Asia News

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former President Jimmy Carter and an American who had been jailed after crossing into North Korea landed at Boston's Logan International Airport on Friday after the reclusive state released the prisoner. Full Story »

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AFP) - Adrian Sutil has played down suggestions of a place on the podium despite finishing second fastest in Friday's second practice for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The CIA has multiple members of the Afghan government on its payroll in order to help it keep track of various factions within the Afghan government, according to a former U.S. official. Full Story »

SRINAGAR (AFP) - A top police officer in Indian Kashmir, where scores of protesters have been killed in recent months, has been removed from his post after the prime minister urged a change in tactics. Full Story »

THATTA, Pakistan (AFP) - Pakistan ordered 300,000 people to evacuate a southern city after waters breached its defences as the United Nations warned Friday the country's worst humanitarian crisis was deepening. Full Story »

PARIS (AFP) - Lin Dan, the Chinese left-hander regarded as the greatest ever badminton player, lost his world title in limp fashion when he was beaten by relatively unheralded Korean Park Sung-Hwan here on Friday. Full Story »

CHANGCHUN, China - North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il reportedly met top Chinese leaders on Friday in an apparent bid for Beijing's diplomatic and financial support for a succession plan involving his third and youngest son, who is said to be traveling with him. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Faced with mounting criticism over Afghanistan, US President Barack Obama is leaving a persistent -- and, some say, strategic -- ambiguity about a July 2011 goal to start withdrawing troops. Full Story »

SEOUL (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter flew out of North Korea Friday after securing the release of an American citizen and a pledge from Pyongyang that it wants to resume nuclear disarmament talks. Full Story »

CHANGCHUN, China (Reuters) - China kept silent on Friday about a reported visit by North Korea's secretive leader, Kim Jong-il, that analysts say appears intended to line up Beijing behind his dynastic succession plans. Full Story »

TOKYO - Japan opened up the secretive world of its capital punishment system to the public Friday, offering journalists a rare tour of Tokyo's main gallows in an effort to stoke debate about a practice widely supported here. Full Story »

CANBERRA, Australia - Forget the prime minister. Real political power in Australia right now is being wielded by a maverick in a cowboy hat and his two colleagues. A week after national elections ended on a knife edge, the unlikely trio of lawmakers have emerged as kingmakers. Full Story »

KABUL, Afghanistan - Homemade bombs killed three U.S. troops in southern and eastern Afghanistan on Friday, and a roadside blast tore through a crowded market in the increasingly volatile north, killing three police and two civilians. Full Story »

SEOUL, South Korea - A smile flickered across Aijalon Gomes' face as he hugged former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and boarded a plane for Boston on Friday, seven months after his arrest in North Korea. Full Story »

MANILA, Philippines - Officials say a massive fire has left thousands homeless in two coastal villages north of the capital. Full Story »

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's junta carried out a major military reshuffle Friday that retired more than a dozen senior leaders, officials said, in an apparent move to prepare for November national elections. Full Story »

THATTA, Pakistan - Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis fled floodwaters Friday after the surging River Indus smashed through levees in two places, but many refused to leave the danger zone while others took shelter in an ancient graveyard for Muslim saints. Full Story »

SRINAGAR, India - Authorities removed the police and intelligence chiefs in a shake-up of senior police officials in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where more than 60 people have died in months of near-daily streets protests against New Delhi's rule. Full Story »