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South East Asia
Indonesia’s forest fire brings smoky haze in neighboring Singapore
A woman wears a mask as the Singapore Central Business District is covered with haze Thursday evening, June 20, 2013. Singapore urged people to remain indoors amid unprecedented levels of air pollution Thursday as a smoky haze wrought by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia worsened dramatically. <AP Photo/NEWSis/Joseph Nair> Cars…
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South Asia
Death toll from Monsoon flooding in northern India surpasses 120
Monsoon flooding that has stranded thousands of people and caused landslides in northern India has killed almost 120 people, and the prime minister said the toll could rise substantially. The torrential rain and landslides since Sunday have stranded pilgrims at four revered Hindu shrines, washed away bridges and roads and…
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West Asia
Turkish demonstrators stand in silent protest at Taksim Square
Men face people that gathered for a silent protest at Taksim Square in, Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. After weeks of sometimes-violent confrontation with police, Turkish protesters have found a new form of resistance: standing still and silent. T-shirt reads “Against Standing Man.” <AP Photo/NEWSis/Petr David Josek> People stand…
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South Asia
UN special envoy Angelina Jolie speaks with Syrian refugee in Jordanian camp
Afghan refugee girls walk on a street on the eve of World Refugee Day in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar, June 19, 2013. There are 1.65 million registered Afghans currently living in Pakistan. Since 2002, UNHCR’s voluntary repatriation program has assisted more than 3.8 million Afghan refugees to return home. <Xinhua/NEWSis/Umar Qayyum>…
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East Asia
N. Korean’s Vice FM visits China in attempt to repair strained relations
Negotiators from North Korea and China held strategic talks in Beijing on Wednesday as they work to repair strained relations, but offered little indication they will lead to a resumption of nuclear disarmament talks any time soon. Neither Pyongyang or Beijing offered details of the meeting between North Korean First…
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East Asia
UN Chief Ban and Chinese President Xi discuss Syria, N. Korea issues
President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Xi said people around the world have pinned their hopes on the UN on multiple occasions, as it has conducted a number of important missions. Profound and complicated global changes require all UN members to work together to address difficulties and challenges, Xi said.…
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South Asia
Indian farmers protest against gov’t decision on Special Investment Region
An Indian farmer shouts slogans during a protest rally in Gandhinagar, 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Protesters mainly farmers railed against the Gujarat government’s decision to develop Mandal-Becharaji as Special Investment Region (SIR). <AP Photo/NEWSis/Ajit Solanki> Indian women shout slogans during a protest…
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South Asia
Hindu devotees celebrate Ganga Dussehra, worship of River Ganges
An Indian Hindu devotee offers prayers at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna the mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Hindus across the country are celebrating Ganga Dussehra, devoted to the worship of the River Ganges. <AP Photo/NEWSis/Rajesh Kumar Singh> Hindu devotees take holy dips…
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South Asia
Bomb blast hits funeral gathering in Pakistan killing over 20
At least 29 people including a member of provincial assembly were killed and 57 others injured in a bomb blast that targeted a funeral gathering in Pakistan’s northwestern district of Mardan on Tuesday, local media and officials said. According to regional police chief Jaffar Khan, the incident took place when…
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South Asia
US-Taliban to hold talks on ending Afghan war
The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country’s security to the Afghan army and police. The Taliban met a key U.S. demand…
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