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US lashes China, Russia for human trafficking

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:00:13 +0800

The United States downgraded China, Russia and Uzbekistan to the bottom of a US table for failing to make greater efforts to combat human trafficking, a move that may spark sanctions.

India's military steps up rescue on monsoon toll fears

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:48:44 +0800

India's military stepped up efforts on Thursday to reach villages and towns cut off by flash floods and landslides in the country's north as officials warned at least 1,000 people may have been killed.

Beckham sees 'bright' future for China game

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:52:12 +0800

Football superstar David Beckham said Thursday he sees a "bright" future for the Chinese game despite past corruption scandals and the dismal performance of the national team.

Philippines, US to hold exercises near disputed reef

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:24:38 +0800

The United States and the Philippines are to hold joint naval manoeuvres in the South China Sea next week between the main island of Luzon and a reef claimed by both China and Manila, the Filipino navy said on Thursday.

Young porters 'imperil' Nepal's trekking industry

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:23:21 +0800

It is a traditional role using skills passed down through the generations, but young unskilled boys with no knowledge of the mountains are now flocking to become porters in Nepal's Himalayas.

China, Vietnam set up dispute hotline amid summit

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:11:22 +0800

China and Vietnam have agreed to set up a hotline to resolve disputes in the South China Sea, where clashes between fishermen have stoked tensions between the countries, state media reported on Thursday.

Indonesia says Singapore 'behaving like a child' over haze

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:55:43 +0800

Indonesia on Thursday accused Singapore of acting "like a child" over acrid smog from forest fires in Sumatra that has triggered the city-state's worst environmental crisis in more than a decade, as the two nations held talks.

China astronaut teaches lesson from space

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:38:55 +0800

A Chinese astronaut orbiting more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) above the Earth's surface delivered a video class to children across the country on Thursday, state television showed in a live broadcast.

Tibetan nun dies in self-immolation attempt

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:36:51 +0800

A Tibetan nun who last week set fire to herself in protest at Chinese rule has died, a US-based broadcaster and rights group said.

One third of S.Koreans to be over 65 by 2040

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:06:14 +0800

Nearly one third of South Koreans will be aged 65 or older by 2040, government data showed on Thursday, confirming one of the greatest challenges facing Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Australia royal prank call radio tries to halt probe

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:45:18 +0800

A radio station at the centre of a prank call targeting Prince William's pregnant wife Catherine that led to a nurse's suicide is trying to block an investigation, Australia's communications watchdog said on Thursday.

South Korea star Park Ji-Sung dating TV host

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:24:55 +0800

South Korea's most famous footballer Park Ji-Sung, and one of its most eligible bachelors, used a packed press conference Thursday to announce he was dating a local TV sports presenter.

Kabul lashes out over prospective Taliban-US talks

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:16:39 +0800

The Afghan government lashed out at US efforts to broker peace with the Taliban, suspending security talks with Washington and threatening to boycott contacts with the insurgents.

Singapore in smog alarm as Indonesia forest fires rage

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:32:06 +0800

Smog levels in Singapore hit a record high on Wednesday as smoke from raging forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia triggered a major health alarm and sent residents of the densely populated city-state scrambling for face masks.

Folau among three Wallabies' debutants to face Lions

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:49:31 +0800

Former rugby league star Israel Folau was among three new caps named Thursday to start for the Wallabies in the first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane.

Kim Dotcom slams Megaupload 'data massacre'

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:05:13 +0800

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom Thursday condemned a Dutch company's decision to delete million of files belonging to users of his defunct website, calling it "the largest data massacre in the history of the Internet".

North Korea ready to return to nuclear talks: China

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:10:08 +0800

North Korea expressed willingness Wednesday to rejoin long-stalled nuclear talks, according to its ally China, but the United States, Japan and South Korea called for action instead of words.

US, allies say N.Korea must denuclearize

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:51:59 +0800

The United States, South Korea and Japan said Wednesday that North Korea must end its nuclear program if it wants better ties, after Pyongyang said it was willing to return to talks.

Cambodia PM says garment firms may quit over wage rows

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:46:38 +0800

Cambodia's strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday warned garment workers that protests demanding higher wages could push manufacturers to quit the country.

Easy day for Li Na, Tomic gets welcome boost

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:08:39 +0800

China's Li Na reached the quarter-finals of the ATP-WTA Eastbourne International on Wednesday without hitting a ball while troubled Australian Bernard Tomic reached the third round in the men's tournament.

