Asia

I decided to do another post of our trip to southeast Asia.  On my personal blog, my posts on travel are my most popular posts by far so I figured I would post it on here, too.  Who knows, maybe you’ll get a travel idea! For the second week of our two-week vacation this past April, the wife and I traveled from Cambodia to Bali, an island in Indonesia.  Let me tell you, I’ve been to a number of countries and Bali is unlike any of them.  It is...  

Bali has long been a fixture on the Southeast Asia backpacker tour, but it has gotten exponentially more popular since I first landed on the island in the mid-1990s—and prices have risen with the crowds. To give us the scoop on what current prices are like for travelers, I turned to a guy who actually [...] Related posts:Growing Pains in Bali, Indonesia 6 Places to Live for Super-cheap Pricing News from Cheap Destinations – September 2011  

roomsXML has updated its inventory to have 385 hotels in Dubai and 358 apartments in Bali. roomsXML have upgraded their hotel inventory through the addition of new wholesalers and some smart technology. Mark Luckey, MD roomsXML Asia Pacific says “Through ...  

To be held at the SOS Supper Club, the event will see the internationally renowned performer taking to the turntables from ... the Asia-Pacific region ranging from individual beach huts to 5-star hotels and sprawling villas. AsiaRooms.com offers customers ...  

Iran is on the verge of rebuffing Turkey's bid to hold the next round of multilateral nuclear talks in Istanbul, illustrating how far relations between the countries have soured over the past two years. Instead, Tehran would prefer the crucial dialogue with Western powers to take place in either Brussels or Vienna. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Mar 26, '12)  

South Asia needs innovative poll strategies: QuraishiNew York Daily NewsNew Delhi, April 30 — Bitter political competition, use of money power and citizens' apathy in the electoral process call for innovative methods and strategies in the South Asian region, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said Monday.and more »  

DAWN.comAsia stocks rise on hopes of new Fed stimulus moveFox NewsBANGKOK – Asian stock markets rose Monday in holiday-thinned trade as sluggish US growth figures boosted hopes for more measures from the Federal Reserve to help the world's No. 1 economy. South Korea's Kospi added 0.2 percent to 1980.27 amid improving ...Asia stocks gain on Fed easing hopes; Nikkei closedForex ProsAsian shares gain on hopes U.S. data leaves scope for Fed...  

HPCC Systems From LexisNexis Expands Strategic Alliance Program Into Asia to ...MarketWatch (press release)ATLANTA, GA, Apr 30, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- HPCC Systems(R) from LexisNexis(R) Risk Solutions announced that it is expanding its strategic Alliance Program into Asia starting with four alliances that already have an established presence in the ...and more »  

Muslims in Middle East, Asia think poorly of Al Qaeda, poll findsLos Angeles TimesA new poll covering thousands of Muslims in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and Lebanon found that most thought poorly of Al Qaeda nearly a year after Osama bin Laden's death. The results came just after US intelligence officials announced that the ...and more »  

Australian Lenders Target Asia As Europe's Banks RetreatWall Street Journal (blog)By Caroline Henshaw Australia's big banks–renowned for their sturdiness–are muscling into Asia as Europe's crisis-hit lenders are forced to reel in their almost $500 billion exposure to the region. Eurozone banks have cut their involvement in Asia by ...and more »  

The Chinese media emphasized unity and an implicitly anti-American tone in reporting naval exercises between China and Russia, befitting its stance that the reorientation of US forces to East Asia is unfriendly and hostile. Russia was more circumspect, discreetly signaling that too much US pressure on checking China in Asia will lead Moscow closer to Beijing. - Stephen Blank (May 23, '12)  

The Kurdistan government in northern Iraq has announced a plan to build an oil pipeline to Turkey, a move that could cause shifts in the geo-economics of greater Southwest Asia. The Basra governate in southern Iraq may also now assert greater authority over deals in its own region. - Robert M Cutler  

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on a visit to Iran, made a direct appeal for international talks on Tehran's nuclear program to be held in Istanbul. The Iranians are not convinced, though, especially as Turkey has bowed to Western pressure and agreed to cut its energy imports from Iran. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Apr 2, '12)  

Former French prime minister Michel Rocard's high-profile meeting in Iran with top officials and lawmakers has raised eyebrows in the United States and Israel, which are concerned that Paris may no longer toe Washington's line, especially with regard to the nuclear talks on Iran that are reaching a pivotal moment. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (May 15, '12)  

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's desire for a free-trade zone for Central Asian is unlikely to see quick progress, but if Central Asian states do not wish to fade again into the annals of history they should embark on genuine regional integration. - Roman Muzalevsky  

Joint naval activities offer the latest evidence of a changing relationship that gives the United States legitimacy for its military presence in Asia and allows Vietnam to stand a little bolder in China's muscular shadow in the South China Sea. In the delicate balance between its two most important partners, Hanoi is keen to be seen as acting independently while keeping options open with China. - Lien Hoang (May 11, '12)  

The European Union's goal of getting Central Asian gas directly is linked to Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan agreeing on their Caspian Sea border, over objections from Russia and Iran. Then there is the matter of European Union funding - against Germany's wishes. It still looks a long wait.  

Ceylon Daily NewsObama, Japan's Noda talk defense amid US-China standoffReutersStarting with a trip late last year, Obama has touted a "pivot" toward the economically dynamic Asia-Pacific region widely seen as a US effort to reassure nervous allies there of the US commitment as China flexes its economic and military muscle.US shores up ties in Asia pushABS CBN Newsall 9 news articles »  

A struggle in Vietnam's ruling Communist Party over legalizing gambling has seen supporters citing the tourism and tax revenues casinos would bring and hardliners pointing to potential social evils. The popularity of existing "entertainment centers" and other Southeast Asian success stories makes it a no-brainer for foreign investors. - Karl D John (Apr 18, '12)  

Asia Pacific Wire and Cable Corporation Announces Full Year 2011 ResultsMarketWatch (press release)TAIPEI, Taiwan, Apr 30, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Asia Pacific Wire & Cable Corporation Limited (UTD:APWC) ("APWC" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of wire and cable products for the telecommunications and electric-power industries in ...and more »