AN EXPLOSION at a chemical plant in eastern China killed 10 people and injured 26. The cause of the blast at a workshop belonging to the Dun'an Chemical Group in Anhui province, which makes explosives for mining, was not clear.

Second world war submarine found

A WRECK found at the bottom of the Gulf of Thailand appears to be a US submarine that went missing during the second world war. The submarine is believed to be the USS Lagarto, which failed to return from its mission to attack a Japanese convoy in May 1945. Eighty-six sailors died when the Lagarto sank.

Taiwan air force jet crash lands

A TAIWAN Air Force jet crashed in a rice field yesterday, killing one of its two crew. The F-5F training jet was on a routine mission when technical problems forced it down near the town of Taipao. It exploded on impact.

Indonesian villagers return to volcano site

VILLAGERS returned to homes covered in volcanic ash on the slopes of Mount Merapi yesterday, ignoring warnings that the peak remains highly dangerous.

Two men were found dead on Friday in an emergency bunker. The government has ordered the evacuation of residents within four miles of the peak, but says it cannot force them to leave.

Malaria alert in Bahamas

BAHAMAS health authorities have tested inmates and guards for malaria at an immigration detention centre in the capital, as they battle to contain an outbreak of the illness on the southern island of Great Exuma. There have been 14 cases since the first week of June.

'New York Review of Books' editor dies

BARBARA EPSTEIN, a founder and co-editor of the New York Review of Books who was involved in editing The Diary of Anne Frank, has died at 76. Epstein died of lung cancer on Friday at her Manhattan home.

'Friends' star wins $400,000 libel case

FRIENDS star David Schwimmer won a $400,000 ( 317,000) judgment in a defamation action against former charity fundraiser Aaron Tonken. Schwimmer filed the suit last year after Tonken claimed the actor demanded two Rolex watches to attend his own charity event. Tonken, who is in jail for defrauding charities of hundreds of thousands of dollars, has apologised to the actor.