- Football bridges religious divide in Thai south
A shared passion for football is uniting Buddhists and Muslims in Thailand's restive south, where grassroots efforts to find elusive peace are gaining ground after years of bloodshed.
- Medical tourism sets pulses racing
From liposuction in Athens to an eye operation in Dubai, the lucrative market in medical tourism is on the up, tempting ever more countries to look for ways to profit from foreign patient care.
- E.Timor celebrates a decade of independence
East Timor's new president on Sunday lauded the "maturity" of his young country's democracy at celebrations marking 10 years of independence, which come as UN forces prepare to leave at year's end.
- Impatient Thai red shirts want justice from PM Yingluck
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's "red shirts" took to the street this weekend to mark the anniversary of the army's bloody repression of their mass rally in Bangkok in 2010 amid growing signs of a rift with the government they helped elect last July. Many red shirts are angry at the failure of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to bring to account those responsible for the 91 deaths during the 2010 events. Some are threatening action that could destabilise her government and start another period of political upheaval, after months of relative calm. ...
- Vietnam police hunt former Vinalines chairman
Vietnamese police have issued an arrest warrant for the former chairman of state-owned shipping firm Vinalines, official media said, as the scandal rocking the debt-mired company deepens.
- E.Timor celebrates a decade of independence
East Timor was set to celebrate a decade of independence Sunday, with former guerrilla leader and new President Taur Matan Ruak leading festivities in a key year for the deeply poor nation.
- Philippine rally demands Lady Gaga ban
Hundreds of protesters marched in the Philippine capital Saturday to demand a ban on pop phenomenon Lady Gaga's upcoming concerts, claiming her lyrics were anti-Christian.
- Myanmar govt and rebels 'ink deal to eradicate drugs'
Myanmar's government and ethnic rebels engaged in peace talks signed a deal Saturday to wipe out drug production in Shan state, a minister involved in negotiations told AFP.
- 'Red Shirts' in mass Bangkok rally
Around 50,000 "Red Shirt" supporters from across Thailand converged on central Bangkok Saturday to mark the second anniversary of a deadly crackdown on street protests, police said.
- Filipino Christian conservatives denounce Lady Gaga concert
MANILA (Reuters) - Conservative Christian groups in the Philippines on Saturday marched near a shopping mall to demand the cancellation of Lady Gaga's two concerts next week, saying her songs carried "demonic" undertones. The protests in the heavily Catholic Philippines followed a decision this week by authorities in Indonesia, a secular state but with the world's largest Muslim population, to refuse her a permit to perform in Jakarta next month. ...
- Bi-O on track for back-to-back victories
Home favourite Kim Bi-O stayed on course for back-to-back OneAsia titles by shooting a five-under-par 67 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the SK Telecom Open.
- Gay Muslim activist launches book in Malaysia
A Canadian Muslim gay activist launched her controversial new book on liberal Islam in Muslim-majority Malaysia Saturday despite a government minister's attempts to shut down the event.
- Ireland boxer Taylor retains world title
Ireland's boxing queen Katie Taylor will battle for a historic Olympic gold as the world number one after she claimed her fourth consecutive lightweight title on Saturday.
- Youths in Philippines continue Lady Gaga protest
Christian youths in the Philippines are continuing to protest against Lady Gaga's upcoming concerts despite organizers' assurances that her performances will not threaten morality.
- Malaysia charges police for assaulting photographer
A Malaysian court has charged two policemen for assaulting a photographer who was covering a mass rally for electoral reforms last month, according to a lawyer.
- Indonesia calls off search for jet crash victims
Indonesian officials have called off the search for victims of a Russian jet crash, the operation's head said on Saturday as experts continue their probe into why it flew into a dormant volcano.
- Thailand's 'Red Shirts' to rally in Bangkok
Tens of thousands of "Red Shirt" supporters were expected to bring central Bangkok to a standstill Saturday on the second anniversary of a deadly crackdown on street protests, according to city police.
- Japan eye women's volleyball Olympic berth
Hosts Japan are hoping home advantage in the final Olympic women's volleyball qualifying tournament starting Saturday will help them secure a berth at London 2012 as they bid to end a 28-year medal drought.
- Po' boy? bánh mì? Do something different with the humble baguette
The French may have invented the baguette, but others cultures have added their own flavours to create something new. Mina Holland looks at two very different uses for the iconic loaf.
- David earns meeting with Massaro
Nicol David overcame an early scare to reach the semi-finals of the British Open on Friday and earn a meeting with Laura Massaro, the player who has been the nearest thing to a rival over the past 18 months.
