Category: Asia

HERAT, Afghanistan – Hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed a district in Afghanistan’s western Badghis province, with both Afghan government forces and the insurgent group suffering dozens of casualties, provincial officials said. The district of Bala Murghab has been a recurring hotspot of fighting in the past two months, and officials have previously warned that it […]

Plan in Sindh province is part of wider efforts to promote inclusion of marginalised community Police in Pakistan’s Sindh province will set quotas for recruiting transgender constables, officials have said. The move to hire what is often a persecuted minority will promote “the respect of transgender people”, the force said. The quota in the province […]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is vulnerable to attack on the economy as he seeks a second term GDP expansion in Asia’s third-largest economy reduced to 6.6 percent in the last quarter MUMBAI: India’s central bank cut interest rates on Thursday, delivering a shot in the arm to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a marathon […]

India has deported eight Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar in two batches since beginning of 2019 United Nation human rights experts have expressed dismay over forced deportation of Rohingya Muslims by India, according to a statement by UN Human Rights Council. “We are dismayed by the decision of the Indian Government to continue forced returns of […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak sat in the dock Wednesday at the start of his corruption trial, with the chief prosecutor alleging he wielded “near absolute power” for nearly a decade during which he stands accused of pilfering millions of dollars from the 1MDB state investment fund. “The accused […]

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Millions of Hindus will wake up at the crack of dawn this Saturday, five days before the start of India’s general election, and march to nearby temples to chant a sacred hymn and renew a pledge to build a Ram temple on the ruins of the 16th-century Babri mosque. Hardline Hindu […]

Indian IT billionaire Azim Premji recently became India’s top philanthropist, sealing his place among the world’s top givers. But his generosity has put philanthropy in the spotlight in a country where charity does not appear to match wealth. The BBC’s Aparna Alluri reports. With his recent pledge of $7.5bn, Mr Premji’s total philanthropic contribution now […]

Everything you need to know about the corruption-related charges the former Malaysian leader faces in the first trial over 1MDB What is happening? On Wednesday, the trial of the former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak will finally begin, after a two-month delay. Najib, who was unexpectedly toppled from power in a general election in May 2018, […]