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Official vaccine investigation begins

A cross-departmental team will investigate the recent case of improper vaccines trading, Xinhua learned Monday.

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New Zealand flag change: poll shows little hope for new design as voting ends

​Historic referendum to decide whether to change the country’s flag to a black and blue design with a silver fern may end in anticlimax, with survey showing two-thirds of people wanting to maintain the status quo

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Iraqi troop training mission "successful": New Zealand defense minister

​A joint New Zealand-Australian mission to train Iraqi troops in the fight against Islamic State insurgents has been a success over its first nine months, Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said Thursday.

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Belgian media withdraw reports on arrest of key suspect in Brussels bombings

Belgium media which had reported earlier Wednesday the arrest of a key suspect in Tuesday's bomb attacks in Brussels, said the detainee was, in fact, not Najim Laachraoui.

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Sydney named Australia's top travel destination

​Sydney has been named as Australia' s number one travel destination, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

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Terrorism hits sport events in Turkey

​Consecutive terror attacks that recently rocked Turkey have been jeopardizing both domestic and international sport events scheduled in Turkey.

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China Shandong illegal vaccine scandal sparks anger

On Monday, news that a boy had died after a vaccination sparked more anger, though officials said there was no link to the Shandong scandal.

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DPRK fires short-range projectiles into east waters: Yonhap

​The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday fired several short-range projectiles into its eastern waters, Yonhap news agency reported.

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Common ground achievable in latest round of intra-Syrian talks?

As the second week of UN-mediated Syrian talks prepares to get underway, warring factions are still at loggerheads over a number of issues though relative progress has been made since proximity discussions started on Monday.

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U.S. pop sensation Madonna earns rebuke from Aussie crowd after 2. 5-hour late arrival

U.S. pop diva Madonna has been rebuked by angry Australian crowds after the star arrived over two hours late for a concert in Brisbane overnight in a tour that's been classified as trainwreck.

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China calls for FBI cooperation in internet security, counter-terrorism

China wants to have deeper internet security and anti-terrorism cooperation with the United States, China's public security minister told the visiting director of the FBI, state news agency Xinhua said.

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2 gang members arrested after violent riots mar Australian festival

Two members of a youth gang who started a violent riot in the Australian city of Melbourne at the weekend have been arrested by police.

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Can't impose international marital rape concept on India: Government

Asked in Parliament on Thursday whether the central government had any plans to criminalise marital rape, Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply.

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Marshall Islands declares health emergency following confirmed Zika case

The Marshall Islands has officially declared a state of health emergency, pushing the pacific island country's disease response into high gear following the confirmed diagnosis of Zika in a 25-year-old in the early stages of pregnancy.

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Maria Sharapova announces she failed a drugs test at Australian Open

Russian will be provisionally suspended for using banned substance, She has taken meldonium for years but it was banned in January

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Aussie coal miners feared to have black lung disease: union

Up to 1, 000 coal marines are feared to have contracted black lung disease, 30 years after it was supposedly eradicated, Australia's mining union says amid claims of a cover-up.

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Air strikes, ground operations claim scores of Taliban lives in N. Afghan province: Official

​More than 60 Taliban militants have been killed over the past three days as government forces launched aerial and ground operations against the armed outfit in parts of the northern Kunduz province over the weekend, police said Sunday.