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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Feb. 20

Xinhua,February 21, 2018 Adjust font size:

MALE -- The Maldivian parliament on Tuesday approved the extension of a state of emergency by 30 days following a request by President Abdulla Yameen, local media reported.

The vote was held in the parliament on Tuesday evening in the 85-member chamber. (The Maldives-State of Emergency)

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NEW DELHI -- At least four people have died and 11 hospitalized following a gas leak in the northern Indian state of Punjab Tuesday, police said.

"Ammonia gas leaked from a food processing plant at Shambhu in Rajpura. While four local residents died after inhaling the gas, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital," a police official said. (India-Gas Leak)

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KABUL -- Afghan forces have attacked a Taliban detention center in the eastern Laghman province killing eight militants and setting free 30 civilians, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The security forces raided a detention center of the insurgents in Dara-e-Sangar area of Alinegar district late Monday night and after killing eight rebels released 30 civilians who were held there," said the statement. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Attack)

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NEW DELHI -- Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Tuesday broke his silence on the massive 1.8-billion-U.S. dollar bank fraud that came to light last week, saying authorities will chase down whosoever cheats the banking system.

Apparently blaming the bank management and auditors for failing to live up to their task, Jaitley said: "On the face of it, it seems they (bank officials and auditors) were. Supervisory agencies should ensure that stray cases are nipped in the bud and they are never repeated." (India-Bank Fraud) Enditem

 

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