The Indian government says the e-cigarette ban is essential to protect people NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India’s ban on electronic cigarettes has been challenged in a court in the eastern city of Kolkata, marking the start of the first legal battle against the anti-vaping decision. The Indian government…

JAKARTA, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Indonesian student died Thursday as thousands hit the streets nationwide in a wave of opposition to a major overhaul of the country’s criminal code and a bid to weaken its anti-corruption agency, police said. The death appeared to mark the first fatality in days of street…

KABUL, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organisation welcomed a Taliban decision to lift a months-long ban on health workers operating in insurgent-controlled parts of Afghanistan. Taliban officials had in April barred the WHO and the International Committee of the Red Cross, accusing the groups of “suspicious activities”. The…

JAKARTA, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a powerful earthquake that rocked Indonesia’s remote Maluku islands has risen to 23, the disaster agency said, as more than 15,000 people were evacuated to shelters. Terrified residents ran into the streets as buildings fell in around them with the 6.5-magnitude tremor…