MANILA, Nov 20 (AFP) - A gay rights political party banned from participating in next year's Philippine elections on so-called moral grounds blasted the decision Friday as discriminatory and vowed to take legal action.

SEOUL, Nov 20 (AFP) - A South Korean super model who was at the height of her international fame was found dead at her apartment in Paris, her agency said Friday.

TAIPEI, Nov 20 (AFP) - Security for Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou was beefed up after a man was caught taking an air gun to a political rally the leader attended earlier this week, his office said Friday.

ZAMBOANGA, Nov 20 (AFP) - Philippine troops have killed one of the top commanders of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, the military said Friday.

SYDNEY, Nov 20 (AFP) - 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.

TAIPEI, Nov 20 (AFP) - Taiwan believes it is still too early to start political talks with China, hoping to focus on economic exchanges for the time being, the island's top China policy maker was quoted as saying Friday.

TOKYO, Nov 20 (AFP) - At least 400 elderly people in Japan were murdered by relatives, died through their neglect or in joint suicides over the past decade, according to a report Friday in the rapidly-aging country.

NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (AFP) - Suspected Maoist rebels have derailed a passenger train in eastern India, killing two people and injuring more than 40, a report said Friday.

JAKARTA, Nov 20 (AFP) - 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.

KATHMANDU, Nov 20 (AFP) - 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.