Southeast Asian basketball league launched in Malaysia; 6 teams to start competition

August 19th, 2009 US senator visits Vietnam at end of SE Asian tourHANOI, Vietnam — U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia is visiting Hanoi on the last leg of a Southeast Asian tour.

August 4th, 2009 KUANTAN - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak Tuesday launched the country's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that he said would be "Asia's biggest". Located on the east coast in Pahang state, it aims to bring in RM90 billion ($25.6 billion) worth of investments and create 220,000 jobs by 2020, he said at the launch, Star Online reported.

May 12th, 2009 Malaysia cancels soccer tournament over swine fluKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian soccer officials have canceled next month's Intercontinental Cup under-23 tournament due to the threat of the spread of swine flu, local media reported Tuesday. The Football Association of Malaysia canceled the eight-team tournament after consulting with the nation's Health Ministry, the New Straits Times reported.

May 9th, 2009 KUANTAN - Tournament favourites South Korea started the Asia Cup hockey campaign on a sorry note as they were held 1-1 by hosts Malaysia in a Group A match here Saturday. In other matches in the day, Japan thrashed Bangladesh 5-0 in Group A while Pakistan were held 1-1 by China in Group B.

May 5th, 2009 Kashima defeats Suwon 3-0 in ACLKASHIMA, Japan — Brazilian striker Marquinhos scored either side of halftime as Kashima Antlers trounced South Korea's Suwon Bluewings 3-0 on Tuesday to move closer to reaching the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League. Defender Go Oiwa put Kashima ahead in the 27th minute and Marquinhos doubled the lead five minutes later when he converted a pass from Mitsuo Ogasawara.

May 5th, 2009 MUMBAI - ENM, India's premier full-fledged electronic news monitoring agency, has bagged three IPL teams other than the league owners, IPL, for monitoring the matches. ENM will offer an extensive monitoring of all the matches for the season to the owner and the three franchises.

April 29th, 2009 Malaysia rules McDonald's has no monopoly on 'Mc'KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's Appeal Court ruled Wednesday that U.S. fast food giant McDonald's cannot claim an exclusive right to the 'Mc' prefix in the country, allowing a local food outlet to keep its name, a report said.

April 28th, 2009 Nathan Astle to sign with American leagueWELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealander Nathan Astle is negotiating a contract to play in an unsanctioned Twenty20 cricket competition in the United States. Astle, who retired from international cricket in 2007 after playing 81 tests and 223 one-day internationals, said in a radio inteview Tuesday that he expected to sign "within days" to play in the American Premier League.

April 22nd, 2009 Malaysia removes ethnic rule for some investmentsPUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — Malaysia's government said Wednesday it will immediately remove a 30 percent requirement for ethnic Malay ownership of investments in parts of the services sector as it tries to boost the country's flagging economy. Prime Minister Najib Razak said the move is mainly in the areas of health and social services, tourism, transport, business and computer-related services.

April 22nd, 2009 ACL: Ulsan beats Beijing 1-0BEIJING — A late header by Oh Jang-eun gave Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea a 1-0 win over Beijing Guoan Wednesday in the Asian Champions League. The win gives Ulsan six points, two behind group leader Nagoya Grampus.

April 21st, 2009 China insists recession won't crimp Asian GamesKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Organizers are confident the global recession won't prevent next year's Asian Games in the Chinese city of Guangzhou from replicating the success of the Beijing Olympics. Chinese media reported last month that a dearth of sponsorships from local exporters is hampering games preparations, including the construction of venues, although organizers hope foreign firms will pick up the slack.

April 21st, 2009 Gamba advances with 3-0 defeat of Sriwijaya in ACLPALEMBANG, Indonesia — Defending champion Gamba Osaka beat Indonesia's Sriwijaya 3-0 Tuesday to secure a spot in the second round of the Asian Champions League. The visitors pressured from the start with three attacks in the first five minutes, but the first goal didn't come until the 30th when Brazilian player Leandro da Silva drove in a long-range shot.

April 13th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - India were 'worthy champions' of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, but runners-up Malaysia were also 'not completely outplayed', media reports said on the prestigious hockey tournament finals held in Ipoh. For Malaysia, it was their third defeat in the final.

April 12th, 2009 IPOH - Making a superb display of speed and execution of planning on the field, the Indian hockey team on Sunday beat the host Malaysia team by 3-1 to lift the 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup here. India won this prestigious tournament after 13 years of gap on Sunday.

January 21st, 2009 CHENNAI - India entered the final in the boys section while the girls went down in the semi-finals of the Asian Junior Squash championship at the ICL Academy courts here Thursday. India defeated Korea 2-0 in the boys semi-final clash and will take on Malaysia who got past Hong Kong 2-1.