KABUL -- At least 26 people including security personnel and militants have been killed in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, amid reported breakthrough in the U.S.-Taliban talks to ink a peace deal within days.

In the latest event, Afghan military planes struck a Taliban hideout in Chardara district of northern Kunduz province on Friday, killing five insurgents, district governor Hafizullah Safi said. (Afghanistan-Conflicts)

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TOKYO -- Japan's upper house of parliament on Friday approved the nomination of Seiji Adachi as a new member of the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) Policy Board.

Adachi, 54, will take over from Yutaka Harada whose term on the board will conclude in late March. (Japan-BOJ board)

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HONG KONG -- Hong Kong has announced a basket of relief measures for businesses and residents suffering from the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and mulled allocating 25 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.22 billion U.S. dollars) for the fight against the epidemic.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam told a press conference Friday that the government will provide allowances for low-income households and subsidies for businesses including restaurants and travel agencies. (Hong Kong-Epidemic Fight)

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BANGKOK -- Two gunmen, one of whom armed with an M-16 assault rifle, went on a shooting rampage at a shophouse in Nakhon Pathom province in central Thailand on Friday morning, the second such incident in the same day, said police.

No casualties were reported. (Thailand-Shooting) Enditem

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