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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Feb. 4

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 111 people have died in Hong Kong from flu in the past one month, according to Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).

One of the latest cases involves a 60-year-old customs officer who suffered multiple organ failure after being infected with the H3N2 flu virus. He died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Tuesday morning. (HK-Flu)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's newly-elected president Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday called for national unity on the island, stating that despite the end of the country's civil war which ended in 2009, there was still a need to reconcile the communities in the North and South.

The president, speaking at the country's 67th Independence Day anniversary celebrations, noted that following the 30 years of war, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and former army commander Sarath Fonseka ensured the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and established peace in Sri Lanka. (Sri Lanka- Independence Day)

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COLOMBO -- The United States said on Wednesday there is a lot of work to be done in Sri Lanka after a new government came to power last month.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal, who just concluded a visit to Sri Lanka, also said her government looks forward to partnering with the Sri Lankan people to address the challenges and help Sri Lanka realize its true potential. (Sri Lanka-US)

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MANILA -- The Philippine government rejected calls for resignation of President Benigro Aquino III over the firefight in Maguindanao last month that resulted in the death of over 60 persons including 44 police commandos, a senior official said on Wednesday.

In an interview by local Aksyon TV, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Malacanang (the seat of the Presidential Palace) respects the opinion of the different sectors including the highly emotional sentiments of some groups following the incident. (Philippines-President-Resignation) Endi