Asia Regional News:

This page lists recent news items about selected countries in Asia. Click on any of the links to read the full news story in a separate window.

Please Note: All news stories are copyrighted by the respective content providers. The headlines and descriptions presented on this page are updated frequently. The appearance of any particular news item on this page does not mean that the author of this site endorses or otherwise agrees with the facts or opinions stated in that item.

Links to Asian News Organizations:

Kuensel Online: Bhutan's National Newspaper:  Find out what's happening in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, where the government concentrates on developing "gross national happiness."

The Japan Times:  News (in English) from the Land of the Rising Sun.

NepalNews.com:  News from the Kingdom of Nepal.

Bangkok Post:  News (in English) from Thailand.

Links to Other News Organizations With News About Asia:

BBC: Asia-Pacific News

BBC: South Asia News

New York Times: Asia-Pacific News:  (Registration may be required, but it's free.)

---

Asia Headlines:

Afghanistan Civilian Deaths Hit Record, U.N. Says The majority of civilians died at the hands of the Taliban and other insurgents whose use of homemade bombs was more prevalent and whose suicide bombers killed more each time.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:06:31 GMT]

At War Blog: Can You Name This Cluster Bomb? At War journeys into crowd-sourcing to ask for readers' help identifying a weapon found on the battlefields of Libya last year.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:20:43 GMT]

At War Blog: Name the Cluster Bomb, an Update After a day of comments from readers via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook, questions still remain about cluster bombs in Libya. Who made the dual purpose improved conventional munition bombs, when and where?

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:08:08 GMT]

Bonanza in Hong Kong From Mainland's Boom The territory has accumulated a rainy-day fund equal to more than a year and a half of government spending.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:01:02 GMT]

Cold Weather Kills Children in Afghan Refugee Camps In the past month, at least 22 Afghan children under the age of 5 have frozen to death in refugee camps in Kabul, prompting deep concerns among aid workers.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:43:50 GMT]

Frigid Temperatures Claim Lives of Children in Kabul At least 22 children have died in camps in Kabul in the past month, including 14 at the Nasaji Bagrami camp.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:50:06 GMT]

In Beijing, Razing of Historic House Stirs Outrage The demolition of a historic house in the imperial city, once home to famous architects who championed preservation, was a cruel blow to Chinese conservationists.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:40:08 GMT]

In Chinese Village of Wukan, Protesters Become Voters Less than two months after staging a bold protest against official corruption, thousands of people in the village of Wukan cast their first ostensibly independent votes on Wednesday.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:24:47 GMT]

In Myanmar, Karen Rebels Deny Signing a Cease-Fire The defiant stance of the rebels’ leadership appears to be a significant setback for the government’s efforts to end ethnic and civil conflicts that have divided the country for decades.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:30:06 GMT]

India Ink: A Conversation With Meenal Baghel The journalist turned author talks about her first book, based on the gruesome murder of a Mumbai television executive.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:58 GMT]

India Ink: A Virtual Tour of the India Art Fair 2012 Swiss curator Nadia Schneider on contemporary artists from India and Pakistan.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:58:03 GMT]

India Ink: Image of the Day: February 3 Passenger train derailed following an accident in northeast India.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:10:46 GMT]

India Ink: Newswallah: Bollywood Edition Weekly round-up of news from the Bollywood industry.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:12:00 GMT]

Indian Court Cancels Contentious Wireless Licenses The ruling by the Supreme Court was a rebuke to the government and came after years of litigation over a scandal involving telecommunications licenses sold at below-market prices.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:01:03 GMT]

Letter from India: Rethinking the Mother of All Exams For generations, one exam has determined the fate of millions of young Indians -- affecting their schooling, job prospects and even marriages. The government now hopes to change that.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:37 GMT]

Looking Forward, Fiji Turns to Its Canoeing Past The traditional canoe is at the center of several projects aimed at reducing Fiji’s energy consumption, providing cheaper transport, keeping local traditions alive and giving a boost to tourism.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:27:20 GMT]

