Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 31

KABUL -- Up to 12 people have been confirmed dead and 16 others injured after a suicide attacker detonated his explosive device among mourners in a funeral n Jalalabad city, the capital of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday, a local official said.

"A terrorist blew himself up in the funeral ceremony of former district governor of Haska Mina district this afternoon outside Jalalabad city, killing 12 mourners and injuring 16 others," the official who declined to be named told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Suicide Attack)

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SYDNEY -- Australian New South Wales (NSW) Police confirmed on Sunday that six people have been killed after a seaplane crashed into Jerusalem Bay near the town of Cowan, north of Sydney.

The Sydney Seaplanes aircraft, carrying a pilot and five passengers, crashed at about 3:15 p.m. local time and a search and rescue operation was launched to locate the aircraft which is believed to be submerged. (Australia-Plane Crash)

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MANILA -- An alliance of Filipino women groups slammed Japan on Sunday for demanding the removal of a "comfort woman" statue, unveilaed earlier this month in the Philippine capital city of Manila.

In a statement, the alliance of Filipino women GABRIELA and Lila Pilipina (league of Filipino Women) urged the government to ignore Japan's request to take down the 7-feet bronze sculpture depicting a blindfold, grieving woman in Maria Clara traditional Filipiniana gown. (Philippines-Comfort Women)

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DHAKA -- The Bangladeshi government said on Sunday that two more new air bases will be constructed soon to further strengthen the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the announcement after inspecting a parade by new BAF officers at an Air Force Academy in Jessore, some 164 km from the capital city Dhaka. (Bangladesh-Air Bases) Enditem