Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Jan. 8

SEOUL -- Top nuclear envoys, who represent South Korea and Japan at the six-party talks for the denuclearized Korean Peninsula, met in Seoul Monday to discuss the peninsula's nuclear issue amid growing signs of a thaw in inter-Korean relations.

Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for the Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, met with his Japanese counterpart Kenji Kanasugi, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. (S.Korea-Japan-Meeting)

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SEOUL -- South Korea's top nuclear envoy will visit the United States this week to discuss the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.

Lee Do-hoon, special representative for the Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will visit Washington from Wednesday to Friday. (S.Korea-U.S.-Visit)

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KABUL -- A total of 20 militants were killed as government forces attacked Taliban positions in Kafter Khana area of southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province Sunday, the country's Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Monday.

The operation, according to the statement, was launched by the Police Special Units and lasted for few hours also left several more insurgents injured.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment on the report. (Afghanistan-Militants)

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NEW DELHI -- A major fire broke out at a busy court complex in India's financial capital Mumbai Monday, police and fire officials said.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of any casualty in the incident.

"The flames were spotted first on the third floor of Mumbai sessions court this morning and then soon started spreading. All those present inside the court at the time have been evacuated right on time," a senior police official said. (India-Fire) Enditem