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Eight candidates for Iranian presidential race

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:52 -0400

TEHRAN - Iran has approved eight candidates for the presidential election due next month, rejecting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's top aide in a major setback to the hawkish leader of the Islamic republic. Ahmadinejad criticised the decision to remove Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei from the final candidate list and said it was an act of "oppression". He announced plans to take up the case with ...

Top North Korean official visits China

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:56:15 -0400

PYONGYANG, North Korea - In an indication that North Korea may give diplomacy a chance to end regional tension, its leader Kim Jong Un Wednesday sent a special envoy to China to win the confidence of its most important ally. The trip by Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae, a senior Workers' Party official and the military's top political officer, comes after months of ignoring Chinese warnings to give ...

Vitamin C offers hope of tackling drug resistant TB

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:56:35 -0400

WASHINGTON - Adding vitamin C to existing tuberculosis drugs regime could shorten the therapy for drug resistant TB, claims new research findings published in the online scientific journal Nature Communications. The striking discovery, by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, has determined that vitamin C kills drug-resistant TB bacteria in laboratory ...

India positioned to become net security provider in immediate region and beyond PM

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:00:02 -0400

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday said India is well positioned to become a net security provider in the South Asian region and beyond. Laying the foundation stone of National Defence University here, Dr. Singh said: "Our defence cooperation has grown, and today, we have unprecedented access to high technology, capital and partnerships. We have also sought to assume our ...

Japan protests at S Korean dailys A-bomb op-ed

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:10:51 -0400

Japan accused a South Korean newspaper of "dishonourable" behaviour for publishing an editorial suggesting the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were "divine ...

Italian arrested in Thailand over US$10m fraud

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:10:50 -0400

Thai authorities have arrested an Italian wanted over alleged links to a human trafficking ring which swindled around US$10 million from European taxpayers and ...

Myanmars goldrush luring foreigners in droves

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:10:49 -0400

From seasoned investors to recent graduates armed with little more than hastily-made business cards and dreams of striking it rich, foreigners are pouring into Myanmar to stake a claim as it opens ...

Asia in the ageing century part I – population trends

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:02:07 -0400

23 May 2013 | While Asia's population is expected to increase by one billion people in the next thirty years, the significant demographic story is the change in its age ...

The Asian stock indexes suffered

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:55:59 -0400

The financial markets have been adverse to risk since the Federal Reserve reiterated the prospect of scaling back its asset purchase program in June. While quantitative easing must be curtailed and eventually ended at one point or another, the markets were clearly hoping for a much further point, since the US economic recovery hasn't produced real jobs growth. Adding to risk off is the ...

Heavy Sell-Off on Asian Equities

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:55:57 -0400

The Asian markets were squeezed by heavy sell-off on the equity markets. Nikkei 225 closed 7.32% down after having rallied to 5 year high; Hang Seng slid 2.35% as HSBC flash manufacturing PMI index retreated to 49.6 - its 7-month low - indicating that Chinese manufacturing contracted in May. Taiex and Kospi index fell 1.92% and 1.24%, while the Australian ASX 200 index lost 2% as the inflation ...

Burma New Doubts About Pace of Reforms

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:44:55 -0400

Burma ’s president to ask tough questions about the slowing pace of human rights reforms and insist on implementation of past commitments, Human Rights Watch said today. President Barack Obama is hosting a visit to Washington, DC, by Burma’s president Thein Sein on May 20-21, 2013. Six months after Obama’s visit to Burma, key pledges by the Burmese government remain ...

Father of Afghanistan cricket captain abducted

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:42:11 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan's cricket board says gunmen have kidnapped the father of its national team captain. There has been no ransom demand since Mohammad Nabi's 60-year-old father, Khobi Khan, was abducted near his home in the city of Jalalabad. Cricket board ...

Stricken Japan nuke plant struggles to keep staff

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:40:22 -0400

TOKYO (AP) -- Keeping the meltdown-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northeastern Japan in stable condition requires a cast of thousands. Increasingly the plant's operator is struggling to find enough workers, a trend that many expect to worsen and hamper progress in the decades-long effort to safely decommission ...

Perth could be Asias oil gas tech hub

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:14:53 -0400

Perth has an opportunity to become the best oil and gas technology centre in Asia by modelling itself on major hubs in Scotland and Norway.Some of the world's biggest oil and gas companies continue to attract bright professionals to Western Australia and salaries in the local energy sector are now among the highest in the world.Woodside Petroleum chief executive Peter Coleman says Perth has ...

Bangladesh Owners many failings led to collapse

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:12:30 -0400

FILE - In this Sunday, May 12, 2013 file photo, Bangladeshi soldiers stand amid the rubble of the garment factory building that collapsed on April 24 as they continue search operation in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh. A government investigation said poor quality construction materials and building code violations contributed to the collapse of building housing garment factories last month in ...

Heat wave causes power outages anger in India

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:12:29 -0400

An Indian man bathes as a woman prepares to wash clothes at a lake on a hot afternoon in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The capital city has been reeling under a heat wave with temperature crossing 44 degree Celsius (112 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Altaf ...

Business Briefs May 23

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:05:34 -0400

* APMTenninals, a member of A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, on Monday held a meeting with the Ministry of Transport to discuss the construction of an international goods transhipment centre in Cai Mep-Thi Vai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. * GM Motor Vietnam on Monday introduced in Vietnam the new mini Chevrolet Spark 1.0 AT directed at young, dynamic first-time car buyers and urban residents. The ...

Asian Debt Beware of Bubbles

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:01:40 -0400

Gresik is a small industrial town of fewer than 100,000 people, just to the north of Indonesia's second-largest city, Surabaya in East Java. But its position is critical. It sits near the Lombok Strait, the second most important shipping gateway between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and the vital trade route for fuel and resources between China and Australia. That is why AKR ...

NZ US agree on further co-op in Asia-Pacific

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:01:34 -0400

/enpproperty--> WELLINGTON - Government and defense officials from New Zealand and the United States on Thursday reiterated their commitment to continue strengthening their "strategic partnership" on a range of issues in the Asia-Pacific region. A joint statement issued from the US-New Zealand Strategic Dialogue in Washington said the issues discussed included the US ...

Four sentenced to death over grisly Malaysia murders

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:58 -0400

A Malaysian court on Thursday sentenceda lawyer and three farm workers to death over the gruesome murder of aglamorous cosmetics tycoon and her three ...

Outrage grows over scandal-tainted Sarawak chief minister

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:56 -0400

Despite earning a civil servant's salary for three decades, Taib Mahmud, the powerful chief minister of Malaysia's Sarawak state, is reputed by critics to be one of Asia's richest ...

Asian-Americans united on immigration overhaul

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:58:19 -0400

In passing a broad, much-amended bill on immigration, the US Senate Judiciary Committee has cleared the way for a full debate in which Asian-Americans will be a vocal proponent. The community, whose diverse heritage reflects that of the world's biggest continent and numerous Pacific islands, rarely speaks with a single voice on public policy. But reforming what many say is a broken US ...

Briton 10 died minutes after injection in IndiaThe most-shocking case to emerge is that of 10-year-old Damien Herian from Wolverhampton who complained of a stomach-ache while at a theme park in Jalandhar.The boy was given an injection.

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:29:17 -0400

Gurkiren was killed by health workers in Punjab to illegally harvest her organs, stories of other such unexplained deaths of Britons in Punjab are coming out. The most-shocking case to emerge is that of 10-year-old Damien Herian from Wolverhampton, who complained of a stomach-ache while at a theme park in Jalandhar. The boy was given an injection. Minutes later he was dead, Birmingham labour ...

