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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Feb. 16

Xinhua, February 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

South Korea and Japan agreed on Monday to end a bilateral currency swap deal amid frayed diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The agreement between Seoul and Tokyo to offer 10 billion U.S. dollars in return for the same amount of funds of each currency at a time of crisis would end on Feb. 23 without further extension, according to a statement by the Bank of Korea (BOK) and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. (S.Korea-Japan-Currency Swap)

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SEOUL -- The South Korean parliament approved prime minister nominee Lee Wan-koo on Monday.

Lee, 64, will replace Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, who submitted resignation in 2014 to assume responsibility for a deadly ferry disaster in mid-April that left more than 300 people, mostly high school students, dead. (S. Korea-PM-Nomination)

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DHAKA -- Thousands of supporters of the Bangladeshi ruling party marched on Monday toward ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia's office, demanding an end to her opposition alliance's countrywide transport blockade.

Police and witnesses said thousands of supporters of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League thronged the streets leading to Zia's office under the banner of "the coordination council for workers, employees, professionals and freedom fighters." ( Bangladesh- Demonstration)

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HONG KONG -- Captain of Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry's "Sea Smooth" Lai Sai-ming was jailed on Monday for eight years for manslaughter and endangering the safety of others at sea in the 2012 Lamma ferry tragedy which killed a total of 39 people.

The captain of "Lamma IV," the other boat involved in the disaster, Chow Chi-wai, was sentenced to nine months, for endangering the safety of others at sea. (Hong Kong-Ferry Tragedy- Trial)

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MANILA -- A total of 1,702 families or 8,000 people have been sheltered in an evacuation center in Pikit town of southern Philippine province of North Cotabato due to firefights between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF), said local authorities on Monday.

Cynthia Ortega, head of the North Cotabato provincial disaster risk reduction and management council, said the situation remains tense "because of the presence of armed groups." (Philippines- Evacuation-Firefight) Endi