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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Jan. 27

Xinhua, January 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Indonesian navy official said on Tuesday that a multinational operation to search bodies of victims aboard crashed AirAsia Flight QZ8501 and retrieve wreckage of the ill-fated plane was called off, a local TV reported.

The announcement was made by Navy Western Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Widodo onboard Navy ship Banda Aceh 31 days after the operation was launched in the Java Sea off the Central Kalimantan, the TVOne reported. (Indonesia-AirAsia-Search)

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SINGAPORE -- Singapore will set up a new Cyber Security Agency under the Prime Minister's Office, the government said on Tuesday.

The agency, which will start operating in April, will be charged with coordinating public and private sector efforts to protect national systems such as those in the energy and banking sectors from increasing cyber threats. (Singapore-Cyber Security)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least 23 militants had been killed when Pakistani army launched an air strike in the country's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan on Tuesday afternoon, local media reported.

ARY News said that the troops backed by jet fighters had pounded five militants' hideouts in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal area along Pakistan- Afghanistan border. (Pakistan-Militants)

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TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Tuesday remained fairly tight-lipped over developments regarding Kenji Goto, a war journalist, still held captive by the Islamic State (IS) militants, following the killing of another Japanese hostage on Saturday, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior officials in Tokyo declining to comment on speculation that it is in talks with the Jordanian government over a possible prisoner swap.

Both Abe and his top spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga have towed the official line, with Suga telling reporters Tuesday that the government believes Goto is still alive and is seeking the cooperation from Jordan and other relevant governments, religious and tribal leaders to secure his release at the earliest possible juncture. (Japan-Hostage) Endi