Afghan official defects: A former Afghan lawmaker and district governor has defected to the Taliban in the northern province of Sar-e-Pol, officials said today. Qazi Abdul Hai served as a Senator during 2004-08. PTI
China-Japan dispute: Two Chinese ships entered waters around islands at the centre of a dispute with Japan on Thursday in the latest such incident at a time of frayed ties between the Asian powers. AFP
Fukushima leaks: Japan Premier Shinzo Abe told Fukushima’s operator to fix radioactive leaks at the crippled-nuke plant, less than two weeks after assuring the world the situation was under control. AFP
Philippines violence: Philippine security forces killed eight Muslim rebels on Thursday as they hunted the remnants of a guerrilla force hiding in homes of a major city and believed to be holding hostages. AFP
Pervez attack case: A Pakistani national, accused of attacking a convoy of former president Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2003, has been acquitted by an anti-terrorism court due to lack of evidence. PTI
Gibraltar governor: Britain today named James Dutton, a former Royal Marine general who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to the post of governor of Gibraltar, the territory at the centre of a fierce feud with Spain. AFP
‘Trial by fire’: At least 20 tribal elders in Pakistan’s Punjab province were booked by authorities after they ordered two men to walk on burning coals to prove their innocence in adultery and murder charges. PTI
Facebook likes: Clicking “Like” on Facebook is constitutionally protected free speech and can be considered the 21st century-equivalent of a campaign yard sign, a US federal appeals court in Richmond has ruled. AP