Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600 GMT, March 4

BANGKOK -- Two out of four severely injured Chinese tourists have undertaken surgeries in local hospitals while the remaining two await taking surgeries later, China's consulate general in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand said on Sunday.

Another five Chinese tourists, who suffered minor injuries, have been treated properly in local hospitals and could be discharged from hospital soon, the consulate general said. (Thailand-Chinese Tourists-Injuries)

----

SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in decided to send his special envoys to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on March 5, after top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's dispatch of a special delegation to South Korea last month.

The South Korean special delegation will be led by Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor to President Moon, Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential press secretary, told a televised press briefing. (S.Korea-DPRK-Special Envoys)

----

KATHMANDU -- Members of the Nepal's Federal Parliament were sworn in here on Sunday, three months after the country held the elections in November and December last year.

Mahantha Thakur, a senior parliamentarian, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the parliamentarians of the 275-member House of Representatives or Lower House of the Federal Parliament, at 4:00 p.m. local time. (Nepal-Parliament Members-Oath)

----

SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan -- Up to 13 militants were killed as Afghan government forces aircrafts pounded the hideout of Islamic State (IS) group in Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province on Saturday, army spokesman in the northern region Nasratullah Jamshidi said Sunday.

"Acting upon intelligence report, the government forces' war planes struck the hideout of IS commander Qari Hekmatullah in Chakan area of Darzab district yesterday afternoon, killing 13 rebels on the spot," Jamshidi told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Airstrike-IS) Enditem