Royal honor for Bahrain’s 2024 Olympic medalists
By Habib Toumi MANAMA: Bahrain has honored its Paris Summer Olympic medalists. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa congratulated the laureates and conferred the Order of Competence on the winners of the four medals – two gold, one silver, and one bronze – whose outstanding performance led to Bahrain’s historic achievement of topping the Arab […]
Vietnam’s long-serving leader Nguyễn Phú Trọng dies at 80
HANOI: Vietnam’s long-serving leader Nguyễn Phú Trọng passed away on Friday afternoon. He was 80. The board of health protection and care for central officials has announced the death of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, saying the death of the party leader followed a period of illness. Despite wholehearted […]
Bukhara: a timeless tapestry of history and culture
By Shokhijakhon Urunov* BUKHARA: Nestled on the Silk Road, Bukhara is more than just a city of Uzbekistan; it’s a living museum, a testament to centuries of cultural exchange, and an architectural marvel that whispers tales of empires past. Its very name, believed to originate from the Sogdian word ‘βuxārak’ meaning ‘place of good fortune,’ hints […]
Bangladesh shuts down all educational institutions following clashes
By Chapal Bashar DHAKA: All educational institutions including public, private universities and schools, colleges in Bangladesh have been closed for indefinite period since today ( 17 July) due to clashes between pro-government and anti-government student groups that claimed six lives on Tuesday across the country. Students have been asked to vacate dormitories by this Wednesday afternoon while […]
Iran’s presidential election heads to runoff
By Pooneh Nedai TEHRAN: Iran’s presidential election has headed to a runoff next week after the election commission said that no candidate has achieved the required 50% mark. On Friday, the 14th presidential election in Iran to choose the country’s ninth president after the Islamic revolution in 1979 was extended three times and it lasted until […]
The Two Faces of the Taliban: Two faces beyond the distorted gaze
The Taliban, an Islamic extremist armed group, has ruled Afghanistan (hereinafter referred to as Afghanistan) twice (1996-2001 and 2021-present). The Taliban’s first term in power in Afghanistan was marred by tyranny that suppressed all freedoms. The Taliban, who are entering their second term in power in 2021, say they are different from before, but the […]
U.S. appoints first woman ambassador to Bahrain since 1971
By Habib Toumi MANAMA: The United States has appointed its first woman ambassador to Bahrain, breaking with a tradition that lasted since the diplomatic agreement between the two countries in 1971 and has included 19 male ambassadors. Bahrain in 2008 appointed a woman, Houda Ezra Nonoo, as its Ambassador to the United States, a role […]
Obituary: Uzbek Ambassador Vitali Fen – “I respect your sense of responsibility and passion for putting your all into it until the very end”
By Choi Young-ha, Former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan SEOUL: Vitali! He is a descendant of Pyeon Galsong (片碣頌) of the Zhejiang Pyeon clan (浙江片氏), who spent 25 years, one-third of his 77-year life, in Seoul. He was a career diplomat who connected Korea and Uzbekistan, a historical figure who left a truly […]
In Kyrgyzstan, all defendants in Kempir-Abad case acquitted
By Kuban Andymen BISHKEK: A court in Kyrgyzstan has acquitted the defendants in the so-called “Kempir-Abad case”. In the fall of 2022, the defendants were taken into custody after expressing disagreement with the transfer to Uzbekistan of Kempir-Abad reservoir lands, located on the border between the two countries in the south of the country. Law […]
The Two Faces of the Taliban: The Brake: The Shadow of the People
The Taliban, an Islamic extremist armed group, has ruled Afghanistan (hereinafter referred to as Afghanistan) twice (1996-2001 and 2021-present). The Taliban’s first term in power in Afghanistan was marred by tyranny that suppressed all freedoms. The Taliban, who are entering their second term in power in 2021, say they are different from before, but the […]