China
The European Union has expressed its support for China's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), describing it as an important move for both China and the EU. The EU's Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, made the comment during a visit to Indonesia, where he
China
The badminton doubles tournament at the recent sporting event saw China emerging as a dominant force, with multiple Chinese pairs advancing to the later rounds. In the boys' doubles competition, China's Sang Yang/Zheng Bo triumphed over South Korea's Chung Jin-Chul/Kim Sang-Soo, while in
Timor-Leste
The Australian troops' involvement in East Timor has sparked a mix of emotions, ranging from widespread support to growing criticism of the escalating costs and harm to Australian soldiers. The commitment to maintain the peacekeeping force in East Timor is long-term, and the support must be sustained despite the
Timor-Leste
As the second day of Operation Stabilize begins, the United Nations peacekeeping mission to restore order in battered East Timor, hundreds of men and women cheered as Australian soldiers, their rifles hoisted on broad shoulders, came ashore from their troop ships and began taking up defensive positions around the airport
Indonesia
Diplomatic tensions have deepened between Australia and Indonesia over the planned deployment of an international security force to East Timor. Indonesia's political affairs minister, Feisal Tanjung, accused Australia of interfering in Indonesia's internal affairs, citing its "attitude and actions" over East Timor. The move
Indonesia
Indonesia's military and parliament have rejected Australia as a member of a future peacekeeping force in East Timor, sparking a new confrontation with the United Nations and international donors. The rejection, which also includes troops from the US, New Zealand, and Portugal, has raised concerns about the integrity
Indonesia
Indonesian Economic Minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita has strongly rejected pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to intervene in East Timor, where violence has been escalating. Ginandjar, in Auckland for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, claimed that the IMF and World Bank had "no business&
Indonesia
The escalating violence in East Timor has sparked fears that the Indonesian crisis will trigger a fresh financial meltdown, causing stock and currency markets to plummet across Asia. The Indonesian rupiah has fallen to its lowest level in five months, plummeting 4 per cent against the US dollar to 8,
United Nations
Tens of thousands of people gathered in East Timor to await the results of a historic referendum on the territory's future, but violence erupted outside U.N. headquarters in Dili on Wednesday, leaving one teenager dead and several others injured. The clashes between pro-Indonesia militiamen and rock-throwing independence
United Nations
The Indonesian government, led by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, has expressed satisfaction with the fairness and honesty of the August 30 UN-administered ballot in East Timor, but will investigate reports of wrongdoing by UN Mission In East Timor (Unamet) staff. The government will wait for the results of the investigation
Timor-Leste
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported that over 90 percent of registered voters cast ballots in a referendum on self-determination for East Timor, a former Portuguese colony annexed by Indonesia in 1976. The voting process was remarkably free of violence, with only seven out of hundreds of polling stations being
Timor-Leste
Dozens of people were killed and over 60,000 fled their homes in the months leading up to the historic vote, which offered the predominantly Roman Catholic area of East Timor a choice between seceding from Indonesia or becoming an autonomous region within the country. Long lines of people defied
