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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, March 28

Xinhua, March 28, 2017 Adjust font size:

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday embarked on a four-day official visit to Nepal, defense sources said.

"During his tour, General Rawat will call on Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Himalayan nation's Defense Minister Bal Krishna Khand in capital Kathmandu. He will discuss issues of strategic interest during his meeting with the top leaders," the sources said. (India-Nepal-Visit)

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DHAKA -- At least three women have been killed and dozens are missing after a jam-packed ferry capsized in the river of Panguchi in Bangladesh's Bagerhat district, some 178 km southwest of capital Dhaka, on Tuesday morning.

Masud Sarder, a deputy assistant director of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, told Xinhua over mobile phone from the district that the ferry carrying some 40-50 passengers sank at about 10.30 a.m. (local time) Tuesday. (Bangladesh-Accident)

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COLOMBO -- The Whidbey Island-Class Dock Landing Ship of the U.S. Navy, USS Comstock, has arrived at the Port of Colombo on a training visit, the navy media unit said Tuesday.

The ship, which arrived at the port on Monday, was ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on her arrival. (Sri Lanka-U.S.-Military)

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PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Visiting French President Francois Hollande pitched the sale of French-made fighter jets to Malaysia during his brief stay in Malaysia on Tuesday, but Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said they are "not ready to make a decision."

In a joint press conference after an one-hour bilateral meeting, Najib acknowledged that Malaysia is a big procurer of French equipment, adding Malaysia is aware of French-made aircraft Rafale's success in several countries. (Malaysia-France-Visit)

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MANILA -- A local tugboat chief engineer was released by his Abu Sayyaf captors on Monday night in a small town in Basilan, southern Philippines, four days after he and his captain were abducted off the waters of the province.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said on Tuesday that the government troops recovered Laurencio Tiro at the shoreline around 10:30 p.m. Monday shortly after his release. (Philippines-Abu Sayyaf-Release) Endit