8 convicted killers hanged in Pakistan

MULTAN • Pakistan hanged eight more convicted murderers yesterday, a day ahead of the one-year anniversary of an extremist attack that prompted the authorities to lift a six-year moratorium on the death penalty.

It reinstated executions last year as part of a crackdown on extremism after Taleban attackers gunned down more than 150 people at an army-run school in the restive north-west on Dec 16 last year.

The latest executions took place in various locations in Punjab province.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Australia shuts schemes run by 1MDB-linked fund

KUALA LUMPUR • The Australian Federal Court has shut down investment schemes run by 1Malaysia Development Berhad-linked Avestra Asset Management, The Australian newspaper reported.

A judge made the decision after going through a report from provisional liquidators which found undisclosed related-party transactions, 13 potential breaches of corporate law and failure to invest according to the fund's individual mandates.

The paper said the report also revealed that a Cayman Islands vehicle linked to the 1MDB scandal is the owner of the Avestra Credit Fund - Bridge Global CMC.

Mount Bromo in East Java erupts

JAKARTA • Mount Bromo volcano in East Java of Indonesia erupted yesterday, spewing a column of ash up to 1.5km high, Indonesian officials said.

Powerful bursts of hot ash and gravel erupted from the rumbling volcano at 6am local time, heading to the west and north-west as far as 2. 5km from the crater, the national disaster management agency said.

The agency said it had prepared to counter any possible risks of a greater eruption.

XINHUA