Beijing / AFP Beijing will reject any ruling by an international tribunal in a contentious case brought by the Philippines over the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said, as tensions mount over the disputed waters. The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) said Wednesday it will rule on July 12 in a closely watched case challenging China’s …

  Kuala Lumpur / AFP A vocal critic of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged with corruption on Thursday in a further blow to the divided opposition, which alleged that the case was politically motivated. Lim Guan Eng, who has repeatedly demanded that Najib explain a massive financial scandal that engulfed his administration last year, appeared in the High …

  Mumbai / AFP Eight people were killed when a fire gutted a pharmacy in India’s financial capital Mumbai on Thursday, police said. One other person was seriously injured in the blaze, which broke out early Thursday morning, Mumbai police spokesman Ashok Dudhe said. “The primary reason for the fire seems to be a short circuit. But officials will have …