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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, March 26

Xinhua, March 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced the new chiefs of the Australian army and air force at a time when the country's military is facing increased operational commitments in global conflict zones.

Abbott revealed the appointments in Canberra on Thursday, appointing Lieutenant General Angus Campbell as new Chief of the Army (from May 16) and Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Davies as Chief of the Air Force (from July 4). (Australia-Military Chief)

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TOKYO-- Japan on Thursday launched an information-gathering satellite (IGS) with an optical reconnaissance payload on an H-2A rocket, the country's second launch this year.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.-- Japan's space agency and the commercial operator of the H-2A rocket -- launched the spy satellite aboard the H-2A Launch Vehicle No.28 at 10:21 a.m. (0121 GMT) on Thursday from JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center in Japan's southwestern Kagoshima prefecture. (Japan-Satellite Launch)

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HANOI -- A total of 14 people were killed while 28 others injured in an incident in Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS) construction site in central Vietnam on Wednesday night, a local military official said on Thursday.

At around 20:00 p.m. (GMT 1300) on Wednesday, a scaffold collapsed in Vung Ang port construction site, part of FHS's huge iron and steel project in Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh Province, some 350 km south of capital Hanoi. (Vietnam-Accident)

---- HO CHI MINH CITY -- At least three Vietnamese soldiers were injured Thursday when a military helicopter fell down over the runway on Phu Quy island, central Binh Thuan province, about 1,150 south of capital Hanoi.

About 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, a MI-8 helicopter fell down from the height of 9-10 meters over the runway located in the military zone on Phu Quy island, causing the injury of three soldiers. They were immediately transported to hospital, local VNExpress quoted Ta Minh Nhat, deputy chairman of Phu Quy district, as saying. (Vietnam-Helicopter Crash) Endi