

An Israeli government minister has apologized to the US Vice President Joe Biden, for embarrassing him, by announcing plans for new Jewish settler housing during his visit to the region.

Conservationists are urging the government to impose a nationwide ban on the consumption and commercial sale of turtle eggs. [AFP]

Malaysian sea turtles facing extinction

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:51:00 +1100

Conservationists are warning Malaysians are eating local sea turtles to extinction because of their voracious appetite for turtle eggs.

The research mission has involved tagging, collecting biopsies and taking photos of various whale species. [iStockphoto]

Antarctic whale expedition returning home

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:58:00 +1100

An Australian-led Antarctic whale expedition is on its way home after six weeks in the Southern Ocean.

Pakistan's captain Mohammad Yousuf is among the player banned for the team's poor performance in Australia. [AAP]

Pakistan players suspended over poor cricket performance

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:15:00 +1100

Several senior Pakistani cricketers have been banned from the national team over their poor performance in Australia this summer.

Stephanie Gilmore shows off her award among the world's most elite sports stars. [Getty Images]

Australian surfer wins top sporting award

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:42:00 +1100

Australian surf queen Stephanie Gilmore has become the first Australian to win a Laureus Award since 2004.

NZ interest rate remains on hold

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:41:00 +1100

The Reserve Bank in New Zealand has left interest rates on hold but has indicated that rates will start rising around the middle of the year.

Thai airport prepares protest contingency plan

Last Updated: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:21:00 +1100

Thailand's main international airport, which was besieged by protesters in 2008, says it has contingency plans for anti-government rallies expected in Bangkok this weekend.

Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hugs Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on his arrival at Parliament House in Canberra. [AAP]

Indonesia's president 'humbled' as he addresses Australian Parliament

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:04:00 +1100

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has delivered an historic address to Australia's Parliament.

Under the new rules Aung San Suu Kyi will have to be expelled from her party. [Reuters]

Human rights groups denounce new Burmese electoral laws

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +1100

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will have to be expelled from her political party under electoral rules announced by the country's ruling military government.

There are 230 people still onboard the boat. [ABC]

Fears Australia has forgotten boatful of Tamils

Last Updated: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:53:00 +1100

Refugee advocates have staged a rally in the eastern Australian city of Sydney to mark 150 days since a boat load of asylum seekers moored in Indonesia.