Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600GMT, June 18

Pakistan said on Thursday that normalization of relations with India is vital for peace and development in the region.

The Pakistani statement came following exchange of harsh words in recent days that heightened tension between the two neighbors.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif by phone on Tuesday that was seen as a step to reduce the tensions.(Pakistan-India-Peace)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- The missing Malaysian oil tanker has been located and negotiations were underway to secure the surrender of the hijackers, officials said Thursday.

The tanker was located by an Australian Air Force P-3 Orion surveillance plane on Wednesday, some 200 nautical miles from the Malaysian northern city of Kota Bharu, said Ahmad Puzi bin Ab Kahar, deputy chief of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.( Malaysia-Missing Oil Tanker-Located)

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BANGKOK -- A Thai health official on Thursday confirmed the country's first case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) , local media reported.

The 75-year-old patient from a Middle East country is being quarantined at an infectious diseases institute, the Nation newspaper quoted the official from the Public Health Ministry as saying.(Thailand-MERS-Confirm)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tionglai said Thursday in a statement that the ships have undergone winterization to reflect operational needs in the winter for the search of MH370.

"To enable continuous search operations during winter, as well as to ensure that the required area is searched as quickly and as effectively as possible, both Furgo Equator and Fugro Discovery have undergone winterization to reflect operational needs," he said.(Malaysia-MH370-Search) Endi