Vietnam fifth nation to ratify ASEAN Charter

"President Nguyen Minh Triet had ratified the regional association's first common legal and institutional framework on March 6, after Singapore, Brunei, Laos and Malaysia.Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem sent the letter of ratification to ASEAN...

ASEAN to implement Charter although only parly ratified : chief

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) will carry out the good ideas contained in its charter although the document has yet to be ratified by all of its member countries, the regional organization`s chief says. "All the good ideas in the...

Olympics: `New era` for SEAsia as Singapore wins Youth Olympics bid

""It is a great honour and privilege for all of us," said Lee in front of thousands of cheering supporters wearing red and white, the colours of the national flag."It will be the first time that the Olympic flame will be in Southeast Asia and in Singapore. We will be the...

Major Quake Rocks Northwest Nevada - No Injuries Reported yet

"WELLS, Nev. -- A strong earthquake shook rural northeastern Nevada Thursday, causing at least one building to collapse, authorities said. The magnitude of the quake, initially estimated at 6.3, was later revised to 6.0 by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake...

Magnitude-6.2 Quake Hits Norway

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake, the largest ever recorded on Norwegian territory, hit off the Arctic Svalbard islands early Thursday, the national seismic monitoring center said. No casualties or damage were reported.The Associated Press is working with NowPublic to help get...

Brunei, Laos, Malaysia ratify ASEAN rights charter: diplomats

"All 10 ASEAN members were expected to ratify the landmark charter by the time the grouping holds its annual summit in Thailand in December, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo was quoted by AFP as saying.Diplomatic sources said however there are doubts the charter would be...

Yudhoyono wants country regain lead in Southeast Asian sports

"He therefore called on all parties to work hard in preparing the nation to live up to its old tradition of always leading in sport events in Southeast Asia."Through hard work, Insya Allah (God willing), we will achieve this goal and target. The road leading to the number one...

Greece shook by strong earthquake

"A powerful earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale hit the Peloponnese region of southern Greece early this morning, the geodynamics institute of the Athens observatory reported. Police said there were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage. The...

Malaysian sepak takraw chief facing life ban over dispute

""We do not wash our dirty linen in public," Chalerm Chaiwatcharaporn, deputy president of the Asian sepak takraw federation (ISTAF) told Reuters on Saturday."This is an attempt to smear and defame us. This is the most serious issue we have faced since this sport began."Sepak...

Hosts Thailand top SEA Games medals table but miss record

""This is exactly what we expected, the gold medals represent the pride of our country," Yuthasak Sasiprapha, president of the Thai Olympic Committee, was quoted by Reuters as telling reporters.As expected, Thailand, swept all but one of boxing events, winning 16 of the 17...

Yudhoyono delays Europe visit over air ban: spokesman

""The president wants to make sure that... before he makes the trip to Europe that the airline ban is lifted. That's politically appropriate and psychologically appropriate too," Yudhoyono's spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said. Djalal told AFP that a visit to several European...

Myanmar to hold first ASEAN film festival: report

"The December 6-9 festival will show seven films, including Myanmar's love-story "Mystery of Snow " and Indonesian entry "Denias : Singing On the Cloud)", said The Voice. Myanmar joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997, which includes Brunei,...