TMCnet News
Top Asian News at 11:30 a.m. GMT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sri Lankan power-sharing talks seen near collapseCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Talks aimed at power-sharing in Sri Lanka after a civil war are near collapse as an ethnic minority Tamil party has given an ultimatum to the government on three key issues. The government has already rejected the conditions. The government said Friday the Tamil National Alliance is demanding to know its position on the structure of governance and monetary power. It also wants to know the government's views on how power will be divided between national and local entities. India party chief Gandhi has surgery abroadNEW DELHI (AP) _ Sonia Gandhi has temporarily turned over leadership of India's ruling Congress party while she recuperates from overseas surgery for an undisclosed ailment, the party said in a statement Friday. Gandhi, the 64-year-old widow of slain Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is widely viewed as the most powerful person in India, setting government strategy and doling out Cabinet posts. NATO service member killed in south AfghanistanKABUL, Afghanistan (AP) _ NATO says insurgents have killed a service member in southern Afghanistan. The alliance provided no further details on the killing, which took place Friday. The death brings to more than 320 coalition troops killed in Afghanistan this year. Thai lawmakers vote Yingluck Shinawatra as premierBANGKOK (AP) _ Thai lawmakers chose U.S.-educated businesswoman Yingluck Shinawatra as the country's first female prime minister Friday, setting the stage for the 44-year-old political novice to take charge of a volatile nation that's been deeply divided since her brother was ousted in a 2006 coup. Before Yingluck can officially assume the post, however, King Bhumibol Adulyadej must endorse her in a separate ceremony expected to take place as early as Friday evening. China vows security crackdown in restive XinjiangBEIJING (AP) _ China is ordering a sweeping security clampdown in the western region of Xinjiang following recent deadly attacks blamed on Muslim ethnic Uighur militants, with Beijing vowing "no mercy" toward anyone pursuing violence or separatism. Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu has ordered officials to mobilize all available resources and manpower to create a "high-pressure environment" in which to contain terrorism, official newspapers reported Friday. Philippine Airlines flight to LA diverted to JapanMANILA, Philippines (AP) _ Philippine Airlines says its flight to Los Angeles carrying 427 passengers has been diverted to northern Japan due to an exhaust fan malfunction. It says all passengers have been accomodated in hotels while waiting for the aircraft to be cleared for flight. Philippine president meets Muslim rebel chiefMANILA, Philippines (AP) _ Talks between Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the chief of the country's main Muslim rebel group have given a tremendous boost to efforts to end the decades-long insurgency, the guerrillas said Friday. Aquino met with Murad Ibrahim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in a suburb of Tokyo late Thursday and discussed ways to push the peace process forward, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said. Myanmar says ethnic rebels kill 7 in ambushYANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Rebels in northern Myanmar ambushed a car carrying workers from a Chinese-backed hydroelectric project, killing seven people, state media reported Friday. Ethnic Kachin fighters attacked the vehicle as it traveled from the Tarpein power plant to the town of Moemauk on Tuesday, the government-owned Myanma Ahlin newspaper said. Powerful typhoon dusts Taiwan, heads for ChinaTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) _ A powerful typhoon left Taiwan unscathed Friday, but prompted officials in neighboring China to issue the country's highest typhoon warning of the year. Typhoon Muifa dusted Taiwan's northern edges with light rain and moderate winds, though officials warned that any sustained precipitation could cause mudslides in mountainous regions of the island. Bali bombing suspect opens up to policeJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) _ A top anti-terrorism official says the main suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings is providing investigators with information about other attacks in Indonesia. Chairul Akbar said Friday that Umar Patek admitted to building bombs for the suicide attacks on two packed Bali nightclubs that killed 202 people, most of them foreign tourists. Australia: 14 refugee kids could go to MalaysiaCANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ A United Nations organization urged Australia on Friday not to expel 14 asylum-seeking children to Malaysia as part of a refugee swap deal, but the government said such exceptions would encourage people smugglers to send "boatloads of children." The 14 children are among 55 asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Pakistan who arrived by boat Thursday at an immigration detention camp on the Australian territory of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Chinese paper says hacking claim 'irresponsible'BEIJING (AP) _ A Chinese state newspaper on Friday rejected suggestions Beijing might be behind global cyberattacks over the past five years targeting more than 70 government entities, nonprofit groups and corporations. The ruling Communist Party flagship People's Daily said it was "irresponsible" to link China with Internet hacking attacks reported by computer security firm McAfee Inc. on Wednesday. New Zealand bans sale of 'legal weed' productsWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) _ New Zealand has banned the sale of 43 products designed to mimic the effects of smoking marijuana. The one-year ban covers "legal weed" products such as the popular Kronic that are designed to make users experience a high. Chinese warships visit NKorea on goodwill visitSEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ Two Chinese warships arrived at a North Korean port Thursday on a goodwill visit to mark the 50th anniversary of a friendship treaty between the countries. Footage from Associated Press Television News in North Korea showed citizens chanting "friendship" as they welcomed the Chinese ships Luoyang and Zheng He at the North's east coast port of Wonsan. Global stocks tumble after Wall Street slideBEIJING (AP) _ Global stock markets tumbled Friday amid fears the U.S. may be heading back into recession and Europe's debt crisis is worsening. The sell-off follows the biggest one-day points decline on Wall Street since the 2008 financial crisis. Oil extended sharp losses to fall below $85 a barrel amid expectations a slowing global economy will undermine demand for crude. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |