Southeast Asia
Australian police smash Asian drug ring
Mar 22, 2013 05:13 EDT
Australian police said Friday they had smashed a crime syndicate operating across Asia, leading to 27 arrests and the seizure of drugs and assets worth millions of dollars.
Two jailed over Philippine coup after spurning pardon
Mar 22, 2013 04:43 EDT
Two former Philippine soldiers who took part in a failed coup in 2003 were sentenced on Friday to long prison terms, officials said, after both spurned President Benigno Aquino's offer of pardon.
Bodies in streets of riot-hit Myanmar town
Mar 22, 2013 02:43 EDT
Charred bodies lay unclaimed on the streets of a riot-hit town in central Myanmar, witnesses said Friday, as global pressure mounted for an end to the Buddhist-Muslim unrest.
Singapore denies being haven for Malaysian tax cheats
Mar 22, 2013 01:56 EDT
Singapore on Friday strongly rejected a whistleblower's allegation that its banks facilitate massive tax evasion by a powerful family in neighbouring Malaysia's Sarawak state.
'Force India' driver Sutil hopes problems in the past
Mar 22, 2013 01:16 EDT
Adrian Sutil said he hoped his problems were in the past after he recovered from a year in the Formula One wilderness following an assault conviction to lead a race for the first time.
Struggling China boss needs the 'Becks effect'
Mar 21, 2013 21:55 EDT
China boss Jose Antonio Camacho will hope a sprinkling of stardust from the visiting David Beckham will rub off on his team as he fights for his job in Friday's crunch Asian Cup qualifier with Iraq.
At least 10 dead in Myanmar riots: MP
Mar 21, 2013 16:45 EDT
At least 10 people have been killed in riots in central Myanmar, an MP said Thursday, prompting international concern at the country's worst communal unrest since a wave of Buddhist-Muslim clashes last year.
Southeast Asia human rights 'stagnating': US officials
Mar 21, 2013 16:27 EDT
US officials voiced concern Thursday about human rights in fast-growing Southeast Asian nations, pointing to a lack of progress in many places and a worsening situation in some.
Indonesian city tears down church in front of worshippers
Mar 21, 2013 13:52 EDT
An Indonesian city government demolished a church in front of its weeping congregation Thursday, as Muslim protesters egged on workers and branded the Christians "infidels".
Downton Abbey leads way in TV exports
Mar 21, 2013 12:22 EDT
Britain in 2012 held on to its position as the world's second biggest exporter of television programmes after the US on the back of hit dramas such as Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife, a report said on Thursday.
Thai students set for mass tablet computer handout
Mar 21, 2013 12:08 EDT
Thailand plans to distribute about 1.7 million tablet computers to students and teachers this year in the world's largest handout of the devices for education, officials said Thursday.
Russian artist who impersonated Monroe, Putin dies
Mar 21, 2013 10:51 EDT
Top Russian artist, Vladislav Mamyshev-Monroe, who painstakingly transformed himself to resemble Adolf Hitler, Marilyn Monroe and Vladimir Putin for avant-garde photo performances, has died at 43, Russian news agencies reported Thursday.
Kiradech shines as Donald struggles in Malaysia
Mar 21, 2013 09:31 EDT
Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat staked out an early lead as world number three Luke Donald struggled to settle in Thursday on a rain-interrupted first day's play at the Maybank Malaysian Open.
ThyssenKrupp to build cement plant in Indonesia
Mar 21, 2013 07:29 EDT
German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp said Thursday it has won a contract worth $250 million (194 million euros) to build a cement plant for Swiss group Holcim in Indonesia.
Asian markets lifted by China manufacturing data
Mar 21, 2013 07:23 EDT
Asian markets were mixed Thursday as Chinese data showing manufacturing activity in the world's number two economy picked up in March, while Tokyo was lifted by renewed weakness in the yen.
Philippines' San Miguel reports strong 2012 results
Mar 21, 2013 06:47 EDT
San Miguel's consolidated net profits surged 57 percent to 27.6 billion pesos ($677.55 million) last year, boosted by strong turnover from new businesses, the top Philippine conglomerate said Thursday.
Cool Raikkonen puts victory celebrations on ice
Mar 21, 2013 05:41 EDT
Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen Thursday said he was saving his celebrations for the end of the year despite last week's brilliant win in Australia.
At least 10 killed in Myanmar riots: MP
Mar 21, 2013 03:45 EDT
At least 10 people have been killed in riots in central Myanmar, a local MP said Thursday, in the worst communal violence since Buddhist-Muslim clashes in western Rakhine state last year.
Indonesian Christians protest church demolition
Mar 21, 2013 03:34 EDT
Around 100 Indonesian Christians begged the government on Thursday to halt the demolition of their church, as hundreds of Muslim protesters branded them "infidels" and demanded the building be torn down.
Legend Gregan expects Olympics sevens upset
Mar 21, 2013 03:12 EDT
Wallabies legend George Gregan has tipped an unlikely rugby nation, possibly China, to cause an upset at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when the sevens format debuts at the Games.
