China

HONG KONG (AP) — The Latest on Hong Kong protests (all times local):

1 p.m.

China has appointed a new police chief in Hong Kong in a further illustration of the central government’s broad powers over the territory’s institutions.

The new chief, Chris Tang Ping-keung, said rebutting fake accusations against police and reassuring the public about the force’s mission would be among his priorities.

HONG KONG (AP) — About 100 anti-government protesters remained holed up at a Hong Kong university Tuesday as a police siege of the campus entered its third day.

City leader Carrie Lam said 600 people had left the Hong Kong Polytechnic campus, including 200 who are under 18 years old.

Police have surrounded the university and are arresting anyone who leaves. Groups of protesters made several attempts to escape Monday, including sliding down hoses to waiting motorcycles, but it wasn’t clear if they evaded arrest.

VIENTIANE, Nov 18 (NNN-KPL) – A Key tunnel of China-Laos railway, has been drilled through by China Railway No. 8 Engineering Group (CREC-8), near the ancient Lao capital of Luang Prabang, some 220 km north of the capital, Vientiane.

With the roar of the excavator, the last piece of rock was crushed in the 1,001-metre-long Houay Han No. 1 Tunnel, of China-Laos railway on Sunday, and the completion was 43 days ahead of schedule.

Beijing, Nov 18, AFP/GANASHAKTI: China confirmed on Monday that its first domestically built aircraft carrier had sailed through the Taiwan Strait for "routine" training and tests after Taipei accused Beijing of intimidation around upcoming elections.

The ship, which has yet to be named, is Beijing's second carrier and will add massive firepower to its navy once it is officially put into service, as the country faces tensions with self-ruled Taiwan and regional neighbours around the disputed South China Sea.

18 November 2019; AFP: Europe's stock markets mostly fell Monday as traders kept tabs on the US-China trade war situation, dealers said.

"Stock markets in Europe are mostly showing marginal losses today as the bullish sentiment has cooled," said David Madden, market analyst at trading firm CMC Markets.

BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese aircraft carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday to conduct scientific research tests and routine training in relevant waters of the South China Sea, according to a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

The organization of the cross-regional tests and training of the homemade aircraft carrier is a normal arrangement in the process of aircraft carrier construction, is not aimed at any specific target and has nothing to do with the current situation, spokesperson Cheng Dewei said.

HONG KONG (AP) — For days, Hong Kong’s protesters fortified a university campus to keep police from getting in. Now, cornered by authorities, they are trying to get out.

Officers repelled one attempt Monday morning with tear gas, driving a few hundred protesters back into the Hong Kong Polytechnic campus.

The protesters want to avoid arrest. The police have set up a dragnet around the campus to pick up as many as they can.

BEIJING, Nov 17 (APP): Former Consul General of China in Karachi, Wang Yu has been appointed as new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Afghanistan.

Wang presented the copy of Letter of Credence to the General Directorate of Protocol Department, Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, according to China Economic Net.

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, held a phone conversation at the request of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Saturday morning.

During their talks, the two sides had constructive discussions on each other's core concerns in the "phase one" deal, and agreed to maintain close communication.

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong police officer was hit in the leg by an arrow Sunday as authorities used tear gas and water cannons to try to drive back protesters occupying a university campus and surrounding streets.

Police said the arrow struck a media liaison officer, who was taken to a hospital. Photos on the department’s Facebook page show the arrow sticking out of the back of the officer’s lower leg through his pants.