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Politics
Turkmenistan’s TV shows Berdimuhamedov on holidays
Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was shown driving a rally car in circles near a 230-foot wide fiery pit in the first footage of him since rumors of his death last month. Last month, reports emerged that Berdimuhamedov died while on vacation abroad. The reports started with a foreign-based…
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Society
New breakthrough for Saudi women’s rights
Riyadh: A requirement for Saudi female students to be accompanied by a male guardian in order to benefit from state scholarships abroad is likely to be scrapped soon. The decision follows last week’s breakthrough reform that allowed Saudi women to obtain passports and travel abroad with the approval…
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West Asia
July 2019 was Earth’s hottest month on record
Brussels: July 2019 was the warmest month on record in absolute terms across the globe, data released by the European Union’s satellite-based Earth observation network reveals. “July is typically the warmest month of the year in the global average. July 2016 was previously the warmest of any month…
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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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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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