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Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600 GMT, April 1

Xinhua, April 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

More than 200 rebels affiliated with the Taliban group laid down arms and surrendered to the government in the northern Afghan province of Balkh on Saturday, said a provincial source.

"The armed men joined peace and reconciliation process in Chimtal district, following calls by provincial Governor Atta Mohammad Noor and provincial peace officials and mediation of the local elders," the source told Xinhua anonymously. (Afghanistan-Rebels)

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YANGON -- A multi-party parliamentary by-election began across Myanmar Saturday morning at 6 a.m. local time with a total of 2 million eligible voters going to polls to cast their votes.

A total of 94 candidates including 16 female are competing for 19 vacant parliamentary seats available in 22 townships in eight regions and states across the nation. (Myanmar-By-elections)

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JAKARTA -- At least one person was killed and 26 others went missing as landslides struck East Java province in western Indonesia on Saturday, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency.

The landslides triggered by heavy downpours occurred in Banaran village of Ponorogo district, hitting 25 to 30 houses, Sutopo said. (Indonesia-Landslides)

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TOKYO -- Representatives of "comfort women" museums from Japan, South Korea, China, the Philippines and the United States convened their first conference here on Saturday, urging the Japanese government to reflect upon history.

"The Japanese government, after so many years, still refuses to admit and reflect upon the 'comfort women' issue. We should enhance international cooperation and demand the Japanese government to apologize and make compensations," said Eriko Ikeda, chairwoman of Women's Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM), Japan's only museum focused on wartime sexual violence against women. (Japan-Comfort Women)

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NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak here on Saturday as both countries geared up for delegation-level talks and got ready to ink a number of pacts in various fields.

Modi held closed-door talks with Razak at the iconic Hyderabad House in the heart of the national capital in the evening. (India-Malaysia-Visit) Endit