LONDON, Feb 9 (AFP) - A build-up of ice in the fuel system caused a British Airways plane to crash-land at London Heathrow in 2008, investigators said Tuesday, adding that safety checks would not have identified the problem.

China has said it will launch a six-month crackdown on rampant online gambling, saying the growing industry was causing large flows of money out of the country.

TAIPEI, Feb 9 (AFP) - Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that the island needs a proposed trade pact with China despite warnings that Taipei would become more reliant on its powerful neighbour.

MANILA, Feb 9 (AFP) - A former close ally of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and 196 other people were on Tuesday charged with murder over an election-linked massacre that horrified the nation, prosecutors said.

SYDNEY, Feb 9 (AFP) - Australia's foreign minister Tuesday told parliament some of the recent violence against Indian students had clearly been racially motivated and had "considerably damaged" the nation's reputation.

BEIJING, Feb 9 (AFP) - At least one person died and 11 others were feared drowned in eastern China after their ship collided with another vessel and sank in the Yangtze River, local maritime authorities said Tuesday.

SEOUL, Feb 9 (AFP) - Kim Jong-Il restated North Korea's goal of ridding the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons and reportedly sent his top nuclear envoy to Beijing, amid a diplomatic drive to revive disarmament talks.

TAIPEI, Feb 9 (AFP) - The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, a group representing US businesses in Taiwan, Tuesday urged Washington to resume trade and investment talks with the island despite a row over beef imports.

SYDNEY, Feb 9 (AFP) - Australia will introduce full body scans for airline passengers as it strengthens aviation security in response to a failed attempt to bring down a US-bound plane, the government said Tuesday.

BANGKOK, Feb 9 (AFP) - Suspected militants have shot and killed a government official and a teacher in the latest ambush attacks in Thailand's restive south, police said Tuesday.