Asia News

Afghan security plans 'a tall order'

AFP - Monday, November 23

KABUL (AFP) - - Afghan government plans to boost army and police numbers massively have been greeted with scepticism by diplomats and military experts who say the figures are too ambitious. More »

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Taiwan says 40 fishermen detained in Myanmar
AFP - Monday, November 23
TAIPEI (AFP) - - About 40 fishermen from four Taiwanese boats were held in Myanmar after being intercepted by naval forces, apparently on suspicions of illegal fishing, an official and media said here Monday.
Chinese migrants change names to be 'more Hong Kong'
AFP - Monday, November 23
HONG KONG (AFP) - - An increasing number of mainland Chinese migrants to Hong Kong are changing the spelling of their surnames to avoid discrimination in the former British colony, a report said Monday.
Malaysia on alert for British baby killer: police
AFP - Monday, November 23
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - - Police are seeking the help of their British counterparts and Interpol to confirm if a convicted Malaysian child killer was deported here secretly, a top police official said Monday.
Mosques, Chinese goods, Arabic classes rebuild Silk Road
AFP - Monday, November 23
YIWU, China (AFP) - - Smoke from hookah pipes and the aroma of lamb skewers on the grill mix in the chilly autumn air as men talk loudly in Arabic over pulsating music beneath the neon glow of restaurant signs.
Japan mulls F-35 purchase as next main fighter jet
AFP - Monday, November 23
TOKYO (AFP) - - Japan is considering buying around 40 F-35 fighter jets as the future mainstay of the nation's air force, it was reported Monday.
Australia battles wildfires as threat eases: officials
AFP - Monday, November 23
RYLSTONE, Australia (AFP) - - Australian firefighters battled to contain scores of blazes in the country's southeast on Monday as a sharp drop in temperatures eased fears for dozens of threatened homes.
S.Korea ignores N.Korea offer to resume tours
AFP - Monday, November 23
SEOUL (AFP) - - South Korea on Monday ignored an offer by the North to resume cross border tours, suspended since a housewife was shot dead by soldiers last year, because it did not come through official channels.
China, N.Korea pledge to strengthen alliance
AFP - Monday, November 23
SEOUL (AFP) - - Chinese and North Korean defence chiefs have pledged to strengthen their military alliance -- dating back to the Korean War -- during talks in Pyongyang, state media said Monday.
Police identify Northern Marianas gunman
AFP - Monday, November 23
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (AFP) - - A gunman who killed four people before turning the weapon on himself during a rampage in the US-administered Northern Mariana Islands has been identified, police said.
Indian PM starts first state visit under Obama
AFP - Monday, November 23
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived Sunday in the United States for the first state visit under President Barack Obama, an Indian official said.
Wallabies' loss to Scotland 'worst in decades'
AFP - Sunday, November 22
SYDNEY (AFP) - - The Wallabies' abject loss to lowly Scotland was Australian rugby's worst Test defeat in decades, newspapers said on Sunday.
2nd autopsy for Malaysian opposition aide: lawyer
AFP - Sunday, November 22
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - - A fresh autopsy was being held Sunday on the body of a Malaysian opposition aide who fell to his death from anti-corruption offices where he was being questioned, his family's lawyer said.
Groth to play tennis for Australia after citizenship
AFP - Sunday, November 22
SYDNEY (AFP) - - Jarmila Groth will become eligible to play for Australia after she is officially granted citizenship this week, Tennis Australia said on Sunday.
N.Korean leader inspects security forces
AFP - Sunday, November 22
SEOUL (AFP) - - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has inspected the nation's security force headquarters, state media said on Sunday, in what Seoul media say is a bid to further tighten his control on society.
US helps build anti-Taliban Afghan militias: report
AFP - Sunday, November 22
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - The United States has begun helping a number of anti-Taliban militias in several parts of Afghanistan in hopes for a large-scale tribal rebellion against the radical Islamic movement, The New York Times reported.
Japanese temple resorts to manga to woo visitors
AFP - Sunday, November 22
HACHIOJI, Japan (AFP) - - Girls clad in maids' outfits are not traditionally associated with Buddhism, but that has not stopped monks at a centuries-old temple using Japanese pop culture to woo visitors.
Dan Carter keen to re-establish French connection
AFP - Sunday, November 22
LONDON (AFP) - - Dan Carter is relishing the prospect of facing some familiar faces when New Zealand look to maintain their tour winning streak against France in a "make or break match" in Marseille next week.
Chinese rights lawyer's wife gets US asylum: supporters
AFP - Sunday, November 22
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - The United States has granted political asylum to the wife and children of jailed Chinese civil rights lawyer Guo Feixiong who the family says is suffering abuse, supporters said Saturday.
Robinson hails famous Scotland win over Wallabies
AFP - Sunday, November 22
EDINBURGH (AFP) - - Scotland claimed their first win over Australia in nearly three decades after a defence-inspired 9-8 victory in their one-off Test match at Murrayfield here on Saturday.