Bangladesh opposition accuses government of pre-election persecution (18:32)
Dhaka, Dec 15 (IANS) Bangladesh's main opposition party has accused the government of cracking down on its workers to prevent them from campaigning for the general election set to be held end of the month.

Sri Lanka's disputed PM Rajapaksa resigns (Second Lead) (17:40)
Colombo, Dec 15 (IANS) Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his post on Saturday, signalling an end to nearly a two-month-long political crisis that has kept the island nation without a functional government.

Pakistan, China, Afghanistan sign MoU on anti-terrorism cooperation (15:52)
Kabul, Dec 15 (IANS) Pakistan, China and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) vis-a-vis anti-terrorism cooperation during a second trilateral ministerial dialogue in Kabul on Saturday.

Sri Lanka's disputed PM Rajapaksa resigns amid crisis (Lead) (14:54)
Colombo, Dec 15 (IANS) Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Saturday, seven weeks after he was appointed in a surprise move that sparked a political crisis in the island nation.

6 soldiers killed during anti-terror raid in Pakistan (14:46)
Islamabad, Dec 15 (IANS) At least six security personnel have been killed during an anti-terror operation in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

5 killed in Afghanistan shooting (19:54)
Mazar-e-Sharif (Afghanistan), Dec 14 (IANS) Four civilians and one police officer were killed and five were wounded after gunmen fired on people attending a funeral ceremony in Afghanistan's Balkh province on Friday, the police said.

Rajapaksa to step down as PM, says son (19:42)
Colombo, Dec 14 (IANS) Sri Lankan former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will step down from the disputed position of premiership on Saturday, his son and legislator Namal Rajapaksa said on Friday.

Sri Lankan Parliament sacking illegal: Supreme Court (20:34)
Colombo, Dec 13 (IANS) The Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Thursday ruled as "unconstitutional" President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and conduct a snap parliamentary election in early January.

Nepal, China agree to boost bilateral ties (19:30)
Beijing, Dec 13 (IANS) Nepal's Foreign Secretary met China's Foreign Minister here on Thursday to boost bilateral cooperation and discuss issues of mutual interest, officials said.

Abducted Indian boy rescued from Nepal, 3 arrested (15:22)
Kathmandu, Dec 13 (IANS) A seven-year-old Indian boy, who was kidnapped from Bihar last week, has been rescued from Nepal and three people, including a political leader here, have been arrested in connection with his abduction, the police said.

Saudi to make biggest investment in Pakistan's history: Minister (11:42)
Islamabad, Dec 13 (IANS) A Pakistan Minister on Thursday said that an incoming investment package from Saudi Arabia promises to be "the biggest foreign investment in the country's history".

US bill over reciprocity of access to Tibet awaits Trump's signature (09:40)
By Mayank Chhaya
Chicago, Dec 13 (IANS) The unanimous passage of a bill that insists on reciprocity between the US and China over travel access to Tibet is seen as a clear message that the US Congress is sending to Beijing about the situation in Tibet.

Trump names Robert Williams as his point person for South Asia (07:02)
Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he intends to name an experienced intelligence officer as the assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs.

Sri Lanka Parliament passes vote of confidence on ousted PM (20:20)
Colombo, Dec 12 (IANS) Sri Lanka's Parliament on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence on ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with 117 lawmakers from the 225-member Parliament voting in his favour.

Unesco condemns TV journalist's murder in Pakistan (16:56)
Paris, Dec 12 (IANS/AKI) The UN cultural organisation Unesco has deplored last week's killing of TV reporter Noorul Hassan in Pakistan and called on the country's authorities to bring to justice those responsible for the attack.

Jailed Myanmar journalists mark 1 year in prison (13:40)
Yangon, Dec 12 (IANS) Two Myanmar journalists, who were named Person of the Year by Time magazine, completed a year in prison on Wednesday.

Pakistan will try for peace despite India's negative attitude: Official (12:10)
Islamabad, Dec 12 (IANS) Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua has said that Islamabad would continue with its efforts for peace in its neighbourhood despite New Delhis negative attitude.

Pakistan rejects listing as violator of religious freedom by US (12:04)
Islamabad, Dec 12 (IANS) As Washington announced that Pakistan had been added to a list of violators of religious freedoms, Islamabad on Wednesday rejected the "unilateral and politically motivated pronouncement".

Legal challenge filed against ousted Sri Lankan PM (20:40)
Colombo, Dec 11 (IANS) A local Sri Lankan Municipal Councillor on Tuesday filed a petition in the Court of Appeal against ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe continuing to be a member of Parliament.

12 killed in Taliban attack on Afghan security forces (Second Lead) (19:48)
Kabul, Dec 11 (IANS) At least four members of the Afghan security forces and eight civilians, including two women and a child, were killed on Tuesday in a suicide car bombing by the Taliban targeting a military convoy in a district of Kabul province.

India hands over houses built for Rohingya refugees in Myanmar (14:32)
Nay Pyi Taw, Dec 11 (IANS) India on Tuesday handed over to Myanmar the first 50 housing units built for the displaced Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine state following delegation-level talks between President Ram Nath Kovind and his Myanmar counterpart U Win Myint here.

India's role crucial for Afghan peace: Qureshi (13:58)
Islamabad, Dec 11 (IANS) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that India's cooperation would be needed for bringing peace to war-torn Afghanistan.

4 killed in suicide attack on Afghan security forces (13:04)
Kabul, Dec 11 (IANS) At least four people were killed in a suicide attack targeting an Afghan security forces vehicle in a district of Kabul province on Tuesday.

Bangladesh begins poll campaigning amid opposition claims of arrests (17:04)
Dhaka, Dec 10 (IANS) Election campaigning in Bangladesh began on Monday amid reports of arrests of hundreds of leaders and members of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Myanmar court to hear Reuters reporters' appeal (15:18)
Yangon, Dec 10 (IANS) A Myanmar court will hear later this month the appeal of two Reuters reporters jailed on charges of violating a colonial-era Act while investigating the killing of Rohingyas in the country, one of their lawyers said on Monday.