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Society
Khat is an art form, nothing to do with religion – Wan Azizah
Putrajaya: Khat, a form of Malay-Arabic calligraphy writing, is an art form and does not involve any religious element, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said. She said she is aware of the Chinese community’s concern when the government decided to introduce khat in the Bahasa Melayu…
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Culture
Being politically correct on festival greetings
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: In an Age of Innocence, people all over the world send out greetings to one another during religious and cultural festivals. They spread the message of friendship, goodwill and well wishing. to families and friends without fear of being called out for…
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Culture
ASEAN Friendship Concert 2019: Singing Together for Stronger Partnership
Bangkok: While in some regions, music and politics are in a dysfunctional relationship, marked by wary trysts and embarrassed silences, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have shown that music supplements politics in deepening relations and strengthening partnerships. The ten ASEAN member countries and their allies and…
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Politics
Sri Lankan president berates opposition to death penalty
Colombo: Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has continued his verbal attack on those whom he considered as obstructing initiatives to make the country safer by opposing the enactment of tougher laws. “Certain segments who did not heed to the concerns of society to formulate stronger and tougher laws to eradicate…
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Society
Greater Jakarta plunges into darkness following major blackout
Jakarta: A major blackout has darkened Indonesia’s Greater Jakarta and West Java where thousands of homes and public facilities as well as transportation lines were affected. The electricity outage on Sunday was attributed by Indonesia state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to problems at several power stations…
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Politics
Saudi Arabia removes travel restrictions for women
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S. Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud has hailed the decision to allow Saudi women to apply for passports and travel abroad without the need for the approval of a custodian. The decision announced this week is seen as a great leap for the…
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Culture
Cleopatra’s beauty wows Moroccans at donkey pageant
Rabat: Cleopatra has made history by becoming the first female donkey to win the top prize in a beauty pageant in Morocco. Cleopatra could convince the nine members of the jury, who included a veterinarian, that she was sufficiently attractive, loyal and fit to be declared winner in the…
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South East Asia
Lucky escape for visiting Malaysian journalists as powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia
By Nasir Yousoff Contributor to AsiaN Jakarta: It was a lucky escape for several Malaysian journalists currently on a media trip to Indonesia after they felt the tremors caused by a powerful earthquake that hit the Banten province in Java, 120 kilometers from the capital. The quake, put at…
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Politics
ASEAN, Korea meeting in Busan under “Partnership for Peace, Prosperity for People” theme
Bangkok: The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have recommended the drafting of a new ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action for 2021 – 2025. The plan will consider the ASEAN – ROK Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership that will be issued…
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East Asia
No fatalities reported as multiple blasts hit Bangkok
Bangkok: A Thai government spokesperson said on Friday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pleaded with the public on Friday morning not to panic and ordered an immediate investigation into various bomb blasts and small fires in the capital. The police were ordered to step up security and the public…
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