Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, April 17

CANBERRA -- The government of Australia's Northern Territory (NT) has reversed its two-year ban on hydraulic fracturing of onshore gas that will open up more than half of the territory's land mass - roughly 700,000 sq km - to the practice.

The issue has sharply divided territorians, many of whom believe fracking threatens water supplies, but Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Tuesday strict new laws would ensure the environment is not harmed and that the industry would create many new jobs.(Australia-Fracking)

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JAKARTA -- Indonesian parliament has demanded Facebook hand over its audit on the data leak that had affected millions of users, anticipating the leak could be inappropriately used for political interest related to the upcoming elections in the country.

The demand was conveyed by legislators in the parliament's Commission I in a hearing held here on Tuesday with Facebook Indonesia Public Policy chief Ruben Hattari and Facebook Asia-Pacific Public Policy chief Simon Milner.( Indonesia-Facebook)

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KATHMANDU -- A senior UN official on Tuesday praised the government and people of Nepal for the political transformation in the country over the last two decades.

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca expressed happiness over the success of Nepal's peace process during several meetings with the government officials including Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali in his recent visit to the country, the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Kathmandu said in a statement on Tuesday.(Nepal-UN-Peace process)

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TOKYO -- More than 40 foreigners being held at an immigration facility northeast of Tokyo have been staging a hunger strike to highlight their prolonged detention and the apparent callous attitude of staff concerning the recent suicide of an Indian man there, local media reported Tuesday.

The hunger strike by the detainees began on Sunday at the East Japan Immigration Center in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, with the more than 40 detainees refusing food in the morning although accepting water and tea, local media quoted an advocate for the group as saying.(Japan-Foreigners-Hunger strike)

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SYDNEY -- Maritime archaeology experts at the Western Australian Museum are investigating a mysterious shipwreck on Tuesday, that was inadvertently discovered by a research vessel.

While mapping the ocean floor off the state's north, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) ship, the Solander, detected a mysterious unknown structure on its sonar system.(Australia-Shipwreck) Enditem