Philippines Golan peacekeepers to stay for now

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:05:27 +0800

The Philippines Wednesday said it would keep its peacekeepers in the Golan Heights until at least August, and may stay longer if the United Nations increased security there.

Sri Lanka's Mathews vows fight against India

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:27:05 +0800

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews on Wednesday vowed his "fighting team" were prepared to put recent history behind them when they face India in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

Prayers to drive out ghost at Bangladesh garment plant

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:32:54 +0800

Owners of a Bangladesh garment factory were forced to offer prayers and distribute food to the poor on Wednesday in a bid to drive out what workers believed was a ghost at the plant, police said.

Manny Ramirez quits Taiwan's EDA Rhinos

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:29:54 +0800

American baseball legend Manny Ramirez quit Taiwan's EDA Rhinos Wednesday, breaking local fans' hearts just three-months after joining the team despite being the highest paid player in the league's history.

Thailand cuts rice-buying subsidy after big losses

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:52:41 +0800

Thailand said Wednesday that it would slash the price paid to rice farmers under a controversial scheme that caused the kingdom to lose its place as the world's top exporter of the commodity last year.

Japan beat Canada in Pacific Nations Cup

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:08:36 +0800

Full back Ayumu Goromaru scored all the points to lead Asian champions Japan to a 16-13 victory over Canada in the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament in Nagoya on Wednesday.

Yunnan Red, anyone? Chinese wine heads to Europe

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:06:37 +0800

For years the Chinese have been buying up wine from Europe, but with domestic wine production predicted to overtake Australia and Chile by next year, Tiana Wu is hoping European drinkers are ready to be tempted by a glass of her "Yunnan Red".

Activists targeting China dog meat festival

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:27:43 +0800

A festival dedicated to dog meat in southern China has been targeted by protesting animal lovers, who have won a minor concession from local officials, an activist said on Wednesday.

N. Korea threatens to kill authors of Hitler report

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:01:36 +0800

North Korea has angrily denied a report that its ruler used Adolf Hitler's memoir as a leadership guide, threatening to kill the authors of the report.

Tobacco enriches, corrupts northern Philippines

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:20:03 +0800

Tobacco enriches and corrupts in the dry, sun-drenched northern Philippines, where family fortunes as well as political empires are built on the golden leaf.

Indonesia to use rain-making technology to stop fires

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:20:35 +0800

Indonesia plans to use weather changing technology to try to unleash torrents of rain and extinguish raging fires on Sumatra island that have cloaked neighbouring Singapore in thick haze, an official said Wednesday.

Toxic radiation in groundwater at Fukushima: operator

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:12:57 +0800

Cancer-causing radioactive substances have been found in groundwater at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, its Japanese operator said Wednesday, as it pledged to prevent them getting into the sea.

Two Thai monks arrested in child sex scandal

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:46:34 +0800

Thai police said Wednesday they had arrested two monks for procuring a 14-year-old boy to perform sexual acts with an abbot, in the latest scandal to shake the kingdom's Buddhist clergy.

China, NKorea hold 'strategic dialogue': officials

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:10:21 +0800

A high-ranking North Korean official with long experience as his country's international nuclear negotiator held talks Wednesday with Chinese officials, Beijing's foreign ministry announced.

S.Korea media blame Iran for angry World Cup scenes

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:51:02 +0800

South Korean media blamed Iran Wednesday for angry scenes at a tense World Cup qualifier which ended with fans pelting debris on to the pitch and the visiting coach under fire for a rude gesture.

Unrest as Iran, S.Korea, Australia reach World Cup

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:38:30 +0800

Asian giants Iran, South Korea and Australia scrambled into next year's World Cup on Tuesday after scenes of crowd anger and high tension on the final night of group qualifying.

World Bank warns global warming woes closing in

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:34:26 +0800

The World Bank on Wednesday warned that severe hardships from global warming could be felt within a generation, with a new study detailing devastating impacts in Africa and Asia.

S.Korea to buy European missiles

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:59:57 +0800

South Korea will buy European bunker-busting missiles as the United States refused to sell the same kind of weapons to the country, the state procurement agency said on Wednesday.

Tension, anger as Asian giants reach World Cup

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:37:19 +0800

Asian giants Iran, South Korea and Australia scrambled into next year's World Cup after scenes of crowd anger and high tension on the final night of group qualifying.

Ahmed, Sandhu in Australia A tour of Africa

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:21:35 +0800

Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed was on Wednesday named on the Australia A squad for a tour of Africa beginning next month, despite also being in contention for selection for the Ashes series against England.