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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, March 9

Xinhua, March 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday visited U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert, who is in hospital after being attacked by an anti-American activist, right after ending her nine-day travel to the Middle East, the presidential office said.

Lippert was slashed last Thursday in his face and hand with a 25-centimenter-long knife by 55-year-old South Korean activist Kim Ki-Jong, who was arrested on various charges including attempted murder. (South Korea-U.S.-Envoy)

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NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his trip to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka,starting on Tuesday, is aimed at bolstering bilateral ties.

"This week I'll be travelling to Seychelles, Mauritius & Sri Lanka, looking forward to enhancing our ties with these friendly Nations," Modi tweeted late Sunday evening.

On his visit to Seychelles, Modi said "I am very glad that I am able to visit Seychelles early on during my tenure and I look forward to working with President (James Alexis) Michael to strengthen cooperation between India and Seychelles." (India-PM- Visit)

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COLOMBO -- A former Sri Lankan minister was questioned by the country's Bribery and Corruption Commission on Monday over a controversy regarding his assets, a government official said.

Wimal Weerawansa, the former housing minister and a close ally of former President Mahinda Rajapakse, arrived at the commission after a complaint was lodged against him by the Marxist political group, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), in January.

The bribery commission had received complaints on illegal acquisition of assets by Weerawansa during his tenure as the housing minister, including two houses owned by him just outside the capital of Colombo. (Sri Lanka-Minister-Cooruption)

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- One Afghan soldier was injured as a roadside bomb struck a military vehicle in Koz Kunar district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Monday, a spokesman for the provincial government said.

"A mine planted by militants struck a military vehicle in Bashi Kala village of Koz Kunar district this morning, injuring a soldier," Ahmad Zia Abdulzai told reporters.

Without giving more details, the spokesman said an investigation has been underway. (Afghanistan-Roadside Bomb)

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JAKARTA -- An Indonesian court on Monday dismissed a legal challenge by a Nigerian, who is facing a death penalty, over Indonesian President Joko Widodo's rejection of his clemency plea.

Judge Hendro Puspito of the Administrative Court in East Jakarta said the court had no jurisdiction over presidential decisions. (Indonesia-Nigeria-Drug Trafficker) Endi