Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, May 21

MALE -- The Maldives Elections Commission on Monday announced that anyone convicted of a criminal offence could not legally contest in a political party's presidential primary, warning that such elections would be annulled, local media reported.

The Elections Commission made the declaration in a notice concerning the presidential election, which will be held in the island country in September. (Maldives-Election-Primary)

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COLOMBO -- Five people were killed and seven were reported missing as strong winds and heavy rains lashed out across Sri Lanka since Saturday, the Disaster Management Center said in its latest update on Monday.

The five deaths were reported from the Eastern District of Trincomalee and in the lower central hills of Badulla. (Sri Lanka-Weather)

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SEOUL -- South Korea's military will continue the annual joint war games with the United States this year, Seoul's defense ministry said Monday.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo told a routine press briefing that there has been no change in stance that the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States will continue. (S.Korea-U.S.-Drill)

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Five Afghan demining workers were killed and another went missing after they were attacked by gunmen in the country's southern province of Kandahar on Monday, local police said.

"The incident occurred on Monday morning in Malang Karaiz locality, Maywand district, west of provincial capital Kandahar city. A probe is still on," Zia Durrani, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Gunmen-Attack)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysian government on Monday set up a special task force to investigate the alleged scandal surrounding the state development fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), prosecute offenders and seize related assets.

The country's Prime Minister Office said in a statement that the special team will be responsible for coordination of investigations, financial tracking and assets acquisition related to the misappropriation of the 1MDB funds in Malaysia and overseas. (Malaysia-1MDB-Investigation)

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PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's Phnom Penh and China's Beijing entered into an agreement on Monday to establish a "sister cities" relationship.

Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng and Qi Jing, member of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, inked the agreement at the Capital Hall here under the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo. (Cambodia-China-Sister Cities) Enditem