Chinese killer's life term cut to 5 years

BEIJING • A man given a life sentence for killing a debt collector had his jail term slashed to five years yesterday after a higher court ruled his actions had been "defensive".

The case of Yu Huan, who was convicted of stabbing to death a man who had insulted his mother, sparked heated debate in China where he was seen either as a virtuous son or vigilante murderer.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

India fires rocket with 31 small satellites

NEW DELHI • India fired a rocket carrying 31 small satellites into space yesterday, several of them for European countries looking for high resolution earth images. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launched a 712kg satellite for earth observation and 30 other tiny satellites from Andhra Pradesh state.

REUTERS

Explosion in Pakistan leaves 13 dead

QUETTA • An explosion targeting a police vehicle in Pakistan's south-western Quetta city yesterday killed at least 13 people and injured around 20 others, officials said. The explosion occurred in front of the police chief's office in the capital of Balochistan province, rife with separatist and Islamist insurgency.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE