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All rights reserved. http://news.yahoo.com/i/731 world Asia News en-us Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:25:04 GMT 5 142 18 http://news.yahoo.com/i/731 http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142b.gif http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090704/wl_asia_afp/cyclingtourfraaus afp/20090704/cyclingtourfraaus AFP world Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:25:04 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090704/wl_asia_afp/cyclingtourfraaus"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090704/capt.photo_1246666921951-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=TAanuktkce4PZFmZ3TCKBQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Belgian cycling team Silence-Lotto (SIL)'s rider and two-time runner-up as team leader Cadel Evans of Australia poses during the official presentation of his cycling team, on July 2, in the principalty of Monaco, two days ahead of the start of the 96th edition of the Tour de France cycling race.(AFP/Lionel Bonaventure)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Cadel Evans has been building steadily towards what would be an historic Tour de France victory for the past five years.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090704/wl_asia_afp/cyclingtourfraaus"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090704/capt.photo_1246666921951-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=TAanuktkce4PZFmZ3TCKBQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="Belgian cycling team Silence-Lotto (SIL)'s rider and two-time runner-up as team leader Cadel Evans of Australia poses during the official presentation of his cycling team, on July 2, in the principalty of Monaco, two days ahead of the start of the 96th edition of the Tour de France cycling race.(AFP/Lionel Bonaventure)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/us_afghan_us_deaths ap/20090703/us_afghan_us_deaths AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:30:53 GMT AP - As of Friday, July 3, 2009, at least 642 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/nicaraguataiwandiplomacyaid afp/20090703/nicaraguataiwandiplomacyaid AFP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:10:44 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/nicaraguataiwandiplomacyaid"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246659607666-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=zSFQU6YcB3UOsoMKrVpedw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (L) and his Taiwanese counterpart Ma Ying-Jeou pose during a press conference in Managua. Ma arrived in Nicaragua Friday for a two-day official visit, aiming to boost ties with one of the poorest nations in Central America.(AFP/Mayerling Garcia)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou arrived in Nicaragua Friday for a two-day official visit aimed at boosting ties with one of the poorest nations in Central America.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/nicaraguataiwandiplomacyaid"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246659607666-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=zSFQU6YcB3UOsoMKrVpedw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (L) and his Taiwanese counterpart Ma Ying-Jeou pose during a press conference in Managua. Ma arrived in Nicaragua Friday for a two-day official visit, aiming to boost ties with one of the poorest nations in Central America.(AFP/Mayerling Garcia)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090703/wl_nm/us_myanmar_un nm/20090703/us_myanmar_un Reuters world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:05:01 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090703/wl_nm/us_myanmar_un"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090703/i/r1006736836.jpg?x=130&y=97&q=85&sig=CSjdG3CxZXqhTWVu9Je81Q--" align="left" height="97" width="130" alt="U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a joint news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso at the latter's official residence in Tokyo July 1, 2009. Ban has a rare meeting with Myanmar's top general on Friday where he will urge the secretive leader to free all political prisoners and ensure next year's elections are credible. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao" border="0" /></a>Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets again with Myanmar junta supremo on Saturday when he expects a verdict on whether he will be allowed to visit detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090703/wl_nm/us_myanmar_un"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090703/i/r1006736836.jpg?x=130&y=97&q=85&sig=CSjdG3CxZXqhTWVu9Je81Q--" align="left" height="97" width="130" alt="photo" title="U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a joint news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso at the latter's official residence in Tokyo July 1, 2009. Ban has a rare meeting with Myanmar's top general on Friday where he will urge the secretive leader to free all political prisoners and ensure next year's elections are credible. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (Reuters) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_sthasia_afp/cricketwisindlead afp/20090703/cricketwisindlead AFP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:49:02 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_sthasia_afp/cricketwisindlead"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246660481239-3-0.jpg?x=130&y=105&q=85&sig=D3w6em__h5GrF04yOlvERQ--" align="left" height="105" width="130" alt="India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni (R) scores the winning run after a hit by Yusuf Pathan against the West Indies during the the third One-Day International Match at the Beausejour cricket ground in Gros-Islet, St. Lucia. India won the third ODI with West Indies on Friday in a rain-shortened encounter at the Beausejour Cricket Ground by six wickets.