Asia

North Korea calls Joe Biden a ‘rabid dog’ nearing death

North Korea’s state media on Friday stepped up a personal attack on former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden for slandering its leader, calling the Democratic presidential candidate “a rabid dog”…

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Man dies during Hong Kong protests

A man has died in Hong Kong after being hit on the head during clashes between government supporters and protesters. Officials said the man, 70, was on a lunch break…

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Photo story: Pakistani authorities burn smuggled narcotics in Peshawar

Pakistani Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) soldiers walk next to a pile of confiscated drugs which was set on fire during a drug burning ceremony, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 14 November 2019. Pakistani…

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Photo Story: Children Day celebrations in Bangalore

An Indian boy wearing a traditional costume and make-up prior to taking part in the Children's Day festival, in Bangalore, India, 14 November 2019. Children's Day, which is also known…

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Jobs at risk as China’s services sector feels heat of trade war

Annual profits at China’s Ningbo S-Power International Logistics Co are down a sharp 40% year-on-year. The firm’s woes highlight a bigger problem for the world’s second-largest economy and its…

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Photo Story: Prince Charles celebrates his birthday in Mumbai

Britain's Charles, Prince of Wales is seen celebrating his birthday with school children from the Kaivalya Education Foundation, which is supported by the British Asian Trust, during his visit in…

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Hong Kong endures more disruptions, campus violence

Hong Kong residents endured a fourth day of traffic snarls and mass transit disruptions Thursday as protesters closed some main roads and rail networks while police skirmished with militant students…

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EU-Singapore agreement to enter into force on 21 November 2019

EU Member States endorsed the trade agreement between the EU and Singapore. This means the agreement will enter into force as soon as 21 November. President of the European Commission…

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Photo Story: Independence Day celebrations in Cambodia

Cambodian students release balloons during a ceremony at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 09 November 2019. Cambodia marks its 66th anniversary of independence from France on 09 November…

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Photo Story: Prophet Muhammad birthday celebrations in Pakistan

A view of illuminated mosque ahead of Eid-Milad-ul-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Karachi, Pakistan, 08 November 2019 (issued 09 November). Eid-Milad-ul-Nabi is celebrated by Muslims all over the…

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China’s consumer prices rise at fastest clip in nearly 8 years

China’s producer prices fell the most in more than three years in October, as the manufacturing sector weakened on declining demand and a knock from the Sino-U.S. tariff war, reinforcing…

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Protests in New Delhi

Indian youth congress workers shout anti-demonetisation slogans as they are detained by the police during a protest near the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in New Delhi, India, 08 November…

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Placido Domingo won’t perform at Tokyo Olympics cultural events

The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee said Friday opera legend Placido Domingo has said he won’t perform at pre-Olympics cultural events in Japan. The committee said in a statement that Domingo…

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Thailand prepares for Pope’s visit

People pass a welcome sign for Pope Francis' visit, in Bangkok, Thailand. Pope Francis, the first pontiff to visit Thailand in nearly four decades, is scheduled to visit Thailand from…

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China seeks to attract more foreign investment

China’s cabinet issued guidelines on Thursday aimed at attracting more foreign investors, including plans to encourage investment in its hi-tech industries. China will step up opening-up in areas including financial…

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Photo Story: Terminator: Dark Fate Japanese premiere

Cast members Austrian-US actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) hits a Japanese drum as US actress Linda Hamilton (L) and Colombian actress Natalia Reyes smile during the Japanese premiere of 'Terminator: Dark…

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China bans children from late-night gaming to combat addiction

China has imposed curfews on minors playing video games to combat what the government says is a serious addiction “harming the physical and mental health of minors”. In regulations released…

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Taiwan warns of possible attack if China’s slowdown ‘becomes serious’

Beijing could resort to military conflict with self-ruled Taiwan to divert domestic pressure if a slowdown in the world’s second largest economy amid trade war threatens the legitimacy of the…

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Photo Story: Snow Crab sold for record price in Japan

A man holds a snow crab that was auctioned for five million yen (almost 46,000 US dollar) at Tottori port in Tottori, Tottori Prefecture, Japan, 07 November 2019. The snow…

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Photo Story: Haze smothers Northern India

A handout photo made available by NASA Earth Observatory shows a satellite image of a plume of smoke, that had been emitted a few days earlier, sweeping through Delhi and…

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EU-China agreement protects 26 Italian products

The European Commission said Wednesday that it has reached a landmark agreement with Beijing to protect 100 European Geographical Indication (GI) products, including 26 Italian ones, in China and 100…

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France and China agree €13.5 billion trade contracts

French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced major trade contracts in Beijing in Wednesday worth €13.5 billion. Deals were agreed in aeronautics, energy and agriculture. Twenty French companies…

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Pro-Beijing lawmaker stabbed while campaigning in Hong Kong

An anti-government supporter stabbed and wounded a pro-Beijing Hong Kong lawmaker who was campaigning for local elections Wednesday, police said, marking another escalation in five months of protests demanding political…

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Photo Story: French President Emmanuel Macron visits China

Chinese honour guard prepare China's and France's national flags before a welcome ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Wednesday…

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Gunmen kill 15 in southern Thailand’s worst attack in years

Suspected separatist insurgents stormed a security checkpoint in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south and killed at least 15 people, including a police officer and many village defence volunteers, security officials said on…

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Photo Story: Maltese flag during pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong

The Maltese flag is among those held by protesters holding national flags of different countries attending a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong, China that was held on Saturday. Hong Kong…

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Xinhua offices burned as Hong Kong protests enter 22nd week

Hong Kong has witnessed some of its worst violence in weeks as protesters set fire to metro stations and attacked the offices of the Xinhua news agency, China's state media…

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At least eight children killed in Afghanistan by roadside bomb near their school

