Briefly

PAKISTAN

Envoys meet to discuss aid for Afghanistan

Envoys of 57 countries as well as observer delegations were meeting in Pakistan on Sunday for a summit aimed at relieving the humanitarian crisis in neighboring Afghanistan, while testing diplomatic ties with its Taliban rulers. The meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is the biggest major conference on Afghanistan since the former government fell in August. After the Taliban takeover, billions of dollars in aid and assets were frozen by many countries, and 38 million people now face a bitter winter. Any aid pledges were set to be announced on Sunday. Pakistani officials said 70 delegations were taking part. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the meeting would speak "for the people" rather than "a particular group".

AUSTRALIA

Four dead after plane crashes into ocean

Four people died after a light aircraft crashed into the ocean near Brisbane, capital of the Australian state of Queensland, on Sunday. Queensland police confirmed that the occupants of the aircraft were two male adults and two children. The small, four-seater took off from Redcliffe Airport in Brisbane's north at 9 am local time. A multiagency investigation had begun, and divers had been sent to inspect the aircraft and recover bodies, police said. "The plane is in a very, very difficult position in the wetland area, and we have currently got police and divers traveling to that area," said Queensland's Police Commissioner, Katarina Carroll.

Agencies - Xinhua