Asia
Death toll from landslides, flooding in Philippines rises to 61
Manila, Dec 31 (Xinhua/UNB) -- The death toll from landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rains in the Philippines has risen to 61, the government said on Monday.
China reports 2,826 deaths from infectious diseases in November
Beijing, Dec 31 (Xinhua/UNB) -- A total of 2,826 people died as a result of infectious diseases in China in November, according to statistics released by the National Health Commission.
World's tallest empty hotel lit up with N. Korean propaganda
Pyongyang, Dec 31 (AP/UNB) — The 105-story Ryugyong Hotel has long been a blot on the Pyongyang skyline. The world's tallest unoccupied building has towered over North Korea's capital since 1987, a grand but empty pyramid entirely dark except for the lone aircraft warning light at its top.
Tsunami alert lifted after undersea quake off Philippines
Manila, Dec 29 (AP/UNB) — A strong undersea earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Saturday and the head of the country's quake-monitoring agency advised people in a southeastern province to avoid beaches in case of a tsunami.
Fire in residential building kills 5 in India
New Delhi, Dec 28 (AP/UNB) — Police say at least five people have died after a fire broke out on the 11th floor of a residential building in Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital.
Indonesia widens danger zone around island volcano
Carita, Dec 27 (AP/UNB) — Indonesia raised the danger level for an island volcano that triggered a tsunami on the weekend, killing at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java, and widened its no-go zone.
Pakistan to launch anti-terrorism campaign in March next year: minister
Islamabad, Dec 27 (Xinhua/UNB) - The Pakistani government on Wednesday announced to launch a wide-ranging comprehensive operation to counter-terrorism and target killing across the country in March next year.
Koreas break ground on railways but sanctions block project
Seoul, Dec 26 (AP/UNB) — North and South Korea broke ground Wednesday on an ambitious project to modernize North Korean railways and roads and connect them with the South, but without progress in nuclear negotiations, regular trains won't be crossing the border anytime soon.
China-made jetliner completes overwater demo flight
Shanghai, Dec 26 (Xinhua/UNB) -- China's first domestically-made regional jetliner, the ARJ21-700, completed its first manned overwater demonstration flight in southern China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday.
Pakistan's journalists complain of increasing censorship
Islamabad, Dec 26 (AP/UNB) — Pakistani journalists, who have taken on military dictators and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship that is more subtle but no less chilling, one spearheaded by the security services.