Salem-News.com Asia articles Page 9

Islamic Authority in Malaysia Bans Moderate Muslim Mosque

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community persecuted for its spiritual beliefs and threatened with imprisonment and fines.

(PETALING JAYA, Malaysia ) - The Selangor Council of Islamic Religion in Malaysia has issued a notice ordering the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Malaysia to immediately stop offering Friday Prayer services at the national AMC headquarters, the Bait-us-Salam Mosque.

Various other activities of AMC Malaysia have also been banned under the terms of the notice and members of the AMC have been threatened with imprisonment and fines if they do not comply.

UN Urges North Korea`s Compliance with Security Council Resolutions

Ban regrets DPR Korea launch, calls for dialog.

(GENEVA) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his regret that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has, against strong international appeals, proceeded with its planned launch, urging the resumption of diplomatic talks.

According to media reports, the East Asian nation launched a rocket this morning, and the Security Council will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow on the issue.

North Korea Launches Multi-Stage Rocket Over Japan

Japan did not follow through on a threat to shoot the rocket down.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Reports from Seoul indicate that a rocket was launched from North Korea, in spite of calls from world leaders to not do so.

The launch has not been confirmed at this time by Pyonyang. The LA Times reports that is was a multi-stage rocket that could possibly be used to deliver nuclear weapons.

Burmese Medicines Sickened Refugee Children

U.S. health officials have found lead and arsenic in traditional Burmese medications used by refugee families. Are children back in Burma also affected?

(BANGKOK and WASHINGTON) - Burmese children in the United States who took two commonly used household medications from Burma were found to have high levels of lead and arsenic in their blood, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports.

The poisoning was discovered in 32 Burmese refugee children who were resettled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the United States from refugee camps in Thailand.

Chinese Dissident’s Family Defects

China revoked the licenses of attorneys like Zhisheng, who offered to represent Tibetans taken into custody for their role in the March 2008 Tibetan uprising in Lhasa.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The wife and children of a top civil rights lawyer under close surveillance by the Chinese authorities have arrived in the United States after walking across the border to Thailand.

Geng said her daughter, 15, and son, 5, had suffered “great hardship” in China from living under virtual house arrest in their Beijing home.

Human Rights Watch: Domestic Workers Often Prisoners in a Gilded Cage

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said migrant and domestic workers continue to face abuse, particularly in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, because authorities have lagged in adopting the measures needed to protect them.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - On the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a New York-based human rights watchdog group called on the governments of the world to protect domestic workers.

In its statement Monday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said migrant and domestic workers continue to face abuse, particularly in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, because authorities have lagged in adopting the measures needed to protect them.

UN Urges Restraint as Cambodian-Thai Border Confrontation Turns Deadly

Though Bangkok denies it, ten Thai soldiers were reportedly taken captive by Cambodian military forces.

(TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEA, Cambodia) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed deep concern about the exchange of gunfire today along the Cambodian-Thai border near a disputed ancient temple that has reportedly led to the deaths of at least two people.