AUSTRALIA

The Sydney Morning Herald (www.smh.com.au) mulls a beachside Christmas marred by the fall-out of race riots.

"The past several Christmases have been marred by the fallout and the fear generated by terrorist acts conducted in the name of race and religion in other parts of the world. This Christmas, however, will be celebrated against a home-grown backdrop just as disconcerting. In recent weeks Sydney's southern beachside suburbs have been rocked by mob violence, vandalism and general mayhem on a scale that has drawn both national and international attention and condemnation," the newspaper notes.

"It is small comfort that, evidently, the behaviour we have witnessed has been fuelled by alcohol, or that the motives of those behind it are no doubt mixed and in many cases probably far removed from the blatant racist slogans appropriated to incite and justify what is essentially hooliganism. Something rotten has been exposed in our midst and unless it is addressed, its poison is likely to spread."

* * * * * * * * * *

BANGLADESH

The Daily Star (www.thedailystar.net) says Bangladesh lost out in this month's global trade talks in Hong Kong.

"To say that we have returned empty-handed from the WTO Hong Kong round is an understatement. Actually, commerce minister Altaf Hossain led-delegation to the mega conference has come back with less than what we had been getting. If it was 100 percent for Bangladesh beforehand, it is almost zero now, as far as duty- and quota-free access of our apparels to certain markets is concerned," the Star comments.

"This is not to say though, that there will be any automatic withdrawal of the facility by the multilateral market like the EU but to get the access as a universally applicable and binding WTO rule is obviously much more coveted than any preferential treatment we are enjoying now."

* * * * * * * * * *

HONG KONG

The South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com) laments the continuing row between Beijing and Tokyo and recommends replacing the controversial Yasukuni war shrine. Japan's leader makes regular visits to the shrine, infuriating victims of the country's past aggression.

"A spat between Japan and China, as two great players in Asia, is in no ones interest, particularly as their concerted action is required to contain the biggest security threat in the region, North Korea. A way must be found to break the impasse over the Yasukuni visits," says the editorial. "Building a secular shrine, with a museum that documents the scourge of Japanese militarism, might be the way out. Only then could Japan and its neighbours be relieved of their historical baggage and work in harmony for the future."

* * * * * * * * * *

PHILIPPINES

The Manila Times (www.manilatimes.net) says Asians should not jump to conclusions about racism in Australia after recent riots between European and Middle Eastern-origin youths.

"Those of us who remember the days of the White Australia policy must not sound like the politically motivated haters of Prime Minister John Howard who want to paint him as a racist," the paper says.

"Racism persists in Australia, decades after the White Australia image disappeared. But racism seems to be practised only by a minority. What many surveys tend to show is that the large majority (up to 85 percent) of Australians favor the 'multicultural Australia policy.' However, 55 percent did say they believe immigrants and Australian citizens who stick to their old countries ways weaken the nation."

* * * * * * * * * *

SINGAPORE

Singapore's Straits Times comments on recovery efforts one year after the tsunami tragedy.

"It took almost no time for nature to vent its fury, but the effects persist and will long continue. Lost ones will forever be mourned. But what about the fate of survivors? Has enough been done for them?" the Times asks.

"Sadly, out of 1.8 million people displaced, only 20 percent are now in permanent housing. The rest remain bivouacked under tents, in barracks, and in temporary homes. This is disturbing statistic. From it, there is the temptation to conclude that relief efforts have been miserably inadequate. But that would be unfair. With the scale of the disaster almost incomprehensible, the relief response it has demanded has been unprecedented. So while the results have been far from perfect, and far from what was hoped, it would be churlish to criticise."

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.