Hong Kong fails to delay pro-independence lawmakers from taking office

Belgium detains 15 in raid over involvement in militant group


BRUSSELS Belgian police on Tuesday took in 15 people for questioning after raids as part of an investigation into the financing of militant groups and recruiting fighters for Islamic State in Syria, prosecutors said.




Exclusive: China may give Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough


BEIJING China will consider giving Filipino fishermen conditional access to disputed waters in the South China Sea after the presidents of the two countries meet in Beijing this week, two Chinese sources with ties to the leadership said.




Some Taliban officials say secret Afghan peace talks held in Qatar


ISLAMABAD Two Taliban officials said on Tuesday that the militant movement held informal, secret peace talks with the Afghan government earlier this month in Qatar, but a Taliban spokesman denied they took place.