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Heavy rains flood Manila; markets, schools closed 20 Sep 2014 - 12:40 am

Rescue helpers conduct an operation at a flood-hit village in Marikina city, east of Manila, the Philippines, yesterday. MANILA: Heavy rains in the...

Haze blankets Sumatra 20 Sep 2014 - 12:39 am

Water bombings and artificial rain have reduced bush fires in Indonesia, an official said yesterday, as haze from the fires blanketed much of...

China separatism trial of Muslim scholar ends, verdict next week 20 Sep 2014 - 12:38 am

BEIJING: China’s trial of a Uighur scholar on separatism charges completed its two days of evidence on Thursday, and his lawyer said a...

US man ‘confesses’ to Bali suitcase killing 20 Sep 2014 - 12:38 am

DENPASAR, Indonesia: An American man has confessed to killing his girlfriend’s mother at a luxury resort on the Indonesian island of Bali, while...

Japan vows to keep on whaling 20 Sep 2014 - 12:37 am

TOKYO: Japan vowed yesterday to resume whaling programme in the Antarctic despite passage of a resolution opposing its hunt by an international body,...

Philippines pulls out Golan peacekeepers over security 20 Sep 2014 - 12:34 am

MANILA: The Philippines has pulled its peacekeepers from the Golan Heights ahead of schedule amid worsening security there, a military spokesman said yesterday....

Dhaka police nab Islamist group head 20 Sep 2014 - 12:33 am

DHAKA: Police in Bangladesh said yesterday they had arrested the head of a banned Islamist group suspected of planning attacks in the country,...

S Korea navy fires warning shots at North’s patrol boat 20 Sep 2014 - 12:33 am

SEOUL: The South Korean navy fired warning shots yesterday to end a brief incursion by a North Korean patrol boat across the sensitive...

Student activist convicted of sedition 20 Sep 2014 - 12:32 am

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court convicted a prominent student activist of sedition yesterday and sentenced him to a year in prison in a...

Govt adopts ‘wait and see’ option for sit-ins 20 Sep 2014 - 12:28 am

Pakistani supporters of Canada-based preacher Tahir-ul-Qadri offer Friday prayers at an anti-government protest site in front of parliament in Islamabad yesterday. ISLAMABAD: Regardless...

Memorial ceremony 20 Sep 2014 - 12:26 am

Afghan families hold images of war victims during a memorial ceremony in front of the destroyed palace of Darul Aman in Kabul, Afghanistan,...

Pakistan separatists want Scots-style vote 20 Sep 2014 - 12:24 am

QUETTA: Baluch separatist leaders yesterday called on Pakistan to follow in Britain’s footsteps by holding a referendum similar to Scotland’s on granting independence...

Police interrogate colleagues over liberal professor’s murder 20 Sep 2014 - 12:23 am

KARACHI: Pakistani police yesterday interrogated University of Karachi faculty in connection with the murder of a professor of Islam known for his liberal...

Pakistan bins 2 graft cases against PM 20 Sep 2014 - 12:23 am

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani accountability court yesterday dismissed two long-standing corruption cases against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, calling them politically motivated...

Iraq bombings kill at least 22 19 Sep 2014 - 03:34 pm

BAGHDAD: Bombings in and near the Iraqi capital and a blast in the northern city of Kirkuk killed at least 22 people on...

Nepal, India sign deal to build hydropower plant 19 Sep 2014 - 03:27 pm

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Friday signed a long-delayed agreement with New Delhi to build Nepal's biggest hydropower plant in a bid to kickstart economic growth...

Vivendi exits telecoms with $6bn sale of Brazilian GVT to Telefonica 19 Sep 2014 - 11:59 am

PARIS: French media group Vivendi completed its exit from the telecoms sector Friday by announcing it had sold its Brazilian operator GVT to...

Egypt awards oil and gas exploration blocks 19 Sep 2014 - 11:57 am

CAIRO: Egypt has signed oil and gas exploration deals worth $187 million with several Western companies and a Tunisian firm, the petroleum ministry...