Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, March 23

MUAR, Malaysia -- Two Chinese crew were rescued from a sand dredger capsized in the waters near Malaysia, according to the Chinese embassy in Malaysia on Friday.

Divers from Guangdong, China sent by the Chinese Marine Search and Rescue Center, who joined the search and rescue by the Malaysian rescuers, found the two crew members inside the ship, according to the embassy. (Malyasia-Capsized dredger-Rescue)

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NEW DELHI -- The 11th round meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs was held here on Thursday and Friday.

The Chinese delegation was led by Yi Xianliang, the director general of the Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Indian delegation was led by Pranay Verma, the Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. (India-China)

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SYDNEY -- A rescue operation is underway on Friday to save over 150 short finned pilot whales that have washed up and become stranded on a beach in Western Australia.

The saddening scene at Hamelin Bay, 315 km south of Perth, has seen droves of shocked onlookers arrive at the shoreline in an attempt to help Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) save the animals. (Australia-Stranded whales)

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KABUL -- At least nine militants of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have been killed following airstrikes in two Afghan provinces, said command of special forces Friday.

"The Afghan Special Operations Forces conducted an airstrike on Thursday, in Dih Bala district, Nangarhar province, against the IS terrorist group. As a result eight IS members were killed," Operational Coordination Group Afghanistan (MoD-OCGA) said in a statement. (Afghanistan-IS) Enditem