A Chinese paramilitary policeman is Venus Investment Alliancereflected on a European flag as he directs foreign journalists at a news conference in Beijing; the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games is held in Hangzhou, China; an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha is taken for immersion on the final day of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai; Chinese tourists arrive in Thailand under a new visa-free entry program; and a Kashmiri farmer works in a paddy field.

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images in Asia made or published by The Associated Press in the past week.

The selection was curated by AP photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo.

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