World Asia News | World News Headlines - Yahoo! Singapore News

S. Korea, Japan keep Olympic volleyball hopes alive

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:51:30 +0800

South Korea have one foot in the London Olympics after they whipped Thailand in three sets in the women's volleyball qualifying tournament Saturday, while Japan remain in contention despite losing heavily.

South Korean Cannes contender blasts homegrown corruption

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:40:27 +0800

A sex-infused expose of rampant corruption among the super-rich in today's South Korea premiered at Cannes Film Festival Saturday, but the director slammed the Western view of Asian cinema.

Japan pledges $500m for Pacific islands

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:51:31 +0800

Japan pledged aid worth up to half a billion dollars to Pacific island nations Saturday at a summit stressing the importance of maritime law in a region warily eyeing China's growing might at sea.

Wealthy Vietnam MP sacked over husband fraud claim

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:38:24 +0800

One of Vietnam's wealthiest people was ousted from the communist parliament Saturday, reports said, after she was accused of failing to disclose that her Vietnamese-American husband was wanted for fraud.

Philippines names ambassador amid row with China

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:19:04 +0800

Philippine President Benigno Aquino named a veteran diplomat as ambassador to China amid a tense standoff over disputed territory in the South China Sea, a presidential spokeswoman said Saturday.

Eight killed in Indonesia landslide

Sat, 26 May 2012 11:19:45 +0800

A landslide in Indonesia killed eight people, according to an official, after days of heavy rain hit a mountainous part of the country's main island.

Indonesian police consider toned-down Gaga show

Sat, 26 May 2012 05:05:50 +0800

Police in Indonesia, after refusing a permit for Lady Gaga to perform in Jakarta, said Friday they were considering an offer from her local promoters to tone down the pop superstar's racy show.

Indonesia says to release Australian Corby in 2017

Sat, 26 May 2012 01:27:28 +0800

Indonesia is due to release jailed Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby in September 2017, a prison chief said Friday, after she had five years slashed off her 20-year term.

Food agenda: Vinexpo

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:03:54 +0800

Billed as one of the largest wine trade events in Asia, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific is a biennial event that alternates between Hong Kong and France. In 2010, the fair attracted 12,620 visitors. Here's a look at more international food and drink events happening around the world.

Pop diva goes Gaga for Thai 'ladies'

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:02:11 +0800

Lady Gaga met Thai 'ladies' of a different kind at a transvestite cabaret show in Bangkok that had the flamboyant entertainer singing along, club management said Friday.

Crowds to crown UK queen's 60th anniversary party

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:44:50 +0800

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will celebrate 60 years on the throne next month along with huge crowds expected for a pop concert at Buckingham Palace, a grand procession through the streets of London and a 1,000-strong flotilla along the River Thames. The Diamond Jubilee comes just over a year after the royal wedding of Prince William, the queen's grandson, to Kate Middleton, a spectacular display of pomp and pageantry which has boosted the monarchy's popularity at home and abroad. ...

Russia one step away from Olympics volleyball

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:10:38 +0800

Two-time world champions Russia moved to within a step of the London Olympics when they defeated Serbia for a fifth straight win in the women's volleyball qualifying tournament on Friday.

Top Philippine judge ends emotional testimony

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:07:03 +0800

The Philippines' top judge on Friday disclosed he had more than $4 million in his bank accounts as he wound up an emotional testimony to try and save his job at his closely watched impeachment trial.

Google+ trends: Towel Day, Britney Spears's first day on 'X Factor USA'

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:59:10 +0800

Google+ users are celebrating “Towel Day” on May 25 in honor of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams.

Malaysia in anguish over badminton star's injury

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:34:28 +0800

Malaysia was in anguish Friday over an injury to badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei that threatens the country's only serious hope of capturing its first Olympic gold medal.

Two charged in Singapore fixing scandal

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:31:18 +0800

A top referee and a former Malaysian international have been charged with plotting to fix a match in Singapore, as corruption claims again overshadowed football in the Southeast Asian state.

Hockey coach demands improvement from India

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:10:49 +0800

India's hockey coach ripped into his squad Friday over its pummelling by New Zealand a day before, saying much work remained before the former power was ready for the London Games.

Toyota making eight new models for emerging markets

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:24:34 +0800

Toyota said Friday it will roll out a number of new compact cars priced around $12,500 in developing nations, targeting sales of more than one million of the models annually in emerging markets by 2015.

Indian PM to 'meet Aung San Suu Kyi' in Myanmar

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:42:54 +0800

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi next week during the first visit by an Indian premier to Myanmar in a quarter of a century, according to her party.

Toyota making eight new models for emerging markets

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:01:43 +0800

Toyota said it would roll out a number of new compact cars priced around $12,500 in developing nations, targeting sales of more than one million of the models annually in emerging markets by 2015.

Hidayat in a huff before London

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:16:23 +0800

(Reuters) - Athens Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat has criticised badminton's ruling body in the run-up to this year's London Games after Indonesia crashed out of the Thomas Cup.

