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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Feb. 17

Xinhua,February 18, 2018 Adjust font size:

BANGKOK -- The opening ceremony of the Happy Chinese New Year celebration were held here in Yaowarat, or the Chinatown, on Friday afternoon, the first day of the Chinese year.

Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony while Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Chinese Vice Minister of Culture Yang Zhigang, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Lyu Jian attended the ceremony. (Thailand-Chinese New Year)

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TRINKOT, Afghanistan -- At least 70 armed insurgents have been killed and 15 others wounded during the security forces operations in Uruzgan province, south of Afghanistan, since Thursday, a local security official said Saturday.

"At least 70 militants have been killed in the restive areas of Uruzgan province since Thursday and 15 others wounded as crackdown against enemies has been continuing," Khawja Yahya Alavi, an army spokesman in the southern region, told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Militants)

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NEW DELHI -- Hours before bilateral talks between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary in the national capital Saturday morning.

Earlier in the morning, President Rouhani was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan (Indian President's official residence). (India-Iran-Ties)

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YANGON -- A Chinese Film Festival was officially inaugurated at Nay Pyi Taw Cinema in Myanmar's Yangon on Saturday evening.

Sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the festival activities were being launched in 12 regions and states including Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay since Friday and will last until Feb. 22. (Myanamr-Chinese film festival)

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BANGKOK -- A Thai driver has been killed and 17 Chinese tourists have been injured in a tour bus accident in southern Thai province of Phang Nga, according to the Chinese consulate general in Songkhla.

According to Thai media, a bus carrying 35 Chinese tourists heading from a hotel in Krabi Province to a port in Phang Nga crashed on a pole which hit the bus on Friday morning. (Thailand-Chinese Tourists)

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NEW DELHI -- The death toll from cooking gas cylinder blasts during a marriage function in India's western state of Rajasthan Saturday rose to nine, officials said.

A total of 21 people were injured in the blasts.

Two cylinders exploded Friday night, causing a building to collapse at Beawar town of Ajmer district, about 185 km west of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. (India-Gas Cylinder Blasts) Enditem

 

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