Police: Car bomb kills 12 in southwest Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) -- A car bomb targeting a police vehicle killed 11 policemen and one civilian Thursday in an area of southwest Pakistan wracked by a separatist insurgency and Islamic militancy, police said....Japanese climber, 80, becomes oldest atop Everest KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- An 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer became the oldest person to reach the top of Mount Everest on Thursday - although his record may last only a few days. An 81-year-old Nepalese man, who held the previous record, plans his own ascent next week....Lawyer: Malaysian accused of rape married the girl KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Prosecutors in Malaysia are pursuing rape charges against a 40-year-old man who allegedly had sex with a 13-year-old girl and then married her....Building materials blamed in Bangladesh disaster DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- A government investigation found that "extremely" poor quality construction materials and a series of violations caused the collapse of a garment factory building in Bangladesh that has been called the worst garment-industry disaster in history, the committee head said Thursday....Malaysian charged with sedition over protest call KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Prosecutors filed a sedition charge Thursday against a student activist who had urged Malaysians to engage in street protests against the government over claims of election fraud....Asia stocks slide as China factory output slips BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian stock markets slid Thursday, pulled down by a contraction in China's manufacturing that adds to signs that the shaky recovery in the world's No. 2 economy is slowing....Am. Samoa to keep flier miles of govt travelers PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) -- American Samoa plans to take away frequent flier miles from government workers who travel on behalf of the U.S. territory and use the loyalty points to help medical patients and students travel off the islands when necessary....Afghan students protest women's rights decree KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Hard-line Islamist students protested in the Afghan capital demanding the repeal of a presidential decree for women's rights that they say is un-Islamic. It was the latest sign of a backlash against the legal protections passed in the 12 years since the toppling of the Taliban regime known for its harsh treatment of women....North Korean leader sends special envoy to China PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- After months of ignoring Chinese warnings to give up nuclear weapons, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a high-level confidant to Beijing on Wednesday, in a possible effort to mend strained ties with his country's most important ally and a sign that he may be giving diplomacy a chance....Chinese premier visits Pakistan, praises ties ISLAMABAD (AP) -- China's premier signed economic agreements and praised Pakistan in glowing terms as he began a two-day visit Wednesday, underscoring the importance of the longstanding alliance to the two Asian powers....
