World / Asia

Casualties as explosion hits largest US base in Afghanistan: NATO 12 Nov 2016 - 09:14 am

Kabul: An explosion struck Bagram Airfield close to Kabul early Saturday, NATO said, confirming some casualties in an apparent insurgent assault on the...

Taliban attack on German consulate in Afghanistan kills six 11 Nov 2016 - 11:14 am

Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan: The death toll from a powerful Taliban truck bombing at the German consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif city rose to at least...

China’s Xi vows zero tolerance for separatist movements 11 Nov 2016 - 11:09 am

BEIJING: China will never allow any part of its territory to break off, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, within a week of...

13 dead in Indian garment factory fire: police 11 Nov 2016 - 11:01 am

Ghaziabad, India: Thirteen workers died in a fire at a suspected illegal garment factory on the outskirts of the Indian capital early Friday...

Factbox: The economics of India’s seasonal debt bondage trap 10 Nov 2016 - 05:38 pm

Kantabanji, India: Every November and December, villagers across the Balangir district of Odisha state in eastern India stuff belongings into sacks, leave their...

Here are key facts about the economics of seasonal debt bondage in India, where around 18 million people are trapped in some kind of slavery, according to the latest Global Slavery Index by Walk Free Foundation:

Agents of India’s “migration express” sell one-way ticket to debt bondage 10 Nov 2016 - 05:04 pm

KANTABANJI: Nijam Khan was on a recruiting spree. All through the autumn, he drove to villages around the town of Kantabanji in India’s...

EU lawmakers back Uzbekistan trade deal opposed by anti-slavery activists 10 Nov 2016 - 04:47 pm

LONDON: European Union lawmakers on Thursday backed a textile trade deal with Uzbekistan opposed by anti-slavery activists who say it will result in...

Indians mob banks to deposit, exchange spiked currency 10 Nov 2016 - 03:24 pm

New Delhi: Millions of anxious people armed with Rs 500 and 1,000 notes mobbed banks across India on Thursday to exchange or deposit...

Deported from Pakistan, Kabul embraces Afghan Mona Lisa 10 Nov 2016 - 03:00 pm

KABUL, Afghanistan: Deported after decades living in Pakistan, the Afghan woman whose striking teenaged portrait became an icon of the Afghan refugee crisis...

Indian banks call in police as people rush to ditch old banknotes 10 Nov 2016 - 02:59 pm

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Indian banks called in thousands of police on Thursday to manage huge queues outside branches, as people tried to exchange bank...

Philippines, Malaysia agree to cooperate on tackling Abu Sayyaf kidnappings 10 Nov 2016 - 02:51 pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The Philippines on Thursday agreed to allow Malaysia and Indonesia to carry out “hot pursuits” in its territorial waters, as the...

Indian PM heads to Japan to seal nuclear deal amid uncertainty over US policy 10 Nov 2016 - 11:26 am

NEW DELHI/TOKYO: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to Japan on Thursday to seal a landmark nuclear energy pact and strengthen ties, as...

China jails 49 over giant explosions 09 Nov 2016 - 03:38 pm

Beijing: Chinese courts Wednesday jailed almost 50 people over last year's giant explosions in the port of Tianjin that killed 165 people, state...

For China, Trump win creates uncertainty, opportunity 09 Nov 2016 - 02:48 pm

BEIJING: Donald Trump's upset election victory cracks open pressing strategic and economic questions in U.S.-China ties, and has likely surprised and worried Chinese ...

Taliban call on Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan 09 Nov 2016 - 02:13 pm

KABUL: The Afghan Taliban on Wednesday called on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. "Our message is that the...

British diver rescued after 17 hours in shark-infested Australian waters 09 Nov 2016 - 12:32 pm

SYDNEY: A 68-year-old British scuba diver expressed relief over his rescue after 17 hours lost at sea in shark-infested waters off Australia's northeast...

India's shock withdrawal of larger banknotes sparks chaos in cash economy 09 Nov 2016 - 11:12 am

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Indians struggled to pay for basics goods like food and fuel on Wednesday and wondered how to get hold of their...

Jewelers in demand as Indians seek to dispose banned bills 09 Nov 2016 - 10:00 am

Indian jeweler Bachhraj Bamalwa’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on national television that high-denomination bills will be withdrawn...