ASIA & THE PACIFIC - latest news report on Asia and the Pacific

CHINA

Mine blast kills 42, scores still trapped in debris

A gas explosion at a coal mine in north-eastern China on Saturday killed 42 miners and trapped more than 50 others, according to state media reports. Lax safety standards make Chinese mines the most dangerous in the world.

ITALY

Two Pakistanis arrested in connection with Mumbai attacks

Police in the northern Italian city of Brescia have arrested two Pakistani men who are thought to have used a money transfer service to help people in contact with the authors of the 2008 attacks in India's financial hub, local media say.

AFP

'Four injured' in rocket attack in Afghan capital

A rocket attack near the luxury Serena Hotel in Kabul wounded four people, including at least one member of the Afghan security forces, a spokesman for Afghanistan's health ministry said Saturday.One rocket hit the wall of the five-star hotel in ...

SRI LANKA

Colombo pledges to open Tamil refugee camps

Sri Lanka's government has pledged to let tens of thousands of civilians displaced during the war with the Tamil Tigers move freely between refugee camps until their permanent re-settlement, to be completed by the end of January.

AFP

Separate clashes kill 23 Taliban in Afghanistan

Afghan and foreign troops killed 23 Taliban militants in separate operations a day after the president pledged to take responsibility for security in his new five-year term, police said Saturday.The militants were killed on Friday in clashes with ...

AFP

Iran to hold aerial defence war games

Iranian air defence forces will conduct five days of manoeuvres involving simulated attacks on the country's nuclear sites, a senior air defence commander said on Saturday."From tomorrow (Sunday) we will start a big aerial defence manoeuvre that ...

AFP

Obama touts Asia trade to create jobs

US President Barack Obama, back from a tour of Asia, called Saturday for the United States to produce more goods to sell across the Pacific, touting trade as a way to revive the troubled US economy.Facing rising unemployment and slipping poll ...

BANGLADESH

No stay of execution for officers convicted of killing former president

Five former Bangladeshi army officers convicted of killing the country's president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a coup more than 34 years ago have been refused an appeal against their execution, which can now take place.

AFGHANISTAN

Karzai is sworn in for a second, challenging term

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been sworn into office for a second full term Thursday amid mounting doubts over his legitimacy, his ability to crack down on corruption and growing alarm over escalating violence.

AFP

Bomb attack targets Pakistan police: official

A bomb attack targeted a Pakistan police vehicle in a densely populated area of the northwestern city of Peshawar early Friday, a senior police official said."It was a bomb attack on a police patrol van," city police chief Liaquat Ali Khan told ...

SOUTH KOREA

Obama, Lee vow to 'break the pattern' on North Korean negotiations

Following a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on the last stop of his Asian tour Thursday, visiting US President Barack Obama vowed to press ahead with North Korean negotiations, but with a new approach.

PAKISTAN

Deadly suicide bombing outside court in Peshawar

At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a court in Peshawar in north western Pakistan.

AFGHANISTAN

UK's Brown proposes conference to discuss handover timetable

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured) said in a speech Monday that he wanted London to host a meeting to discuss a handover to Afghan forces as early as 2010.

The Taliban threat in Pakistan