Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Aug. 19

Thai police on Wednesday offered a reward of 1 million baht (28,100 U.S. dollars) for any information leading to the capture of a suspect of the Bangkok explosion on Monday, which has killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 100 others.

The police released a sketch of the suspected perpetrator who was seen on a surveillance camera at the scene. (Thailand- Explosion)

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BANGKOK -- A total of seven Chinese nationals, including five from the mainland and two from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, have been confirmed killed in a Bangkok explosion Monday night, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand said Wednesday.

The latest confirmed fatality was previously labeled as missing, according to the embassy. (Thailand-Explosion)

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TOKYO -- Japan on Wednesday launched an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft that will deliver much-needed supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) following recent failures to send U.S. and Russian cargo craft to the ISS.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. -- Japan's space agency and the commercial operator of H-2B rocket -- launched the H-2 Transfer Vehicle " KOUNOTORI5" (HTV5) aboard the H-2B Launch Vehicle No.5 at 8:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday from JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center in Japan's southwestern Kagoshima prefecture. (Japan-Spacecraft- Launch)

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MANILA -- At least 15 Abu Sayyaf Group members were killed following a firefight with elite government forces in Indanan town in south Philippine province of Sulu on Wednesday afternoon.

Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said troops from the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion were on a focused military operation when they clashed with at least 100 terrorists of Abu Sayyaf Group in Barangay Buanza around 5:25 p.m. local time. ( Philippines-Abu Sayyaf) Endi