Kollam / AFP Indian police said on Monday they have filed initial charges against six people over a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display that killed more than 100 people and left many more with horrific burns. Thousands had packed into a Hindu temple in the southern state of Kerala on Saturday night for the show when a stray ...

El-Fasher/ AFP The war-scarred Sudanese region of Darfur voted on Monday in a referendum on its future status despite international criticism and a boycott by rebel groups. Despite ongoing unrest in areas, President Omar Al-Bashir—wanted on war crimes charges related to the 13-year conflict—has insisted voting go ahead on whether to unite Darfur’s five states into a single region or ...

Later this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter will travel to the Philippines as part of a broader Asia trip. His upcoming visit highlights how the Southeast Asian state – long belittled as one of Asia’s weakest militaries and Washington’s laggard alliance – has in fact grown to become a critical part of America’s ongoing rebalance to the region. Although ...