Asia

Kidnapped Afghan People’s Peace Movement marchers freed

Twenty-seven members of a peace group who were kidnapped as they traveled in western Afghanistan have been released, local media say. The People’s Peace Movement (PPM) disappeared after entering Farah province two days ago as part of a march demanding a ceasefire. The Taliban were suspected of being behind it. …

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Typhoon Phanfone kills 16 on Christmas Day.

A typhoon that lashed the central Philippines on Christmas Day has killed at least 16 people and caused damage to homes and tourist areas. Typhoon Phanfone, known locally as Typhoon Ursula, first made landfall on Eastern Samar province on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and storm surges. It hit as the …

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Japan MP arrested on suspicion of taking casino bribe

A lawmaker from Japan’s governing party has been arrested on suspicion of receiving 3.7m yen ($34,000) in bribes from a gambling operator. As a member of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet until October, Tsukasa Akimoto oversaw the government’s plan to introduce casinos. The 48-year-old denies wrongdoing and says he never …

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At least 27 dead in Indonesia bus plunge

At least 27 people have died and more than a dozen were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in Indonesia, officials said Tuesday. The bus careered into a 150-meter (500-foot) ravine in South Sumatra province just before midnight (1600 GMT) on Monday and ended up in a river, …

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India agrees new population database amid protests

The Indian cabinet has approved a new population register despite weeks of protests over a citizenship law that critics say is anti-Muslim. Authorities say the National Population Register (NPR) will create a list of all the people living in the country and help in the formulation of policies. However, critics …

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Pakistan lecturer sentenced to death for blasphemy

Junaid Hafeez, 33, was arrested in March 2013 and accused of posting derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed on social media. Allegations of blasphemy are taken very seriously in Pakistan, and even an accusation is often enough to make someone a target for hardliners. Mr. Hafeez’s first lawyer, Rashid Rehman, …

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7 men sentenced to death for a terror attack.

Seven men were sentenced to death Wednesday by a court in Bangladesh after being found guilty of helping to organize the country’s deadliest ever terrorist atrocity. One of the eight suspects charged was found not guilty, while the seven who face capital punishment can appeal. More than 20 people, including …

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