North Korea passes ball into U.S. court, leaves room for both dialogue, provocation: experts
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have passed the ball into the United States’ court with a New Year’s message that warned of “shocking actual action” and a “new strategic weapon” but still stopped short of abandoning negotiations altogether, experts said. Convening a four-day ruling party session through Tuesday, Kim said he sees […]
South Korea conducts Dokdo defense exercise
Seoul: The South Korean military conducted an exercise on Friday to strengthen defense capabilities for the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, the first such drills in four months, a source said, amid budding efforts to restore ties with Japan strained over trade and wartime history. The Korean Navy did not make the exercise public in […]
Xi ‘almost certain’ visit S. Korea in first half of next year
Seoul: Chinese President Xi Jinping is “almost certain” to visit South Korea in the first half of next year, a presidential official said Wednesday. President Moon Jae-in invited Xi to visit the South in the near future when they held summit talks in Beijing on Monday. Xi said in response that he will positively consider […]
Singapore’s ruling party on attack mode ahead of expected elections early next year
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: Ahead of general elections tipped to be called early next year, Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is gearing up to win public support, its tactics at the moment being to assiduously censure opposition parties over hot-button issues. In the past week, the government countered three rival parties […]
Kuwait’s cabinet includes three women for the first time
Kuwait: Kuwait’s new-look cabinet includes a new prime minister and seven new ministers, half of the total number. None of the ministers in the 36th cabinet to be formed over 57 years since the country’s independence has open affiliations to religious societies in a clear departure from traditions that have marked successive governments. Three ministers […]
South Korea mulls dispatching troops to safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Seoul: South Korea has been reviewing various options, including troop dispatch, as to what role it can play to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, officials said Wednesday. Amid tensions with Iran, the U.S. has asked its allies to join a military coalition to secure the strategic waters, and South Korea also received such calls “both […]
Politics in Kuwait: 36 governments in 57 years
Kuwait: Kuwait’s latest cabinet announced on Tuesday is the 36th formed over 57 years since the country’s independence. On Tuesday, Kuwait announced the formation of the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah and included 15 ministers. According to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the first government, known as the transitional cabinet, […]
Pakistan’s former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf sentenced to death
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: A special court in Islamabad on Tuesday found former military ruler Gen. (Retired) Pervez Musharraf guilty of high treason and handed him death sentence – a first in Pakistan’s history. A three-member bench of the special court announced the verdict in the long-drawn high treason case against Musharraf after […]
NATO to Gulf partners: We share common interests, common challenges
By Habib Toumi Kuwait: NATO’s partnership with the Gulf countries is more important today than it has ever been before, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said. “The partnership between NATO and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) has grown stronger over the years,” Stoltenberg said. “We have come to understand each […]
Former National Assembly Speaker tapped as South Korea’s prime minister
Seoul: President Moon Jae-in announced his nomination of Chung Sye-kyun, a six-term ruling party lawmaker and former National Assembly speaker, as new prime minister on Tuesday. If appointed after a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Chung will be South Korea’s first prime minister who served as a National Assembly speaker. He’s known for experience and expertise in […]
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