China targets pirates in groundbreaking mission (Park Hills Daily Journal)
GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — Chinese warships headed toward Somali waters Friday to combat piracy, the first time the communist country has sent ships on a mission that could involve fighting so far beyond its territorial waters.

Seminar discussed Japan’s role in economic corridor development (Vietnam Net)
VietNamNet Bridge – The relation between Japan and countries along the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) was the highlight of a seminar held in central Da Nang City on January 5-6.

Govt approves two-part Asean summit (norsorpor.com)
Cabinet on Tuesday ignored security threats from political activists and agreed to hold the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit from Feb 27 to March 1 in Bangkok as planned, according to a senior government official.The cabinet had made an initial agreement that the summit would be held during those days while dates of talks with the bloc s dialogue partners including China, ...

Thailand names new ASEAN summit dates -- again (AFP via Yahoo! Philippines News)
Thailand on Wednesday named new dates for a delayed summit of Southeast Asian nations, but said arrangements for meetings with heavyweight partners including China and Japan would be made separately.

Govt approves two-part Asean summit (Bangkok Post - Thailand's English news)
Cabinet on Tuesday ignored security threats from political activists and agreed to hold the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit from Feb 27 to March 1 in Bangkok as planned, according to a senior government official.

After big cuts, India has room to axe rates further (Khaleej Times)
MUMBAI - India could cut interest rates by another 150 basis points by mid-2009 as authorities fight to prop up sagging growth, but the central bank is unlikely to seek zero rates like the United States and Japan even as deflation rears its head.

ARA plans China, India, Japan property funds (The Economic Times)
Singapore property fund manager ARA Asset Management said on Tuesday it plans to launch country-focused funds for China, India and Japan to take advantage of declining real estate prices that it expects will bottom in late 2009.

Foreign aid commitments fall in first nine months (Yehey!)
The Philippines’ foreign aid commitments in the first nine months last year fell by more than a fifth due to declining pledges from the three biggest international funding sources, the National Economic and Development Authority said.

NEWS IN BRIEF (Nine O'Clock)
CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama stumbled in his quest for a smooth transition on Sunday when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew as his nominee for commerce secretary in the face of a legal inquiry.