Full Coverage: Asia and the Pacific

30.10.2004 The 9/11 Commission Report suggests that the anti-terrorism war should be viewed more as a war against religious extremism and that the origins of Pakistan give the country a central role in this war. Pakistan has the power both to ferment an Islamic revolution and to control it.

29.10.2004 Come January 1, 2005, registering .in domain name online will take only 24 hours in India, thanks to the upcoming new domain name registration policy. The policy, entrusting the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) as the new registration authority, will spur the growth of internet in India.

29.10.2004 Indian ministers, including those from parties outside the ruling party, commit themselves to promote elementary education.

29.10.2004 Indian ministers, including those from parties outside the ruling party, commit themselves to promote elementary education.

29.10.2004 Though Pakistan has an extensive healthcare infrastructure system, it falls short on delivery. National Commission for Human Development is engaged in curing the ailing system.

29.10.2004 In its annual worldwide index of press freedom released this week Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) says media freedom is under serious threat in south Asia, with the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal rated as the worst in this regard.

29.10.2004 The practice of collective punishment set up by the British in the 19th century to control Pakistan's unruly Pashtunsin tribal belt comes under fire.

29.10.2004 Three internationals, including a Kosovar female, were abducted by armed persons in Kabul, Afghanistan, news agencies reported. It is believed that the abductees come from Kosovo, Ireland and Philippines.

29.10.2004 Pakistani parliament passes a proposal to introduce death penalty to deter people killing for `honour'.

29.10.2004 The business community has a pivotal role to play in ensuring private investment flows to rural areas of the country that have been left out of the development process so far, stated Mr. Prithvi Raj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in a CII -UNDP meeting in Indian Capital.

29.10.2004 BANGKOK, Oct 28 (IPS) - The Thai government's credibility among the country's Muslim minority has taken a nosedive thanks to the cavalier approach Bangkok has adopted in explaining the deaths of 78 men and boys while in military custody following a protest early this week in the southern province of Narathiwat.

29.10.2004

Armas en Irak © Radio Netherlands

New details emerging on missing weapons in Iraq reveal that coalition forces were made aware of unsecured weapons and explosives stockpiles after the fall of Baghdad but they did nothing about it. Researchers with the international group, Human Rights Watch, informed U.S. and British officers about stockpiles of munitions in Basra, Fallujah and along the Baquba-Baghdad road as early as May 2003 but they said they did not have enough troops to secure the sites.

28.10.2004 This analysis by the China Academy of Telecommunications Research shows the growth in the country’s fixed and mobile telephony and internet sectors.

28.10.2004 India’s communications and IT minister, Dayanidhi Maran, is soon announce a policy for .in domain registration in the country. The policy aims to promote websites with generic .in domain name as part of the website’s address. The National Internet Exchange of India is expected to be the administrative body for registration.

28.10.2004 The formal justice system in Pakistan is almost inaccessible to women and girls, who suffer many forms of gender violence both within the family and outside when they approach the police for help.

28.10.2004 The Indian government has decided to introduce a National HIV/AIDS Action Plan by the World AIDS Day, on December, 1 to disseminate knowledge and develop a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the endemic disease.

28.10.2004 A new limbless amphibian species has been recently discovered in India’s western hill range, which is a biodiversity hotspot.

28.10.2004 Relief workers from Peace Winds, global partner of U.S. aid agency Mercy Corps, are providing emergency shelter for people displaced by the earthquake in Japan. With the roads impassable and most houses still without power and running water, the Peace Winds’ shelters will be home to many of the victims for the next few weeks.

27.10.2004 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India invites all stakeholders to participate in the consultation to increase the reach of telecom services to rural India. Stakeholders are invited to send their comments latest by November 30, 2004.

27.10.2004 MDGs are not only for the government and the civil society, but also for the business community. This was highlighted recently in a roundtable organised by the CII and the UNDP in New Delhi.