Poaching accelerating extinction of protected species
By Ravindran Raman Kutty Communications practitioner (Malaysia) Kuala Lumpur: “An endangered pygmy elephant was found dead in Sabah. It had been shot 70 times and its tusks were hacked off during a brutal attack by poachers…” This was the first thing I heard when I switched on the radio one morning late last month. My […]
U.S. underscores commitment to Indo-Pacific region after RCEP deal
Washington: The United States has underscored its commitment to free trade with the Indo-Pacific region after a bloc of nations led by China struck a major trade deal without U.S. participation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement, was announced earlier Monday by the 10 member states of the Association of […]
South Korea’s president revs up ASEAN diplomacy, breaks ice with Abe
Bangkok: Attending ASEAN-hosted summits here this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in had multiple goals — from drumming up support for the dormant Korea peace process to reaching out to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He also placed a focus on drawing more attention to an upcoming ASEAN-South Korea commemorative summit and a separate Mekong-South […]
V4 countries launch Gulf charm offensive to promote tourism
Manama: The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have launched a charm offensive to attract tourists from Gulf countries. Known as ‘Visegrad Group’ (V4), a cultural and political alliance between The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the four countries have joined forces to promote tourism to the four Central European states among the Gulf […]
Malaysia’s Queen plans to bring handicrafts made by inmates to ASEAN Symposium
Kajang: Malaysia’s Queen Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah said she planned to take handicrafts produced by inmates to the seventh ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The queen expressed her wish in front of about 2,000 inmates at the Kajang Prison during the 2019 Malaysian National Choir Concert, Malaysia’s news agency BERNAMA reported. “We […]
GOT7 is ‘flattered, nervous’ ahead of sexy concept album’s release
Seoul: Returning to the K-pop scene in the depth of autumn on Monday, K-pop boy band GOT7 is “flattered and nervous” about the release of “Call My Name,” a rare sexy concept album for the dance group. The six-track album is due to hit major online music stores Monday evening, fronted by “You Calling My […]
Moon, Abe hold 11-minute separate ‘conversation’ in Bangkok
Bangkok: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a brief one-on-one “conversation” in Bangkok on Monday, Cheong Wa Dae announced. They sat down together for 11 minutes on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three summit at IMPACT Forum in the Thai capital. Moon and Abe had the separate meeting […]
Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. hold talks in Bangkok
Washington/Seoul: Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States have held talks in Thailand over the bilateral alliance and trilateral cooperation with Japan, their ministries said on Sunday. Yoon Soon-gu, deputy minister for political affairs at Seoul’s foreign ministry, met with David Stilwell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, […]
Kyrgyzstan president highlights priorities in meeting with media
Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov has stressed that reforming the judicial and legal system and the fight against corruption were among the priorities of his presidency. The digitalization of the country, the implementation of the state policy for regional development, taking measures to improve the investment climate and supporting the social sector and agriculture are […]
Halfway into term, Moon desperate for renewed vigor in turbulent presidency
Seoul: On the threshold of the latter half of his single five-year tenure, President Moon Jae-in sets his sights on bringing hope back to the minds of the people here, who still long for inter-Korean peace and South Korea’s political and social reforms. He often said his liberal administration was born with what he calls […]
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Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
