The Australian government said on Saturday that a asylum seekers' boat sank close to the country' s northwestern Christmas Island on Friday night, leaving at least one baby boy dead and eight others missing, while 88 survivors were rescued.

According to Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare, the human-smuggling boat carrying 97 people from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka issued a distress call Friday morning. (Australia-Asylum Seeker)

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NEW DELHI -- India is stepping up training of Afghan military and security personnel before the pullout of U.S. and Nato-led troops from Afghanistan, according to local media Saturday.

The Times of India daily quoted unnamed sources of the Defense Ministry here as saying that "a major Indian bid has been launched for capability enhancement of the Afghan National Army (ANA)" to ensure that it can handle internal security after the withdrawal of the 100,000 foreign soldiers by the end of 2014. (India-Afghanistan)

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MONTEVIDEO -- The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) said Friday that its member countries will recall their ambassadors in Europe in protest of the diverted flight of Bolivian President Evo Morales.

The decision was made in a statement released by the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela as well as Bolivia's President Morales, who attended the bloc's summit in Montevideo. (Uruguay-Mercosur-Ambassadors)

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PHNOM PENH -- Sam Rainsy, leader-in-exile of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), announced Saturday that he would travel to Cambodia next Friday after King Norodom Sihamoni granted him a royal pardon.

"I have an honor and satisfaction to inform the Cambodian people that I will arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport on July 19, 2013 at 09:05 a.m. by Thai Airways," Sam Rainsy wrote in his Facebook page. (Cambodia-Opposition Leader-Return) Endi

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