Showing Archived Posts

Malaysia Detains Saudi Writer Accused of Blasphemy Against Islam

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
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Malaysian police say they have arrested a Saudi journalist who is accused of insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on his Twitter feed last week in Saudi Arabia. Twenty-three-year-old Hamza Kashgari fled Saudi Arabia after his controversial comments prompted online calls for his execution. He was detained by Malaysian authorities upon his arrival Wednesday at […]

Taiwanese-American NBA Player a Hit With Asian, US Audiences

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 4:15 am (UTC-5)
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Asian television networks are rushing to add New York Knicks basketball games to their broadcast schedules after the sudden emergence of Jeremy Lin, the first U.S.-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to compete in the National Basketball Association. Lin has made an enormous impact for the Knicks since being placed in the starting lineup […]

Tags: , , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Explosions Rock Northern Syrian City

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian state television says at least two explosions have hit the northern city of Aleppo Friday, causing an unspecified number of casualties. Friday’s blast occurred near a military intelligence building and a security force base. State television reports that the blast caused a number of casualties including civilian and military personnel. The opposition Syrian Observatory […]

Tags: Posted in Middle East

Taiwanese-American NBA Player a Hit With Asian, US Audiences

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
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Asian television networks are rushing to add New York Knicks basketball games to their broadcast schedules after the sudden emergence of Jeremy Lin, the first U.S.-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to compete in the National Basketball Association. Lin has made an enormous impact for the Knicks since being placed in the starting lineup […]

Tags: , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Pakistan Court Rejects Prime Minister’s Appeal

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 2:55 am (UTC-5)
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Pakistan’s highest court has rejected an appeal by the prime minister on contempt of court charges. The Supreme Court Friday upheld a summons for Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear in court Monday to face the charges for the government’s refusal to ask Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. If […]

Tags: , Posted in South Asia

UN Official Meets with Maldives Leaders

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 2:25 am (UTC-5)
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A top United Nations official is in Maldives for talks Friday with the current and former presidents to find way to resolve the Indian Ocean archipelago’s political situation peacefully. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco has called on “all political actors to remain calm and prevent any type of violence.” An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for former President […]

Tags: Posted in South Asia

Burmese Activist Monk Taken into Custody

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 2:10 am (UTC-5)
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Burmese authorities have detained a Buddhist monk who was recently freed from jail for leading the 2007 anti-government protests. Witnesses told Western news outlets that Shin Gambira was taken early Friday morning from a monastery in Rangoon by several men who identified themselves as members of the government’s Rangoon division. The men did not say […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Euro Zone Finance Ministers Delay Decision on Greek Bailout

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 12:40 am (UTC-5)
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Greek lawmakers say they have reached an accord on austerity measures demanded by international lenders so the country can secure another bailout, but European finance ministers say the job and spending cuts are not enough. Following a Thursday night meeting in Brussels, the 17 euro zone finance chiefs added new conditions before Greece gets the […]

Tags: , , Posted in Economy, Europe

South Korean Lawmakers Tour Joint North Korean Industrial Complex

Posted February 10th, 2012 at 12:25 am (UTC-5)
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A delegation of South Korean lawmakers crossed the heavily-armed border with North Korea on Friday for a rare high-level visit to a jointly-run factory complex. The parliamentary delegation is scheduled to meet with South Korean company officials in the complex. The delegation does not plan to meet with North Korean officials during the one-day tour. […]

Tags: , , Posted in East Asia Pacific