-
Politics
Senior U.S. diplomat calls recent Moon-Abe meeting ‘encouraging’ sign
Seoul: The top American diplomat for East Asia on Wednesday described this week’s meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as an “encouraging” sign in fence-mending efforts between Seoul and Tokyo. Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell made the remarks after paying courtesy calls…
Read More » -
South East Asia
Inexorably approaching the retirement milestone
By Nasir Yousoff Contributor to AsiaN Kuala Lumpur: After serving this great organisation for some 37 years, 451 months and 13,505 days, the remaining 140 plus days before going into retirement seem so short, so negligible. Minus some 70 days of accumulated leave that I have to finish before retiring,…
Read More » -
Poaching accelerating extinction of protected species
By Ravindran Raman Kutty Communications practitioner (Malaysia) Kuala Lumpur: “An endangered pygmy elephant was found dead in Sabah. It had been shot 70 times and its tusks were hacked off during a brutal attack by poachers…” This was the first thing I heard when I switched on the radio one…
Read More » -
Politics
U.S. underscores commitment to Indo-Pacific region after RCEP deal
Washington: The United States has underscored its commitment to free trade with the Indo-Pacific region after a bloc of nations led by China struck a major trade deal without U.S. participation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement, was announced earlier Monday by the 10 member…
Read More » -
Politics
South Korea’s president revs up ASEAN diplomacy, breaks ice with Abe
Bangkok: Attending ASEAN-hosted summits here this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in had multiple goals — from drumming up support for the dormant Korea peace process to reaching out to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He also placed a focus on drawing more attention to an upcoming ASEAN-South Korea commemorative…
Read More » -
Entertainment
V4 countries launch Gulf charm offensive to promote tourism
Manama: The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have launched a charm offensive to attract tourists from Gulf countries. Known as ‘Visegrad Group’ (V4), a cultural and political alliance between The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the four countries have joined forces to promote tourism to the four Central…
Read More » -
Culture
Malaysia’s Queen plans to bring handicrafts made by inmates to ASEAN Symposium
Kajang: Malaysia’s Queen Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah said she planned to take handicrafts produced by inmates to the seventh ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The queen expressed her wish in front of about 2,000 inmates at the Kajang Prison during the 2019 Malaysian National Choir Concert, Malaysia’s…
Read More » -
Culture
GOT7 is ‘flattered, nervous’ ahead of sexy concept album’s release
Seoul: Returning to the K-pop scene in the depth of autumn on Monday, K-pop boy band GOT7 is “flattered and nervous” about the release of “Call My Name,” a rare sexy concept album for the dance group. The six-track album is due to hit major online music stores Monday evening,…
Read More » -
Politics
Moon, Abe hold 11-minute separate ‘conversation’ in Bangkok
Bangkok: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a brief one-on-one “conversation” in Bangkok on Monday, Cheong Wa Dae announced. They sat down together for 11 minutes on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three summit at IMPACT Forum in the Thai capital. Moon and…
Read More » -
Politics
Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. hold talks in Bangkok
Washington/Seoul: Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States have held talks in Thailand over the bilateral alliance and trilateral cooperation with Japan, their ministries said on Sunday. Yoon Soon-gu, deputy minister for political affairs at Seoul’s foreign ministry, met with David Stilwell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for…
Read More »