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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, March 31

Xinhua, March 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

Ten leftist New People's Army (NPA) rebels and two government soldiers were killed during a firefight in northern Philippines on Thursday afternoon, an army official said Friday.

The Philippine army was on a combat operation in an eastern town of Quezon province when they caught up with about 30 rebels, said Randolph Cabangbang, commander of the Philippines Army's 80th Infantry Battalion. (Philippines-Rebels)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least 11 people were killed and 54 others injured when a blast hit a market area in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Parachinar Friday morning, local officials and hospital sources said.

Sajid Turi, an elected member of the national assembly from the area, confirmed that the 11 killed also included women and kids. (Pakistan-Blast)

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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani security forces have killed a senior Taliban commander and one of his accomplices in South Waziristan tribal region, the military here said on Friday.

An army spokesman said that "high value terrorist" Mehmood ul Hassan alias Khwaja Madni and his accomplice were killed in cordon and search operation near Jandola, a small town in the region. (Pakistan-Taliban)

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WELLINGTON -- Health authorities in New Zealand's biggest city have warned of a typhoid outbreak after 10 people were hospitalized with the potentially deadly illness.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) said Friday it was tracing people who had been in contact with the confirmed cases and was following protocols to control the spread of the disease. (New Zealand-Typhoid)

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SYDNEY -- Australia has declared five regions in the north a natural disaster zone on Friday, offering disaster assistance to residents in affected areas.

The announcement means Commonwealth Funding will be available for local councils to restore, clean and repair public assets in the communities of Tweed, Lismore, Byron, Richmond Valley and Ballina. (Australia-Flood) Endit