Curfew, mass arrests in Kashmir before Modi visit

SRINAGAR (India) • Authorities ordered a curfew in parts of Indian-administered Kashmir yesterday after hundreds of separatist activists were arrested on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the disputed region.

Shops and schools remained shut, university exams were cancelled and public transport was suspended as hundreds of police and paramilitary forces patrolled the streets.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Five officials punished for influencing courts

BEIJING • Five Chinese officials have been sacked or punished for interfering in court cases, state media reported yesterday, in the first enforcement of regulations that aim to purge corruption and undue influence on the judiciary.

REUTERS

N. Korea wants in on 'comfort women' deal

SEOUL • North Korea has insisted it should be included in any deal reached between South Korea and Japan over Korean "comfort women" forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

Just days after Tokyo and Seoul agreed to work together to resolve the issue, Pyongyang signalled that it would seek a slice of any compensation deal that might emerge.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE