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Central Asia
Omani Sultan visits Iran to mediate negotiation between Iran and West
Iran welcomed the leader of neighboring Oman Sunday in a visit that has raised hopes that Omani mediation could help ease tensions between Iran and Western powers over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Omani Sultan Qaboos was scheduled to focus on bilateral and international affairs during his three-day visit. In the past,…
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East Asia
TPP free trade talks make strides forward as sensitive issues still remain
Japan, as one of the 12 countries involved in the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks, wrapped up the 19th round of talks in Brunei on Friday, while advances seemingly have been made on mutually- acceptable trade packages between the members, some pertinent issues still remain. Last month marked…
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West Asia
5 suspects arrested for gang rape of 22-year-old Indian woman photojournalist
Police on Sunday arrested the last of five men wanted in the gang rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai, and said charges would be filed soon in a case that has incensed the public and fueled debate over whether women can be safe in India. The victim, a 22-year-old Indian…
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West Asia
Syrian gov’t agrees to UN investigation on last week’s chemical weapons attack
Syria agreed Sunday to a U.N. investigation into last week’s alleged chemical weapons attack outside Damascus – a deal a senior White House official dismissed as “too late to be credible,” saying the United States has “very little doubt” President Bashar Assad’s forces used such weapons. The hardening of the…
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East Asia
[Asia Round-up] Is Japan on the road to becoming militaristic again?
Editor’s note: Followings are summaries of editorials from major Asian media on current issues. China plastic surgery fraught with danger [China, China Daily, 13-08-2013] As an increasing number of people throughout the world resort to cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance, China has become the world’s biggest market for cosmetic…
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East Asia
Indonesia to introduce immunization policy to tackle infant deaths
A child is fed with vitamin during monthly medical health treatment for children at Tangerang, Indonesia, August 22, 2013. The Indonesian government this year will begin to introduce a new immunization policy to tackle the increase of pain and death in infant and children. A child receives vaccine injection during…
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West Asia
UN Chief calls for swift investigation on chemical weapon attacks in Syria
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on the Syrian government to allow a U.N. team now in Damascus to swiftly investigate an alleged chemical weapon attack outside the capital that killed at least 100 people. U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said Ban remains “deeply troubled” by the alleged attack…
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West Asia
Asia stocks fallen after US Federal Reserve hints at stimulus phaseout
Asian stock markets fell Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve made it known that its top officials were leaning toward phasing out its massive stimulus program. The Fed released minutes of its July policy meeting Wednesday that showed most members want to slow down the pace of a massive bond-buying…
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East Asia
Disgraced politician Bo Xilai stands on trial accused of power abuse, bribery
Trial resumed Friday for disgraced politician Bo Xilai a day after he fiercely denied taking $3.5 million in bribes from businessmen and cross-examined one of them with a lawyer’s precision. His unexpectedly spirited defense at the proceedings aimed at capping China’s biggest scandal in decades appeared to be a last-ditch…
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West Asia
Egypt’s deposed autocrat Mubarak released and placed under house arrest
Egypt’s Prime Minister ordered Wednesday that deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak be placed under house arrest after he’s released from prison following more than two years in detention. The announcement came hours after a court ordered Mubarak be released for the first time since he was first detained in April 2011,…
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