HONG KONG -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government held its first community dialogue on Thursday evening, which local media saw as a first step to ease social tension and restore public confidence.

HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam and four secretaries of the HKSAR government had candid talks with about 130 representatives of the public at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai on Thursday. (Hong Kong-Community Dialogue)

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COLOMBO -- Over 100,000 people have been affected by days of heavy rains and strong winds which lashed out across Sri Lanka since early this week, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said on Friday.

DMC spokesperson Pradeep Kodippili said several areas in the southern part of the country were inundated, while over 44,000 people had been evacuated to safer locations. (Sri Lanka-Rains)

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JAKARTA -- The Chinese embassy in Timor-Leste hosted a reception in Dili to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Hermenegildo Augusto Cabral Pereira, minister of state of the presidency of the council of ministers of Timor-Leste, attended the event on Thursday, saying that China is a respectable friend and good partner of Timor-Leste, wishing China continued development and prosperity. (Timor-Leste-China-Anniversary)

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MANILA -- The visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Russia next month is an indication of Manila's "long-term commitment to really engage" with Moscow, a Philippine diplomat said on Friday.

"Actually, Philippines-Russia relations has been invigorated under the Duterte administration," Philippine Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Amelita Aquino said in a news conference at the presidential palace. (Philippines-Russia-Visit)

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MUMBAI -- Death toll in rain related incidents in Pune rose to 19 with nine missing following intense rain that pounded the city since Wednesday night, said an official from Pune police control room on Friday.

Though the intensity of the rain has reduced, the death toll is likely to rise further in Pune, 150 km from Mumbai. This month till Sept. 24, the city received 326.4 mm rainfall, with 94 mm poured down on Wednesday. (India-Rain-Deaths) Enditem

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