Asia Pacific News

Australia issues 'catastrophic' alerts as fires rage

SYDNEY (AFP) - - Australia has issued "catastrophic" alerts after record-breaking temperatures and wild lightning storms sparked more than 100 fires across the country, officials said Saturday.

Second Bangladeshi twin wakes, blows raspberry

MELBOURNE (AFP) - - The weaker of two Bangladeshi twins separated from her conjoined sister in landmark surgery in Australia woke fully from a coma Saturday -- and blew her guardian a raspberry.

Aussie pilot who landed in shark waters hailed a hero

SYDNEY (AFP) - - An Australian pin-up pilot forced to bring an emergency medical flight down in shark-infested waters was Friday hailed a hero for the daring landing from which all aboard escaped unharmed.

China says 42 dead, 66 trapped in mine explosion

Dalai Lama praises Obama on Tibet issue

NEW DELHI (AFP) - - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Saturday praised US President Barack Obama for taking up the issue of Tibet "very seriously" with Chinese leaders on his recent trip to China.

China mine explosion kills 31, traps 78

BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 metres (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

Italian police arrest two linked to Mumbai attacks

ROME (AFP) - - Italian police have arrested two Pakistanis whose money transfer service was allegedly used by those in contact with militants who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, media reported Saturday.

Indian railways seek protection after fresh attack

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) - - India's railways minister said Friday she would seek extra protection for the state-run service after the latest in a series of rebel attacks left two dead in the east of the country.

India's attack on Maoists troubles European aid body

By Nita Bhalla

Indonesia seizes 75 tons of explosive material

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Officials say they have confiscated 75 tons of an explosive material being shipped from Malaysia to Indonesia and are investigating possible links to terrorism.

Clerics cringe as Indonesians flock to doomsday film

JAKARTA (AFP) - - Hollywood's latest doomsday offering "2012" has caused a storm in Indonesia, with conservative clerics condemning it Thursday as a "provocation against Islam".

Jakarta halts deforestation in Sumatra's Kampar Peninsula

JAKARTA (AFP) - - Environmentalists claimed a small victory on Thursday after Indonesia ordered one of the country's biggest pulp and paper companies to halt forest clearing in the Kampar Peninsula.

Al-Qaeda seizes Japan hostage in Yemen: tribal source

SANAA (AFP) - - Al-Qaeda gunmen have seized a Japanese engineer from his tribal kidnappers in Yemen, a tribal source who has been seeking to negotiate his release said on Saturday.

US soldier in Okinawa questioned about hit-and-run

TOKYO - A U.S. soldier suspected of being involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Japan's southern island of Okinawa has refused further questioning by Japanese police, a U.S. Army officer and Japanese police said Thursday.

Japan nuke plant smoke, no radiation says operator

TOKYO (AFP) - - Smoke rose Thursday from the world's largest nuclear power plant in Japan, which was hit by a deadly earthquake two years ago, but the operator said no-one was injured and there was no radiation leak.

Top Islamist militants killed in Philippines: army

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - - Philippine troops have killed one of the top commanders of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, the military said Friday.

Philippine troops kill militant commander

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine troops killed a senior commander of al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants wanted for kidnappings and bombings amid an ongoing offensive, the military said Friday.

Philippine gay group fights to contest elections

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine gay rights group is waging a legal battle to be allowed to run in next year's polls after the Elections Commission ruled it cannot register as a political party on grounds that it advocates immorality.

S’pore, Philippines satisfied with close & co—operative relationship

SINGAPORE: Singapore and the Philippines have expressed satisfaction with the close and cooperative relationship shared over the past four decades and they are confident the enduring relationship could be further strengthened in the years ahead.

Late Anthony Yeo honoured with Special Recognition Award

SINGAPORE: It was a heartfelt moment as the late Anthony Yeo was honoured with the Special Recognition Award.

Aviation Run raises S$218,000 for Community Chest

SINGAPORE: Members of the aviation community did their bit for charity on Saturday.

Death threats for Thai PM in pro-Thaksin stronghold: MP

BANGKOK (AFP) - - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the north of the country amid heavy security Saturday after receiving death threats over a planned trip to a stronghold of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand must end detention of Hmong: rights group

BANGKOK (AFP) - - A leading rights group Saturday called on the Thai government to allow 158 Lao Hmong refugees, who have been detained for three years pending deportation, to be resettled in four western countries.

Cambodia confirms takeover of air traffic company

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - The Cambodian government on Friday confirmed its temporary takeover of management of the country's air traffic control company after one of its Thai employees was arrested last week on a spying charge.

Australia executives suspended over banknote probe

SYDNEY (AFP) - - Two executives at a banknote-making firm part-owned by Australia's central bank have been suspended over a police probe into alleged bribery and kickbacks, officials said.

Bomb left over from Vietnam war explodes, kills 4

HANOI, Vietnam - A police officer says four fishermen were killed when a Vietnam War-era bomb they were handling exploded.

Four killed in Vietnam by war-era bomb: police

HANOI (AFP) - - Four men were instantly killed when a bomb left over from the Vietnam War blew up as they were trying to open it to remove explosive material, police said Wednesday.