World News

BBC News | Asia-Pacific | World Edition

• Afghan Taliban and Pakistan agree short truce after deadly clashes

  The move comes after fresh fighting and reports of Pakistani air strikes in Kandahar and Kabul.

• China seizes 60,000 maps over 'mislabelled' Taiwan

  The maps also omitted "important islands", the source of competing claims between Beijing and its neighbours.

• Bangladesh garment factory fire kills at least 16

  The dead have been burned beyond recognition and officials have warned that the toll could rise.

• Sia's ex demands $250,000 per month in spousal support

  The Australian pop star filed for divorce from Daniel Bernard in March, after three years of marriage.

• British social media star 'Big John' detained in Australia over visa

  Fisher says his visa is "legit" but that authorities were unhappy he would be working while in the country.

• India top court allows less-polluting crackers even as Delhi air turns toxic

  Critics say green crackers may be less harmful, but still release toxic substances into the air.

• My friend Bipin threw back Hamas grenade - and saved my life

  Bipin Joshi tried to save fellow Nepalese students before being taken hostage, his mourning friend tells the BBC.

• The Indian woman who stood up to moral policing - and won a pageant

  Muskan Sharma, who won the Miss Rishikesh contest, said it made her feel like Miss Universe.

• Death penalty for Japan man who killed four in gun and knife attack

  Masanori Aoki stabbed two women in Nakano city before shooting two policemen with a hunting rifle.

• US calls for China to release 30 leaders of influential underground church

  Zion Church, founded by pastor Jin Mingri in 2007, is one of China's largest underground church networks.

• India and Canada reset ties after strain of Sikh leader's murder

  Canada's foreign minister visits Delhi as the sides restore ties strained by a murder on Canadian soil.

• Dutch government takes control of China-owned chip firm

  The move, which is aimed to protect supplies of technology, could raise tensions between the EU and China.

• A photo worth a thousand words: Taliban minister with Indian female journalists

  Female reporters were invited after being excluded from Taliban minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's first event in Delhi.

• Foul skies, fading light: How air pollution is stealing India's sunshine

  India’s sunshine hours have fallen over the past 30 years due to clouds, aerosols and local weather.

• How the autumn climbing season turned deadly in the Himalayas

  Unpredictable, intense and longer monsoons are encroaching into autumn, turning it into a deadly season.