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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, March 19

Xinhua, March 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Over twenty school children were hospitalized in Sri Lanka's northern town of Jaffna on Thursday after being poisoned from consuming water from the school tank, the police said.

According to police officials, 27 school children had been rushed to a nearby state hospital by the school authorities after they fell ill. (Sri Lanka-School-Poison)

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TOKYO -- U.S. first lady Michelle Obama stresses collaboration in advancing girls education with Japan on Thursday while meeting with Japan's first lady Akie Abe.

The Obama administration launched "Let Girls Learn" program two weeks ago to expand its effort to help adolescent girls worldwide attend and complete school. (Japan-Michelle Obama)

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir -- At least seven people were killed and five others injured Thursday after a vehicle they were on board skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The accident took place near Shaitan Nalla in Banihal area of mountainous Ramban district, about 163 km south of Srinagar city, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. (India-Kashmir- Accident)

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WELLINGTON -- A four-day state of emergency in a tiny island community east of the New Zealand mainland was lifted Thursday as it emerged from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Pam.

The Chatham Islands a small group of islands about 750 km east of the South Island and home to about 600 people was put under the state of emergency on Monday as emergency services battled a spate of rural fires and the cyclone bore down on the community. ( New Zealand-Cyclone) Endi