All Asia: South & Central
Pakistan observes national day of mourning after university attackPakistanis observed a day of nationwide mourning Thursday following the brazen attack by Islamic militants who stormed a university the previous day.
Deadly Pakistani school attack raises security questionsAt least 20 people were killed and 23 were wounded Wednesday in the assault at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda before the four gunmen were slain and the military declared an end to the siege.
Radical idea to help freed slaves: Just give them cashIn Thailand, the Issara Institute gives freed workers money, instead of services, and a chance to make their own choices again. Part 12 of a series on ending human trafficking.
Delhi's odd-even auto restrictions tilt at world's filthiest airSince 2001, the number of cars in New Delhi has doubled to nine million. Air pollution has also soared, prompting a 15-day trial for reducing cars on the roads based on plate numbers.
Suicide bombing kills 26, wounds 45 in northwestern PakistanShortly after the attack, a spokesman for the militant Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, which split from the Pakistani Taliban two years ago, claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Pakistani Army chief visits Kabul to discuss peace talksGen. Raheel Sharif of Pakistan and senior Afghan officials have agreed to meet with US and Chinese officials early in the new year to discuss peace-relates issues.'
FocusAmid Taliban surge, a witness to Afghanistan's endless warA retreat by NATO-trained Afghan forces in Kunduz this fall came after more than a decade of military operations against the Taliban. Many recognize the need to include the group in any political settlement.
On embassy row, a fraying veil of immunity for traffickersForeign missions in the US that abuse their domestic staff are increasingly being held to account under anti-trafficking laws. Part 9 in a series on solutions to labor trafficking.
Where ISIS is challenging the Taliban for power in AfghanistanISIS ambitions for Afghanistan seem focused on setting up what it calls "Khorasan Province," taking the name of an ancient province of the Persian Empire.
Islamic State: Why Afghanistan isn't panicking – yetIS is not about to displace the Taliban. But with IS jobs going for $500 per month and propaganda aimed at youth, the group represents a challenge to its Islamist rival.
Behind one sparkling Afghan city, a strongman's handAtta Mohammad Noor governs Mazar-e-Sharif as a benevolent strongman who keeps the peace and attracts investment. Is that the model this nation now needs?
Why India's celebrities and scholars are handing back their national awardsSome 86 people have been killed by religious violence since January. Bollywood film star Aamir Khan is among those protesting the government's response to rising intolerance.
In Afghanistan capital, tentacles of Taliban reach deepAn American visitor to a Pashtun wedding set off a chain of threats. The Taliban are stronger than any time since 2001, says one Western official.
Afghan guards open fire at Kabul rally over Hazara slayingsThe shooting, which the Public Health Ministry said wounded seven people, occurred as some of the demonstrators tried to scale the walls of the presidential palace at Pashtunistan Square.
Kabul protests: As security worsens, young Afghans debate whether to stayKabul saw its largest protests in recent memory after the brutal slaying of seven Afghans in a southern province. Disillusionment is high among many Afghans who not long ago saw brighter prospects.
Arrest in the Netherlands: How an Afghan war crime came to lightDutch police arrested a former Afghan communist army commander allegedly involved in a massacre of more than 1,000 men and boys in Afghanistan 36 years ago. Two accounts of the atrocity by a Monitor correspondent played a role.
Bangladesh: Publisher of secular books killed, 3 wounded in attacksThe impoverished nation has been rocked by a series of attacks this year claimed by Islamic extremists. At least four atheist bloggers have been killed.
More than 150 in Afghanistan, Pakistan killed by massive earthquakeMost of the deaths from the quake, centered in Afghanistan, were in neighboring Pakistan. Power was also disrupted in a wide swath that spanned both countries.
In wake of Uber rape, women-only car services emerge in IndiaA Delhi court found an Uber driver guilty Tuesday of raping his passenger. But some Indian women have already taken the wheel into their own hands.
Nepal elects Communist party leader new prime ministerKhadga Prasad Oli, who received 338 votes in Nepal's 597-member parliament, comes to power at delicate time as the country's new constitution takes effect.
