SAsia Pakistan-controlled Kashmir: Trucks laden with aid began rolling into northeast Pakistan as the rescue effort finally started reaching desperate survivors of an earthquake three days ago which left up to 40,000 dead and millions homeless. SAsia Adding new impetus to peace efforts, India was to fly tonnes of earthquake relief supplies to nuclear rival Pakistan, the first such airlift in decades. Liberia Liberians began voting for a hoped-for future of prosperity and peace at presidential and legislative elections, turning the page on a legacy of lawlessness and corruption that has plagued the west African country for more than a generation. Germany Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Angela Merkel will turn to the task of building a coalition government capable of injecting new life into the country's ailing economy. Iraq Iraqi police came under attack in Baghdad in a renewed bout of insurgent violence aimed at disrupting a crucial vote on the country's new constitution just four days away. Iraq Iraq has issued arrest warrants for two dozen people, including former defence minister Hazem al-Shaalan, over the suspected embezzlement of more than one billion dollars earmarked for weapons purchases, the country's top anti-corruption official said. Indonesia Indonesian police said they have made their first arrest in connection with the probe into the October 1 suicide bombings in Bali. China China began the countdown for its second manned foray into space, as specially invited guests poured off trains in the city of Jiuquan near the launch site to watch history unfold. Afghanistan Taliban fighters ambushed and killed 18 Afghan policemen in southern Afghanistan, the government said -- the latest bloodshed in an insurgency that has seen a recent spate of suicide attacks. Britain Police carrying out pre-dawn raids arrested the suspected kingpins of a pan-European ring believed to have smuggled tens of thousands of people, mainly Turkish Kurds, into Britain in the last few years. China China wraps up a top Communist Party meeting expected to endorse changes to the country's economic growth strategy while revealing President Hu Jintao's efforts to consolidate his grip on power.