Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Jan. 16

SINGAPORE -- Singapore and Malaysia signed a bilateral agreement on the Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) on Tuesday which will connect the city-state and Malaysia's city Johor Bahru upon its completion in 2024.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the eighth Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat. (Singapore-Malaysia-RTS Link)

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HONG KONG -- The nomination period for the Legislative Council (LegCo) of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by-election started Tuesday and will run until Jan. 29.

The LegCo of HKSAR has 70 legislators, including 35 members returned by functional constituencies and 35 members returned by geographical constituencies. (Hong Kong-By-election)

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YANGON -- Myanmar and Laos have reached three memorandums of understanding on bilateral cooperation in three sectors, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday.

The cooperation in three sectors are electric power, science and technology, and anti-corruption. (Myanmar-Laos-Cooperation)

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- Up to 21 militants of the hardliner Islamic State (IS) group were killed after the security forces aircrafts pounded the insurgents' hideouts in Achin and Shirzad districts of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Monday night, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said Tuesday.

The air raids conducted on tipoff also destroyed the insurgent's weapon caches, according to the official. (Afghanistan-Militants) Enditem