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Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 0600GMT, Feb. 18

Xinhua, February 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned the country that it risks an "explosion of unsolved crimes" if it does not pass a reform on data retention laws.

Speaking at a press conference on the Gold Coast on Wednesday, Abbott said Australia would be threatened by "unilateral disarmament" if legislation that enables authorities to monitor suspected criminals is not approved.(Australia-PM-Warns)

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WELLINGTON -- The defense ministers of New Zealand and Australia met Wednesday to discuss what action they will take in the fight against Islamic State insurgents in Iraq.

New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said the talks in Melbourne with Australian counterpart Kevin Andrews would cover a range of regional and international security issues, including the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the future defense capability projects.(Australia-New Zealand-IS)

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YANGON -- Myanmar's Yangon regional government has warned of taking action against violent striking workers in some industrial zones in north of the city blocking the entrance of some foreign- invested factories, official report said Wednesday.

Demanding more payment, the striking workers in Shwepyitha and Hlaingtharya Industrial Zones have blocked the entrance of the foreign-invested factories, preventing both other workers to return to work and employers and staff to go outside the factories and stopped the run of container vehicles, causing loss to both the workers and the employers, a statement of the Yangon regional government was quoted as saying.(Myanmar-Violence-Warns)

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KABUL -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has met a visiting Pakistani delegation led by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at Afghan Presidential Palace, the palace said on Wednesday.

"The delegation reconfirmed Pakistan's commitment to helping bring peace to Afghanistan. The reported progress and the messages were positive, reflecting the commitment of Pakistan. The results of these efforts will become clearer in the near future," the palace said in a statement.(Afghanistan-Pakistan-Meets) Endi