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Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600GMT, May 19

Xinhua, May 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Maldives President Adbulla Yameen has set terms and representatives for talks with the opposition amidst growing domestic and international calls for dialogue, local media reported on Tuesday.

Two teams of seven ministers will hold separate discussions with the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and with the Jumhooree Party and the religious conservative Adhaalath Party.(Maldives-President-Talks)

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BANGKOK -- Thai junta, or the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), and the cabinet agreed on Tuesday to amend the 2014 interim constitution so that the new draft charter can be put to a referendum.

This meant a general election, initially expected early next year, could be further postponed.

The charter amendment is expected to be proposed to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in June, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam was quoted by the National News Bureau of Thailand as saying.(Thailand-Constitution-Referendum)

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JAKARTA -- Indonesian central bank on Tuesday held its benchmark interest rate steady at 7.5 percent despite slowing economic growth, as inflation accelerated ahead of fasting month and rupiah kept weakening against the U.S. dollars.

The governor board meeting decided to keep the basic rate at 7. 5 percent after it unexpectedly cut the rate by 25 basis points in February.(Indonesia-Interest Rates-Steady)

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KABUL -- At least five people including the bomber had been killed and 24 others injured in a suicide attack that rocked Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.

"Four people were killed and 24 others injured in the blast," Rahimi told reporters here.

All the victims are civilians, he added.

The suicide bomber was also killed in his blast, the official added. (Afghanistan-Blast-Death) Endi