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South Asia
Scores killed, injured as passenger train catches fire in Pakistan
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: More than 70 people were killed and several injured when a train caught fire near Liaquatpur town of Punjab province on Thursday morning. The train, named ‘Tezgam’, which means ‘Fast-moving’, was on its way from Karachi, capital of Sindh province, to Rawalpindi, Punjab when a…
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Society
Hundreds rally, call for Japan’s apology on anniversary of forced labor ruling
Seoul: Hundreds of people, including victims of Japan’s forced labor during World War II, held rallies in Seoul on Wednesday demanding Tokyo’s apology, marking the first anniversary of a landmark ruling that soured ties between the two countries. On Oct. 30 last year, the Supreme Court here upheld a 2013…
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Politics
Mahathir says he is optimistic over Malaysia’s recovery
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the new government has been working overtime to re-energise and clean up the mess left behind by the previous administration, with the road to recovery visible now. Addressing the Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) Corporate Summit 2019 here today, the prime minister…
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Politics
Trump claimed South Korea was ‘major abuser’, had to pay $60 billion to U.S.: memoir
Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump called South Korea a “major abuser” and claimed the U.S. ally should pay $60 billion a year for the stationing of American troops in the country, according to a memoir published Tuesday. Guy Snodgrass, former chief speechwriter and communications director to former U.S. Defense Secretary…
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Culture
With tears and sweat, BTS wraps up globe-trotting concert tour in home country
Seoul: Tears and sweat wrapped up K-pop superband BTS’ year-long world concert tour in the capital of their home country on Tuesday. The famous home ARMY’s fan chant consecutively naming the seven BTS members brought to a close BTS’ “Love Yourself” world tour at the thundering Olympic Stadium in southern…
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Politics
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China make it to Soft Power 30 list
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: Singapore, which stole international limelight in 2018 for its successful hosting of the historic Trump-Kim summit, has been ranked 21st in a 30-nation global survey on soft power for 2019. Topping the list is France (80.28 points) while fellow Asian states Japan came…
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Pakistan: Restrictions imposed on electronic media ahead of massive anti-govt rallies
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: Ahead of massive anti-government rally and sit-in, by a religio-political party, supported by other opposition parties, in country’s capital, on October 31, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has barred television anchors from offering their “opinions” during talk shows and limited their role…
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Society
Over 90% of people under 30 satisfied with their lives in Bishkek
Bishkek: More than 90 % of people under the age of 30 are satisfied with their lives in Bishkek, the 2018 Victimization Survey of Bishkek and Pilot New Buildings of the National Statistics Committee reported. Satisfaction with life is a measure of an individual’s perception of his or her own…
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Politics
Proposals on forced labor spat raise cautious hope for Seoul-Tokyo fence-mending
Seoul: From creating a fund to compensate victims of Japan’s wartime forced labor to entrusting a civilian panel with addressing the thorny issue, a flurry of proposals are raising cautious hope for a thaw in frosty ties between Seoul and Tokyo. Diplomatic circles, scholars and media in both countries have…
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Politics
U.S. suggests expanding crisis concept in alliance manual to include own contingencies
Seoul: The United States has proposed that a joint crisis management manual with South Korea be revised in a way that expands the concept of crisis warranting joint response to include not only contingencies on the Korean Peninsula, but also U.S. contingencies, sources said Tuesday. Critics and experts raised concern…
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