Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 0630 GMT, Dec. 1

TOKYO -- One person died and 11 others were injured in an explosion and subsequent fire at a chemical plant in central Japan on Friday, local police and fire department officials said.

Local fire department said it received report about the explosion at the chemical plant in the Fuji city of Shizuoka prefecture around 8:30 a.m. local time on Friday. (Japan-Explosion)

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SYDNEY -- The South Pacific nation of New Caledonia have re-elected Philippe Germain as president on Friday, after a lengthy process which saw the country without a leader for three months.

The political stalemate began when Germain's Caledonia Together Party won power with a slim majority of six seats to five in the 11-member government. (New Caledonia-President)

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TOKYO -- Japan's Emperor Akihito is expected to abdicate on April 30, 2019, Japanese government said on Friday following a meeting of the Imperial House Council.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the meeting, which involved the prime minister, politicians, the judiciary and imperial family members, decided on the abdication date. (Japan-Emperor)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least four people were injured when unknown gunmen opened fire near a hostel of a University in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, local media reported on Friday.

According to the reports, the incident happened at about 9:20 a.m. local time when three attackers entered the agriculture directorate department, near the university, and opened fire on the guards, adding that the attackers have covered their faces while launching an attack. (Pakistan-Fire)

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SYDNEY -- The coast of Papua New Guinea has been rocked with a 6.0 magnitude earthquake on Friday, 59 km northwest of the town of Finschhafen in the Morobe Province, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake struck at 0250 GMT at a depth of 52.7 km.(Papua New Guinea-Quake) Enditem