(AFP/Timothy A. Clary)" border="0" /></a>AFP - India dodged the showers to eke-out a workmanlike six-wicket victory over West Indies in the rain-hit third One-day International on Friday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_sthasia_afp/cricketwisindlead"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246660481239-3-0.jpg?x=130&y=105&q=85&sig=D3w6em__h5GrF04yOlvERQ--" align="left" height="105" width="130" alt="photo" title="India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni (R) scores the winning run after a hit by Yusuf Pathan against the West Indies during the the third One-Day International Match at the Beausejour cricket ground in Gros-Islet, St. Lucia. India won the third ODI with West Indies on Friday in a rain-shortened encounter at the Beausejour Cricket Ground by six wickets.(AFP/Timothy A. Clary)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/rugbyutrinzl afp/20090703/rugbyutrinzl AFP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:40:49 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/rugbyutrinzl"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246660832893-1-0.jpg?x=86&y=130&q=85&sig=FDzxdHbX197zxFShlC4imA--" align="left" height="130" width="86" alt="Talismanic captain Richie McCaw, seen here in 2008, leads a raft of reinforcements named Saturday in a 30-man All Blacks squad selected for the Tri-Nations series.(AFP/File/Laurent Fievet)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Talismanic captain Richie McCaw leads a raft of reinforcements named Saturday in a 30-man All Blacks squad selected for the Tri-Nations series.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/rugbyutrinzl"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246660832893-1-0.jpg?x=86&y=130&q=85&sig=FDzxdHbX197zxFShlC4imA--" align="left" height="130" width="86" alt="photo" title="Talismanic captain Richie McCaw, seen here in 2008, leads a raft of reinforcements named Saturday in a 30-man All Blacks squad selected for the Tri-Nations series.(AFP/File/Laurent Fievet)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/iaeanuclearpoliticsjapanamano afp/20090703/iaeanuclearpoliticsjapanamano AFP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:32:54 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/iaeanuclearpoliticsjapanamano"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246555094023-2-0.jpg?x=130&y=97&q=85&sig=KGbI2q3q43yGzZ5GcVxYzQ--" align="left" height="97" width="130" alt="The UN atomic watchdog's incoming chief Yukiya Amano promised Friday to do his "utmost" to resolve a long-running nuclear standoff with Iran after governors formally gave their nod of approval to his appointment.(AFP/Samuel Kubani)" border="0" /></a>AFP - The UN atomic watchdog's incoming chief Yukiya Amano promised Friday to go all out to resolve a long-running nuclear standoff with Iran after governors formally gave their assent to his appointment.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/wl_asia_afp/iaeanuclearpoliticsjapanamano"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246555094023-2-0.jpg?x=130&y=97&q=85&sig=KGbI2q3q43yGzZ5GcVxYzQ--" align="left" height="97" width="130" alt="photo" title="The UN atomic watchdog's incoming chief Yukiya Amano promised Friday to do his "utmost" to resolve a long-running nuclear standoff with Iran after governors formally gave their nod of approval to his appointment.(AFP/Samuel Kubani)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/tc_afp/japanasiainternethistorymilitarygeography afp/20090703/japanasiainternethistorymilitarygeography AFP technology Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:59:07 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/tc_afp/japanasiainternethistorymilitarygeography"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246621432503-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=102&q=85&sig=dMuO8Hfvcrk36tP1tefJUg--" align="left" height="102" width="130" alt="Japanese veterans in Imperial Army uniforms march in front of the Tarii Gate to offer prayers for the country's war dead at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, 2006. Old Asia-Pacific maps from Japanese Imperial Army archives are going online for modern use, such as studying changes in forest cover or the growth of cities.(AFP/File/Kazuhiro Nogi)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Old Asia-Pacific maps from Japanese Imperial Army archives are going online for modern use, such as studying changes in forest cover or the growth of cities, a Japanese researcher said Friday.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/tc_afp/japanasiainternethistorymilitarygeography"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246621432503-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=102&q=85&sig=dMuO8Hfvcrk36tP1tefJUg--" align="left" height="102" width="130" alt="photo" title="Japanese veterans in Imperial Army uniforms march in front of the Tarii Gate to offer prayers for the country's war dead at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, 2006. Old Asia-Pacific maps from Japanese Imperial Army archives are going online for modern use, such as studying changes in forest cover or the growth of cities.(AFP/File/Kazuhiro Nogi)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/bs_afp/turkeyeurussiaazerbaijanenergygasromania afp/20090703/turkeyeurussiaazerbaijanenergygasromania AFP business Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:10:14 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/bs_afp/turkeyeurussiaazerbaijanenergygasromania"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246649390495-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=97&q=85&sig=DD.oH.b3fmqv14FZCT3zpA--" align="left" height="97" width="130" alt="Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, seen here on June 2009, delivers a speech at the 20th Crans Montana Forum in Brussels. Erdogan will host the signing ceremony for the intergovernmental deal on Europe's flagship Nabucco gas pipeline project in Ankara on July 13.(AFP/file/Dominique Faget)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Russian Gazprom's recent deal to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan will not endanger Europe's flagship pipeline project Nabucco, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said here Friday.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090703/bs_afp/turkeyeurussiaazerbaijanenergygasromania"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246649390495-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=97&q=85&sig=DD.oH.b3fmqv14FZCT3zpA--" align="left" height="97" width="130" alt="photo" title="Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, seen here on June 2009, delivers a speech at the 20th Crans Montana Forum in Brussels. Erdogan will host the signing ceremony for the intergovernmental deal on Europe's flagship Nabucco gas pipeline project in Ankara on July 13.(AFP/file/Dominique Faget)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan ap/20090703/as_afghanistan AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:08:37 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.1b56ce73bb4a4d4fb4cec3abdadae2b6.afghanistan_xdg105.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=l04IKZttJ4obL4PfFjBoAQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines takes positions along a tree line in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday, July 3, 2009. U.S. forces have encountered little resistance in the initial phase of a massive operation by some 4,000 Marines in Taliban-controlled areas of southern Afghanistan, but that's a common tactic by insurgents. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)" border="0" /></a>AP - NAWA, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines pushed deeper into Taliban areas of southern Afghanistan on Friday, seeking to cut insurgent supply lines and win over local elders on the second day of the biggest U.S. military operation here since the American-led invasion of 2001.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.1b56ce73bb4a4d4fb4cec3abdadae2b6.afghanistan_xdg105.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=l04IKZttJ4obL4PfFjBoAQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines takes positions along a tree line in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday, July 3, 2009. U.S. forces have encountered little resistance in the initial phase of a massive operation by some 4,000 Marines in Taliban-controlled areas of southern Afghanistan, but that's a common tactic by insurgents. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar ap/20090703/as_myanmar AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:51:25 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.6910df89c36b42838b2ce7b57185da77.myanmar_myn101.jpg?x=103&y=130&q=85&sig=mtSTynhojtatn6WNOrYhyw--" align="left" height="130" width="103" alt="U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon waves upon his arrival at a hotel Friday, July 3, 2009 in Yangon, Myanmar. Ban said he would lobby Myanmar's junta chief directly Friday for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, acknowledging that his high-profile mission will be 'very difficult.' (AP Photo/Khin Mang Win)" border="0" /></a>AP - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon could leave Myanmar empty-handed after apparently failing to win any concessions Friday from the country's top military ruler or to gain permission to visit opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in jail.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.6910df89c36b42838b2ce7b57185da77.myanmar_myn101.jpg?x=103&y=130&q=85&sig=mtSTynhojtatn6WNOrYhyw--" align="left" height="130" width="103" alt="photo" title="U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon waves upon his arrival at a hotel Friday, July 3, 2009 in Yangon, Myanmar. Ban said he would lobby Myanmar's junta chief directly Friday for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, acknowledging that his high-profile mission will be 'very difficult.' (AP Photo/Khin Mang Win)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar_frustrated_generation ap/20090703/as_myanmar_frustrated_generation AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:38:58 GMT AP - Armed with a law degree from the University of East Yangon, 22-year-old Win is clear-eyed about his job prospects: Practically speaking, there are none. For him, the future lies overseas. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan ap/20090703/as_pakistan AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:27:58 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.8e663d4a7cc34b0d8e2ca16add65719d.pakistan_missiles_gfx355.jpg?x=52&y=130&q=85&sig=FVcFDbiEkHqBCEA6veJSbQ--" align="left" height="130" width="52" alt="Map locates South Waziristan, Pakistan and the location of suspected U.S. missile strikes" border="0" /></a>AP - U.S. missiles struck a training facility operated by Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and a militant communication center Friday, killing 17 people and wounding 27 others, intelligence officials said.