Off the wire
• Sydney siege survivors speak on TV  • News Analysis: Arab world could become more involved in fight against IS  • 9 militants killed in Afghan raids within day: gov't  • 1st LD Writethru: Man dies in shark attack in Australia waters  • Commentary: EU should beware Washington's trap on Ukraine  • Vietnam plans to wipe out trade deficit by 2020: ministry  • 1st LD Writethru: Japan's current account surplus hits record low in 2014  • 1st LD: At least 10 killed in coach collision in central Vietnam  • 2nd LD Writethru: At least 10 killed in coach collision in central Vietnam  • More Chinese buying homes in quake-battered New Zealand region: real estate firm  
You are here: 　 Home

Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, Feb. 9

Xinhua, February 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has pleaded with his own party, and the Australian electorate, to support him after he survived a motion to spill the leadership of the Liberal Party on Monday morning.

In a statement to the media following the 61-39 vote, a chastened Abbott said the leadership debate was now settled and made an impassioned plea to the electorate, and those within the Liberal Party seeking to destabilize him, to support his leadership. (Australia-PM-Support)

----

CANBERRA -- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has offered sympathies to the families of the Sydney siege victims in a motion of condolence in parliament on Monday afternoon.

The motion was attended by the family members of deceased victims, Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson. (Australia-PM-Sydney Siege)

----

TOKYO -- Japan's current account surplus fell 18.8 percent from a year earlier to 2.63 trillion yen (22.10 billion U.S. dollars) in 2014, the smallest level since comparable data became available in 1985, government data showed on Monday.

The current account surplus, one of the widest gauges of international trade, has shrunk for the fourth consecutive year, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report, suggesting a surge in gas imports and the yen's drop were the main reasons. ( Japan-Current Account)

----

HO CHI MINH CITY -- At least 10 people were killed and dozens of others injured in a coach collision in Vietnam's central Binh Thuan province early Monday.

The accident happened at around 2.30 a.m. local time on Monday in Ham Minh commune, South Ham Thuan district of Binh Thuan province, 1,150 km south of capital Hanoi, killing 10 people on the spot and injuring dozens of others, said Le Vinh Chi, chairman of the commune's people committee, quoted by local VNExpress. ( Vietnam-Coach Collision) Endi