- Thousands protest in Chicago ahead of NATO summit
CHICAGO (Reuters) - An estimated 2,500 people, including hundreds of nurses, protested peacefully in a downtown Chicago plaza under the watchful eye of police Friday, chanting mostly about economic issues that have little to do with the summit of the NATO military alliance starting this weekend. The rally, which Chicago police estimated at about 2,500, was the largest so far in a week of daily protests before representatives from 60 countries arrive for the two-day summit to discuss the war in Afghanistan. ...
- Lady Gaga warned to tone down Philippine show
Lady Gaga was warned Friday to refrain from nudity, lewd conduct and blasphemy when her Asian tour reaches the Philippines next week, after her controversial act was banned by neighbouring Indonesia.
- Philippines stops protest trip to disputed shoal
Philippine President Benigno Aquino convinced protesters to abort plans to sail Friday to a disputed South China Sea shoal as he sought ways to resolve a tense stand-off with China.
- Food agenda: Vinexpo
Billed as one of the largest wine trade events in Asia, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific is a biennial event that alternates between Hong Kong and France. In 2010, the fair attracted 12,620 visitors. Here's a look at more international food and drink events happening around the world.
- Thai police arrest Brit with foetuses for black magic
Six human foetuses which had been roasted and covered in gold leaf as part of a black magic ritual have been seized from a British citizen in Bangkok, Thai police said Friday.
- Facts and figures about Facebook
Facts and figures about Facebook:
- 'Free-falling' Indian rupee hits new lows
India's central bank promised on Friday to use "all its available tools" to stabilise the rupee, which sank to a record low against the dollar for a third straight day amid turmoil in global markets.
- Boxer Pacquiao's deals 'safe', despite gay row
A row sparked by boxer Manny Pacquiao's comments on gay marriage has damaged the world champion, but has not so far affected any of his mega-buck endorsement deals, his spokeswoman said Friday.
- Thai court disqualifies 'Red Shirt' lawmaker
A Thai court stripped a top "Red Shirt" leader of his parliamentary seat Friday, in a move likely to anger supporters of the movement whose protests in Bangkok in 2010 descended into bloodshed.
- Exclusive: U.N. probes possible NKorea arms trade with Syria, Myanmar
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.N. panel of experts that monitors compliance with sanctions on North Korea is investigating reports of possible weapons-related deals between Pyongyang and Syria and Myanmar, the panel said in a confidential report seen by Reuters on Thursday. "The DPRK (North Korea) continues actively to defy the measures in the (U.N. sanctions) resolutions," the panel said in the report, which it submitted to the U.N. Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee earlier this week. ...
- Paraguay president heads to Asia on trade mission
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has traveled to Taiwan, his first stop on a five-country tour of Asia aimed at increasing trade between the region and his land-locked South American nation.
- 34 killed in Vietnam bus crash: police
Thirty-four people were killed and 20 injured -- some seriously -- after a bus overturned, ploughed off a bridge and crashed into a river in central Vietnam, traffic police said.
- North America agenda: International Contemporary Furniture Fair
With summer coming, festivals include music, dance and the arts with Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Fest and Jacobs Pillow's 80th anniversary. Awards are presented for Webbys best on the internet, Billboard's top music, the Tony's best theater and MTV's favorite movies. Also, trade expos include books, furniture, videogames and Comic-Con.
- Japan in first commercial satellite launch
Japan successfully put a South Korean satellite into space Friday, in its first foray into the European- and Russian-dominated world of commercial launches.
- Toshiba shares jump as it drops Japan TV operations
Toshiba shares surged almost six percent Thursday after saying it had stopped making televisions in Japan where a strong yen has hurt exports as slow demand and falling prices also ate into earnings.
- Chinese club Guangzhou get Italian coach Lippi
World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi was unveiled as the new coach of Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday, in the latest sign of the Super League's growing financial clout.
- Pumping concrete with the Laos Olympic team
The sun is setting over the scruffy outdoor stadium as Kilakone Siphonexay, the fastest man in Laos, lies on the home-made, wooden weights bench, raises both arms and grips the scaffolding pole above.
- Limbless Frenchman swims from PNG to Indonesia
A Frenchman who lost his limbs in an accident braved strong winds and currents to swim from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia Thursday, in the first stretch of a mission to swim between five continents.
- Limbless Frenchman swims from PNG to Indonesia
A Frenchman who lost his limbs in an accident braved strong winds and currents to swim from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia Thursday, in the first stretch of a mission to swim between five continents.
- Growth figures show Japan on recovery track
Japan's economy grew by a faster-than-expected 1.0 percent in the three months to March, official figures showed Thursday, as rising domestic demand and a boost in exports kept it on the recovery path.
Yahoo! News - Asia