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.8e663d4a7cc34b0d8e2ca16add65719d.pakistan_missiles_gfx355.jpg?x=52&y=130&q=85&sig=FVcFDbiEkHqBCEA6veJSbQ--" align="left" height="130" width="52" alt="photo" title="Map locates South Waziristan, Pakistan and the location of suspected U.S. missile strikes" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_royal_trip ap/20090703/as_japan_royal_trip AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:22:02 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_royal_trip"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.426fde29d9c54bfb8e7e0ef05f5f4d12.japan_royal_trip_ksx102.jpg?x=96&y=130&q=85&sig=YPtf4IHfZ0xfckEzdKlOGg--" align="left" height="130" width="96" alt="Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko bow before leaving for the two-week tour to Canada and Hawaii, at Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo, Friday, July 3, 2009. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hope to reach out to Americans and Canadians of Japanese ancestry during the tour that began Friday, but they won't be going to Pearl Harbor. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)" border="0" /></a>AP - Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hope to reach out to Americans and Canadians of Japanese ancestry during a two-week tour that began Friday, but they won't be going to Pearl Harbor.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_royal_trip"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.426fde29d9c54bfb8e7e0ef05f5f4d12.japan_royal_trip_ksx102.jpg?x=96&y=130&q=85&sig=YPtf4IHfZ0xfckEzdKlOGg--" align="left" height="130" width="96" alt="photo" title="Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko bow before leaving for the two-week tour to Canada and Hawaii, at Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo, Friday, July 3, 2009. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hope to reach out to Americans and Canadians of Japanese ancestry during the tour that began Friday, but they won't be going to Pearl Harbor. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_missile ap/20090703/as_nkorea_missile AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:12:53 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_missile"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.f8a6974044ac4d9f868fbaa697159738.south_korea_north_korea_missile_sel101.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=gDSEjYPsRa9L7QHsNV6ehg--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="South Korean conservative activists burn a defaced North Korean flag and mock missiles during a rally denouncing North Korea's missile launch in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 3, 2009. South Korea said Friday it is closely monitoring North Korean military sites because the communist nation may fire more missiles, amid speculation that a long-range test launch aimed toward the U.S. is possible in coming days.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)" border="0" /></a>AP - South Korea shrugged off North Korea's firing of short-range missiles saying Friday they were part of routine military exercises and warning more launches are likely in coming days.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_missile"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.f8a6974044ac4d9f868fbaa697159738.south_korea_north_korea_missile_sel101.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=gDSEjYPsRa9L7QHsNV6ehg--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="South Korean conservative activists burn a defaced North Korean flag and mock missiles during a rally denouncing North Korea's missile launch in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 3, 2009. South Korea said Friday it is closely monitoring North Korean military sites because the communist nation may fire more missiles, amid speculation that a long-range test launch aimed toward the U.S. is possible in coming days.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_elephant_adoption ap/20090703/as_thailand_elephant_adoption AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:49:06 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_elephant_adoption"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.c3b88c0d6b114f71a8aa8116148f7b85.thailand_elephant_adoption_bk101.jpg?x=130&y=85&q=85&sig=gkqh6HKF2RnfI0NlrpQ7oA--" align="left" height="85" width="130" alt="FILE - In this May 20, 2002 file photo, a Thai mahout and his infant elephant look for foreign tourist, along Sukhumvit Road in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, After failing repeatedly to clear elephants from Bangkok streets, Thai authorities have come up with an innovative solution: offering them up for adoption. Several groups have already plunked down the estimated 500,000 baht ($14,664, €10,464) to buy an elephant and then relocate it to several reserves in the Thai countryside. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - Elephants idling outside discos or lumbering through traffic have been part of Bangkok's colorful nightlife for nearly two decades. Now authorities want to send them back to the jungle.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_elephant_adoption"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.c3b88c0d6b114f71a8aa8116148f7b85.thailand_elephant_adoption_bk101.jpg?x=130&y=85&q=85&sig=gkqh6HKF2RnfI0NlrpQ7oA--" align="left" height="85" width="130" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this May 20, 2002 file photo, a Thai mahout and his infant elephant look for foreign tourist, along Sukhumvit Road in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, After failing repeatedly to clear elephants from Bangkok streets, Thai authorities have come up with an innovative solution: offering them up for adoption. Several groups have already plunked down the estimated 500,000 baht ($14,664, €10,464) to buy an elephant and then relocate it to several reserves in the Thai countryside. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_people_marcos ap/20090703/as_philippines_people_marcos AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:02:12 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_people_marcos"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090702/capt.87bca98e08dc495285aca3dbb09ab132.philippines_aquino_imelda_marcos_xbm102.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=QbVrjlonajJoKb2B55GAuQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos is prayed over by Catholic priest Eric Santos, right, and other lay leaders as she attends a mass at a Catholic church at Manila's Tondo district to celebrate her 80th birthday Thursday, July 2, 2009 in Manila, Philippines. Imelda urged her supporters to pray for the recovery of former President Corazon 'Cory' Aquino who is in serious condition for colon cancer. The Marcoses were ousted from 20-year-rule via a 'People Power' revolution that installed Aquino into the Presidency. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)" border="0" /></a>AP - She glided down a red carpet with a bouquet of roses, trailed by tuxedo-wearing violin and flute players who rendered her favorite love song. She blew out the candles on her 80th birthday cake amid glittering confetti and fireworks.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_people_marcos"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090702/capt.87bca98e08dc495285aca3dbb09ab132.philippines_aquino_imelda_marcos_xbm102.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=QbVrjlonajJoKb2B55GAuQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos is prayed over by Catholic priest Eric Santos, right, and other lay leaders as she attends a mass at a Catholic church at Manila's Tondo district to celebrate her 80th birthday Thursday, July 2, 2009 in Manila, Philippines. Imelda urged her supporters to pray for the recovery of former President Corazon 'Cory' Aquino who is in serious condition for colon cancer. The Marcoses were ousted from 20-year-rule via a 'People Power' revolution that installed Aquino into the Presidency. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_odd_new_zealand_flying_nude ap/20090703/as_odd_new_zealand_flying_nude AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:24:14 GMT AP - New Zealand's national airline has adopted a cheeky way to encourage passengers to watch its in-flight safety video: The cabin crew's uniforms are nothing but body paint. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_china_bus_fire ap/20090703/as_china_bus_fire AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:10:10 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_china_bus_fire"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.75e51214eb4349d39a130ff880c461f5.china_bus_fire_tok801.jpg?x=130&y=89&q=85&sig=LhvkZCDvRawSRZTq1fYcwA--" align="left" height="89" width="130" alt="FILE - In this June 5, 2009 file photo a burning bus is seen in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province. A Chinese bus fire that killed 27 people and injured dozens last month was deliberately set by a man who committed suicide, state media said Friday July 3, 2009. (AP Photo/File)" border="0" /></a>AP - A Chinese bus fire that killed 27 people and injured dozens last month was deliberately set by a man who committed suicide, state media said Friday.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_china_bus_fire"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090703/capt.75e51214eb4349d39a130ff880c461f5.china_bus_fire_tok801.jpg?x=130&y=89&q=85&sig=LhvkZCDvRawSRZTq1fYcwA--" align="left" height="89" width="130" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this June 5, 2009 file photo a burning bus is seen in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province. A Chinese bus fire that killed 27 people and injured dozens last month was deliberately set by a man who committed suicide, state media said Friday July 3, 2009. (AP Photo/File)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_missile_timeline ap/20090703/as_nkorea_missile_timeline AP world Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:02:25 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_missile_timeline"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246643383440-1-0.jpg?x=91&y=130&q=85&sig=dE7pkhbyyrCGM0BrpedbMg--" align="left" height="130" width="91" alt="A North Korean soldier stands guard on the North's side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas in June 2009. Britain's ambassador to Pyongyang said Friday there was currently no evidence that North Korea was preparing to launch a long-range missile, the day after it test-fired four short-range ones.(AFP/Jung Yeon-Je)" border="0" /></a>AP - Developments in North Korea's missile program:</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_missile_timeline"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090703/capt.photo_1246643383440-1-0.jpg?x=91&y=130&q=85&sig=dE7pkhbyyrCGM0BrpedbMg--" align="left" height="130" width="91" alt="photo" title="A North Korean soldier stands guard on the North's side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas in June 2009. Britain's ambassador to Pyongyang said Friday there was currently no evidence that North Korea was preparing to launch a long-range missile, the day after it test-fired four short-range ones.(AFP/Jung Yeon-Je)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP)