Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, May 5

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday attended a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of his accession to the throne, a rare public appearance the world's longest reigning monarch has made since late last year.

The ceremony, which was held at the Grand Palace in the capital city, was attended by the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, royal family members and senior government officials. (Thailand-King-Coronation Anniversary)

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir -- At least 25 residential houses were gutted in a devastating fire in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday.

The fire broke out Monday night at old town in Baramulla, about 53 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir.

No loss of life was reported in the incident, however two people suffered burn injuries in the fire, health officials said. (India-Kashmir-Fire)

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FARAH, Afghanistan -- The Afghan security forces have repulsed a Taliban massive offensive in the western Farah city on Tuesday, a local senior army officer said.

"The enemies, after leaving 14 dead bodies behind, have retreated from around Farah city and the government security forces have been chasing them," General Mir Assadullah Khan Kohistani told Xinhua.

Hundreds of Taliban militants launched an offensive on Farah's provincial capital the Farah city 695 km west of Kabul on Monday, but met tough resistance from the government forces, the official said. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Offensive)

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HANOI -- Vietnam and South Korea formally signed here a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday.

The FTA was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and ROK's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick on behalf of the two governments with the attendance of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The FTA was reached after over two years of conducting eight rounds of formal negotiations and eight rounds of talks at the delegation head level and mid-term negotiations. The signing of the agreement contributes positively to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries, said the website of Vietnamese government. (Vietnam-South Korea-FTA)

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JAKARTA -- One people was killed and at least 14 people others missing after a landslide hit a village in Indonesia's West Java province on Tuesday, a senior official said.

The landslide crushed eight houses in Margamukti village in Pangalengan subdistrict, Bandung regency. Rescuers evacuated one body from the mud. Eight people, who suffered injuries, were treated in the nearest hospital, the Disaster Mitigation Agency ( BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. (Indonesia-Landslide) Endi