Man Dressed as Afghan Soldier Kills NATO Service Member A NATO soldier was killed on Tuesday in southern Afghanistan when a man wearing an Afghan Army uniform turned his gun on him.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:37 GMT]

Memo From South Korea: Behind New North Korean Leader, a Well-Oiled Machine The packaging of Kim Jong-un as the embodiment of the North’s still widely revered founding president suggests a well-oiled machine is at work to create a new leader.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:15 GMT]

More Than 100 Missing in Papua New Guinea Ferry Sinking Hampered by poor weather, rescue workers pressed their search on Friday off the coast of Papua New Guinea for survivors of a ferry that sank the day before.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:00:40 GMT]

More Than 200 Rescued After Ferry Sinks Off Papua New Guinea The vessel, the MV Rabaul Queen, went down off Papua New Guinea’s northeast coast.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:50:16 GMT]

Myanmar: Total of Freed Political Prisoners Is Updated Amnesty International has now counted at least 299 political prisoners released by the government among the total of 651 prisoners who were let out of confinement last month.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:37 GMT]

NATO Plays Down Optimistic Views of Taliban Captives A NATO report based on interrogations portrays an insurgency convinced it is winning even as the United States and its allies enter what they hope will be the Afghan war’s final phase.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:49:01 GMT]

Nepal Releases Thousands of Former Maoist Fighters The fate of the Maoist fighters, who had been living in encampments under guard for the past six years, has been a key sticking point in Nepal’s still incomplete peace process.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:00:40 GMT]

North Korea Renews Demands for Improved Relations With South North Korea on Thursday issued a long list of strident demands that it said South Korea should meet before ties could improve between the two Koreas.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:58:04 GMT]

Obama Glad to Debate Romney on Afghanistan Pullout President Obama seems happy to debate his Republican critics about an Afghanistan withdrawal timetable that is politically popular.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:25:59 GMT]

Obama Got Letter on Talks, Maybe From Taliban Leader The unsigned letter purporting to be from Mullah Muhammad Omar was sent last year and also pressed the president to release Taliban prisoners.

[Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:00:32 GMT]

Pakistan Court to Charge Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani With Contempt Pakistan’s highest court said on Thursday it would charge Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani with contempt of court for refusing to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:50:16 GMT]

Pakistan Reveals Prime Minister Gilani Was Sent Anthrax The package, intercepted by security officers in October, would be an anomaly, an assassination attempt using biological weapons and not a suicide or bomb attack.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:50:06 GMT]

Panetta Moves Up End to U.S. Combat Role in Afghanistan Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta cast the decision as an orderly step in the withdrawal, but it was the first time the United States had put a date on stepping back from its central role.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:09:10 GMT]

Panetta Says U.S. Will Keep Fighting in Afghanistan Reacting to concerns by NATO allies, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta sought to clarify that American troops would not step back entirely from combat next year.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:50:10 GMT]

Philippine Officials Say Raid Killed Senior Militants In an early-morning raid, the government killed a top leader of a regional terror network with links to Al Qaeda, as well as other suspects wanted by the United States.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:40:12 GMT]

South Korea Indicts Park Jung-geun Over Twitter Posts South Korean prosecutors indicted Park Jung-geun, a social media and freedom of speech activist this week for reposting messages from the North Korean government’s Twitter account.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:18:14 GMT]

The N.B.A. Is Missing Its Shots in China China loves basketball. But as American players — and the N.B.A. itself — have discovered, the country has its own rules.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:56:40 GMT]

To Combat Modern Ills, Korea Looks to the Past Confucian academies, or seowon, are drawing more students in a growing campaign to reawaken interest in Confucian teachings.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:37 GMT]

U.S. Envoy Pushes for Improved Ties Between Koreas A senior American diplomat said on Wednesday that Washington wanted North Korea to improve ties with South Korea before it would resume talks with leaders in Pyongyang.

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:08 GMT]

With Risk, Japanese City Takes On Once Accepted Fact of Life: Its Gangsters Kitakyushu has declared war on the yakuza, just as authorities say any romantic aura that may have enveloped gangsters in the past is falling away in Japanese society.

[Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:30:10 GMT]

World Briefing | Asia: China: Crackdown’s Critics Disputed China’s state-run news media lashed back at critics of a security crackdown in Sichuan Province, that has left several wounded and dead, saying that the actions of police officers were “to defend themselves according to the law.”

[Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:40:08 GMT]

 

Asia Ship Recycling Summit 2009 Will Be Held by CBI China Biz.yahoo.com - Thu Jun 4, 10:59 am GMT

Asia stocks fall as risk taking pauses Washingtonpost.com - Thu Jun 4, 08:40 am GMT

Asia stocks fall but dollar steady News.stv.tv - Thu Jun 4, 10:42 am GMT

Asia stocks fall, dollar steady after U.S. data Article.wn.com - Thu Jun 4, 08:39 am GMT

Asia stocks fall, dollar steady after US data Article.wn.com - Thu Jun 4, 08:53 am GMT

Asia Stocks: Nikkei Falls 0.7% Online.wsj.com - Thu Jun 4, 01:26 pm GMT

Asia Stocks: Nikkei Falls 0.8% Online.wsj.com - Thu Jun 4, 11:25 am GMT

Asian markets fall on less optimistic news Biz.thestar.com.my - Thu Jun 4, 10:49 am GMT

Asian Shares End Mostly Lower; Resource Stocks Lead fall Online.wsj.com - Thu Jun 4, 09:52 am GMT

Asian stock markets fall after US data disapp Wjla.com - Thu Jun 4, 08:59 am GMT

Asian stock markets fall after US data disappoint News.yahoo.com - Thu Jun 4, 07:28 am GMT

CORRECTED-SE Asia Stocks-Thai stocks at 8-mth high Iii.co.uk - Thu Jun 4, 03:27 am GMT

Drama writers from Asia foster ties at c... Koreaherald.co.kr - Thu Jun 4, 04:14 pm GMT

Germany takes five uncapped players to Asia Topnews.in - Thu Jun 4, 08:12 am GMT

GLOBAL MARKETS - Asia stocks fall as risk taking pauses In.reuters.com - Thu Jun 4, 08:41 am GMT

Knock It Off: One Thai Museum's Quest to Educate Asia About Counterfeiting Time.com - Thu Jun 4, 09:10 am GMT

Oil prices higher in Asian trade Article.wn.com - Thu Jun 4, 09:15 am GMT

Online spending in Asia holds up despite slump: Survey Article.wn.com - Thu Jun 4, 02:42 pm GMT

SE Asia Stocks-Most indices higher, Thai shares extend gains Iii.co.uk - Thu Jun 4, 11:31 am GMT

Sensex can outperform its Asian peers: Morgan Stanley Article.wn.com - Thu Jun 4, 10:12 am GMT

 

---

Japan:

$13bn bailout for Japan nuke operator likely Reuters/Tokyo The owner of Japans stricken nuclear reactor, Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), will agree to be taken over by the government in a near-$13bn bailout, sources said yesterday, even as the country debates the future of nuclear power. The [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:44:00 GMT]

4 perish in early-morning fires in Kanagawa, Chiba Four people died in fires that destroyed their residences in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Oamishirasato, Chiba Prefecture, on Friday morning. Fire department officials in Kanagawa said that at 1 a.m., a passerby called 119 to report a house on [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:45:00 GMT]

ADB to issue 2nd water bond to Japanese investors Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 GMT]

BLIFE INVESTMENT COR: Notice Concerning Change of Property Management and Master Lease Company at Owned Property Investment Corporation: Daiwa House Residential Investment Corporation 7th Floor, Nissei Nagatacho Building 2-4-8 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Michio Taki, Executive Director (Code Number: 8984) Asset Manager: Daiwa House Asset Management Co., Ltd. Yuji [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:41:00 GMT]

Foreign workers in Japan up 5.6% in Oct. from year earlier Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 GMT]

