Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 30

NEW DELHI -- India's Space Research Organisation, ISRO has announced to launch 31 satellites, including Cartosat-2 series earth observation spacecraft, in a single mission next month, state-run broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said Saturday.

The satellites according to the broadcaster would be launched on Jan. 10. (India-Satellites)

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CANBERRA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- An 83-year-old grandfather has become the first person to die as a result of a car ramming attack in the Central Business District (CBD) of Australia's Melbourne in December.

The family of Antonios Crocaris confirmed on Saturday morning that the man died late on Friday night, becoming the first fatality of the Melbourne attack that saw 18 people injured. (Australia-Car Attack)

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NEW DELHI -- India's premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has registered a case against three people allegedly involved in human trafficking, officials said Saturday.

The agency busted the racket and charged three people working as agents for sending 23 teenage students to France last year for a rugby training camp. (India-Human Trafficking)

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MANILA -- Two months after recapturing the southern Philippine city of Marawi from the Islamic State-linked militants, so-called "Maute group", Philippine troops continue to clear the city of explosives and other munitions left behind by the extremists.

It will take a few more months to fully remove the large number of unexploded ordnance and explosive booby traps planted by the pro-IS extremists during the five-month fierce street-to-street fighting, authorities said on Saturday. (Philippines-Marawi Operation) Enditem