2,155 babies born on first day of New Year in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT: 2,155 babies were born ON the first day of the new year in Uzbekistan, local media reported, quoting the health ministry. The figure is lower than 2021 when 2,316 were born, but higher than the number in 2018 (1,961), 2019 (1,708), 2020 (1,974) and 2021 (1644). The babies born on January 1, 2023, were […]
Bahrain’s New Year Eve celebrations: Fireworks, shows amid renewed hope
MANAMA: Bahrain welcomed in the new year amid renewed optimism shared by the thousands of people who braved the cold evening temperatures to gather in various places and treat their eyes and senses to a dazzling fireworks display. At Avenues Park, large crowds joined in the glow of the new year with an impressive spectacle […]
Lessons learned: A divided world will continue to struggle in 2022
Bu Habib Toumi BAHRAIN: Although 2021 cannot be really described as “annus mirabilis” compared with 2020, a dramatic “annus horribilis”, I will always recall it as the year of renewed hope even though new tragedies have struck a world that has lamentably remained divided and lacking in general care. No matter how many books and […]
The charm of packing your travel bag into 2021
By Ashraf Aboul Yazid Dali President of Asia Journalist Association CAIRO: You are now traveling to 2021, and you have to prepare your travel bag, which will help you in the coming days. What will you put in it? I suggest that you take hope, for you will need it to resist difficult times. And […]
South Korea: Virus changes year-end holiday plans, but connection still possible
SEOUL: Baek Soo-bin, 28, was all set to finally reunite with her friends for a year-end party after a series of canceled dinners and get-togethers amid toughened coronavirus social distancing rules. But instead of visiting a fancy bar or restaurant, Baek was at her home in Paju, north of Seoul, wearing pajamas with a […]
Asian leaders look to 2020 with more hope than worry
Manama: Leaders of six Asian countries have expressed optimism that 2020 will be more positive than 2019, pledging policies that would be about hope, stability and success. Indonesia President Jokowi: 2020 is the year of challenges and opportunities By Eddy Suprapto Jakarta: Indonesian President Joko Widodo thanked his people for being able to weather many […]
Leave the dark memories behind, get on with life
By Eddy Suprapto Contributor to AsiaN Jakarta: 2020 has a double meaning in celebrating the transition of the New Year of Christ and the Chinese New Year. At least there are prayer, hope, and optimism that need to be built in 2020 to be more successful. We have left 2019, meaning that we have entered […]
Moon urges inter-Korean efforts to realize Kim Jong-un visit to South Korea
Seoul: President Moon Jae-in proposed Tuesday that the two Koreas make concerted efforts to create the conditions for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit South Korea as agreed. In his New Year’s address, he also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pushing for the resumption of two major inter-Korean projects — the Kaesong industrial complex […]
Gulf countries welcome 2020 with extravagance and color
By Habib Toumi Dubai: Gulf countries welcomed the New Year with extravagant light and firework displays and spectacular shows that lit up the skies and brought joy to millions of locals and expatriates. In the United Arab Emirates, 28 locations around the famed city of Dubai came alive with fireworks and light shows. The epicenter […]
Koreans greet new year with bell-ringing ceremonies nationwide
Seoul: South Korea welcomed the new year with traditional bell-ringing ceremonies in Seoul and other cities nationwide at midnight Tuesday. The most attention-grabbing bell-ringing ceremony took place at Bosingak Belfry in Jongno, central Seoul, as several prominent celebrities rang the bell 33 times amid cheers from tens of thousands of citizens gathered to celebrate the […]