Taiwan to elect new president

More than seventeen-million people in Taiwan are voting to elect a successor to their pro-independence president, Chen Shui-bian. Over the past eight years, Mr Chen has frequently angered Beijing, which has always regarded Taiwan as part of China.

There are two candidates hoping to succeed him -- Frank Hsieh, of Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the frontrunner, Ma Ying-jeou, who represents the opposition Kuomintang (KMT).

Correspondents say both men are pragmatists who favour better economic ties with China.

Saturday, 22.March.2008

Chinese police hunt down Tibetan protesters

A Tibetan monk in Hezuo in China's Gansu province has told the BBC that the military have taken over the town, and police are searching for Tibetans who took part in recent unrest. According to the monk, the demonstrations were started by school students who heard about the protests in Tibet against Chinese rule there.

They smashed cars and shops. Meanwhile, the authorities in Beijing say the death toll among ethnic Chinese in the Tibetan violence has risen from thirteen to eighteen.

Our reporter in Delhi reports on Tibet Youth Congress members protested and broke into Chinese Embassy.

Saturday, 22.March.2008

Breach of US candidates' files probed

The United States government has announced an internal inquiry into how the personal files of the three main presidential hopefuls came to be breached.

A State Department spokesman said the files which contained information including biographical details and passport applications were accessed by employees working for independent contractors.

The Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, telephoned the candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, to apologise to them in person.

A BBC correspondent in Washington says it's still not clear exactly what information the contractors were able to see and what they did with it.

Saturday, 22.March.2008

PALAUNG MUSIC/ I DAN WIN

Palaung Musics

Mr, Bin - Durmmer

Corrupt regime authorities aiding the spread of opium production in Shan State

The number of private producers of opium poppies has increased in Man Tong Township, Northern Shan State, Palaung area, according to a local source. The report is confirmed by The Palaung Women's Organization, based on Thai-Burma border in Mae Sot, which recently reported that opium production has become widespread since the Palaung Liberation Army gave up arms to the Burmese Army in 2005.

Many wealthy businessmen in Palaung Area, Man Tong Township, Shan State, are investing their money in the poppies, used to make lucrative drugs like opium and heroin. Most opium crops are grown in the hills, where they are not likely to be seen by local people, said the source, who recently left Palaung area to the Thai-Burma border area.
According to the US State Department, Burma is the second largest producer of opium poppies, second only to Afghanistan. While a United Nations Development Project subsidizes other crops in an attempt to limit opium production the program extends only into regions controlled by the Burmese Army. As the area is not suited to rice farming, the main agricultural product in the area is tea, or would be were opium farming not more lucrative.

Thursday, 6.March.2008

Bloodiest day in Gaza

More than fifty Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the bloodiest single day of fighting with Israeli forces for many months.

At least two Israeli soldiers were also killed. Reports say many of the Palestinians who died were militants, but civilians, including children, were also killed.

Israel says it is retaliating for persistent rocket attacks on its territory from Hamas-controlled Gaza. The Palestinians have called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

The clashes are overshadowing a forthcoming visit to the region by the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

Sunday, 2.March.2008

Many killed in latest Gaza attacks

Palestinian medical officials say more than thirty people have been killed in further Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip -- one of the bloodiest days for months.

The latest deaths bring to more than sixty the number of people killed in Israeli operations since Wednesday -- many of them were militants, but civilians, including children, have also died.

The Israelis say their troops, tanks and aircraft have been attacking Gaza because of persistent Palestinian rocket fire into Israeli territory.

The Islamist group, Hamas -- which controls Gaza -- said it would respond with every available means, while the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the killing of civilians.

Suday, 2.March.2007

Death of Karen leader blow to Myanmar Group-15.Feb.08