Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600GMT, April 2

The Japanese government is likely to decide whether to join the China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) by late June, local media reported Thursday.

If governance standards and other conditions are met, "we will make a decision" on Japan's participation by late June, Japan's Kyodo News citing Isshu Sugawara, head of the treasury and finance committee of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, as reporting.( Japan-AIIB-Join)

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ISLAMABAD -- Military courts in Pakistan have handed down death sentence to six "hardcore terrorists" in first ever verdict since their establishment in January, the military said Thursday.

The government had decided to set up military-led special courts after the Taliban's brutal attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in December last year that had killed 140 children and 10 of their teachers.(Pakistan-Military Courts-Death Sentence)

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TOKYO -- Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said late Thursday that Japan cannot accept the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) hints to break off bilateral talks.

Kishida told reporters that the DPRK had hinted through diplomatic channels that it may suspend ongoing talks with Japan.

"It is totally unacceptable," he was quoted by Japan's Kyodo News Agency.(Japan-DPRK-Talks)

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DHAKA -- Death toll in the trawler sinking in river Buriganga on Thursday afternoon rose to eight and three more passengers still remain missing, fire service officials said.

"We retrieved eight bodies so far from the river. Three more passengers were still missing," the official said.(Bangladesh- Capsizal-Death) Endi