Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 27

DHAKA -- Two training planes of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed after collision on Wednesday night in the country's Cox's Bazar district, 292 km southeast of capital Dhaka, but the pilots ejected safely, said Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) of Bangladesh Army.

The two-seat training planes were being flown by flight cadets. (Bangladesh-Plane crash)

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COLOMBO -- The Sri Lankan government has successfully negotiated a long-term credit package of 200 million U.S. dollars with the Credit Suisse Bank in order to keep its debt-ridden national airline afloat, local media reported Wednesday.

The cabinet which met earlier this week has approved to obtain the funds. State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyardena said that out of the 200 million dollars, 50 million dollars was obtained as a short term loan facility. (Sri Lanka-Credit Suisse Bank)

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TOKYO -- An expert report said Wednesday that data fabrication found at a subsidiary of Toray Industries Inc., a major chemical fiber manufacturer in Japan, was due to slack management as well as staff shortage.

According to the report by outside experts, two officials at Toray Hybrid Cord Inc.'s quality department doctored the data under pressure to meet delivery deadlines while suffering from lack of manpower and poor measuring equipment. (Japan-Toray Industries-Data fabrication)

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LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan -- One army soldier and an assailant were killed and 14 soldiers wounded when a suicide car bomb struck an army convoy near a police station in Lashkar Gah, capital of southern province of Helmand on Wednesday, a local official said.

Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. (Afghanistan-Car bombing) Enditem