In a scientific brief, the United Nations agency warned governments against issuing \"immunity passports\" or \"risk-free certificates\" to people who have been infected as their accuracy could not be guaranteed

Official North Korea media is silent on reports around Kim Jong-un's health; no pictures of his public appearances have appeared lately; strangely, he was also reportedly absent from his late grandfather's birthday ceremony on April 15

Rumours of Kim Jong Un's death have been doing the rounds on social media, however, these claims have not been corroborated by Korea Central News Agency, the state news agency of North Korea, or any other state media

South Korea said that Kim seemed to be in an unspecified location outside Pyongyang and is engaged in state affairs as there was no movement by the ruling party, cabinet or the military

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The test-firing on Wednesday was North Korea's first of a submarine-launched missile in three years, which occurred ahead of a restart of nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the US

Satellite images seen by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea project, showed that structures on the launch pad had been rebuilt sometime between Feb. 16 and March 2.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.4 percent to 19,673.17. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.8 percent to 5,771.10. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.5 percent to 2,299.52.

Caution prevailed in financial markets on Friday ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, even as China's fourth-quarter economic growth beat expectations and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen took a less hawkish policy stance.

No less than three Fed speakers are on the docket for Monday, including board member and noted dove Lael Brainard. Any hint of hawkishness would likely further pressure bonds and equities.

In contrast, short positions in other emerging Asian currencies were reduced as Fed policymakers indicated the US central bank may increase interest rates.

Abbot Point port terminal in Queensland, about 980 km north of Brisbane, which he bought for nearly $2 billion in 2011 is the biggest single bet Gautam Adani has ever made.

South Korea's Kospi added 0.2 per cent to 1,980.27 amid improving business sentiment among manufacturers. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.7 per cent to 4,393.3.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.3 per cent to 8,296.12. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 1.2 per cent to 18,070.21 and the Shanghai Composite Index finished down 0.3 per cent at 2,218.24.