UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A special committee of the U.N. General Assembly condemned North Korea and Myanmar on Thursday for what it said were widespread human rights violations in the two Asian countries.

Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie will visit North Korea soon, state-run media said on Friday, amid efforts to draw Pyongyang back to nuclear disarmament talks.

Key UN committee approves resolution criticizing widespread human rights violations in NKorea. A key U.N. committee expressed "very serious concern" Thursday at widespread reports of torture and other grave human rights violations in North Korea and strongly urged the government to put an end to the violations.

AP NewsBreak: China holds, mistreats US geologist for 2 years on state secrets charges. Sometime into his long detention by China's feared state security agents, American geologist Xue Feng had something to show U.S. consular officials on their monthly visit. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the burns where his interrogators pressed lit cigarettes into his arm.

Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie will visit North Korea soon, state-run media said on Friday, amid efforts to draw Pyongyang back to nuclear disarmament talks.

Japan's finance minister voiced strong concern Friday about deflation in the world's number two economy, saying it was a major challenge for policymakers.

Japan's central bank announced Friday that it was leaving its super-low interest rates unchanged at 0.1 percent, in the face of mounting concerns about deflation in Asia's biggest economy.

China's health ministry said it will punish officials who underreport cases of swine flu after a doctor famous for exposing the extent of the 2003 SARS epidemic said he believes the true number of swine flu deaths is being covered up.

China to punish those concealing swine flu cases, while doctor warns of cover-up. China's health ministry said it will punish officials who underreport cases of swine flu after a doctor famous for exposing the extent of the 2003 SARS epidemic said he believes the true number of swine flu deaths is being covered up.

The legendary French movie star turned animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot has written to Nepal's president urging him to stop a mass animal sacrifice from going ahead next week.

The legendary French movie star turned animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot has written to Nepal's president urging him to stop a mass animal sacrifice from going ahead next week.

South Korean foreign minister rules out renegotiating US trade deal. South Korea's foreign minister ruled out Friday additional negotiations with the United States over a free trade agreement, a day after presidents of the two countries vowed cooperation to push the stalled deal forward.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must remain at the core of regional affairs despite competing visions for a new Asia-Pacific diplomatic framework, the bloc's chief said Friday.

Suspected Maoist rebels have derailed a passenger train in eastern India, killing two people and injuring more than 40, a report said Friday.

Top South Korean model found dead at Paris apartment; cause of death under investigation. A top South Korean model who was a fixture at fashion week in Paris and London was found dead at her apartment in Paris, an official said Friday.

SEOUL (Reuters) - At least four people were shot dead and six South Korean visitors wounded when a gunman fired into a crowd of tourists on the resort island of Saipan, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Sri Lanka's former top military officer who resigned last week promised on Friday to "fight for democracy" amid reports he will challenge the president at upcoming elections.

Suspected Maoist rebels have derailed a passenger train in eastern India, killing two people and injuring more than 40, a report said Friday.

Australia's government on Friday refused to rule out snap elections if emissions trading laws are rejected for a second time, giving it the power to dissolve parliament.

Japanese government warns that falling prices, high joblessness could drag on recovery. Japan's government highlighted the danger of deflation for the first time in three years Friday, warning that falling prices and a further worsening of the labor market could drag on the weak recovery.