AP Photos: Editor selections from the past week in Asia
South Korean violinist Won Hyung Joon and North Korean soprano Kim Song Mi held a rare joint performance between artists from the rival countries. The concert in Shanghai was the first both Won and Kim had had with a musician from the other side of the Korean border. They agreed to perform together to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
In other images from the Asia-Pacific region this week, Filipinos voted in midterm elections that were seen as a showdown between President Rodrigo Duterte and opponents who want to ensure checks and balances on a leader they see as a looming dictator. Unofficial results show Duterte's allies were leading in races for the Senate, which has been a bulwark of the opposition.
Hong Kong lawmakers scuffled in the Legislative Council chamber while it was working on amendments to the territory's extradition law. The amendments would make it easier to send criminal suspects to mainland China, and opponents see it as undermining Hong Kong's judicial independence.
In this Monday, May 13, 2019, file photo, a Filipino woman votes during the country's midterm elections inside a polling center at a school in Manila, Philippines. Filipinos voted in midterm elections highlighted by a showdown between President Rodrigo Duterte's allies who aim to dominate the Senate and an opposition fighting for check and balance under a leader they regard as a looming dictator. (AP PhotoAaron Favila, File)
This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Toru Takahashi in Tokyo.
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In this Thursday, May 9, 2019, file photo, a man walks past election banners in the slum district of Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP PhotoAaron Favila, File)
In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019, file photo, a man pauses to look at election posters along a Manila street. President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP PhotoBullit Marquez, File)
In this Friday, May 10, 2019, file photo, Indian Muslims offer prayers on the first Friday of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan at a mosque in Prayagraj, India. Muslims throughout the world are marking the month of Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar during which devotees fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
In this Saturday, May 11, 2019, file photo, pro-democracy and pro-Beijing lawmakers scuffle in the chamber at Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's legislative assembly descended into chaos Saturday as lawmakers for and against controversial amendments to the territory's extradition law clashed over access to the chamber. (AP PhotoKin Cheung, File)
In this Saturday, May 11, 2019, file photo, pro-Beijing lawmaker Shek Lai-him, center with glasses, is surrounded by reporters and photographers during a controversial amendments meeting at Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's legislative assembly descended into chaos again on Tuesday as lawmakers for and against controversial amendments to the territory's extradition legislation confronted each other. (AP PhotoVincent Yu, File)
In this Sunday, May 12, 2019, file photo, an Indian woman displays indelible ink mark on her finger after casting vote standing in front of a mural depicting a scene from the Hindu epic Mahabharata in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India. Indians are voting in the next-to-last round of 6-week-long national elections, marked by a highly acrimonious campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi flaying the opposition Congress party rival Rahul Gandhi's family for the country's ills. (AP PhotoRajesh Kumar Singh, File)
In this Sunday, May 12, 2019, file photo, a child dressed in a traditional Chinese costume floats in the air, supported by a rig of hidden metal rods, during a parade on the outlying Cheung Chau island in Hong Kong to celebrate the Bun Festival. Thousands of local residents and tourists flocked to an outlying island in Hong Kong to celebrate a local bun festival on Sunday. The festival features a parade with children dressed as deities floated on poles. (AP PhotoVincent Yu, File)
In this Friday, May 10, 2019, photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a spotted seal splashes into the water after being released by officials near Dalian in northeastern China's Liaoning province. Animal groups cheered the release of 37 spotted seal pups rescued from traffickers into the wild in northern China. (Pan YulongXinhua via AP, File)
In this Friday, May 10, 2019, file photo, rescuers help a baby wild elephant cross the wetland to return to the forest at Deepor Beel wildlife sanctuary in Gauhati, India. The elephant had gotten stuck in the waters of Deepor Beel after it was separated from a herd of wild elephant that came down in search of food last night. (AP PhotoAnupam Nath)
In this Sunday, May 12, 2019, file photo, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, second right, and teammates celebrate their win in the VIVO IPL T20 cricket final match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in Hyderabad, India. (AP Photo Mahesh Kumar A., File)