World briefs

JAPAN-VIETNAM Japan’s emperor expressed sympathy to the Vietnamese families abandoned by Japanese soldiers after World War II during his landmark visit to the Communist country. Akihito met with a wife and 15 children of former Japanese soldiers in Hanoi yesterday and told them that he understands their difficulties and hope bilateral relations will continue to develop.

PHILIPPINES A human rights watchdog yesterday accused the police in the Philippines of falsifying evidence to justify unlawful killings in the government’s war on drugs that has caused more than 7,000 deaths.

THAILAND A former high-ranking police officer dismissed from a senior position in Thailand’s royal palace was questioned by police yesterday about land encroachment charges in what is seen as the latest example of Thailand’s new king purging aides and other close associates.

INDONESIA A prosecutor sought a one-year jail sentence yesterday for a former Reuters war correspondent who is on trial in Indonesia on charges of possessing hashish. The defendant is accused of violating a 2009 law on narcotics, under which such drug possession could face a maximum four years in prison.

SWEDEN’s left-leaning government introduced a military draft for both men and women yesterday because of what its defense minister called a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden. More on p15

USA A Hawaii bill that sought to change the way commercial fishing licenses are granted died after industry representatives told lawmakers it would wreck the business. The bill sought to restrict commercial fishing licenses to people who are legally allowed to enter the U.S., a redundant move because that already is codified. More on p12

INDIA Traders angry at a US-based animal rights group that pushed for a 2014 ban on the popular tradition of bull-taming have turned their ire on two iconic American brands, pulling Coke and Pepsi from shelves in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

AFGHANISTAN The Health Ministry says the death toll from simultaneous suicide bombings in the capital has climbed to 22, with another 120 people, most of them civilians, wounded in the attacks. Spokesman Ismail Kawasi said yesterday that hospitals near the site of the twin explosions the day before have been overwhelmed with wounded people, many in serious condition.

SYRIA Government forces battling the Islamic State group re-entered Palmyra yesterday in their quest to again take the historic town they had lost to the militants in December, state media reported.