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 […]
United States, Pakistan sign agreement to protect Pakistan’s cultural heritage
By Nasir Aijaz The AsiaN Representative ISLAMABAD: U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome and Pakistan Secretary of National Heritage and Culture Ms. Humaira Ahmed signed an agreement on cultural property protection in Islamabad on January 30, 2024. The agreement establishes import restrictions on certain types of archaeological and ethnological materials originating from Pakistan and entering […]
Moon says U.S., China, North Korea agree in principle on end-of-war declaration
SEOUL: President Moon Jae-in said Monday that the United States, China and North Korea agree in principle on declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War and Seoul will push to make it happen. Moon was speaking at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after bilateral summit talks in Canberra. […]
Trump in blame-game spree as COVID-19 death spiral soars
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: As the toll in the United States from the novel pneumonia super-bug exceeded 20,000 deaths and reached more than half a million confirmed cases by Easter Friday, President Donald Trump began hitting out at the World Health Organisation (WHO), faulting it for being too focused […]
Bahrain, U.S. confronting COVID-19 together: U.S. ambassador
Manama: U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain has expressed confidence that the cooperation and trust developed between Bahrainis and Americans over 100 years will help them through the current challenges of COVID-19 together. In an OpEd, Justin Siberell said that Americans and Bahrainis have been working together to combat epidemics for more than 100 years. “One of […]
Foreign Minister Kang encourages South Korean, U.S. troops at Osan Air Base
Seoul: Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Saturday visited a U.S. air base south of Seoul to encourage South Korean and American troops, stressing the importance of the “all-weather, all-purpose” alliance, according to her office. Her visit to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, came amid tensions over the allies’ hitherto […]
U.S. ratchets up pressure on South Korea to jack up share of defense costs
Seoul: The United States is ramping up pressure on South Korea to sharply increase Seoul’s share of the expenses for stationing American troops here, apparently with an eye to expanding the scope of their cost-sharing deal to cover activities outside the peninsula. This week, James DeHart, the top U.S. negotiator in the allies’ defense cost-sharing […]
Moon, Trump to hold ninth bilateral summit on Monday
Seoul: South Korean President Moon Jae-in hopes to focus on how to move forward the Korea peace process when he holds summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York next week, as Pyongyang-Washington negotiations are expected to resume soon, Cheong Wa Dae said. Their ninth bilateral summit will be held Monday on the […]
Pompeo urges ‘constructive dialogue’ between South Korea, Japan
Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday emphasized the need for “constructive dialogue” between South Korea and Japan, two U.S. allies that have been locked in a bitter dispute over trade and history. Pompeo discussed the matter in a phone call with new Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi as he congratulated his counterpart […]
South Korea to focus on facilitating early resumption of U.S.-North Korea nuclear talks
Seoul: The foreign ministry said Monday that it will focus its diplomacy on facilitating an early resumption of working-level nuclear talks between the United States and North Korea and substantive progress in them. In a report to the National Assembly, the ministry also said that it would maintain close coordination with Washington through bilateral consultations, […]