Japanese climber 80 becomes oldest atop Mount Everest

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:29:14 -0400

KATHMANDU, NEPAL: An 80-year-old Japanese man became the oldest person to climb Everest breaking the record set by a Nepali who climbed Everest at the age of 76 in ...

We want to start a war in London suspect tells eyewitness

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:29:13 -0400

LONDON: British counter-terrorism police were on Thursday investigating the murder of a man thought to be a soldier, who was butchered and beheaded on a busy London street by two men shouting Islamist slogans. The attackers, wielding knives including a meat cleaver, carried out the attack a few hundred metres (yards) from the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, then delivered ...

Japan stocks dive as benchmark bond yield spikes

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:27:37 -0400

BANGKOK (AP) -- Japanese stocks plummeted Thursday after a spike in government bond yields and unexpectedly weak Chinese manufacturing spooked investors sitting atop months of massive gains in share prices. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo nosedived 7.3 percent to close at ...

Malaysian Student Activist Charged with Sedition After Calling for Protests

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:05:41 -0400

A Malaysian student activist has been charged with sedition after he called for protests against the results of an election that the opposition says was ...

Japan bond yields jump following Fed comments

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:01:32 -0400

TOKYO -; Yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds briefly topped 1 percent for the first time in a year on Thursday, unnerving some investors at a time when Japan's already overburdened government finances are vulnerable to rises in interest rates. Japanese shares fell ...

Car Bomb Kills 12 In Pakistans Southwest

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:00:29 -0400

Police in Pakistan say a bomb planted on a vehicle in the southwest of the country has killed 12 people, including 11 police officers. Police officials said the attack just outside Quetta also wounded more than 20. Police said the bomb targeted a vehicle carrying members of the police's special forces. Quetta is the capital of southwestern Balochistan Province, which is a stronghold ...

Nawaz Sharif seeks civil nuclear technology from China

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:46:49 -0400

Li Keqiang . Sharif called on Li at a hotel here this morning and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations in different fields. He focussed on civil nuclear technology, trade and foreign investment during his talks with Li, Geo News channel quoted its sources as saying. The PML-N chief said China had invested in Pakistani nuclear projects in the past and should provide more cooperation to ...

Malaysian charged with sedition 2 more arrested

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:39:18 -0400

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysian authorities detained two anti-government figures and charged a student activist with sedition Thursday, raising political tensions after recent national elections triggered claims of ...

Korea Japan dominance eroded in Asian football

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:33:05 -0400

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea and Japan's domination of eastern Asian football is being further eroded, judging by the make-up of the quarterfinalists in this season's Asian Champions League.The two nations have between them won all but one of the past seven Asian Champions League titles -- with the exception being a penalty shootout loss in the final -- and have been the top dogs ...

Asian mkts sell off on Bernanke remarks China PMI

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:29:54 -0400

Asian markets on Thursday, sending stock prices down, the US dollar to three-year highs, and Japanese government bond yields to their highest in a year. Stock and bond markets took their cue from the drop in US equities and Treasuries after Bernanke's remarks at a Congressional hearing sparked worries of an earlier than expected reduction in US monetary stimulus. A weak manufacturing survey ...

South Korean girl killed by suicide jumper Report

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:21:40 -0400

SEOUL: A seven-year-old South Korean girl was killed instantly after being struck by the body of a man as he plunged from his tenth-floor apartment in an apparent suicide, a report said Thursday. The 40-year-old man jumped from the flat in the southern port of Busan on Wednesday evening and hit the daughter of his neighbour who was emerging from the apartment building, SBS TV station said. The ...

Asia stocks slide as China factory output slips

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:52:55 -0400

Recession in Europe, growth-robbing deflation in Japan and economic anemia in the U.S. have finally caught up with export-hooked China despite the government's attempts at bolstering consumption at ...

Indian Shares Extend Losses On Asian Cues Weak Rupee

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:52:19 -0400

markets lower on Thursday after Fed chief Bernanke hinted at reducing the current pace of bond purchases and preliminary data showed China's manufacturing activity contracted for the first time in seven months in May. The Indian rupee opened at 55.84 against the dollar, hitting a fresh six-month low, weighed down by a stronger dollar and lingering concerns about India's high current ...

Aging Asia to strain worlds long-term economic growth think-tank

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:46:48 -0400

The Asia-Pacific region will continue to power global economic growth in 2013, but the region's increasing aging population will cast a shadow on the long-term development, according to a Canadian think-tank."Productivity gains and a large, young working-age population have done much to boost Asian economic growth over the past three decades. But Asia's demographic dividend is ...

Police Car bomb kills 12 in southwest Pakistan

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:46:41 -0400

QUETTA, Pakistan — A police officer says a car bomb in southwest Pakistan has killed 11 policemen and a civilian. Fayaz Sumbal says the Thursday morning bombing on the outskirts of Quetta city has also wounded about 23 people. He says a remote-controlled bomb in a car parked along a road targeted a vehicle carrying members of the police's special forces. Quetta is the capital of ...

Grounded ship is Philippines last line of defence

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:43:00 -0400

A handful of marines living on a World War II-era ship that is grounded on a remote, tiny reef is the Philippines' last line of defence against China's efforts to control most of the South China ...

Man hacked to death in London attack heightens terror fears

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:13:21 -0400

London military barracks and one then went on video to explain the crime - shouting political statements, gesturing with bloodied hands and waving a meat cleaver. Soon after, arriving police shot and wounded the unidentified assailants and took them into custody. The brutal daylight attack galvanized this city and raised fears that terrorism had returned to London. Authorities did not identify ...

Malaysian charged with sedition over call to protest general election result

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:45:18 -0400

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Prosecutors have filed a sedition charge against a student activist who had urged Malaysians to engage in street protests against the government over claims of election fraud. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition that has governed since 1957 won the May 5 general elections. Opposition officials insist the coalition retained power through bogus ballots and other ...

Building materials blamed in Bangladesh disaster

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:44:46 -0400

DHAKA, Bangladesh -; A government investigation found poor quality construction materials and building code violations were among the "series of irregularities" that caused the collapse of a building housing garment factories last month in Bangladesh, the committee head said ...

Asian Markets Trade Lower On Economic Worries

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:44:02 -0400

economy following a weak manufacturing report from China. The overnight weak close on Wall Street amid doubts about further monetary stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve is also contributing to the weakness in the Asian region.The Australian stock market is trading sharply lower with investors pressing sales at several counters. Financial, consumer staples, industrial, mining and property ...

Amnesty International urges governments to do more for refugees

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:33:47 -0400

LONDON: Human rights group Amnesty International has launched its 2013 annual report into global welfare.The organisation, which focuses mainly on dangers faced by refugees, displaced people and migrants, is now calling on global governments to do ...

Three Chinese ships in disputed waters Japan coastguard

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:33:45 -0400

A Chinese marine surveillance ship cruises near the disputed islets on April 23, 2013. Three Chinese government ships have entered the waters of disputed islands on Thursday, Japan's coastguard said. ...

Asian movies with Western style

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:32:36 -0400

movie s in Taiwan is that I will always see things from a different perspective. My films are about Taiwanese people, but there is a Western sense of humour and film-making style," says the second-generation American. "And there will always be things that only I will notice about the daily lives of Taiwanese, because I find them unique and different. I think the same will happen if I ...

