Around the World

BELARUS

Bomb Blast Near President

About 50 people were wounded early Friday by a homemade bomb that sprayed nuts and bolts into a crowd at an open-air concert in Belarus's capital attended by President Alexander Lukashenko, officials said.

Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic since 1994, was not far from the blast but was unhurt and did not appear to have been the target, his spokesman said. A second, unexploded bomb was found nearby, the Interior Ministry said.

Western governments have accused Lukashenko, a Russian ally, of gagging independent media, quelling protests and incarcerating opponents.

TAIWAN

Historic Link With China

Hundreds of mainland Chinese tourists -- some in matching white or pink shirts -- arrived in Taiwan on Friday on the first regular commercial flights in nearly six decades between the old foes.

A China Southern Airlines flight carrying 230 passengers landed at Taoyuan International Airport, and firetrucks shot water at the plane in welcome.

The flights, the result of diplomatic efforts by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, are aimed at warming relations between the self-ruled island and its neighbor, which claims Taiwan as its territory.

BURMA

Ferry Sinking Killed 38

At least 38 people died when a ferry sank Tuesday in a river in Burma's cyclone-ravaged Irrawaddy Delta, official newspapers reported Friday. Forty-four passengers were rescued the day the vessel sank in the Yway River near Myaungmya, a town hit hard by Tropical Cyclone Nargis in May.

Also, four members of Burma's main pro-democracy party who campaigned against a constitution proposed by the military government have been jailed for one year.

NORTH KOREA

Dismantling Hits Delay

North Korea said Friday it will not take further steps to dismantle its nuclear program until the United States and its other negotiating partners award fuel oil and political benefits promised under an aid-for-disarmament deal. The North Korean Foreign Ministry said countries involved in six-nation disarmament talks have made only 40 percent of promised energy shipments.

Musharraf Accused in Arms Deal

Pakistan's army under Gen. Pervez Musharraf supervised a shipment of uranium centrifuges to North Korea in 2000, the disgraced architect of Pakistan's atomic weapons program, Abdul Qadeer Khan, said in the latest of many claims. A Musharraf spokesman called the accusations "all lies."

Iran 'Constructive' on Incentives

Iran delivered a "constructive" preliminary response to a package of incentives meant to persuade the nation to curtail parts of its nuclear program, European and Iranian officials said.

From News Services