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West Asia
Asian countries in Operation Sentinel in Middle East waterways
Tampa, Florida: Asian countries are involved in a multinational maritime effort being developed by the U.S. Central Command to increase surveillance and security in major waterways in the Middle East. Operation Sentinel aims to ensure freedom of navigation in light of recent events in the Arabian Gulf region, the U.S.…
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Saudi Arabia to host U.S. armed forces “to strengthen security”
Jeddah: Saudi Arabia has announced that it would host U.S. armed forces “to strengthen security and stability” in the region. A spokesperson in the Saudi Ministry of Defense said that “King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has approved hosting US Armed…
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Business
400,000 illegals expected to leave Malaysia under amnesty offer
Kuala Lumpur: Some 400,000 illegal immigrants are expected to leave Malaysia by December 31 under the Back For Good (B4G) programme introduced by the Malaysian Government to allow them to return to their countries of origin voluntarily. Foreigners who have committed offenses or have overstayed in the country can…
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East Asia
Mud festival begins in S. Korea’s Boryeong
The annual Boryeong Mud Festival, one of South Korea’s most celebrated summer events, opened Friday at mudflats in the western city on South Korea’s west coast, with two days of nighttime mud experiences included. The 22nd version of the 10-day festival, hosted by the Boryeong municipality and scheduled to run…
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East Asia
Korea’s southern regions on alert for typhoon
South Korea’s southern regions, already battered by seasonal downpours, face a fresh threat from an approaching typhoon, which is forecast to make landfall this weekend. Heavy rain alerts have already been issued for many parts of Jeju Island and southern provinces as of Friday morning with precipitation ranged from 60…
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East Asia
Seoul to increase operations of electric city buses
The number of electric city buses on the roads of Seoul will increase to 143 this year, the metropolitan government said Friday. Beginning in November, an additional 114 electric city buses will be deployed on 19 routes throughout Seoul under the municipal government’s bid to reduce its fine dust pollution…
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East Asia
Fate of S. Korea-Japan military pact in doubt amid escalating export row
A rancorous diplomatic spat between South Korea and Japan is casting doubts over the fate of a military intelligence-sharing pact seen as a rare symbol of their trust and a key platform for trilateral security cooperation involving the United States. The tussle that started from a simmering row over Japan’s…
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South East Asia
Cambodia to send plastic waste back to source countries
Phnom Penh: Cambodia, in its revolt against an onslaught of rubbish shipments, has vowed to send 1,600 tons of plastic waste found in shipping containers back to the US and Canada. The announcement was made after 83 containers full of rubbish, mostly plastic waste, were found on Tuesday at Sihanoukville,…
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South East Asia
Threat of energy crisis in Indonesia
The further erosion of Indonesia’s oil production is a real threat and it cannot be denied that it is a burden on state finance. The government must provide Rp.1 trillion per day to import oil so that Indonesia’s daily oil needs are met. Until now the country’s oil production meets only…
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East Asia
Discussions on sanctions exemptions under way for Seoul’s food aid for N. Korea
Discussions are currently underway with the United States to get sanctions exemptions for South Korea’s plan to send food aid to North Korea, a government source here said Thursday. The Seoul government and the World Food Programme (WFP) are trying to secure ships that will be used to transport 50,000…
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