A free trade deal between China and the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) comes into affect this year.

The government Indonesia, which is part of Asean, says removing barriers and ensuring easy cross border trade will help grow the domestic economy.

But many workers are worried they will not be able to compete against a flood of Chinese products and Indonesian farmers, especially, worry that they will soon be out of jobs as consumers choose cheaper Chinese produce.

Thousands of workers have taken to the streets calling for parts of the trade pact to be delayed.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Cipanas in West Java.

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Country’s war refugees swell the tide of asylum seekers heading for Australia in boats.

The United Nations has welcomed the decision by Sri Lanka’s government to announce the release of the remaining 130,000 Tamils kept in detention camps for the last six months.

About 250,000 people fled the final bloody phase of the civil war between the government and separatist Tamil Tigers.

They were ultimately housed in government-run camps in the district of Vavuniya.

Hundreds of thousands of Tamils’ have been displaced in the fighting and are now living in hastily put together refugee camps that have been largely shut off from the outside world.

More and more Tamils have been risking their lives – spending weeks on the oceans – in the hopes of reaching Australia.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, in Valaichchenai, Sri Lanka, reports that a new group of asylum-seekers are said to be preparing to board boats on the island’s southeastern coast and sail directly to Australia’s Christmas Island.

Malaysian woman to be caned for drinking beer

A Malaysian woman is due to become the first woman to be caned under the country’s Islamic laws after being caught drinking beer in a hotel.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s says she accepts her punishment, but critics say drinking should be viewed as a personal sin, not a state crime.

Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett reports.

Migrant workers face abuse in Lebanon

Human rights groups are warning of the terrible conditions faced by migrant workers across the Middle East.

Millions of women from countries such as the Phillippines and Indonesia head abroad to work as maids. But because they have little if any legal protection, many are tortured and abused at the hands of their employers.

In Lebanon, according to Human Rights Watch, one domestic worker a week attempts suicide. Zeina Awad reports from Beirut.

Pakistan conservatives suspicious of US agenda

Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, praised Pakistan’s military for progress in fighting the Taliban.

In his latest visit to Pakistan, he also met some of the leaders of conservative groups who often blame the US for the violence in the region.

Anita McNaught reports on the attempt at dialogue amid long-standing suspicions.

Foreign diplomats ‘neutral’ on Afghan vote

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra reports from the city of Mazar-e-Sharif on how residents there will decide their vote, and how foreign representatives are trying to stay neutral.

Allegations persist in Nepal that the youth brigade of the ruling Maoists is responsible for intimidation, violence and murder.

Many of its members are former child soldiers who fought for the Maoists during the country’s civil war.

Al Jazeera’s Tony Birtley reports from Kathmandu.

Rwanda has been marking the 15th anniversary of the country’s genocide when according to the government 1.2 million people were killed, the UN says 800,000 died, most of those murdered were ethnic Tutsis.

During that genocide, tens of thousands of Tutsis fled into Muslim mosques to escape from the machete-wielding Hutu mobs.

And their lives were spared because many Hutus believed Muslims were evil and were afriad to go into mosques.

Al Jazeera’s Yvonne Ndege tells the story of survivors who narrowly escaped death, and the Islamic resistance to the genocide.

Every year an estimated 400,000Bangladeshis send millions of dollars home to support their families.

But Malaysia says the economic downturn means local jobs need to go to local people.

Bangladesh is urging Malaysia to reconsider a decision to revoke 55 thousand migrant worker visas for its citizens.

Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque reports from northern Bangladesh.