LAST UPDATED : 2012-05-20 13:21:57 GMT+7 






DHAKA:  Pandemonium in the air

ISLAMABAD:  On the mend

ISLAMABAD:  Ignorance is bliss

NEW DELHI:  India's centre-state ties lesson for federal Nepal

BANGKOK:  The Middle East's survival

DHAKA:  Opposition leaders in jail

JAKARTA:  Rescue and restraint

WASHINGTON:  Summit must focus on food security

TAIPEI:  Taiwan must strike balance of liberalisation, protection

MANILA:  Extraordinary gang-up




CHANGSHA:  China seeks export recovery

ISLAMABAD:  Pakistan signs regional power supply agreement

ISLAMABAD:  Confusion persists over EU package for Pakistan

BEIJING:  Chinese nuclear projects ready to power ahead

KARACHI:  Nato tanker operators await green signal

DHAKA:  Main Bangladesh airport set for upgrade in 2 months

SYLHET:  Bangladesh finds oil in two old gas fields

THIMPU:  Bhutan economy to improve with Saarc currency swap

SINGAPORE:  Euro crisis poses threat to S'pore

PETALING JAYA:  Contrasting fortunes for Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia





ISLAMABAD: The banned outfit

KATHMANDU: Maoist fighters at crossroads: Options separate couple’s path



Life After F4
Ken Zhu talks about coping with the pain of fame and coming to terms with his place in the industry


The palace is nice, but…
For a person who prefers natural scenery to historic attractions, Thailand's Grand Palace is probably the only tourist attraction I would like to see .....






TAIWAN PROTEST: A supporter of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party displays a placard during a protest against Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in Taipei on May 19. At least 20,000 Taiwanese rallied in Taipei on May 19 to voice their anger at Ma over a spate of controversial policies, on the eve of his inauguration for a second term. AFP



Taiwan president admits to failures as thousands take to streets
Ma Ying-jeou's approval ratings have hit new lows since he took office in 2008



Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday summed up four major failures over his past four years in office as thousands of people took to the streets in Taipei protesting some of the government's recent controversial moves, The China Post reports. Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra urges reconciliation in video call as tens of thousands mark two years since the bloody crackdown on his supporters in Bangkok, The Nation says. Talks between Pakistan leader, Nato chief canceled, reports Dawn. China on high alert over Filipino 'patriotic voyage' to disputed sea, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. In business, China seeks export recovery, China Daily says.



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Buy local, eat slow
Little bites of heaven
Filipino boxing idol on Forbes celebrity power list




A director's journey of discovery
Korean film takes disturbing portrait of chaebol to Cannes
Lucky man, this cabby






Around Asia With ANN: May 10, 2012







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The organiser of the Sanja Matsuri festival in Tokyo's Asakusa district has decided to ban members of organised crime groups from wearing hanten coats bearing their groups' names at the event, it has been learned. Following the enforcement last year of a Tokyo metropolitan government ordinance aimed at the ultimate elimination of crime syndicates, festival organiser Asakusa Jinja Hosan-kai hopes to improve the atmosphere of the annual event starting Friday. During the 10 years through 2007, 33 members of organised crime groups were arrested on suspicion of violating various regulations during the festival, including the metropolitan government ordinance on the prevention of public and private nuisances. For example, gangsters often clambered onto mikoshi portable shrines being carried during the festival. Due to such incidents, the carrying of the three Honsha Mikoshi portable shrines, the main event of the festival, was cancelled in 2008. In the past few years, no major trouble has been reported. However, some gang members wearing hanten coats bearing their groups' names carried portable shrines, while other members showed off tattoos on their upper body. This resulted in numerous complaints from spectators to Asakusa Jinja Hosan-kai. The ordinance put into force last year includes a provision on festivals that says, "Organisers shall endeavour not to have members of organised crime groups involved in the operation of events." Asakusa Jinja Hosan-kai has been working with Asakusa Police Station since the year-end to make the festival a wholesome one.



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DHAKA:  First Bangladeshi woman on Everest

DHAKA:  Int'l community fears violent confrontation in Bangladesh

MANILA:  China on high alert over Philippine 'patriotic' trip

BANGKOK:  Red shirts call for justice in Thailand




BEIJING: Beijing on 'high alert' over Huangyan

BANGKOK: 19 May 2012

TAIPEI: Taiwan president admits to failures as thousands take to streets

BANGKOK: Little bites of heaven
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