Bangladeshi factory collapse volunteers struggle to sleep haunted by rescue trauma

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:39:43 -0400

MAMUN was hailed a hero for pulling survivors from the ruins of Bangladesh's Rana Plaza factory complex but now he struggles to sleep, haunted by the memory of sawing off a young woman's hand. "I had never even touched the hand of a woman before but it was the only way to save her and the others," said the 22-year-old in an interview ahead of the one-month anniversary of ...

US tornado survivors begin rebuilding their lives President Obama to meet them on Sunday

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:21:12 -0400

Oklahoma City suburb rolled up their sleeves Wednesday under a blazing sun and got down to the long, hard task of rebuilding their lives. Local authorities in Moore deemed it safe for everyone who lived within the 17-mile (27-kilometer) long disaster zone to return to their homes, or what little remained of their homes, to collect whatever belongings they could. Twenty-four people died when the ...

DHL Express Named One of Asia Pacifics Best Employers by Aon Hewitt

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:15:40 -0400

Inaugural wins for 'Best Employer' award in Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea SINGAPORE, May 23 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- DHL, the world's leading logistics company, has been named 'Best Employer' in Asia Pacific for its Express division by Aon Hewitt, a global leader in human resource consulting and outsourcing solutions. Additionally, DHL Express received the 'Best ...

Lawyer Malaysian accused of rape married the girl

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:13:43 -0400

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Prosecutors say they are pursuing rape charges against a Malaysian who allegedly had sex with a 13-year-old and then married ...

Giant freezer offers shelter from fury

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:53:46 -0400

twister as it passed literally on top of them. "I thought it was an earthquake," recalled Michael. "I felt the building was shaking and moving. There were loud noises and banging and wind blowing... I thought only the glass door of the restaurant would be broken, but when we crawled out, everything was gone." Initially, the Zhangs struggled to open the freezer door against the ...

Li moots China-Pak eco corridor

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:53:45 -0400

Li Keqiang on Wednesday linked growth in his country's restive west with that in sluggish Pakistan, saying the two sides wanted to create an "economic corridor" to boost development. Li, on his first overseas trip since taking over in a once-in-a-decade power transfer in Beijing, congratulated Pakistan on its recent general election and hailed the countries' long-standing ...

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy adversely affects child’s mental development

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:53:41 -0400

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy, something rampant among Indian women, adversely affects the child's mental development. A UK study published in medical journal The Lancet on Thursday has shown that iodine - which is consumed mainly via dairy products and seafood - is essential for producing hormones made by the thyroid gland, which have a direct impact on fetal brain development. A ...

Pope lands in exorcism row

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:53:36 -0400

A dispute over whether Pope Francis performed an exorcism intensified with a well-known exorcist insisting that Francis helped ';liberate'; a Mexican man possessed by four different ...

No bank deposits will be spared from confiscation

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:18:16 -0400

] Bank depositors in the UK and USA may think that their bank deposits would not be confiscated as they are insured and no government would dare embark on such a drastic action to bail out insolvent banks. [But] I challenge anyone to prove me wrong that confiscation of bank deposits is legalized daylight robbery Before I explain why confiscation of bank deposits in the UK and US is a certainty ...

Asia Roundup Mixed despite strong Wall Street lead

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:18:14 -0400

Asian shares were mixed yesterday, Wednesday May 22 2013 despite a strong lead from Wall Street as markets awaited testimony from the US Federal Reserve chief, but Tokyo stocks finished at their highest level in five years. Seoul climbed 0.64 per cent, or 12.74 points, to finish at 1,993.83, while Sydney ended down 0.28 percent, or 14.7 points, at 5,165.4. Shanghai closed down 0.12 per cent, or ...

Japan is integral to the future of Asia PM Lee Hsien Loong

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:44 -0400

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Japan is integral to the future of Asia and called on Japan to deepen its strategic engagement with Southeast Asia and the wider ...

French workers’ struggle triggers ‘Kill Mittal’ game

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:09:46 -0400

Lakshmi Mittal to keep a factory open. Players throw barrels and beams at police in the "Kill Mittal" game inspired by the long-lasting -- and ultimately unsuccessful -- struggle in France's northeastern town of Florange to stop the closure of steel blast furnaces owned by Mittal. "This game is not an incitement to violence or to beat up the big bosses. I purposefully chose ...

Coty Inc. to Purchase Established Southeast Asian Distributor

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:07:45 -0400

Coty Inc. , an emerging leader in global beauty, is pleased to announce the agreement to acquire StarAsia, an established distributor of beauty products in the markets of Southeast Asia ...

The Asian Century Is Built On Broadband

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:03:29 -0400

Ben Pobjie Say what you like about Canberra, the city has got guts. And even after a century, the city still comes alive during a good bout of leadership speculation. Ben Pobjie hoists a glass of average chardy to our nation's ...

Asia Markets Tokyo stocks soar as Sydney Seoul retreat

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:57:49 -0400

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Australian and South Korean stocks dropped Thursday on worries the Federal Reserve could downscale its bond purchases, while Japanese shares marched to fresh multiyear highs as several exporters got a lift from the weakened ...

Top Concerns in Asias Unfinished Development Agenda for the Post-MDG Era

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:54:43 -0400

More MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Asia and the Pacific face a daunting unfinished development agenda when the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) expire in 2015. The focus in this fast growing region should be on the glaring gaps in its MDG achievements: eradicating extreme poverty and making better progress on human development, especially reducing infant deaths and improving maternal health. ...

Asian expat workers end rare UAE strike—company

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:08:07 -0400

DUBAI--Thousands of mainly Asian expatriate workers in the United Arab Emirates have ended a strike they began at the weekend in a rare stoppage aimed at improving their conditions, their employer said Wednesday. ';Arabtec confirms that all workers returned to work with no impact on any of its projects,'; the Dubai-based company, which is constructing the Louvre Abu Dhabi, said in a ...

Asean Defence Officials Share Knowledge At Dialogue

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:03:01 -0400

View Comments Bandar Seri Begawan - The Asean Regional Forum Defence Officials' Dialogue (ARF DOD) played out at The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday. Themed The Impact of Social Media on Defence and Security, the forum was chaired by Acting Director of Defence Policy at the Ministry of Defence Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud and attended by senior ARF members. The ...

Immigration bill clears first hurdle in US Senate

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:41 -0400

immigration bill , which offers a path to citizenship for more than 11 million - including over 260,000 Indians - undocumented immigrants and ...

Guptagate India defends plane landing at SA air base

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:40 -0400

PRETORIA/NEW DELHI: After a top Indian diplomat was accused of "manipulation" by South Africa to obtain permission for landing of an aircraft chartered by a well-connected Indian family at a military air base, India has said there was proper "authorization" and that some wedding guests on board the plane had invitation for bilateral engagements. "The senior Indian ...

More courses in English at French universities Storm brews

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:37 -0400

English at universities, amid a storm of controversy in a nation fiercely protective of its identity. The measure, which would also introduce lessons in other languages as part of a wider bill ...

Asia Called Mixed on Fed Minutes

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:55:08 -0400

Minutes from the last Fed policy meeting released on Wednesday noted that "a number of participants expressed willingness" to reduce quantitative easing as early as the June meeting if economic data shows evidence of strong and sustained growth. ...

China Submission by Human Rights Watch to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:37:06 -0400

Submission by Human Rights Watch to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council on the proposed amendments to the Regulations of Education of Persons with Disabilities in ...

