Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 8

ISLAMABAD -- The death toll of Thursday evening's boat capsizal incident in Arabian Sea off the coastal area of Pakistan's southern Thatta district has mounted to 21, hospital sources said.

Medical superintendent at the Mirpur Sakro Taluqa Hospital confirmed that they have received 21 bodies from the accident in Thatta, a main district in the country's south Sindh province. (Pakistan-Boat Accident)

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TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet formally approved on Friday the date of April 30, 2019 as the abdication date for Emperor Akihito.

The Cabinet's approval occurred a week after a meeting of the Imperial House Council involving the prime minister, politicians, the judiciary and imperial family members, agreed upon the date. (Japan-Emperor-Abdication)

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SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on key military commanders on Friday to prepare for the early transfer of wartime operational control from the United States.

Moon invited major commanders of the country's military to his office for lunch, saying conditions should be rapidly prepared for the transfer of wartime operational command of South Korean forces from Washington. (South Korea-U.S.-Operational Control)

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KABUL -- At least two people were killed and six others wounded after an explosion ripped through the western neighborhood of Kabul on Friday, causing panic among the residents, local Tolo News TV reported.

According to the report, the blast occurred roughly at 2:40 p.m. local time in Sar-e-Kariz locality of Qala-e-Shada neighborhood in Police District 3 of the capital city. (Afghanistan-Blast)

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MANILA -- The Philippine health chief said on Friday that the government will demand the refund of over 69 million U.S. dollars it has paid French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur for the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement that the government will also demand that Sanofi shoulder the medical expenses that may be incurred on school children that were administered by the vaccine. (Philippines-Dengue-Vaccine) Enditem