ISLAMABAD -- The death toll from the Gul Plaza shopping mall fire in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi has risen to 67, officials said Thursday, after post-mortem examinations of all victims were completed.
Chief Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed Tariq said that on the fifth day since the incident, a total of 67 remains had been processed. Of these, six were identified through facial recognition, one through ID card or partial facial identification and eight via DNA testing. (Pakistan-Karachi-Fire)
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TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan (BOJ) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.75 percent after concluding its two-day policy meeting on Friday.
The decision, widely expected, came after the central bank raised its key rate at its December meeting from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, the highest level in 30 years. (Japan-BOJ-Rate)
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TOKYO -- Japan's House of Representatives was formally dissolved on Friday at the outset of the ordinary parliamentary session, with a general election set for Feb. 8.
The official campaign will start next Tuesday, creating a mere 16-day campaign period, the shortest in Japan's postwar history. (Japan-Lower House)
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HANOI -- To Lam was re-elected general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee on Friday.
The first plenary session of the 14th CPV Central Committee also voted for the CPV Political Bureau, Secretariat and Inspection Commission on Friday, according to a communique after the meeting. (Vietnam-Party Chief) Enditem
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