Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Sept. 29

India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI), Tuesday cut its short-term lending rate by 50 basis points to a four-year low.

The repurchase rate, or the interest charged on short-term borrowings, was cut to 6.75 percent, while the indexed reverse repo rate, or the interest payable by the central bank on short- term deposit, automatically was cut to 5.75 percent. (India- Lending Rate)

----

DHAKA -- Gunmen have shot dead an Italian national in Bangladesh capital Dhaka, police said, in the first attack claimed by Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.

According to a jihadist threat monitoring portal, SITE Intelligence Group, IS claimed its responsibility in the killing in an online statement. (Bangladesh-IS)

----

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- Afghan security forces launched counter- offensive on Tuesday morning to retake the northern Kunduz city and expel Taliban militants from the area, Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said.

"The government forces launched well-coordinated offensive from five directions early Tuesday to expel Taliban rebels and recapture Kunduz city," Hussaini told reporters via telephone. ( Afghanistan-Taliban)

----

NEW DELHI -- Indian authorities Tuesday sent a bomb squad to the Mumbai international airport after it received a threat call Monday mid-night, said police.

An unknown person called a landline number of the airport and spoke to an airport staffer, saying he heard five people talking about attack at Mumbai airport and hotel Taj with explosive laden 16 hired vehicles, said police. (India-Bomb Threat) Endi