North America agenda: World Series of Poker

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:45:31 +0800

With summer coming, festivals include music, dance and the arts with Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Fest and Jacobs Pillow's 80th anniversary. Awards are presented to Brodway's best and MTV's favorite movies and trade expos include E3 and Comic-Con.

Award-winning Chenin blancs at the Decanter World Wine Awards

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:56:42 +0800

At the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards in London this week, the Chenin blanc, a white wine grape variety, pulled off a particularly good performance with a 92 percent success rate.

Suu Kyi to make first foreign trip since 1988

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:37:26 +0800

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will travel overseas next week for the first time in more than two decades to attend an economic forum in Bangkok, her party said on Thursday.

500 arrested Asia-wide over telecom scam: state media

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:27:32 +0800

Nearly 500 people were seized by police across Asia over an $11.5-million telecom scam targeting people in China, state media said on Thursday.

Di Resta is a huge asset, says Mallya

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:20:54 +0800

MONACO (Reuters) - Force India expect Paul Di Resta to stay with them next season but would be understanding if the highly-rated British Formula One driver wanted to move elsewhere, team owner Vijay Mallya said on Thursday. Di Resta won the German touring car championship with Mercedes in 2010 and has been touted as a possible replacement at that team for Michael Schumacher should the 43-year-old seven times champion decide to call it a day. Schumacher's contract expires at the end of 2012. ...

Asian casinos fight world's best cheats: experts

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:08:14 +0800

As billions of dollars pour into Asia's gleaming casinos, they are becoming the front line of a sometimes hugely lucrative battle between cheats and the house, say experts.

'Bring in some money into the game' - Former Home United coach Robert Alberts on fixing the S.League

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:03:00 +0800

The current Sarawak coach spoke of the issues with S.League on the Football Fever Podcast with Jason Dasey, Mayur Bhanji and Neil Humphreys

Guardini wins Giro 18th stage, Rodriguez still in pink

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:24:28 +0800

Italian Andrea Guardini won the 18th stage of the Tour of Italy here on Thursday, the 22-year-old Farnese Vini team member holding off British world champion Mark Cavendish.

China scent revenge at Uber Cup

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:38:41 +0800

China punished a spirited Thailand to reach the Uber Cup final on Thursday and set up a revenge mission against holders South Korea.

Button tops times in Monaco practice

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:45:54 +0800

Jenson Button topped the times for McLaren at the end of Thursday's two opening free practice sessions ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

Holiday arguments are on the rise

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:55:00 +0800

A new survey claims we argue before and during a romantic break away, but Cosmo’s Sarah Kwong asks, is this anything new?

Philippines 'lacks sincerity' in sea dispute: China

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:24:41 +0800

China accused the Philippines Thursday of not being sincere in seeking a peaceful end to a standoff over disputed waters, ramping up the rhetoric one day after confirming the deployment of more ships.

Lady Gaga refuses to tone down her shows: manager

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:17:26 +0800

Pop superstar Lady Gaga would rather cancel dates in her world tour than make changes to appease censors and religious groups, the US singer's manager said Thursday as controversy dogs her in Asia.

Myanmar must cope with protest, avoid violence - ASEAN chief

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:08:12 +0800

TOKYO (Reuters) - Myanmar's authorities need to keep calm and avoid violence in the face of protests against power outages and should view them as a natural stage in a transition from military rule to democracy, the head of the ASEAN grouping said on Thursday. Demonstrations have taken place in several towns in Myanmar this week, including the commercial capital, Yangon, as citizens test the limit of democratic changes, leaving the authorities struggling to respond. ...

South Korea reach Uber Cup final

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:15:09 +0800

Reigning champions South Korea powered into the women's Uber Cup final in Wuhan Thursday, beating Japan 3-0 to set up a likely rematch with China, who they dramatically dethroned two years ago.

Philippines grief at Sanchez's 'American Idol' loss

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:48:44 +0800

President Benigno Aquino led the heartbroken Philippines in heaping praise Thursday on a teenager of Filipino-Latino heritage following her loss in the final of US talent show "American Idol".

Renesas says to tie up with TSMC in chip business

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:50:15 +0800

TOKYO/TAIPEI (Reuters) - Japan's loss-making Renesas Electronics Corp said on Thursday it will tie up with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co in the microchip business as it struggles to keep up with aggressive rivals like Samsung Electronics. Renesas gave no details on the tie-up, which it will reveal in a news conference next Monday, but chipmakers increasingly are tapping the technological prowess of companies such as TSMC, the world's biggest contract chipmaker, to rein in costs. ...

Lee admits injury a blow to Olympics bid

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:15:22 +0800

Badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei has admitted his injury at the Thomas Cup in China this week is a blow to his Olympics title bid, where the Malaysian has a last shot at an elusive gold.

Rio Tinto chief dismisses China 'doom'

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:01:41 +0800

Global mining giant Rio Tinto said it was not worried by talk of China's economy slowing and would press ahead with plans to expand its iron ore business, saying signs were robust on the ground.