FOREX: Yen Outperforms as Traders Look Past US GDP to EU Summit _ The Yen is poised to extend overnight gains as markets look past the limited implications of the US GDP report to focus on the upcoming EU leaders’ summit. Talking Points Traders Likely to Look Past US GDP Data, Focus on EU Leaders’ Summit Japanese [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:39:00 GMT]

FOREX-Yen jumps most in a month as hedge funds pile in 2:45am EST * USD/JPY dips early on exporter selling * Extends losses as speculators target stops at 77.20, 77.00 * Euro among best performers this week, up 1.7 pct vs USD * Aussie, NZD near 3-month peaks after USD post-Fed dip By Antoni Slodkowski TOKYO, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:39:00 GMT]

HSBC names Japan business head APBankers articles are only available to registered users. Register FREE now for increased access It's quick, easy and you'll be able to read up to 10 articles per month FREE. Enter your email for quick registration If you already have an account, Click [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:40:00 GMT]

Japan failed to keep records of key nuke meetings Tokyo: Japan's Deputy Prime Minister says the government failed to take minutes of 10 meetings held to formulate its response to the country's nuclear crisis last year and called for officials to compile reports on the meetings retroactively. The missing [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:40:00 GMT]

Message: This news feed will stop on Jan 23 2012. Thank you for your custom. Sponsored Link [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:45:00 GMT]

NEC to reduce headcount by 10,000 as forecast FY 2012 loss revised to Yen 100bn more ... Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:44:00 GMT]

Nintendo triples net loss forecast to US$837m TOKYO: Game giant Nintendo said Thursday it expected to lose 65 billion yen ($837 million) this year, more than three times the amount it had earlier predicted.Citing a strong yen and price cuts, the Kyoto-based firm also downgraded its annual sales [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:42:00 GMT]

Nintendo: Wii U will launch in time for 2012 holiday season, use touch-card tech Nintendo said Friday its next-generation Wii U game console will launch in time for the holiday season in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Nintendo said Friday its next-generation Wii U game console will launch in time for the holiday season in the U.S., [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:44:00 GMT]

Nintendo: Wii U will launch in time for 2012 holiday season, use touch-card tech Nintendo said Friday its next-generation Wii U game console will launch in time for the holiday season in the U.S., Europe and Japan. The successor to the popular Wii console will integrate a popular touch-card technology into its controllers. Nintendo [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:39:00 GMT]

Panasonic offers wireless broadband service to connect its products Home » Networking » Panasonic launched a wireless broadband service in Japan this week that is intended to encourage customers to use its coming wave of Internet-ready appliances and services. Panasonic launched a wireless broadband service in Japan [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:44:00 GMT]

REG - NTT DOCOMO, INC - 3rd Quarter Results � [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:38:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Snack Bars In Japan Report - Forecasts to 2016 - Convenience Stores and Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Gain Ground Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/365844/snack_bars_in_japa) has announced the addition of the "Snack Bars In Japan" report to their offering. Though products within snack bars remain popular among young consumers, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:45:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Snack Bars In Japan Report - Forecasts to 2016 - Convenience Stores and Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Gain Ground Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/365844/snack_bars_in_japa) has announced the addition of the "Snack Bars In Japan" report to their offering. Though products within snack bars remain popular among young consumers, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Snack Bars In Japan Report - Forecasts to 2016 - Convenience Stores and Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Gain Ground Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/365844/snack_bars_in_japa) has announced the addition of the "Snack Bars In Japan" report to their offering. Though products within snack bars remain popular among young consumers, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:42:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Snack Bars In Japan Report - Forecasts to 2016 - Convenience Stores and Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Gain Ground Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/365844/snack_bars_in_japa) has announced the addition of the "Snack Bars In Japan" report to their offering. Though products within snack bars remain popular among young consumers, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:41:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan - Forecasts up to 2015 - Packaged Foods Declines in Volume and Value During 2011 Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/39873d/sweet_and_savoury) has announced the addition of the "Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan" report to their offering. Sales of sweet and savoury snacks in Japan continued to post healthy [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:45:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan - Forecasts up to 2015 - Packaged Foods Declines in Volume and Value During 2011 Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/39873d/sweet_and_savoury) has announced the addition of the "Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan" report to their offering. Sales of sweet and savoury snacks in Japan continued to post healthy [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:42:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan - Forecasts up to 2015 - Packaged Foods Declines in Volume and Value During 2011 Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/39873d/sweet_and_savoury) has announced the addition of the "Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan" report to their offering. Sales of sweet and savoury snacks in Japan continued to post healthy [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:41:00 GMT]