At least eight children have been killed by a roadside bomb near their school in Afghanistan. The victims of Saturday's attack in Takhar province were all aged between nine and…

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China Effectively Bans Online Sales of E-Cigarettes

China issued its starkest warning yet over electronic cigarettes, calling on the industry on to stop selling and advertising the products online. Citing health concerns for minors, a Chinese regulator…

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Hong Kong police fire tear gas at pro-democracy protest

Hong Kong police fired volley after volley of tear gas to break up a demonstration by thousands of anti-government protesters Saturday, many in black and wearing masks, in Victoria Park,…

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Thai police arrest a British drug baron

A handout photo made available by the Royal Thai Police shows British alleged drug dealer Mark John Rumble being questioned after he was arrested by Thai police officers at a…

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Photo Story: The 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, in Bangkok

A pigeon walks inside the media centre of the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, 02 November 2019. Thailand…

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All 39 people found dead in Essex truck container were Vietnamese

British police say they believe all 39 people found dead in a container truck in southeast England last week were Vietnamese nationals. Detectives initially said the victims discovered near the…

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Schools in New Delhi shut until November 5 due to severe air pollution

Schools in the Indian capital will be shut until Nov. 5, the city government said, as residents breathed the season’s worst air for a third straight day. As farm fires…

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Photo Story: Merkel visits India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel (R) walk at Rashtrapati Bhavan, India's presidential palace in New Delhi, India, on Friday 1 November 2019. Merkel is on…

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Japanese, South Korean lawmakers agree to repair bilateral ties

Japanese and South Korean lawmakers agreed on Friday to work toward easing tensions and mending bilateral ties that have sunk to their lowest point in years due to a dispute…

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Millions of masks distributed to students in in Delhi because of toxic air

Five million masks are being distributed at schools in India's capital, Delhi, after pollution made the air so toxic officials were forced to declare a public health emergency. A Supreme…

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China says won’t tolerate national security threats in Hong Kong

China won’t tolerate challenges to the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” formula that governs Hong Kong, separatism or threats to national security there, a senior Chinese official…

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Photo Story: The 2019 Seoul Lantern Festival

Photos of lantern figures on display prior to the Seoul Lantern Festival in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday 31 October 2019. The Seoul Lantern Festival is held under the theme…

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North Korea fires unidentified projectiles into Sea of Japan

North Korea has fired two unidentified "projectiles" into the sea, the South Korean military says. If confirmed as a missile test, it would be the North's 12th this year. The…

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The 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, in Bangkok

ASEAN Economic Ministers hold hands for a group photo after the 18th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting of the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at…

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Photo Story: Funeral of South Korean President Moon’s mother

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sits adjacent to the funeral altar for his mother, Kang Han-ok, at the Namcheon Catholic Cathedral in Busan, South Korea. Kang died of a chronic…

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Pakistani protesters descend on capital to demand PM quits

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators were due in the Pakistani capital on Thursday to demand that the government step down, piling more pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan as he strives…

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Photo story: Philippines prepares for All Saints, All Souls Day

A man hired to spruce up graves works at a cemetery in Marikina, Philippines, 31 October 2019. Tens of thousands of Filipino Catholics are expected to flock to cemeteries to…

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Hong Kong braces for Halloween havoc as protesters target party district

Hong Kong is bracing for a rowdy and possibly hugely dangerous Halloween on Thursday, when thousands of pro-democracy protesters, many wearing banned face masks, plan to combine with fancy-dress clubbers…

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Pakistan train fire kills at least 70 after gas canister explodes

At least 70 people have died in a fire on a train in Pakistan after a gas canister being used to cook food exploded. The fire destroyed three of the…

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Magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocks parts of Mindanao in the Philippines

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked Central and Eastern Mindanao on Thursday, October 31, just two days after a strong tremor killed several people and hurt hundreds of others in the…

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Second minister in a week resigns from Japan cabinet

Japan’s justice minister stepped down on Thursday - the second resignation from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s newly formed cabinet in less than a week - after a media report that…

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Photo Story: Fire engulfs 500-year-old world heritage site in Japan

The main building of the Shuri Castle is seen on fire in Naha, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, early 31 October 2019. The fire started early Thursday at Shuri Castle in…

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India formally divides Jammu and Kashmir state

India has formally divided the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two new federally administered territories. In the new arrangement, Jammu and Kashmir is one territory, and Ladakh, which borders…

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Warning that China may deploy aircraft carrier in Indian Ocean

Admiral John Aquilino, The US Pacific Fleet Commander said there has been no reduction in Beijing’s assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea, a vital trade route in the global…

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Purge in Thai royal palace continues

Thailand’s king has sacked four royal guards, two of them for “adultery”, in a fresh wave of palace purges a week after his royal consort was stripped of all titles…

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Photo Story: Aftermath of the earthquake in the Philippines

Photos of the damage from last Tuesday’s earthquake in the Philippines as shock waves continue to be felt on Wednesday. At least seven people have been killed and around 70…

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Photo Story: Protest against illegal fishing in South Korea

Greenpeace activists stand next to a piece of sand art featuring a giant whale during a protest against illegal fishing, on Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea, 30 October 2019.…

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Victims increase from Philippine earthquake

The death toll from an earthquake in the southern Philippines has risen to seven, officials said, with many more injured. The victims included a seven-year-old boy and his 44-year-old father…

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Photo Story: Pollution increases in India after Diwali celebrations

A man throws items used in rituals in a canal after the Diwali celebrations, in Amritsar, India, 28 October 2019. Pollution after Diwali celebrations increases every year in India as…

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At least 20 wounded in Kashmir grenade blast

A relative of a person injured in a grenade attack reacts as she waits at a hospital in Srinagar, India, on Monday. According to local media reports, at least 20…

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