Top Asian News at 6:30 a.m. GMT

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine shipping company says Somali pirates have freed a tanker and its crew of 23 Filipinos after holding them hostage for more than five months. Capt. Dexter Custodio said the vessel was released Tuesday. Custodio is the spokesman for Sagana Shipping Inc., owner of the MT Stolt Strength.

Chinese court sentences three over arson attack during 2008 riots in Tibet capital Lhasa

BEIJING — A Chinese court has sentenced three people to lengthy prison terms over deadly arson attacks during last year’s rioting in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, state media reported Tuesday.

Former Khmer Rouge who worked at Cambodian torture to sell what he says are Pol Pot’s shoes

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A former member of the Khmer Rouge member said Monday that he is auctioning off a pair of shoes he claims belonged to the group’s late leader Pol Pot to fund a museum about the brutal regime.

Calcutta prisoners stage brief hunger strike demanding right to watch IPL

CALCUTTA, India — Prisoners in Calcutta’s main prison went on a brief hunger strike in an effort to force authorities to allow them to watch a telecast of the Indian Premier League.

China to clamp down on inmate abuse at state prisons following 15 questionable deaths

BEIJING — China plans to clamp down on inmate abuse at its prisons following more than a dozen suspicious deaths this year, according to a report by the country’s highest investigative body.

Newly designed ‘Lone Star Texas’ license plates being stockpiled at a prison plant

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The rhythmic thump-thump-thump reverberates throughout the cavernous building like a heartbeat, or the dance floor of a rockin’ good club.