Research and Markets: Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan - Forecasts up to 2015 - Packaged Foods Declines in Volume and Value During 2011 * Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release. Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/39873d/sweet_and_savoury) has announced the addition of the "Sweet And Savoury Snacks In Japan" report to their offering. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:38:00 GMT]

Rubber Drops, Paring Weekly Gain, as Data Raise Growth Concern 3:11 AM EST By Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Rubber declined, paring a fourth weekly advance, after new homes sales unexpectedly fell in the U.S. and jobless benefit claims increased, raising concerns about the strength of the economic recovery. The [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 GMT]

Shares cap best run in a year Australian shares posted their best winning streak in almost 12 months as Europe fears ebb. 4.35pm: That's just about it for today's live coverage. We'll be back on Monday at 9.30am AEDT, so please join us then. Here's the evening markets wrap. Next [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 GMT]

Strengthening the Asia/IMF Relationship in a Highly Uncertain Global Environment Speech at Asian Financial Forum by David Lipton, First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund It is my great pleasure to be here. I’d like to thank the Hong Kong government for inviting me to this important event and to all of you for [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:38:00 GMT]

UPDATE 2-Profit down, Nippon Steel cuts annual outlook again TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel Corp, the world's No.4 steelmaker, booked a 44 percent decline in quarterly profit on Friday as exports tumbled and prices sagged due to a supply glut, prompting it to cut its annual outlook by one-third. A shaky [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:38:00 GMT]

UPDATE2: NTT Docomo punishes 6 execs. over smartphone service disruptions Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 GMT]

Wood Chip Exports from Latin America Reached a Record High in 2011, with Pulp Mills in Japan and Europe Being the Major --(PR.com)-- Wood chip exports from Latin America are on track to reach a record high of almost eight million tons in 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. This would be an increase of seven percent from last year and of almost 60 percent higher [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:39:00 GMT]

Wood Chip Exports from Latin America Reached a Record High in 2011, with Pulp Mills in Japan and Europe Being the Major Export Destinations --(PR.com)-- Wood chip exports from Latin America are on track to reach a record high of almost eight million tons in 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. This would be an increase of seven percent from last year and of almost 60 percent higher [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:42:00 GMT]

 

---

Southeast Asia:

Anwar not worried about appeal, eyes polls The Opposition Leader says the appeal against his acquittal from sodomy case will not derail his election plans. (Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said he isn’t worried about public prosecutors’ move to appeal a court decision [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:06:00 GMT]

Attempt to smuggle pig-nosed turtles thwarted by Indonesian authorities � Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:13:00 GMT]

AUD/USD Performance Chart as at 12:00p.m. Singapore time, 27/1/2012 Forex Focus is brought to you by IG Markets - Forex Trading HISTORICAL DETAILS % Change 1 Week 1.11% 1 Month 5.01% 3 Months 0.66% 6 Months -3.58% 1 Year 6.07% 52 WEEK High 1.1081 Low 0.9388 BLOOMBERG MEDIAN FORECASTS Q1 2012 0.98 Q2 2012 0.99 Q3 2012 [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT]

Bank Indonesia Sees January Inflation At 3.5% Swiss KOF Leading Index Signals Economic Contraction (20 min(s), 59 sec(s) ago) (RTTNews) - The Swiss economic barometer entered a negative territory in January for the first tim ...Full Story» Swedish Retail Sales Rise More Than Expected (25 min(s), [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:12:00 GMT]

