Kazakh president decries foreign influences

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• Kazakh president decries foreign influences
• Australians play 'two-up' on only day it is legal
• Nepal's 'Super Sherpa' crosses the Himalayas
• Maldivian cabinet clears first parliament test
• NATO reaches 'important stage' in Afghan war: general
• Philippines ready to carve up Aquino farm
• Vietnam arrests 20 over land eviction: reports
• N. Korea marks army day, vowing war against South
• War zone or tourist trap? Mulling the Korean DMZ
• Kyrgyzstan's eternal flame snuffed out
• Crew blamed for Pakistan's worst ever plane crash
• Philippines arrests 12 Vietnamese fishermen
• Fallen Chinese politician's son defends himself
• Global retailers press Dhaka on unionist's murder
• Beijing warns Manila on sea dispute
• Japan's 'Shadow Shogun' to hear trial verdict
• S&P downgrades India outlook to negative
• NATO reports 4 troop deaths in Afghanistan
• Indian child marriage annulled in landmark case
• NATO accused of lack of honesty over reporter's death
• Japan field hockey team out to end 44 years of hurt
• Report: NATO misleads with 'Afghan-led' label
• India's Wipro Q4 profit up 7.7% but forecast muted
• SKorea retailers halt US beef sales over mad cow
• Military says NKorea has 'powerful modern weapons'

Kazakh president decries foreign influences Posted: The president of the oil-rich former Soviet nation of Kazakhstan has criticized the West for what he said was its attempt to impose its values on the rest of the world.

Australians play 'two-up' on only day it is legal Posted: Australians thronged pubs around the country to gamble on a noisy bar game known as "two-up" on Wednesday -- the one day of the year when it is legal -- in an annual ritual linked to remembrance day.

Nepal's 'Super Sherpa' crosses the Himalayas Posted: Nepal's "Super Sherpa" on Wednesday voiced amazement at the pace of change in the country's remote Himalayan communities, as he celebrated his return from one of the world's most difficult treks.

Maldivian cabinet clears first parliament test Posted: The Maldivian parliament on Wednesday approved a 14-member cabinet appointed by President Mohamed Waheed, who is accused of seizing power in a military- and police-backed coup.

NATO reaches 'important stage' in Afghan war: general Posted: NATO is at an "important stage" in the war in Afghanistan, with insurgents losing ground while Afghan forces grow in strength as foreign troops gradually go home, a top general said Wednesday.

Philippines ready to carve up Aquino farm Posted: Manila's land reform agency Wednesday said it was ready to carve up the vast farm of President Benigno Aquino's clan, which lost a Supreme Court battle for $100 million in compensation.

Vietnam arrests 20 over land eviction: reports Posted: Vietnam arrested 20 people after heavily-armed riot police used tear gas to break up a protest by hundreds of angry farmers, reports said on Wednesday, in the culmination of a six-year land dispute.

N. Korea marks army day, vowing war against South Posted: North Korea's military chief of staff accused the United States and South Korea on Wednesday of plotting war but said his country's own weaponry could destroy their armaments in "a single blow".

War zone or tourist trap? Mulling the Korean DMZ Posted: Soldiers from rival North and South Korea eye one another across a thin strip of no man's land that — just barely — keeps their armies apart. The tension, they insist on both sides, is palpable.

Kyrgyzstan's eternal flame snuffed out Posted: When is an "Eternal Flame" not eternal? In Kyrgyzstan, it's when you don't pay the gas bill.

Crew blamed for Pakistan's worst ever plane crash Posted: A confused captain and a hostile cockpit atmosphere were to blame for the worst ever plane crash on Pakistani soil, when 152 people died, the official report on the disaster said on Wednesday.

Philippines arrests 12 Vietnamese fishermen Posted: Philippine officials say 12 Vietnamese fishermen have been arrested for poaching endangered marine turtles, black corals and reef fishes in southern Philippines waters.

Fallen Chinese politician's son defends himself Posted: The son of fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai defended his academic record and social life while at university in England and the United States in a letter that was the latest example of the extraordinary public evolution of China's messiest political scandal.

Global retailers press Dhaka on unionist's murder Posted: Top global retail associations have demanded a swift and impartial probe into the murder of a prominent Bangladeshi trade unionist in the garment sector, a statement showed on Wednesday.

Beijing warns Manila on sea dispute Posted: China warned the Philippines on Wednesday not to "internationalise" the two countries' simmering territorial dispute in the South China Sea, as US and Philippine forces staged war games in the area.

Japan's 'Shadow Shogun' to hear trial verdict Posted: One of the biggest figures in Japan's political scene is set to hear his fate on Thursday when a court delivers its verdict on a years-old funding scandal.

S&P downgrades India outlook to negative Posted: Standard & Poor's on Wednesday downgraded India's credit outlook to negative as a weakening economy and gaping fiscal deficit put the country's prized investment-grade rating at risk.

NATO reports 4 troop deaths in Afghanistan Posted: NATO says that two service members have been killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan, while two others have died of non-battle injuries.

Indian child marriage annulled in landmark case Posted: An Indian couple who "married" when aged just one and three have had their wedding annulled in a ground-breaking case that activists hope will challenge the culture of child marriages.

NATO accused of lack of honesty over reporter's death Posted: NATO forces in Afghanistan were less than honest over the killing of a prominent Afghan journalist by an American soldier, an investigation by a Kabul-based think tank charged Wednesday.

Japan field hockey team out to end 44 years of hurt Posted: Japan's men's field hockey team will be gunning to take full advantage of home soil to book their first Olympic ticket in 44 years, while their women are favourites to get to London.

Report: NATO misleads with 'Afghan-led' label Posted: A new report Wednesday by a Kabul-based think tank accuses international forces of misleading the public by calling military operations "Afghan-led" even in cases where NATO or U.S. forces are the only troops on the ground.

India's Wipro Q4 profit up 7.7% but forecast muted Posted: India's third-largest software company Wipro on Wednesday posted a 7.7 percent year-on-year rise in net profit for the January-March period, but gave a muted forecast that sent its shares tumbling.

SKorea retailers halt US beef sales over mad cow Posted: Two major South Korean retailers pulled U.S. beef from their stores Wednesday following the discovery of mad cow disease in a U.S. dairy cow. Reaction elsewhere in Asia was muted with Japan saying there's no reason to restrict imports.

Military says NKorea has 'powerful modern weapons' Posted: North Korea is armed with "powerful modern weapons" capable of defeating the United States, a top military chief in Pyongyang said Wednesday, a claim that matches the country's regular rhetoric but is questioned by experts.

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