Asia/Pacific
NEPAL
Nepal’s parliament elects first woman president
Nepal's parliament Wednesday elected communist lawmaker Bidhya Bhandari as the country's first female president after the adoption of a landmark constitution last month.CHINA - USA
US Navy destroyer patrols near disputed China islands
A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed close to China’s man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday, drawing an angry rebuke from Beijing, which said its…PAKISTAN
Pakistan, India, Afghanistan rocked by deadly quake
Nearly 280 people were killed Monday when a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake centred in the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan ripped across South Asia, toppling buildings,…MALDIVES
Maldives VP linked to alleged plot to kill president
Maldives police arrested Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Saturday on suspicion of links to a blast on the presidential boat last month that authorities have said was an assassination…BANGLADESH
IS group claims responsibility for Bangladesh bombings
Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings that targeted Shiites in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka on Saturday, the monitor group SITE said.CHINA -UK
China's Xi praises Britain ahead of state visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping heaped praise on Britain for what he called a “visionary choice” to strengthen commercial ties with China, ahead of a visit to the UK that’s expected…PHILIPPINES
Deadly Typhoon Koppu hits north Philippines
Powerful Typhoon Koppu wrecked houses, tore down trees and unleashed landslides and floods, killing at least 16 people and forcing thousands to flee as it pummeled the northern…IRAN
UN experts slam execution of minors in Iran
United Nations human rights experts expressed "outrage and profound sadness" Friday at Iran's execution of two juvenile offenders, urging the country to "stop killing children."USA
Scores arrested as US targets Chinese drugs network
US law enforcement officials announced on Thursday they had arrested 151 people in a crackdown on synthetic “designer” drugs that tied Chinese suppliers to Middle East profiteers…BURMA
Government secures partial ceasefire with rebels
Myanmar's government and eight smaller ethnic rebel armies signed a ceasefire agreement to end more than six decades of fighting, but other more powerful groups refused to come…AFGHANISTAN
Taliban withdraw from Afghan city of Kunduz
The Taliban said Tuesday they are withdrawing from Kunduz, a strategic northern city that briefly fell to the insurgents last month, as an Afghan official said life there is…IRAN
Iran’s parliament takes step towards approving nuclear deal
Iran’s parliament passed a bill on Tuesday supporting a nuclear deal with world powers, signaling a victory for the government over conservative opponents of the agreement and…NORTH KOREA
Video: N.Korea stages major show of military might
Isolated North Korea marked the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party on Saturday with a massive military parade overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, who said his country was…USA - AFGHANISTAN