Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Jan. 14

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to give more details on Jan. 19 of her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election, ruling party executives said after meeting with her Wednesday.

Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, the coalition partner of Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters that Takaichi has informed senior officials of the ruling coalition parties of her intention to dissolve the lower house at the initial stage of this year's ordinary parliamentary session and call a snap election. (Japan-Snap Election)

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BANGKOK -- The death toll from a crane collapse that derailed a passenger train in northeastern Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima province has risen to 31, with the number of injured now standing at 67, authorities said on Wednesday.

The accident occurred on Wednesday morning when the construction crane used for a high-speed rail bridge collapsed onto the train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province. (Thailand-Accident-Train)

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MANILA -- The death toll from the deadly landfill landslide in the central Philippine city of Cebu has climbed to 20, as rescuers continued searching on Wednesday for 16 missing workers, authorities said.

Cebu City officials said the number of individuals rescued remained at 18, all of whom sustained injuries after a portion of the dumpsite collapsed and swept the building in its path on Jan. 8. (Philippines-Landslide-Death Toll)

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SEOUL -- South Korea will take corresponding action once a joint military-police investigation into allegations raised by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over drone incursions concludes, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Chung made the remarks at a policy briefing by agencies affiliated with the ministry. He said the joint military-police investigation team was working swiftly and that the government would act as soon as the results are released. (South Korea-DPRK-Drone) Enditem