As economy worsens, Irish call for PM’s head

As economy worsens, Irish call for PM’s head

As economy worsens, Irish call for PM’s head

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:35 AM PDT

DUBLIN, Oct 1 — A majority of voters want Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen to step down from his post before the next general election, a poll showed today, and new data showed the country's brief economic upturn weakening further. Cowen and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan disclosed yesterday that Ireland faces a bill of up to €50 billion (RM200 ...


Obama seeks to rally Dems to keep grip on Congress

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:10 AM PDT

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 — President Barack Obama predicted yesterday his embattled Democrats would hold onto their congressional majorities in the November elections if they can rekindle enthusiasm among voters who helped sweep him into office. Obama made the case for Democratic optimism in a pair of contrasting political fundraisers — an elegant ...


Wrestling in India prior to the Commonwealth Games

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:58 AM PDT

(NEW DELHI-AFP) - As the countdown begins to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi this October, India is banking on its world-class wrestlers to win gold for the home crowd. Copyright (AFP RELAXNEWS/ AFPTV), 2010.

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Remand order for five suspects extended till Oct 8

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:56 AM PDT

The Teluk Datok Magistrates' Court here today extended the remand order for five suspects in the murder of cosmetic millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and disappearance of Indian businessman Allal Kanthan Muthuraja to Oct 8.

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I respect Samy's decision to step down: Najib

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:55 AM PDT

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he respects Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's decision to step down as MIC president in January next year.

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TNB expects better results with stronger ringgit

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:55 AM PDT

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) expects to post better results for the current financial year as the ringgit's appreciation has helped better manage coal cost.

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Cambodian school displays first anti-genocide slogans

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:42 AM PDT

PHNOM PENH, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - A high school in the Cambodian capital became the first in the country on Friday to display anti-genocide slogans in an effort to educate youngsters about the murderous Khmer Rouge regime.

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Ecuador president rescued from police uprising

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:40 AM PDT

QUITO, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - Ecuador President Rafael Correa made a triumphant return to the presidential palace after loyalist troops rescued him from a police rebellion amid gunfire and street clashes that left at least two dead.

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Indonesia's top Muslim body seeks ban on gay film fest

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:33 AM PDT

JAKARTA, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - Indonesia's top Islamic body said Friday homosexuality is an abuse of human rights and demanded the government ban an ongoing gay and lesbian film festival.

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Thailand lifts emergency decree in more provinces

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 01:04 AM PDT

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand lifted emergency rule in three provinces on Friday but kept the controversial security law in Bangkok, where the government said the situation remained volatile months after the latest round of political violence.


French unions want millions to protest on Saturday

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 01:04 AM PDT

PARIS (Reuters) - French unions hope to draw at least 2 million people, including students and families, to demonstrate on Saturday against the government's plan to raise the retirement age, the head of a major union said on Friday.


S.Korea posts sharp increase in September trade surplus

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:27 AM PDT

SEOUL, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - South Korea's trade surplus grew sharply in September thanks to brisk exports of semiconductors, auto parts and ships, government data showed Friday.

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Japan's Kan threatens to intervene again to weaken yen

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:24 AM PDT

TOKYO, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday renewed his threat to intervene in currency markets to cap the strong yen, while vowing to pass an extra budget to shore up the flagging economy.

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Thai inflation at 3.0 percent in September

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:23 AM PDT

BANGKOK, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - Thailand said Friday that inflation rose 3.0% year on year in September -- marking the 12th straight monthly increase -- as the kingdom forecasts continued strength for its economy.

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Good policies frustrated by poor implementers

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:22 AM PDT

The civil service with its 1.29 million staff should be the implementation engine to generate the success of the Government Transformation Plan (GTP), the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the 1Malaysia concept. Unfortunately, many civil servants do not seem too enthusiastic or passionate enough, and also lack the essential quality and skills to contribute substantially to these programmes and associate projects.

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Japan PM urges China to be responsible international actor

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:22 AM PDT

TOKYO, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - Japan's prime minister voiced concern Friday about China's defence spending and maritime activities and urged it to act as a "responsible member of the international community".

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Government to ban Philippine Airlines strike: minister

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:21 AM PDT

MANILA, Friday 1 October 2010 (AFP) - The Philippine government said Friday it would ban a planned strike that threatens to paralyse the operations of national flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).

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Militants set fire to NATO supply tankers in Pakistan

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:37 AM PDT

KARACHI (Reuters) - Suspected militants in Pakistan set fire to more than two dozen tankers carrying fuel for NATO troops in Afghanistan on Friday, officials said, a day after three soldiers were killed in a cross-border NATO air strike.


China all set to launch second lunar probe

Posted: 30 Sep 2010 02:41 PM PDT

BEIJING: China said it was all set today to launch its second lunar probe, on the day the country marks 61 years of communist rule.

A launch rocket carrying the Chang'e-2, which will go orbit within 15km of the moon, has been set up in Xichang city in southwestern Sichuan province.

State media says it should take off today evening.

People arrived early to watch the take-off, an employee at the launch site's tourism department, who refused to be named, said.

"A stand has been built for them, and tickets cost 800 yuan (RM370)," she said, adding the whole area had been sealed off.

Weather authorities in Xichang have forecast light rain during the launch window, adding the probability of thunder and high-altitude winds is low, China's National Space Administration said.

"At present, the Oct 1 launch will not be affected," said Li Shangfu, head of the launch site's mission command, according to a statement on the administration's website.

"But we are still closely monitoring any weather changes."

Mythical goddess

The planned launch day is symbolic as it is also China's National Day, which marks Mao Zedong's proclamation of the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.

The lunar probe will conduct various tests in preparation for the expected launch in 2013 of the Chang'e-3, which China hopes will be its first unmanned landing on the moon, state media has reported.

The Chang'e programme, named after a mythical Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, is seen as an effort to put China's space exploration programme on a par with those of the United States and Russia.

Beijing hopes to bring a moon rock sample back to earth in 2017, with a manned mission pencilled in for around 2020, according to state media.

China became the world's third nation to put a man in space independently -- after the United States and Russia -- when Yang Liwei piloted the one-man Shenzhou-5 space mission in 2003.

- AFP

Japan seeks good ties with China, frets over navy actions

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 12:04 AM PDT

TOKYO, Oct 1 — Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said good ties with China are vital but voiced concern about Beijing's military build-up and stepped-up regional maritime activities, as tensions linger between Asia's two top economies. Tokyo and Beijing became embroiled in a bitter feud after Japan's Coast Guard detained a Chinese trawler skipper ...


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