Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1010 GMT, June 10

NEW DELHI– The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings on Friday revised the outlook on India’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating to stable from negative, while retaining the “BBB-” rating. SEOUL– South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin planned to visit Washington this weekend for talks with his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken, the South Korean…

VIENTIANE — It is necessary to enact a specific law to ensure the safety of dams, as part of the Lao government’s efforts to achieve sustainable energy development, according to the Lao minister of energy and mines.

Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday, Minister of Energy and Mines Daovong Phonekeo said there are regulations and guidelines in place governing the construction and operation of hydropower plants, but there is no law that specifically relates to safety measures. (Laos-Dam-Law)

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NEW DELHI — The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings on Friday revised the outlook on India’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating to stable from negative, while retaining the “BBB-” rating.

“The outlook revision reflects our view that downside risks to medium-term growth have diminished due to India’s rapid economic recovery and easing financial sector weaknesses, despite near-term headwinds from the global commodity price shock,” Fitch said in a statement. (India-Rating Outlook-Fitch)

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SEOUL — South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin planned to visit Washington this weekend for talks with his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken, the South Korean foreign ministry said Friday.

At the invitation of Blinken, the South Korean foreign minister will make a four-day trip to Washington from Sunday to Wednesday, holding the foreign ministers’ talks on Monday with the U.S. secretary of state. (South Korea-Foreign Minister-U.S. Visit)

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Six people including five security personnel have been confirmed dead as a blast struck a vehicle in Spin Boldak area of the southern Kandahar province on Thursday, police said Friday.

Confirming the deadly attack, police chief of Spin Boldak district Mawlawi Mohammad Hashim Mahmoud said an explosive device left over from the past wars struck a vehicle on Thursday morning, without providing more details. (Afghanistan-Blast-Death) Enditem