Asia News

Lawyer demands release for Afghan reporter on death row
AFP - The lawyer of an Afghan reporter sentenced to death on blasphemy charges accused authorities Thursday of holding his client beyond a legal deadline, as the young man neared a full year in detention.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 5:42 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

Scandal forces reform in China dairy industry
AP - Peering into five pails of foaming milk, Wang Guifeng quickly jotted down the farmer's name before signaling the batch was OK. Every day he rejects milk from two or three farms whose cows don't meet hygiene standards or show signs of disease.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 5:05 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

IAEA 'barred from Yongbyon plant'
The UN's nuclear watchdog says its inspectors no longer have any access to North Korea's main nuclear complex at Yongbyon.
BBC News  –  Oct 9, 2008 4:12 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

US warns NKorea against increasing tension
AFP - The US State Department on Thursday warned North Korea against taking any steps that would raise tension on the Korean peninsula, including test-firing missiles.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 4:11 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

Nuclear inspectors barred from North Korean site: agency
AFP - The UN atomic watchdog's inspectors at North Korea's facilities at Yongbyon are barred from the site's nuclear installations, the agency announced Thursday.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 4:02 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

US: North Korean Nuclear Move Regrettable But Reversible
IAEA says North Korea has barred inspectors monitoring disablement of the Yongbyon reactor
Voice of America  –  Oct 9, 2008 3:55 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

Cambodian couple cut home in half after row
A rowing couple in Cambodia give new meaning to "broken home" by sawing their home in half to avoid the divorce courts.
BBC News  –  Oct 9, 2008 3:50 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

U.S. urges North Korea to avoid increasing tension
Reuters - The U.S. State Department called on North Korea on Thursday to avoid taking any steps, such as missile launches, that could increase tension.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 3:48 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

Bomb in Pakistani capital, warplanes hit militants
Reuters - A suicide bomber attacked police headquarters in Islamabad, warplanes killed 20 Islamist fighters in the northwest, and children died in a roadside blast on Thursday as Pakistan's war with militants intensified.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 3:24 PM [GMT]  –  comment?

Pakistani air strike kills 20 militants: official
AFP - Pakistani fighter jets and helicopter gunships Thursday destroyed a Taliban militant facility in the restive northwest, killing 20 militants, security officials said.
Yahoo!  –  Oct 9, 2008 3:19 PM [GMT]  –  comment?