Asia News - AFP

Denmark seeks to pacify China over Tibet
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 12:09 pm ET

AFP/SCANPIX/File

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Denmark will oppose Tibetan independence and carefully consider China's reaction before inviting the Dalai Lama again, Copenhagen said Thursday in a diplomatic note to Beijing. Full Story »
Swimming golds take Singapore top of SEA Games table
AFP – Thu Dec 10, 9:35 am ET

AFP

VIENTIANE (AFP) - Laos and Singapore qualified for the football semi-finals at the Southeast Asian Games Thursday as Singapore scooped five golds in the pool to take them clear at the top of the medals table. Full Story »
Malaysian, Thai PMs visit troubled region
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 11:38 am ET

AFP

BUKIT TA, Thailand (AFP) - The Malaysian and Thai prime ministers made a historic joint visit to Thailand's restive south on Wednesday, in a fresh bid to curb a raging separatist insurgency that has left 4,000 dead. Full Story »
Philippine clan accused of killing over 250
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 5:58 am ET

AFP

MANILA (AFP) - A Muslim clan blamed for a horrific political massacre in the Philippines was accused on Wednesday of killing more than 250 people during an eight-year reign of terror in a strife-torn southern province. Full Story »
Pakistani military has 'degraded' Taliban groups: US general
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 3:36 pm ET

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Pakistan's military operations have "significantly degraded" Taliban militants but Islamabad has yet to go after the Taliban's Afghan leadership, a top US general said on Wednesday. Full Story »
Gates warned over Afghan army problems
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 3:13 pm ET

AFP/File

KABUL (AFP) - NATO commanders on Wednesday warned US Defence Secretary Robert Gates of the challenges involved in recruiting Afghan soldiers and police, which the US military hopes will number 287,000 by July 2011. Full Story »
Qaeda-linked militants behead Philippine hostage: official
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 12:40 pm ET

AFP/File

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - Al Qaeda-linked militants in the Philippines have beheaded one of three Filipino factory workers they seized in the troubled south of the country last month, an official said Wednesday. Full Story »
Afghan civilians could have died in raid: NATO
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 9:09 am ET

AFP

KABUL (AFP) - A senior NATO commander in Afghanistan conceded on Wednesday for the first time that civilians may have been killed during a joint military operation with Afghan forces in the east of the country this week. Full Story »
Philippines, Muslim rebels in peace talks
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 5:17 am ET

AFP/File

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - The Philippine government and Muslim rebels are on a "fast track" to striking a pact ending a decades-old rebellion by March or April, the Malaysian hosts of peace talks said on Wednesday. Full Story »
Thousands in Indonesia protest over graft
AFP – Wed Dec 9, 12:05 pm ET

AFP

JAKARTA (AFP) - Thousands of Indonesians rallied on Wednesday in several major cities under tight security to mark international anti-corruption day, slamming the government over a bank bailout scandal. Full Story »