Asia-Pacific film festival cultural base to be built in Sanya

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:09:09 -0400

Hongkong’s ITC Properties Group Limited will invest RMB 6 billion in the construction of an Asia-Pacific film festival cultural base in Sanya, Hainan. After the base is completed, an Asia-Pacific film festival and TV festival will be held in Sanya every year, and the base will be the permanent and high-end site of film conventions and exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific area. The ITC ...

HK hails the return of the duck

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:29 -0400

Hong Kong on Tuesday joyfully welcomed the return of a giant inflatable rubber duck, which drew tens of thousands of visitors before it was abruptly deflated for maintenance for almost a week. The southern Chinese city has taken the 16.5-metre-tall (54-feet) yellow inflatable duck, conceived by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, to its heart since it was towed into the harbour on May 2 to cheering ...

China Galaxy soars 11 pct in debut after $1.1 billion HK IPO

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:26 -0400

China Galaxy Securities Co Ltd rose as much as 11.3 percent in its trading debut on Wednesday after raising $1.1 billion in a Hong Kong IPO, underscoring a surge in retail investors’ demand for new listings in the city. The debut of China’s seventh-biggest brokerage, and that of Sinopec Engineering (Group) Co Ltd on Thursday, will be bellwethers for a slew of Hong Kong offerings in ...

Why Taiwan Won’t Let The Philippines Off Easy

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:25 -0400

Veteran Taiwanese political scientist George Tsai cringes at the anti-Philippine hysteria that swept his homeland like a typhoon after May 9. That day Taiwan began its campaign for an apology from Manila over the shooting of a local fisherman. What got into us, asked George Tsai, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy vice president and professor at Chinese Cultural University in Taipei. ...

Taiwan fares well in US’ religious freedom report

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:24 -0400

Religious freedom is ';generally respected'; in Taiwan with no major problems last year, according to an annual US Department of State report issued on Monday. Taiwan’s record was in stark contrast to that of China where – according to the report – Beijing routinely enforces laws that restrict religious freedom. Findings for last year of the International Religious ...

Taiwan Dollar Forwards Gain a Third Day Before Bernanke Speech

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:23 -0400

Taiwan dollar forwards rose for a third day on speculation Federal Reserve Chair Ben S. Bernanke will signal today the need to sustain stimulus policies that have spurred fund flows into emerging markets. Bernanke is due to address Congress today and the Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to release minutes of its last meeting. Fed Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said ...

Kenneth Bae American Jailed In N Korea Spoke Of ‘Collapsing’ Country’s ‘Walls’ In 2009 Sermon

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:19 -0400

A 44-year-old American citizen, jailed last year in North Korea accused of seeking to topple the government, said in 2009 that he wished to ';collapse'; the ';walls'; separating North Korea from the rest of the world and that he had asked US churches to send members to worship in the hermetic communist nation. According to a recently unearthed video, Kenneth Bae, who was ...

Fishermen free but China angry at N Korea

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:17 -0400

The North Koreans have released 16 Chinese fishermen who were captured and held for ransom for a fortnight, but the ordeal has angered its sole ally and trading partner. The owner of the fishing vessel, Yu Xuejun, confirmed the men had been set free yesterday after their boat was seized in waters between China and the rogue ...

N Korea’s hidden labour camps exposed

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:13 -0400

Even with new leader Kim Jong-un at the helm, North Korea remains the most reclusive and closed country in the world: It is a police state inside a totalitarian system ruled by a family dynasty that encourages a cultish ideology and following. The regime controls everything. There is no free speech, free trade, fair court, no Fox News or MSNBC equivalent. Outsiders are not allowed to freely ...

Korea’s Iran crude imports for April down 44.4 pct yy

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:13 -0400

South Korea’s imports of Iranian crude in April fell nearly 45 percent from a year ago to 4.18 million barrels, official data showed on Wednesday, below expectations just ahead of talks with Washington to extend a waiver for US sanctions on Tehran. The world’s No.5 crude buyer and one of Iran’s top four customers bought 139,400 barrels per day (bpd) from Iran in April, up 7.5 ...

S. Korea advised to focus on expanding nuclear exports

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:12 -0400

South Korea’s new administration needs to focus on finding ways to expand its nuclear exports, especially to the Middle East, as it plans to resume talks with the United States on their civilian nuclear cooperation, experts here said Tuesday. Seoul and Washington are moving to hold talks on the issue in Seoul in the first week of June, which would be the first round since they agreed to ...

Greek PM invites China to ‘join Greece’s success story’

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:10 -0400

Officials in Brussels and Washington may view China’s global shopping spree with alarm, as the Asian power house continues to buy up companies, sovereign debt, ports, and bridges around the world. But the Greeks are already dusting off the red carpet. On a five-day visit to Beijing that ended Monday, Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras eagerly invited the Chinese to ';join ...

Yet Another China Growth Downgrade

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:08 -0400

Another week, another downgrade as pessimism spreads about China’s economic prospects. This time it’s UBS Securities (UBS), which cut its 2013 forecast for gross domestic product expansion from 8 percent to 7.7 percent. ';Increasingly evidence suggests that growth will be weaker than we previously envisaged,'; writes Tao Wang, UBS’s chief China economist, in a May 21 ...

China factory blast leaves 13 dead 20 missing

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:06 -0400

A blast which ripped through an explosives plant in China has left 13 people dead and another 20 missing, an official said Tuesday, compounding the country’s poor industrial safety record. Another 19 people were injured in the explosion on Monday at a three-storey workshop owned by Poly Explosives (Jinan), a state-owned company in the eastern province of Shandong, the Xinhua news agency ...

China’s Li offers to help end Pakistan’s energy crisis

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:06 -0400

China and Pakistan should make cooperation on power generation a priority, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said, as Islamabad seeks to end an energy crisis that triggers power cuts of up to 20 hours a day, bringing the economy to a near standstill. Li arrived in the Pakistan capital on Wednesday on the second leg of his first official trip since taking office in March after a visit to ...

Chinese PM on Pakistan visit

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:05 -0400

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Pakistan Wednesday for a two-day visit where he will meet prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif as the long-time allies look to boost trade ties. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) party swept to victory in the May 11 general election on a promise to revitalise Pakistan’s struggling economy and help from its giant neighbour to the north will ...

In film market China allures but also deters

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:04 -0400

In just a few years, China has become the world’s most enticing movie market, but the pitfalls there for foreign filmmakers are many, experts say. Censorship, bureaucracy and piracy head the roster of concerns, according to specialists interviewed in China, Hong Kong and at the Cannes Film Festival. ';China is extremely complicated when it comes to the cinema,'; said Jerome ...

PM Li Keqiang faces litmus test in Pakistan China’s ‘iron brother’

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:03 -0400

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang faces the challenge of meeting conflicting demands for his attention and Beijing’s purse when he lands in Pakistan on Wednesday at the end of his India visit, his first foreign tour after assuming office. Li needs to pay equal attention to the aspirations of newly elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the armed forces led by Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, sources ...

China Space Programme Ramping Up Capabilities Pentagon Says

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:01 -0400

China’s growing space prowess shows no signs of slowing, the US Department of Defense said in its annual report to Congress on military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China. The Pentagon has been carefully monitoring China’s space activities, and pointed out that last year, the country conducted a total of 18 space launches and expanded its ...

China arrests 13 over protest ‘rumours’

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:59:00 -0400

Chinese authorities have arrested 13 people for Internet posts that sparked a rare protest in Beijing, highlighting tensions between officials and migrant workers, police said. The 13 held include the boyfriend of Yuan Liya, a 22-year-old woman who fell to her death from a shopping mall, igniting the hours-long protest by hundreds of people earlier this month, Beijing police said late Tuesday. ...

Japan to Follow Own Path on Abductee Issue With N Korea

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:59 -0400

A senior Japanese official said on Tuesday that Tokyo will stick with its policy of making its own overtures to North Korea on what it believes are abductions of its citizens, dismissing US and South Korean concerns that the North may try to drive a wedge between the three nations. A surprise trip to Pyongyang last week by a top aide to prime minister Shinzo Abe irked Japan’s allies, who ...

Fed’s Bullard Says ECB Needs ‘Aggressive’ QE to Avoid Japan Fate

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:58 -0400

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said Europe risks an extended period of low growth and deflation like Japan’s unless the European Central Bank acts with an aggressive quantitative easing programme. ';You should worry about it, and then take policy action to avoid it,'; Bullard said in Frankfurt today in response to an audience question after a speech. ...

Japan April exports rise 3.8 pct yearyear – MOF

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:55 -0400

Japanese exports rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, marking a second straight month of gains, Ministry of Finance data showed on Wednesday, in a sign that a weaker yen and a pickup in global demand are helping the export-reliant economy. The MOF data also showed that Japan logged a trade deficit in April for a 10th straight month, with higher import costs offsetting export gains due ...

S’pore Japan prime ministers express wish for enhanced bilateral ties

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:53 -0400

The prime ministers of Singapore and Japan have expressed the desire to enhance bilateral ties. Singapore’s prime minister Lee Hsien Loong met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday. In his opening remarks, Abe said both countries share the same values of freedom and democracy. He added Singapore and Japan can work together for peace and stability in the ...

Japan Confronts Pyongyang Abductions

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:52 -0400

A senior Japanese official said Tokyo will make its own overtures to North Korea on what it claims are abductions of Japanese citizens, dismissing US and South Korean concern that the North may try to drive a wedge between the three allies. A surprise trip to Pyongyang last week by Isao Iijima, a senior aide to prime minister Shinzo Abe, irked Japan’s allies, who fear such moves could ...

Japan Keeps Monetary Policy Steady Amid Deflation Fight

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:51 -0400

The Bank of Japan stood pat on monetary policy Wednesday amid market jitters over volatility in bond markets, which has threatened to undermine the country’s battle to end deflation and stimulate growth in the giant economy. In a unanimous vote, the bank’s board stuck to its strategy of expanding the monetary base at an annual pace of 60 trillion yen to 70 trillion yen, or $585 ...

Singapore-KL high-speed rail link looking ‘very attractive’

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:49 -0400

The proposed high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur is looking ';very, very attractive';, though further discussions on the finer details are needed, Malaysian Foreign minister Anifah Aman said yesterday. In his first major press conference since the elections to outline the ministry’s priorities, Datuk Seri Anifah said preliminary studies for the rail link are ...

Tennis Iron woman Zheng stuns Wozniacki in Brussels

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:45:42 -0400

China's Zheng Jie knocked top seed Caroline Wozniacki out of the Brussels Open on Wednesday, just hours after prevailing in a three-set opener held over because of Tuesday's heavy ...

France seeks to brand Hezbollah as terrorist group

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:42:56 -0400

Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday. "Because of the decisions that have been taken by Hezbollah and the fact that they are fighting very harshly the Syrian population, we have decided to ask that the military branch of the Hezbollah would be considered as a terrorist organisation," Fabius told reporters in English. The United States has long designated the Lebanon-based militant group, ...

Short story writer Lydia Davis wins Man Booker International fiction prize

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:49:11 -0400

U.S. author Lydia Davis poses after winning the Man Booker Prize at the V&A Museum in London May 22, 2013. American short story writer Davis won the fifth Man Booker International Prize for fiction on Wednesday for a body of work that includes some of the briefest tales ever published. (LUKE ...

4 Americans killed since 2009 in US drone strikes

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:24 -0400

FILE - In this May 15, 2013, file photo, Attorney General Eric Holder gestures while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington. Four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes since 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Holder said that in conducting U.S. counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida and its associated forces, the government has targeted and ...

Central Coast Mariners Asian Champions League campaign over after Guangzhou loss

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:34:28 -0400

China Central Coast had no answer to the talent assembled so expensively by Guangzhou Evergrande as the A-League champions tumbling out the Asian Champions League on Wednesday with a 3-0 defeat in China.Manager Graham Arnold had stressed the importance of keeping a clean sheet if his side was to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in the round of 16, but Brazilian midfielder Muriqui put Guangzhou ...

Richmonds PriceSmart finds right mix in catering to both Asian and English-speaking shoppers

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:30:18 -0400

METRO VANCOUVER -- While debate continues to burn over a campaign for English sign bylaws to rule over pockets of Chinese business resistance, a supermarket chain has pulled off a cross-cultural culinary coup.Many businesses across the city display dual language signage -- usually English and Chinese, in varying proportions depending on what community you're in.Few, if any, however, can ...

Am. Samoa to keep flier miles for govt travelers

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:31 -0400

By FILI SAGAPOLUTELEAssociated Press PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) - American Samoa plans to take away frequent flier miles from government workers who travel on behalf of the U.S. territory. Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga says the territory will use the miles to help medical patients travel off-island when needed, or help students travel for educational programs. Moliga says Hawaiian Airlines ...

French-Asian consortium announces winning of Canada natural gas project

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:14:48 -0400

PARIS--A consortium comprising French, South Korean and Chinese companies has won a contract for a liquefied natural gas project in Canada, the French partner Technip said on ...

Pakistans Imran Khan leaves hospital for homePakistani politician Imran Khan left hospital Wednesday two weeks after breaking bones in his back in a fall at an election rally a hospital spokesman said.

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:45:31 -0400

Imran Khan left hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after breaking bones in his back in a fall at an election rally, a hospital spokesman said. The 60-year-old was ordered to remain immobile in bed after he fractured vertebrae and a rib in a dramatic tumble just days before the May 11 general election, where his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party made a major breakthrough. Khwaja Nazir, a ...

Soldier beheaded in suspected terror attack in London

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:45:26 -0400

LONDON: In a shocking incident, a soldier aged around 20 years and wearing a T-shirt that read "Help for Heroes" was beheaded in the middle of a road in ...

Thai Same-Sex Marriage Bill Not Without Controversy

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:17:33 -0400

BANGKOK, THAILAND -- As the debate on same-sex marriage continues in Western nations, including the United States, Thailand could become the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage. Thailand is known for its liberal acceptance of sexuality, but the draft same-sex marriage law is not without controversy. This is a traditional Thai wedding, except there is no groom. There are two ...

Asian Water Summit Focuses on Security Disaster

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:17:32 -0400

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND -- Resource experts say many Asian countries face a potential water crisis unless they address mismanagement that could lead to severe shortages of clean water. Other states struggle to contain massive floods. The site of a just-concluded regional summit on the managing water supplies and disasters. There was no sign of a water shortage here in northern Thailand as ...

Guangzhou sink Mariners to reach Asias last eight

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:15:49 -0400

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande marched into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals and underlined their strong title credentials with a convincing 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday.Goals from Muriqui, Dario Conca and Gao Lin took Marcello Lippi's team through with room to spare, as Japan's Kashiwa Reysol also swept into the last eight with a 5-2 ...

