21.   A strong earthquake struck several central Philippine provinces, destroying a fishing dock, damaging buildings and injuring at least two people, officials said Thursday.

22.   A senior U.S. defense official in Washington confirmed Friday that opposition forces had captured the capital of central Ghowr province, Chaghcharan.

23.   A woman drowned in Quezon province, and a boy drowned when he was swept away by strong currents in Isabel in central Leyte province.

24.   Ahn, a member of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, is from the central Chungchong province.

25.   Also, a petitioner from central Henan province demanded compensation after being sacked from a state-owned enterprise.

26.   An explosion shook a coal mine in Pingdingshan in central Henan province, killing seven people, according to an official report seen Monday in Beijing.

27.   An Italian tourist suffered a broken shoulder during a failed kidnap attempt by Yemeni tribesmen in the central Shabwa province, the Italian Embassy said Friday.

28.   Among those arrested, were two top leaders of a militant Sunni Muslim group in central Punjab province, police said.

29.   Another tragedy is the severe food shortages in central Bamyan province, creating another logistical nightmare for aid agencies.

30.   As regional governor of central Isfahan province, he banned cars from a huge plaza and refurbished ancient mosques and palaces.