Bank Of Thailand: To Let Baht Move In Line With Market Fundamentals The FINANCIAL -- The Bank of Thailand will let the baht move in line with market fundamentals and intervene in... [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:05:00 GMT]

Brunei Arabic students seen as 'Muslim role models' Bandar Seri Begawan (The Brunei Times/ANN) - Do not limit religious students, graduating from Arabic school, to the profession of Imams or Ustazs as they have the potential of being "Muslim role models". This was stated by the Minister of Religious [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:03:00 GMT]

Brunei Arabic students seen as 'Muslim role models' By Amir Noor Tutong in Bandar Seri Begawan/ The Brunei Times | Asia News Network – 22 minutes ago Top World Stories AP - 12 hours ago AP - 5 hours ago Reuters - 23 hours ago Bandar Seri Begawan (The Brunei Times/ANN) - Do not limit religious students, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:03:00 GMT]

China shut, Vale goes Philippines Two of the world's biggest iron ore carriers are due to arrive in the Philippines for the first time next month, shipping data showed, as Brazilian mining giant Vale looks to use the country as an alternative base to reach Chinese ports, Reuters reports. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:09:00 GMT]

Energy needs pose threats on Mekong River Phu Wiang, northeast Thailand (ANN) - On a green postcard shaped like the Mekong giant catfish, a 74-year-old farmer carefully writes his name and signs it. His postcard, along with thousands others, will be sent to Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:03:00 GMT]

EUR/USD Performance Chart as at 12:00p.m. Singapore time, 27/1/2012 Forex Focus is brought to you by IG Markets - Forex Trading HISTORICAL DETAILS % Change 1 Week 1.22% 1 Month 1.14% 3 Months -5.55% 6 Months -9.09% 1 Year -4.55% 52 WEEK High 1.4940 Low 1.2624 BLOOMBERG MEDIAN FORECASTS Q1 2012 1.27 Q2 2012 1.26 Q3 2012 [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT]

GBP/USD Performance Chart as at 12:00p.m. Singapore time, 27/1/2012 Forex Focus is brought to you by IG Markets - Forex Trading HISTORICAL DETAILS % Change 1 Week 0.60% 1 Month 1.37% 3 Months -2.59% 6 Months -4.57% 1 Year -1.66% 52 WEEK High 1.6747 Low 1.5233 BLOOMBERG MEDIAN FORECASTS Q1 2012 1.53 Q2 2012 1.52 Q3 2012 [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT]

IMF sees Myanmar as Asia's next bright spot WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Myanmar's economic reform efforts, saying that the nation has the potential to become the next economic bright spot in Asia. "The new government is facing a historic opportunity to [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:01:00 GMT]

Indonesia’s Berlian Laju Tanker says has $2.4b debt Indonesias largest oil and gas shipping company PT Berlian Laju Tanker, which has said it will stop servicing its debt, had $1.9 billion in outstanding debt as of the third quarter of last year, a company executive said on Friday, reported Reuters. Our [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT]

Indonesian airline plans daily flights for all Asian and Australian destinations Publicly listed Garuda Indonesia says all international routes in Asia and Australia served by the airline will see gradual increases in flights until all destinations are served on a daily basis. Such a target should be achieved by the end of this year, [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:14:00 GMT]

Message: This news feed will stop on Jan 23 2012. Thank you for your custom. Sponsored Link [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:14:00 GMT]

MOL drops Philippine feeder MITSUI OSK Line (MOL) is to drop its slot charter on the weekly Philippine feeder PHF2 from Hong Kong to Shenzhen-Shekou run by Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL). Advert Instead MOL will call at Manila on charter slots on Hanjin's Korean Philippine [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:09:00 GMT]

Most dishes in Vietnam contain MSG The artificial flavour enhancer is tricky to avoid in Vietnam where it's allowed as a food additive. Vietnam, January 27, 2012 Last week, Viet Nam News asked its readers their opinions on the negative effects of MSG (mi chinh) and how they feel about MSG [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:01:00 GMT]

