• South East Asia

    [Asia Round-up] Keep the corpse-preserver out of our food

    Most consumers were shocked by the news that fresh food and meat sold at markets were laced with formalin. According to the Department of Health’s tests, in some cases 59 per cent of collected samples were found to contain the chemical. The contaminated foods included fish, meat, fruit and vegetables.…

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  • East Asia

    Tensions in South China Sea mounting over Chinese oil rigs (1)

    Vietnam and Philippines directly involved, ASEAN countries cautious Amid physical clashes, calls for peaceful resolution rising An “inescapable” maritime dispute between China vis-a-vis Vietnam and the Philippines flared up in the South China Sea over China’s recent setting up of oil rigs, leading to China’s firing of water cannons and…

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  • East Asia

    How long shall Lee Kun-hee be unconscious?

    Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee has remained unconscious until Tuesday. It seems that it will take more time until he regains consciousness, according to sources, May 13. Samsung Medical Center (SMC) said Lee had briefly experienced trouble breathing but his condition then stabilized, though he remained under sedation. An SMC…

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  • South Asia

    Love of the Arts: From Mumbai to Kuwait!

    Director and writer Arif Kazi A few years ago, when I started my TV program “The Other,” which hosts non-Arab cultural figures to be introduced to an Arab audience, I met Mr. Arif Kazi for the first time. A mutual friend suggested him to be my guest for our new…

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  • South Asia

    IMF says Pakistan economy on track but inflation looms

    ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund said Saturday that Pakistan’s economic reform program remained broadly on track, but warned over rising inflation. Pakistan received a $6.7 billion IMF bailout package last year to help the country achieve economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector. “The IMF is encouraged by the…

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  • East Asia

    Post Lee Kun-hee structure at Samsung?

    How shall Samsung business group overcome the shock of Lee Kun-hee’s heart attack? Lee has been leading the Samsung group with his charismatic leadership until now. He has pushed the ‘Mach’ management and he has been the real leader of the group in every aspect of the conglomerate. However, his…

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  • West Asia

    Graffiti in Jeddah, traditional Islamic city

    A man walks by a graffiti on a wall in the old city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, May 9, 2014. Jeddah has been a traditional hub for commerce along the Red Sea and the port of entry for many Muslims traveling to Mecca to perform the religious obligations for…

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  • East Asia

    Overall Review of Global Papers’ Editorials

    For a couple of days I have read through several newspapers and checked what they editorialized about. Considering that the abduction of schoolgirls has been a hot topic over the world for several weeks, it was understandable that the New York Times touched on this issue. It is an issue…

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  • East Asia

    Cynicism and alienation growing in North Korea

    There are many signs that cynicism and alienation is steadily growing within North Korean society and, especially, lower reaches of its elite. People who recently had opportunities to talk frankly to North Koreans (and I do not mean refugees), including the present author, have noticed that North Koreans are increasingly…

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  • East Asia

    Samsung, after Lee Kun-hee’s heart attack?

    This event may precipitate the succession plan at Samsung After Lee Kun-hee’s sudden heart attack over the weekend, emerged the issue of succession plan at the Samsung business group again. It has become a matter of grave concern how Samsung’s succession plan will evolve. While business watchers guess that the…

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