MSC to Raise Asia-Europe Rates

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:07:03 -0400

will also increase rates for all dry and refrigerated cargo on its trade from Limassol, Cyprus, to any destination in the Far East, beginning June 1.The hike will be $100 per ...

Iran expanding nuclear activities International Atomic Energy Agency

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:58:57 -0400

Iran is making significant progress in expanding its nuclear programme, including in opening up a potential second route to developing the bomb, a new ...

Britain calls emergency meeting after man killed in London

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:45:59 -0400

1 of 2. Police officers guard a cordon set up around a crime scene where one man was killed was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, ...

Afghanistan Suicide bomber kills anti-Taliban village elder 3 others in busy market

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:44:07 -0400

KABUL - A suicide bomber on foot killed an anti-Taliban village elder and at least three other people in a busy marketplace Wednesday in central Afghanistan, the latest in a wave of assassinations and bombings. Habibullah Khan was killed along with two bodyguards and a civilian bystander in the afternoon attack in Ghazni province's Moqur district, police said. At least 14 civilians were ...

World Briefing | Asia Gold Mine Discovered in Northwest China

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:20:10 -0400

BEIJING ...

Asian elephant calf to meet the public today

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:16 -0400

St. Louis Zoo , makes her public debut today. She will be on view until noon today and again between 2 to 4 p.m. along with her mother Ellie and other members of her extended family. Keepers say the calf is doing well.After today, Priya will be on view, weather permitting, but not at scheduled times. The calf and mother will probably not be on view all ...

Stocks surge as Bernanke retains dovish tone

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:53:23 -0400

LONDON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's signal that monetary policy will remain loose gave stocks another lift Wednesday, paving the way for many indexes to advance to new record highs.Following a run of upbeat U.S. economic news, largely related to housing and jobs, there had been talk in the markets that the Fed may soon put a brake on its super-easy monetary policy, which has ...

India will do all in its power to promote Afghan stability

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:47:34 -0400

India said on Wednesday it will do all within its means to promote stability inAfghanistan after visiting President Hamid Karzai said he had given a military "wishlist" to the Indian ...

Top Asia B-Schools Hosts “Seizing Business and Career Opportunities in the Asian Century”

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:38:33 -0400

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Top Asia B-Schools (TABS), a collaboration of four of the world's highest ranked business schools, will host a free forum exploring Asian business trends and career opportunities on June ...

Morrison Foerster Enhances Asia Pacific Compliance Investigation and Disputes Capabilities by Expanding Singapore ...

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:38:31 -0400

Daniel P. Levison , a member of the firm's FCPA + Anti-Corruption Task Force, has relocated to the firm's Singapore office after more than 12 years in the Tokyo office. Mr. Levison has extensive experience representing clients in cross-border disputes, counseling clients on a wide range of compliance matters and conducting internal investigations across the Asia-Pacific region. His ...

Wagner Kudo propel Kashiwa into Asian Champions League quarterfinals

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:33 -0400

Closer to the goal: Jorge Wagner celebrates after Kashiwa's second goal on Wednesday. Reysol defeated Jeonbuk Motors 3-2 to reach the Asian Champions League quarters. | ...

Man shot dead while being questioned about Boston bombings FBI says

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:17:59 -0400

Ibragim Todashev of Orlando, a Chechen who had previously lived in Boston. Two brothers identified by the FBI as suspects in the April 15 bombings were also ethnic Chechens with roots in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region. The FBI said in a statement that a special agent, "acting on the imminent threat posed by the individual, responded with deadly force. The individual was killed ...

Pervert who put chastity lock on wife gets 10 years in jail

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:17:39 -0400

INDORE: A man, who put a "chastity lock" on his wife in a cruel, self-devised way, was awarded 10 years' rigorous sentence by the court here on Friday though the victim had retracted her statement during the trial. additional sessions judge Avnindra Kumar Singh also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on the accused Sohanlal (38), a mechanic by profession, under sections 326 (causing ...

Asia Crude-MRPL bought Oman oil to replace Iran oil

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:01:29 -0400

NEW DELHI | Wed May 22, 2013 12:01pm EDT NEW DELHI May 22 (Reuters) - India's MRPL has bought 600,000 barrels of Omani crude oil from trader Vitol for lifting in the first half of July, two sources with knowledge of the deal said, as the refiner avoids Iranian oil due to western sanctions. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has also bought about 600,000 barrels of ...

Asian shares mixed Tokyo ends at 5-year high

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:40:10 -0400

A visitor takes a picture of an electronic stock board on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday despite a strong lead from Wall Street as markets awaited testimony from the US Federal Reserve chief, but Tokyo stocks finished at their highest level in five years. AP PHOTO/ITSUO INOUYE HONG KONG--Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday ...

China Pakistan plan economic corridor Li

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:35:52 -0400

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday linked growth in his country's restive west with that in sluggish Pakistan, saying the two sides wanted to create an "economic corridor" to boost ...

Big Asian AFC start by Malditas

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:31:58 -0400

The Philippine Malditas, as promised by their coach, are creating a stir in the Asian AFC Women's Qualifying. The Malditas crushed higher-ranked Iran, 6-0, Tuesday at the start of Group B play at the Bangabandu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Beefed up by several United States-based standouts who have NCAA Division 1 experience, the Malditas dominated the match right from the ...

For Westerners in Asia the Job Market Grows Tougher

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:31:07 -0400

Unfortunately, her Mandarin is limited -- and because of that, she has struggled to find a new job in Hong Kong, a city that once welcomed her with open ...

FBI shoots kills man linked to Boston bomb suspect report

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:22:49 -0400

MIAMI: An FBI agent Wednesday fatally shot a Florida man who allegedly had ties to one of the Boston bombings suspects, US media reported.Ibragim Todashev, 27, was shot in the city of Orlando, Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.Todashev became violent while being interviewed by the FBI, NBC News reported.Todashev was reported to be a friend of deceased Boston bombing suspect ...

Indian medics reconstruct babys swollen head

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:22:48 -0400

Indian doctors said Wednesday they have successfully carried out a first round of reconstructive surgery on the skull of a baby suffering from a rare disorder that caused her head to nearly double in ...

Bangladesh panel blames building owner for disaster

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:22:47 -0400

The head of an official inquiry into the collapse of a Bangladesh factory complex said Wednesday the building's owner was the "main culprit" in the disaster because he violated building ...

Retarus Boosts Presence in Asia

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:13:05 -0400

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Retarus is continuing to expand its position as a leading global provider of professional messaging services. As part of its international expansion plans, Retarus has established retarus (Asia) Pte. Ltd. in Singapore to strengthen its presence in Asia. Retarus has had a representative office in Singapore for a number of years now. The formation of ...

Asia GasolineNaphtha-Gasoline up on Indian demand

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:13:04 -0400

SINGAPORE, May 22 (Reuters) - The Asian gasoline margin reached a 1-1/2 week high of $8.71 a tonne on Wednesday, supported by tighter supplies in India due to summer holiday demand coinciding with a refinery outage and maintenance. India's BPCL is seeking 25,000 tonnes of 91-octane gasoline for delivery into Kochi, located in the west coast, over first-half of June, making this ...

Asian Gold Premiums Hit New Highs as Europe Urged to Start Agressive QE

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:06:32 -0400

London Gold Market ReportBULLION prices rose throughout Asian and early London trade on Wednesday morning, touching $1398 per ounce for the third time this week and recovering 4.4% from Monday's one-month low.Silver rose more steadily, and was capped below $22.80 as energy prices slipped and agricultural commodities held flat.Tuesday's retreat in the gold price today ...

