Top Asian News 7:32 am GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two Southeast Asian women on trial in Malaysia for the brazen assassination of the North Korean leader's half-brother could be acquitted Thursday or called to enter their defense in a case that has gripped the world. Indonesia's Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnam's Doan Thi Huong, 29, are accused of smearing VX nerve agent on Kim Jong Nam's face in a crowded airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 13, 2017. The women have said they thought they were taking part in a prank for a hidden-camera show. They are the only two suspects in custody and face the death penalty if convicted.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India will send a manned flight into space by 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Wednesday as part of India's independence day celebrations. He said India will become the fourth country after Russia, the United States and China to achieve the feat and its astronaut could be a man or a woman. The space capsule that will transport India's astronauts was tested a few days earlier. Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to travel in space, aboard a Soviet rocket in 1984. As part of its own space program, active since the 1960s, India has launched scores of satellites for itself and other countries and successfully put one in orbit around Mars in 2014.

BEIJING (AP) — One of China's most high-profile Buddhist monks has resigned from a top national post following reports of sexual misconduct, a religious association said Wednesday. The Buddhist Association of China said its president Shi Xuecheng (SHWEI'-chung) had passed his duties to a deputy. The case, which was covered widely in the Chinese press and discussed on social media, was seen as a sign of the #metoo movement's growing momentum in China. A small but increasing number of academics, civil society activists and one of China's best known television hosts have been called out for inappropriate behavior, although the movement has yet to percolate into government circles.

BEIJING (AP) — China says it is challenging a U.S. tariff hike on solar panels before the World Trade Organization, adding to its sprawling conflicts with President Donald Trump over trade and technology. The 30 percent tariffs announced in January improperly help U.S. producers in violation of WTO rules, the Commerce Ministry said. It said a formal complaint was filed Tuesday with the WTO in Geneva. The solar duties are separate from tariff hikes imposed by the Trump administration starting in July on Chinese imports in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. The duties also apply to imports of solar cells and modules from Europe, Canada, Mexico and South Korea.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has banned most foreigners from buying homes as it tries to tackle runaway housing prices. The government on Wednesday passed legislation that allows only New Zealand residents to buy homes as it attempts to improve housing affordability and increase the rate of home ownership. Previously the housing market was open to investors worldwide. The new law fulfils a campaign pledge by the liberal-led government which came to power last year. There are some exceptions to the new rules. Foreigners who live in New Zealand and have residency status will still be able to buy homes, as will people from Australia and Singapore thanks to existing free-trade agreements.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban assault on two adjacent checkpoints in northern Afghanistan killed at least 30 soldiers and police, officials said Wednesday, as life gradually returned to normal in parts of the eastern city of Ghazni after a massive insurgent attack last week, with sporadic gunbattles still underway in some neighborhoods. Mohammad Safdar Mohseni, the head of the provincial council in the northern Baghlan province, said the insurgents set fire to the checkpoints after the attack late Tuesday in the Baghlan-I Markazi district. Dilawar Aymaq, a parliamentarian from Baghlan, confirmed the attack, which targeted a military checkpoint and another manned by the so-called local police, militias recruited and paid by the Interior Ministry.

Afghan officials say a Taliban assault on two adjacent checkpoints in the northern Baghlan province has killed 30 soldiers and police. Mohammad Safdar Mohseni, head of provincial council, says the insurgents set fire to the checkpoints after the attack late Tuesday in the Baghlan-I Markazi district. Dilawar Aymaq, a parliamentarian from Baghlan, confirmed the attack. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. The resurgent Taliban carry out near-daily attacks against Afghan security forces, who have struggled to combat the insurgency since the U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's lower house of parliament is meeting Wednesday to elect a speaker in a vote that will show whether Imran Khan's party commands a majority after it won the most seats in last month's elections. Khan, a former cricket star and longtime opposition politician, is expected to be the next prime minister. His Tahreek-e-Insaf party nominated Asad Qaiser to be the speaker of the National Assembly. He will face off against Khusheed Shah, a joint candidate backed by opposition parties. Recent weeks have seen intense negotiations and horse-trading as Khan seeks to recruit independents to a majority coalition.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has raised alert levels on a small southern volcanic island, urging its 150 residents to prepare for an evacuation amid growing risks of an eruption. Japan Meteorological Agency on Wednesday raised the warning for Kuchinoerabu island from two to four on a scale of five. The agency says it has detected an increased activity at the island's Shindake volcano. It had the last major eruption in May 2015. Local authorities told residents within the 3-kilometer (2-mile) range to start preparing to leave in case of a violent eruption. The agency cautioned against a possibility of getting hit by volcanic rocks and pyroclastic flows during an eruption.

BEIJING (AP) — China said Tuesday that Malaysia should handle any problems it has with multibillion-dollar Chinese-backed infrastructure projects through talks, a day after the Southeast Asian country's leader told The Associated Press his government wants to cancel such deals. The foreign ministry in Beijing defended China's projects in Malaysia, saying such deals have brought tangible benefits to the two countries. "Any problems arising in the cooperation should be handled properly through friendly negotiation," it said in a statement that was faxed to the AP. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he wants to maintain good relations with China and welcomes its investment, so long as the projects benefit Malaysia.

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