Yangon / AFP Myanmar police on Monday said they have begun legal action against five protesters over a weekend rally intended to promote religious tolerance. The move came as rights groups raise concerns about efforts by the new pro-democracy government to amend draconian laws on demonstrations. Dozens of activists and students marched through Yangon in a rare gesture of religious ...

  Davao / AFP Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte vowed on Monday to introduce executions by hanging as part of a ruthless law-and-order crackdown that would also include ordering military snipers to kill suspected criminals. In back-to-back press conferences since his landslide victory in May 9 elections, the tough-talking mayor of southern Davao city said security forces would be given “shoot-to-kill” ...

  Lagos / AFP Nigeria’s government will meet union leaders to try to prevent a planned national strike over a 67 percent hike in the price of petrol, the labour ministry said on Monday. Ministry spokesman Samuel Olowookere said the talks would take place in Abuja at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT) and involve government officials, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) ...