• Society

    COVID-19: Hajj is on, but only a limited number of people will perform it

    RIYADH: Saudi authorities said that Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, will be performed, but with only a limited number of people due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Speculations have mounted about whether Saudi Arabia would go ahead with Hajj, the pilgrimage that brings together more…

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  • Society

    Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi dies from coronavirus

    By Habib Toumi BAGHDAD: Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi died on Sunday from complications linked to COVID-19 hours before he was scheduled to be flown for treatment in Jordan. Ahmed, 56, was one of the most celebrated players in Iraq and the Middle East. He scored 62 goals in 121…

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  • Society

    Korea: How leggings evolved from suggestive athletic wear to casual staple

    SEOUL: When Kim Ga-in, a Seoul resident, climbed a mountain on Sunday, the 27-year-old woman did not wear hiking pants or shorts or other traditional trekking clothes. Instead, she went with a more comfortable option that would have been unheard of among hikers a generation ago: leggings. Her sister, Do-hee,…

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  • Politics

    Vietnam, Japan agree on gradual easing of travel restrictions

    HANOI: Vietnam and Japan have agreed to gradually ease travel restrictions between the two countries, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced. The two governments have worked closely together in COVID-19 prevention and control, the ministry said. Vietnam and Japan spoke highly of each other’s efforts in the fight…

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  • Politics

    Moon accepts unification minister’s resignation

    SEOUL: President Moon Jae-in accepted Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul’s resignation Friday, Cheong Wa Dae (the President’s office) announced, two days after he offered to step down to take responsibility for strained relations between the two Koreas highlighted by the North’s demolition of a joint liaison office. Keen attention is being…

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  • Society

    Kazakhstan’s first president tests positive for COVID-19

    NUR-SULTAN: Kazakhstan’s First President Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev has self-isolated after his latest coronavirus test returned positive. “Unfortunately, Elbasy’s latest test for the coronavirus infection has returned positive. There is no reasons to panic. Nursultan Nazarbayev will continue to carry out his duties remotely while in isolation,” the press service statement…

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  • Society

    Three in 10 Koreans think having kids unnecessary: survey

    SEOUL: More than three out of every 10 South Koreans believe it is unnecessary to have kids even after marriage, while parents spend nearly $300 a month on private education for each student in grades 12 or below, a report from the statistics office showed Thursday. According to the report,…

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  • Society

    Even amid virus fears, Koreans choose to dine together, separately

    SEOUL: After Yi Si-woo got off work last Friday, he hurried home to start preparing for a company dinner, cooking seafood risotto with fresh salad on the side. An hour later, the 24-year-old was joined by a dozen others in his studio with barely enough space for a smaller group,…

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  • Column

    AJA appoints Peter Jaegeul Song Head of Foreign Cooperation Department

    SEOUL: Asia Journalists Association (AJA) has appointed journalist Peter Jaegeul Song of The Asia N as the head of the Foreign Cooperation Department. He majored media sociology at Gold Smith College, University of London, England (2008- 2011) and graduated with a Master’s degree from Cardiff University. His master’s thesis was…

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  • Politics

    North Korea blows up joint liaison office in Kaesong

    SEOUL: North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong on Tuesday, sharply escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula after near-daily threats to punish Seoul over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets. The surprise explosion sparked concern that the communist nation could put other threats against the…

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