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Business
UAE to levy 100% tax on electronic smoking devices as list of excise taxable products expanded
Abu Dhabi: The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it would expand the list of excise taxable products to include sweetened beverages, sugary drinks and electronic smoking devices. The measure to be implemented starting January 1, 2020 aims “to reduce consumption of unhealthy goods and modify consumers’…
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Politics
Bahrain first Arab country to join Gulf maritime coalition
Manama: Bahrain, host to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has become the first Arab and Gulf country to announce officially that it would join a U.S.-led maritime coalition “to ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf.” King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Sunday confirmed during a meeting with…
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Society
Happy 74th Anniversary Republic of Indonesia: Commitment to integrity stressed
Jakarta: Indonesia celebrated its 74th anniversary as a republic with great fanfare with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stressing that the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) must be placed in the most important position. “The integrity of NKRI should not be sacrificed. NKRI’s integrity…
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tobechecked
Flight check-in suspended as Hong Kong airport swamped for second day
Hong Kong: Flight check-in has been suspended at Hong Kong International Airport for the second consecutive day. “Terminal operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, and all check-in processes have now been suspended,” the airport authorities said in a statement posted on the airport website. “All passengers…
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Society
Central Asia’s widening religious tolerance highlighted as Feast of Sacrifice celebrated
Almost 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union that had often denounced religion as an enemy of Communism, former member states celebrated the Islamic “Feast of Sacrifice” openly within an air of an increasingly open religious tolerance and with congratulations from their leaders. In Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…
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Entertainment
Mongolia to host festival as reindeer population increases
Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia will hold a two-day festival next week to celebrate the latest increase in the number of reindeer in the country. “In connection with the number of reindeer exceeded 2,000, a festival of 2,000 reindeer will be held in Tsagaannuur soum of Khuvsgul aimag on August 16-17,” Montsame,…
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Society
Turkmen urged to strengthen peace, friendship as country celebrates Kurban Bayram
Ashgabat: Every citizen of Turkmenistan considers it an honour to make a worthy contribution to strengthening peace and friendship on the planet and to developing culture and traditions, the country’s president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said as he congratulated compatriots on Kurban Bayram, the Feast of Sacrifice celebrated by Muslims on…
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Society
Social village in Kyrgyzstan gives helping hand to the needy
Bishkek: Tributes have been pouring in for a social village in Kyrgyzstan that has been, despite formidable challenges, caring for people with disabilities for 15 years, assisting them to return to full life. Social Village Manas, 60 km from the capital Bishkek, was established in 2004 as an NGO to…
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Politics
Kyrgyzstan’s former president arrested in second attempt
Bishkek: In their second attempt, Kyrgyzstan security forces were able to arrest former president Almazbek Atambayev despite cordons by his supporters. “As a result of joint measures, law enforcement officials detained Almazbek Atambayev,” the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported, cited by…
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Politics
Kyrgyzstan’s Jeenbekov vows to maintain unity as political crisis looms large
Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan seemed to be inexorably descending into a grave political crisis after attempts to contain the consequences of a failed raid in Koi-Tash village to capture the former president. One officer was killed and others were injured during the “special operation to detain former President Almazbek Atambayev by…
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