Hamid Karzai in Delhi gives India military equipment wish list

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:51:22 -0400

Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday he had given a "wish list" of military equipment to India during his visit this week, presenting a conundrum for New Delhi as it weighs whether arming the Afghan army is in its interests. India wants to stabilize Afghanistan and is concerned about the resurgence of militant groups after foreign combat troops leave in 2014. However, arming Afghanistan would ...

Gunmen kill 12 at Baghdad brothel Officials

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:51:18 -0400

gunmen shot dead at least seven women and five men at a brothel in Baghdad on Wednesday, security and medical officials said. The attack took place in the capital's eastern area of Zayouna, where a number ...

Montana parents quit Singapore inquest into sons death

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:03:59 -0400

HELENA --The Veterans Affairs Montana Health Care System is preparing for a major renovation of its hospital at Fort Harrison, creating ...

AirAsia profit falls nearly 40 in 1st quarter

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:01:53 -0400

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia, Asia's largest low-cost carrier by fleet size, said Wednesday that first-quarter net profit fell 39 per cent year-on-year due to ...

Nestle expands Singapore RD amid Asia market growth

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:41:43 -0400

Photo from http://www.nestle.com.sg/ GENEVA -- Swiss-based global food giant Nestle said Wednesday that it had expanded its research and development operations in Singapore, amid robust Asian market growth. Nestle said that it invested almost 4.0 million Swiss francs (3.2 million euros, $4.1 million) to extend its research facility, and would this year add 20 jobs to the current team of 100. ...

Swedens capital Stockholm hit by worst riots in years

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:34:36 -0400

The riots in one of Europe's richest capitals have shocked a country that prides itself on a reputation for social justice, and fuelled a debate about how Sweden is coping with both youth unemployment and an influx of ...

Oil stays near $96 before crude stocks report Fed

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:32:58 -0400

The price of oil was little changed above $96 a barrel Wednesday as investors waited confirmation of a rise in U.S. crude stocks and the Federal Reserve's latest views on the U.S. ...

UPDATE 1-Nomura eyes Asia alliances boosts Japan asset target

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:21:11 -0400

Wed May 22, 2013 8:21am EDT (Recasts, adds COO comments and details) By Nathan Layne TOKYO May 22 (Reuters) - Japan's largest brokerage firm Nomura Holdings Inc said on Wednesday it was seeking partners to expand its retail and asset management operations in Southeast Asia and was in talks with several financial institutions in the region. Chief Operating Officer Atsushi Yoshikawa did not ...

Japan watchdog Nuclear plant sits on active fault

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:04:51 -0400

TOKYO -; Japan's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday endorsed a panel's conclusion that a seismic fault running underneath one of two reactors at an atomic plant in western Japan is active, making the reactor's restart virtually ...

Death toll rises to 23 in China factory blast

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:04:47 -0400

The blast was so strong that 10 of those killed could only be identified by their DNA. Experts from the State Administration of Work Safety have been sent to the factory and are investigating the cause of the ...

Investors edgy ahead of Bernanke testimony

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:04:46 -0400

LONDON -; Investors were edgy Wednesday ahead of the appearance of U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke before lawmakers in ...

Pakistan court rejects Musharraf bail in judges case

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:51:09 -0400

Pervez Musharraf over the detention of judges during his 1999-2008 rule, the state prosecutor said. The ruling came two days after a court granted bail to Musharraf over the murder of former prime ...

Asia Fuel Oil-Cash market sluggish eye on July supply flows

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:20 -0400

SINGAPORE, May 22 (Reuters) - Asia fuel oil cash premiums remained sluggish on Wednesday on oversupply, but there was growing consensus among traders that arbitrage flows in the backend of June would be thin, providing a floor for prices. Asia cash premiums for the 380-centistoke (cst) benchmark for the marine fuels market were pegged at 25 cents a tonne, steady to levels seen in ...

Hershey Opens Asia Innovation Center in Shanghai

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:19 -0400

Innovation a key driver for Hershey's Asia growth As part of the company's strategy to drive global growth and innovation, The Hershey Company ( ) today announced the opening of its new Asia Innovation Center located in Shanghai, China. Hershey's new Asia Innovation Center, located at the Jinqiao Golden Bridge Research Park in the Pudong District of Shanghai, is a ...

Asia Distillates-Ultra low sulphur diesel premium falls

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:17 -0400

SINGAPORE, May 22 (Reuters) - The Asian ultra low sulphur diesel premium fell to a more than six-week low on Wednesday as arbitrage economics to send the cargoes to Europe remained firmly shut on weak European demand, industry sources said. The cash premium for the 10 ppm sulphur diesel premium fell 12 cents to $1.66 a barrel above Singapore quotes, lowest since April 8 when it ...

Gupta family wedding scandal India says plane landed after proper authorization

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:24:23 -0400

This picture courtesy of the Gupta family shows Vela Gupta and her husband Indian-born Aaskash Jahajgarhia posing with relatives and guests during ceremonies for their wedding in Sun City, South Africa, on May 1, 2013. (AFP ...

Chinese premier visits Pakistan praises ties

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:55:39 -0400

A man walks next to huge portraits of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, right, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, left, displayed near the presidency in Islamabad, Pakistan. Keqiang will arrive in Islamabad on May 22 on a two day official visit to hold talks with Pakistani leadership to discuss international, regional issues and enhance co-operation in bilateral ties. (AP Photo/Anjum ...

China demand drives Asian gold bar premiums to record highs

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:51:59 -0400

- Premiums for gold bars hit a record high in Asia on Wednesday as lower spot prices lured more buyers, mainly in China, the world's second biggest consumer of the precious metal, amid tight physical ...

SE Asia Stocks-Singapore up on earnings hopes Thai shares fall

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:35:54 -0400

BANGKOK, May 22 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose to new highs on Wednesday on light to moderate volume and ahead of U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony in Congress, with expectations of improved earnings forecasts supporting Singapore shares. Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.3 percent at 3,454.37, reversing Tuesday's fall, led by ...

Dark future for womens rights in Afghanistan

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:19:26 -0400

determined that some 400 women and girls were locked away in Afghan prisons and juvenile detention facilities for the 'moral crime' of running away from home or having sex outside of marriage. My organisation, Human Rights Watch, reported those findings. Some 18 months later, things have really changed. For the ...

Power of Moore OK tornado dwarfs Hiroshima bomb

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:52:36 -0400

Everything had to come together just perfectly to create the killer tornado in Moore, Okla.: wind speed, moisture in the air, temperature and timing. And when they did, the awesome energy released over that city dwarfed the power of the atomic bomb that leveled ...

World stocks mixed ahead of Fed chief testimony

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:48:28 -0400

BANGKOK -; World stock markets were mixed Wednesday, hours before Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is to deliver remarks before Congress on the state of the U.S. ...

Asian Stocks Rise On Fed Speculation

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:47:42 -0400

Asian stocks rose broadly on Wednesday, encouraged by a positive lead from Wall Street, after comments from two Federal Reserve officials suggested the Federal Reserve is unlikely to taper its $85 billion-per-month bond-buying program anytime soon. Investors look forward to a speech from the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and the release of FOMC May minutes due out later in the day for clues on the ...

