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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, March 31

Xinhua, March 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

Former President Park Geun-hye of South Korea was arrested early Friday after a court approved the request from prosecutors, raising a possibility for her to serve jail term over corruption allegations.

A judge in the Seoul Central District Court said in a statement that Park's major criminal allegations could be justified and concerns remained over a possibility of her destroying evidence. (South Korea-Park-Arrest)

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TOKYO -- Japans unemployment rate dropped to 2.8 percent in February from a month earlier, marking a 22 year low, government data released on Friday showed.

Separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed that the job availability in Japan stood at 1.43 in February, unchanged from January, with the figure meaning that for every 100 jobs seekers there were 143 positions available. (Japan-Jobs-Data)

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YANGON -- The government of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has handled changes well in its first year's tenure, said Director General of the State Counselor's Office U Zaw Htay.

Except the issues of Rakhine state and northern Shan state, all other changes were handled properly, U Zaw Htay told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday. (Myanmar-NLD Government)

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- Up to 33 armed militants were killed as government forces targeted their hideouts in the eastern Nangarhar province Thursday night, an army spokesman in the eastern region Shir Aqa Faqiri said Friday.

"Security forces launched operations against anti-government militants in Chaparhar and Pachiragam districts Thursday night and so far 33 rebels have been killed, six others injured and 22 more insurgents arrested," Faqiri told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Militants)

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SYDNEY -- The carnage from Cyclone Debbie continued on Friday, as towns in northern New South Wales are being evacuated after severe flooding threatens lives and property.

Floods reaching three metres high are expected in the city of Lismore, and over 6000 people were evacuated from their homes overnight, and 20 thousand residents expected to be affected by the floods. (Australia-Cyclone Debbie) Endit