Norway’s DNB has exposure to troubled Indonesian firm OSLO, Jan 27 — DNB, Norway’s biggest lender, said it had exposure to Indonesia’s largest oil-and-gas shipping company PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk but declined to specify the extent of its exposure. Earlier today Berlian Laju said it will stop [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:13:00 GMT]

Norway's DNB has exposure to troubled Indonesian firm Earlier on Friday Berlian Laju said it will stop servicing its debt of around $2 billion, putting it at risk of a default rating from Fitch. The company blamed the global economic downturn and weak freight rates on the one hand and higher shipping fuel [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:14:00 GMT]

Norway's DNB has exposure to troubled Indonesian firm 8:45am GMT OSLO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - DNB, Norway's biggest lender, said it had exposure to Indonesia's largest oil-and-gas shipping company PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk but declined to specify the extent of its exposure. Earlier on Friday Berlian Laju said [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:05:00 GMT]

Philippines seeks US defence ties The Philippines has confirmed that it is discussing ways to "maximise" defence ties with the US amid territorial disputes in the region. In a statement, the foreign affairs secretary cited the need for more joint military exercises to protect national [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:06:00 GMT]

Photo Release: The Central Bank of Myanmar visits The Stock Exchange of SET President Charamporn Jotikasthira welcomed an executive group of the Central Bank of Myanmar, led by Mr. Nay Aye – Deputy Governor of The Central Bank of Myanmar, on the occasion of visiting the SET’s office. The delegation was also introduced by [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:59:00 GMT]

Photo Release: TUTG ,Thai-Myanmar cooperation on SPECIAL SEMINAR ON TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND Thailand Underground and Tunnelling Group (TUTG) ,the organizer of World Tunnel Congress 2012 by Mr.Zaw Zaw Aye Vice President (the third from left) together with International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) by Mr. Olivier Vion [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:59:00 GMT]

Singapore visitors check out our transport plan A DELEGATION from Singapore travelled to Thurrock to see how the council handles sustainable transport. The council won a £5million, four-year bid for sustainable transport last year, and representatives from the Land Transport Authority for Singapore [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:10:00 GMT]

Steroids Easier to Obtain Than Chewing Gum in Singapore Two undercover reporters discover how easy it is to illegally obtain anabolic steroids in Singapore. Joyce Lim and Shaffiq Alkhatib of Singapore’s “The New Paper on Sunday” recently published the results of a steroid expose. They reported the [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT]

Thai Industrial Output Plunges In December Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:12:00 GMT]

The Big Bite debuts this Sunday in Bangkok It's finally happening. Unless lightning strikes me down as I walk down the street (no, even then, it will still go on), the very first Big Bite Bangkok will be unfolding in front of Maduzi Hotel on Sunday, January 29, from 11am-2pm. Yes, it will be in [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:01:00 GMT]

Two Uighurs deported from Cambodia to Reuters – 2 hrs 26 mins ago Politics slideshows 18 photos - 7 hrs ago 7 photos - 15 hrs ago BEIJING (Reuters) - China has jailed two Muslim Uighurs deported from Cambodia for life, Radio Free Asia reported on Friday, showing no sign of loosening its [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:13:00 GMT]

Two Uighurs deported from Cambodia to China get life (Reuters) BEIJING (Reuters) China has jailed two Muslim Uighurs deported from Cambodia for life, Radio Free Asia reported on Friday, showing no sign of loosening its grip on far-western Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region which holds rich deposits of oil and gas. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:01:00 GMT]

US seeks military ties, not base, in Philippines Extract not available. [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT]

USD/JPY Performance Chart as at 12:00p.m. Singapore time, 27/1/2012 Forex Focus is brought to you by IG Markets - Forex Trading HISTORICAL DETAILS % Change 1 Week 0.47% 1 Month -0.73% 3 Months -1.02% 6 Months 0.79% 1 Year -5.84% 52 WEEK High 85.53 Low 75.35 BLOOMBERG MEDIAN FORECASTS Q1 2012 77.00 Q2 2012 78.00 Q3 2012 [Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT]