News Archives

Mystery of Japanese tanker damage probed
An investigation has been launched into the unexplained damage suffered by a Japanese oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. Thai grenade blast injures one in Bangkok
A grenade has exploded in the Thai capital Bangkok, police say, leaving one man seriously injured and raising fears of further civil unrest. North Korea UN talks go ahead after US military drill
Colonels from North Korea and the US have met under UN auspices for a third round of talks. Rare tortoise sold openly at Indonesian expo
The most endangered tortoise in the world is being sold at an exposition in the Indonesian capital, highlighting concerns over Jakarta's illegal pet trade. China searches river for missing chemical barrels
Emergency teams in north-east China are continuing to search a major river for barrels of toxic chemicals. China’s Instant Cities
The construction sites, surrounded by concrete walls, are almost impossible to enter without a guide who knows how to get past suspicious guards. But once inside, it’s like entering a science fiction novel. Indonesia Moves to Block Pornographic Web Sites
Indonesia is taking steps to block pornographic Web sites before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the country’s information minister said Thursday, defying local criticism that the plan amounted to censorship and was unworkable. U.S. to Add to Sanctions on N. Korea
The Obama administration announced that it would impose further economic sanctions against North Korea, focusing on dealings that the North Korean government uses to generate hard currency to pay off cronies and cling to power. China Warily Eyes U.S.-Korea Drills
The United States and South Korea announced Tuesday that the first in a series of large-scale naval exercises off Japan and the Korean Peninsula would begin next week, despite objections from China. G.M., Eclipsed at Home, Soars to Top in China
Asian car companies knocked GM off its perch on its home turf, but the favor is being returned. Singapore Releases UK Author In Defamation Case
Singapore released on bail Tuesday a British author arrested two days earlier as part of a criminal defamation investigation related to his book on the city-state's death penalty policy. ASEAN Urges Myanmar To Hold Free, Fair Election
Southeast Asian foreign ministers gave Myanmar's military-run government an "earful" while demanding that it hold free and fair elections - a rare stand by the cautious group often accused of overlooking rights abuses in member nations. China Vows To Stop Restaurant Reuse Of Cooking Oil
Chinese call it "gutter oil" - a foul slop fished up from sewage drains or collected at restaurant back doors - and it's being used widely in the country's eateries. Driver Error May Have Caused Indian Train Crash
A train that slammed into another in an eastern Indian station was traveling three times faster than it should have been and ignored signals to stop, railway officials said Tuesday, suggesting that driver error was behind the crash that killed 63 people. US, SKorea To Conduct Military Drills Next Week
The U.S. and South Korea will launch joint military exercises this weekend to sharpen their readiness against North Korean aggression, the allies' defense chiefs said Tuesday, despite warnings from Pyongyang that the drills would deepen tensions on the peninsula. Fast food 'fuelling Asia diabetes boom'
Many Vietnamese have diabetes but are unaware of it - and the condition is spreading fast in South East Asia, scientists have warned. Japan broadcaster halts sumo coverage over scandal
Japan's public broadcaster says it will not show the next sumo tournament live because of a gambling scandal that has engulfed the sport. China targets 'vulgar' advertising for online games
The Chinese government is to ban online games companies from using sex, gambling or violence to promote their products. Taiwan lawmakers scuffle over China trade bill
Lawmakers exchanged punches and threw garbage bins at each other Thursday in another raucous session in Taiwan's legislature after the speaker rejected an opposition bid to conduct a detailed debate on a contentious trade pact with China. Repeat of SKorea, US cyberattacks does no damage
Hundreds of computers that helped cause a wave of outages on U.S. and South Korean government websites last July launched new attacks on the same sites, but no major interference was reported, police said Thursday.