US senator meets Myanmar’s leaders
August 15, 2009
Written by , in In Asia
An American politician has become the most senior Washington official to meet Myanmar’s ruling military leaders. Jim Webb, a US Democratic senator, held separate meetings on Saturday with Senior General Than Shwe, Myanmar’s military ruler,
American to be released from Myanmar
August 15, 2009
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The American man who swam across a lake to visit…
Bowing to typhoon anger, Taiwan leader says sorry
August 15, 2009
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LIUKUEI, Taiwan (AFP) – Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou bowed to public anger Saturday, apologising for his government's slow response to Typhoon Morakot, which devastated central and southern parts of the island.
Sri Lanka call to free refugees
August 15, 2009
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Two of Sri Lanka’s most senior Roman Catholic clergy have spoken out against the continued detention of nearly 300,000 Tamil war refugees. The Archbishop of Colombo and the Bishop of Jaffna were addressing tens of thousands of pilgrims at a shrine close to camps housing the refugees. Jaffna bishop Thomas Saundaranayagam, himself a Tamil, said the refugees were being held…
Kabul Blast Kills 3
August 15, 2009
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A suicide bomber in the Afghan capital Kabul has killed at least three people and wounded 70, including women and children. Afghan officials say the bomber’s car exploded early Saturday morning outside the entrance to NATO headquarters in one of the most heavily fortified sections..
Japan records first death from swine flu
August 15, 2009
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TOKYO (AFP) – A 57-year-old Japanese man, who suffered from a chronic ailment, has died from swine flu in the country's first death from the virus, a local government official said Saturday….
US senator to leave Myanmar with convicted American
August 15, 2009
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WASHINGTON (AFP) – US Senator Jim Webb will fly out of Myanmar on Sunday with an American convicted to seven years imprisonment after securing his release from the military regime, Webb's office said in a statement Saturday. “I am grateful to the Myanmar government for honoring these requests,” Webb said in the statement. “It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a..
Soldiers killed in Afghan blast named
August 15, 2009
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Three British soldiers killed in an explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan have been named today by the Ministry of Defence. Tributes have been paid to Daniel Wild, 19, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23, from 40th Regiment Royal Artillery and Captain Mark Hale of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who died on Thursday near the town of Sangin, outside of Kandahar, in Helmand province. The total UK death toll in the war-torn…
Catholic leaders urge Sri Lankan Tamils’ release
August 15, 2009
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MADHU, Sri Lanka—Sri…
Cynicism and apathy mark Afghan polls
August 15, 2009
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So, who is going to be the next president? The question was put to me a year ago, by a friend who is more political than most Afghans.
Thai elephant hurt by mine gets artificial leg
August 15, 2009
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LAMPANG,…
Suicide bomb at NATO HQ in Kabul kills seven
August 15, 2009
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A suicide car bomb has exploded outside the gates of the NATO headquarters in Afghanistan, killing seven and wounding almost 100. The attack in the capital city of Kabul comes just five days before the country’s presidential elections
Deadly blast strikes Afghan capital
August 15, 2009
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At least seven people are believed to have been killed and more than 85 others wounded
Taiwan president offers apology
August 15, 2009
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Taiwan’s president has apologised for his government’s slow emergency response to
US Senator meets Burmese leader and Suu Kyi
August 15, 2009
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US Senator Jim Webb met both Burma’s top military leader Than Shwe and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi today, but it was unclear what he discussed during his separate meetings with them. Webb met Than Shwe at the country’s remote new capital of Naypyidaw on the second day of his visit and later talked with Suu Kyi for about 45 minutes at a guesthouse arranged by government officials in Yangon. A witness told Reuters the 64-year-old Nobel peace laureate was taken by car from her lakeside home, where she was put under another 18 months of house arrest this week, to a guesthouse to meet the senator