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North Korea to be removed from US blacklist

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:12:14 GMT

North Korea has agreed to all U.S. nuclear inspection demands, allowing the Bush administration to remove the communist country from a U.S. terrorism blacklist, The Associated Press has learned.

Nato troops can attack Afghan drug barons

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:45:34 GMT

Nato defence ministers today authorised their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons blamed for pumping up to US$100 million (€74 million) a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters.

The Bruce Lee legend

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

His body, glistening with sweat, is compact and ripples with muscles. The fighter is impervious to the pain of the slashes that have been made across his midriff. Glaring from beneath fierce thickeyebrows at the unfortunate enemy who has foolishly crossed him, he tenses his fists before striking out at his opponent. Scores of villains are no match for his kung fu powers. Bruce Lee always prevails.

Pakistan bomb attacks kill eight

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:40:38 GMT

Eight people died and at least four were wounded in Pakistan bomb attacks today as politicians met for a private briefing on the militant threat facing the country.

Thai court drops treason charge against protesters

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:42:32 GMT

Thailand's Court of Appeals watered down charges against nine leaders of an anti-government street campaign today, saying there was no way they had committed the capital offence of treason.

North Korea 'ready to fire more missiles'

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:32:11 GMT

North Korea has deployed more than 10 missiles on its west coast for what appears to be an imminent launch, a South Korean newspaper said today, two days after the North fired two short-range missiles into the Yellow Sea.

Blast hits Islamabad police HQ

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:50:56 GMT

An explosives-laden vehicle blew up an anti-terrorist squad building and wounded nine people today in a police complex in Pakistan's capital just moments after a man delivered sweets to the facility, officials said.

Holy war strikes India

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

As she recalled her awful story, Puspanjali Panda made no attempt to halt the tears flooding down her face.

Secret Saudi dinner, Karzai's brother and the Taliban

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:26:32 GMT

The Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai has been involved in secret negotiations with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the former Mujaheddin leader now labelled a terrorist by the US and Britain.

The secret Saudi dinner, the Taliban and Karzai's brother

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:26:32 GMT

The Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai has been involved in secret negotiations with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the former Mujaheddin leader now labelled a terrorist by the US and Britain.

18 killed in Nepal plane crash

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:21:28 GMT

A small private plane crashed in the remote mountains of northeast Nepal today, killing at least 18 people, mostly foreigners, airline and airport officials said.

US: Taliban can be beaten

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

Britain's military commander and ambassador in Afghanistan are being "defeatist" by thinking the war against the Taliban cannot be won, the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, said as Washington sought more troops for the conflict.

Blind masseurs protest at sighted competition

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

Unheralded and largely out of sight, a small army of blind masseurs has been kneading South Korea's tired muscles for nearly half a century. Now, demands that the masseurs share their profession with the non-blind have forced them out of the massage parlours and onto the streets into dramatic, sometimes suicidal, protests.

Thai PM flees on foot to escape violent protests

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

The Prime Minister of Thailand was forced to scale a fence and flee in a police helicopter yesterday as thousands of protesters barricaded parliament in the latest twist in the country's seething political turmoil.

Escaping the void: Climbers cheat death

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

For experienced climbers such as Albert Leichtfried and Marcus Bendler, the towering walls of cragged ice that cover the remote mountains of northern Japan are some of the most challenging unknowns of the climbing world.

Maldives gears up for first democratic election

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:55:42 GMT

A man nicknamed the “Mandela of the Maldives”, Mohammed Anni Nasheed, concluded an exhausting and bitterly-fought presidential election campaign tonight, ahead of a vote that will decide the future of the longest serving political leader in Asia.

Asian (con)Fusion: Is India safe for women?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:26:58 GMT

A week ago a young Delhi-based television journalist driving home from a late shift at 3am was shot dead - apparently while she was still at the wheel.

Quakes hit China's remote west

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:09:40 GMT

Strong earthquakes hit China's remote western regions of Tibet and Xinjiang today but both appear to have struck sparsely populated, mountainous areas and caused only limited damage.

Sri Lanka suicide bomb kills 26

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:23:18 GMT

A Sri Lankan suicide bomber killed 26 people at an ancient tourist town today, including a popular retired army general who was the main opposition party's provincial leader.

Kyrgyzstan quake 'kills about 70'

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:54:50 GMT

An earthquake killed up to 70 people in Kyrgyzstan and levelled a village in the south of the Central Asian nation, the emergencies ministry said today.

Taliban furious over US strike on Waziristan

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

The Taliban are exceptionally angry about the latest apparent US missile strike in Pakistan, indicating a senior militant may be among two dozen people killed, officials and residents said yesterday.

Ethnic violence in India leaves 33 people dead

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

At least 33 people have been killed and thousands left homeless in violence over the weekend between tribal people and Bangladeshi settlers in northeast India, police and hospital authorities said.

We can't win Afghanistan war - Commander

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:46:29 GMT

The public should not expect "a decisive military victory" in Afghanistan, Britain's most senior military commander in the country warned today.

Khmer Rouge soldier tells of Briton's murder

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

More than a decade after a British charity worker was seized and murdered in Cambodia, a former Khmer Rouge soldier has told how he was shot dead at night, before his body was doused with diesel and burnt.

The short cut to the top of Everest

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:00:01 GMT

Conquering Everest is the ultimate aspiration of every climber. More than 2,500 mountaineers have reached the summit and 210 have died trying. Today, a group of 32 men and women will become the latest hardy souls to attempt to overcome the world's highest mountain.