Asia
S. China province sets up emergency assistance fund for veterans
Guangzhou, Oct. 16 (Xinhua/UNB) -- South China's Guangdong Province has set up a 1-billion-yuan (about 141 million U.S. dollars) emergency assistance fund to provide temporary support for veterans and special-care recipients facing hard living conditions, local authorities said on Tuesday.
Chaos halts Hong Kong leader's speech; activist attacked
Hong Kong, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — Assailants with hammers attacked a protest organizer and lawmakers shouting abuse forced Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to abandon a speech in the legislature, in two dramas Wednesday that highlighted the chaos gripping the semi-autonomous Chinese territory after more than four months of anti-government unrest.
China a key driver of global poverty reduction: official
Beijing, Oct. 16 (Xinhua/UNB) -- China, a major contributor to global poverty reduction, has reduced its massive poor population in recent decades amid fast economic growth, an official said Wednesday.
Central China's ethnic autonomous prefecture seeks robust investment
Beijing, Oct. 16 (Xinhua/UNB) -- Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hunan Province held an investment promotion meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
China's literature magazine publishes nearly 500 works written in ethnic languages in 10 years
Beijing, Oct. 16 (Xinhua/UNB) -- The National Literature, China's only national-level monthly magazine on literature for ethnic minorities, has published nearly 500 works written in the languages of Mongolian, Tibetan and Uyghur in the past 10 years, according to a symposium held Wednesday.
Hong Kong, China warn of harm to US interests in House vote
Hong Kong, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — Hong Kong's leader expressed "frustration and disappointment and regret" Wednesday over steps by the U.S. Congress to support pro-democracy protesters in the territory and warns they'll hurt American companies operating there.
Sri Lanka's army chief in controversy over election ad
Colombo, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — Sri Lanka's election chief said Wednesday that he has asked for an explanation from the defense ministry on why the army commander features in an advertisement promoting a candidate for next month's presidential election.
Kim rides horse on sacred peak, vows to fight US sanctions
Seoul, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — North Korea released a series of photos Wednesday showing leader Kim Jong Un riding a white horse to a sacred mountain he has often climbed before making key decisions. Near the mountain, Kim reportedly vowed to overcome U.S.-led sanctions that he said had both pained and infuriated his people.
China's first homemade polar icebreaker starts its maiden voyage
Shenzhen, Oct. 16 (Xinhua/UNB) -- China's first domestically made polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, set off on its maiden voyage for the country's 36th Antarctic expedition from Shenzhen on Tuesday afternoon.
Afghan official says car bomb kills 2, wounds 26 in east
Kabul, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — An Afghan official says that at least two security officers have been killed when a car bomb detonated near a district headquarters in eastern Laghman province.