Japan nuclear reactor atop active fault regulator

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:37:34 -0400

Japan's nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday that one reactor was sitting directly above an active tectonic fault, effectively ruling out a restart ...

India slum thrives as tourist attraction

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:37:33 -0400

The word slum conjures up images and deprivation and poverty. But Mumbai's Dharavi slum in India is estimated to generate an annual business turnover of $650 million as a tourist ...

Abes view of history upsets many in Asia the US

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:34:58 -0400

Back in February, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave a speech at a Washington think tank on the theme "Japan Is Back" that was widely interpreted as a bid to revive his country's long-stagnant economy through drastic policy changes. "Abenomics", as these proposals have been dubbed, is a kind of shock therapy that includes stimulus spending, a loose-money policy and a weaker ...

Chinese PM pledges stronger partnership with Pakistan

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:43:16 -0400

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang vowed to strengthen his country's partnership with Pakistan as he arrived Wednesday for a visit less than two weeks after the country's general election.The long-time allies will look to use the two-day trip to boost trade ties, and Li will meet prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif -- who has not yet been sworn in -- as well as holding talks ...

Chinese premier begins 2-day visit to Pakistan

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:40:44 -0400

Octogenarians race to be oldest Everest climber

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:40:43 -0400

In this Friday, May 17, 2013 photo distributed by Miura Dolphins, 80-year-old Japanese adventurer Yuichiro Miura, right, and his son, Gota, rest on their way to a camp at 6,500 meters (21,325 feet) from a camp at 6,050 meters (19,849 feet) during their attempt to scale the summit of Mount Everest. According to his management office, Miura plans to reach the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak on ...

Japan approves joining intl child abduction pact

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:40:40 -0400

TOKYO -; Japan's parliament has approved joining an international child custody treaty amid foreign concerns that Japanese mothers can take children away from foreign fathers without ...

Sunbathing crocodile shocks Indonesian beachgoers

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:34:43 -0400

JAKARTA--Hundreds of sunbathers fled a popular Indonesian beach in panic when a four-meter (13-foot) crocodile laid down next to them to soak up some rays, an official said Wednesday. Crowds were thronging the beach at Balikpapan on Borneo island at the weekend when the 500 kilogram (1,100 pound) reptile crawled ashore. ';The crocodile was spotted sunbathing near the lifeguard post on ...

China to host conference of Asian parties

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:33:51 -0400

China will host a special conference of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), according to the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).The conference will run under the theme, "Promote green development and build a beautiful Asia together," and be held in Xi'an, capital city of northwestern China's ...

Japanese PM to visit Myanmar for first time in 36 years

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:33:27 -0400

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Myanmar from May 24 to 26 to boost bilateral economic ties, becoming the first prime minister to visit the Southeast Asian country in 36 years, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday.During his visit, Abe, who will be accompanied by a group of Japanese business leaders, is expected to hold talks with Myanmar's leaders and ...

Asia-Pacific real estate investment trusts gain 18 in first four months of year

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:29:26 -0400

Property trusts across the Asia-Pacific have performed impressively in recent months, led by a surge in the value of Japanese real estate investment trusts (Reits). Reits in Japan gained 29.8 per cent in the first four months of this year, pulling up the region to an overall gain of 18.1 per cent in the same period. Singapore Reits were the next best performers, with a 14.7 per cent gain in the ...

Riding out Oklahoma tornado in a walk-in freezer A survivors tale

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:27:44 -0400

tornado ever bore down on her Chinese restaurant, folks could take refuge in its roomy walk-in freezer. On Monday, Zhang got the chance to test their idea -- and to live to tell the tale -- when one of the most powerful and destructive twisters to hit the United States in recent years ripped through this Oklahoma City suburb. "I'm so lucky," she said, over and over, as she told her ...

Chinese Premier arrives in Pak on two-day visit

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:27:38 -0400

Li Keqiang was accorded a red carpet welcome as he arrived here today on a two-day maiden visit to "iron brother" Pakistan for talks on bilateral and regional issues focusing economic cooperation. ...

Fishermen pay price in Asia’s volatile sea rifts

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:19:50 -0400

MASINLOC, Philippines--Along the northwestern Philippine coast, poor children with claw hammers clamber aboard an abandoned fishing vessel to pry loose and steal rusty nails from its deck. It’s become a familiar sight in villages where some fishermen have been forced to give up their livelihoods since China took control of their fishing haven last year. Fishermen say Chinese maritime ...

Asian equities are supported by the soft Fed comments yesterday

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:15:52 -0400

EUR/USD initially failed to extend the tentative short-term uptrend that started on Monday. EUR/USD tried to regain the 1.29 mark at the onset of trading in Europe. However, as was the case on Friday evening and earlier yesterday in Asia, this was a too high hurdle. EUR/USD gradually drifted south and reversed a big part of Monday's rebound. There was hardly any news. European equities ...

The dollar edged down against the yen in early Asian trade on Wednesday

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:15:51 -0400

Good Morning, - EUR/USD trade to one week high above 1.29...market awaits Bernanke testimony. - Asian shares: Japan's Nikkei +1.60%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng close, Korea's Kospi +0.64%, Australia's ASX 200 -0.17% and China's Shanghai -0.12%. - ECB's Liikanen urges open mind on asset-backed securities. - St. Louis Fed President James Bullard and New York Fed President ...

6 kids among 7 injured in south China knife attack

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:59:57 -0400

BEIJING (AP) -- Authorities in southern China say a mentally ill man stabbed six primary school students and an adult in the latest of several attacks on Chinese ...

Afghan students protest womens rights decree

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:59:57 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Hard-line Islamist students are protesting in the Afghan capital demanding the repeal of a presidential decree for women's rights that they say is ...

Australia set to cull 10000 wild horses

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:36:48 -0400

SYDNEY (AFP) - A controversial cull of up to 10,000 wild horses in Australia's harsh Outback reportedly began Wednesday in a bid to control the feral animals which officials say are destroying the land.The Central Land Council said animals -- including horses, donkeys and camels -- were dying in their thousands due to a lack of food and water and a cull was necessary on humanitarian and ...

Weak yen a help for Japan but headache elsewhere

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:34:27 -0400

TOKYO -; A steady decline in the yen is proving a godsend for exporters such as Toyota and has won solid support from Japan's main trading partners, who are betting the impact on their own currencies will be offset by gains from a recovery in the world's third-largest economy. It's not such good news for entrepreneurs like Thamonwan Thawornthaweewong, whose Angry Bird fish balls, ...

Business Briefs May 22

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:28:22 -0400

* May 30 is the ex-dividend date of Cotec Construction JSC (CTD) to receive dividend of the second round 2012 in cash at a rate of 10 percent. The final registration day is June 3. The payment date is June 17. * May 30 is the ex-dividend date of CNG Vietnam JSC (CNG) to receive dividend of the third round 2012 in cash at a rate of 15 percent. The final registration day is June 3. The payment ...

North Korea names hawkish general new military chief

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:27:58 -0400

AP FILE PHOTO SEOUL – North Korea has appointed as its new military chief a hawkish general, widely believed to have directed the 2010 shelling of a South Korean border island, state media confirmed Wednesday. In a brief dispatch, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) referred to Kim Kyok-Sik as chief of the Korean People’s Army general staff, a notch higher in the military hierarchy ...

US summit will help reduce suspicion China media

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:23:17 -0400

Chinese state media on Wednesday welcomed news of the firstsummit between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama, saying the meeting will help "reduce suspicions" in the ...