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South East Asia
Threat of energy crisis in Indonesia
The further erosion of Indonesia’s oil production is a real threat and it cannot be denied that it is a burden on state finance. The government must provide Rp.1 trillion per day to import oil so that Indonesia’s daily oil needs are met. Until now the country’s oil production meets only…
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East Asia
Discussions on sanctions exemptions under way for Seoul’s food aid for N. Korea
Discussions are currently underway with the United States to get sanctions exemptions for South Korea’s plan to send food aid to North Korea, a government source here said Thursday. The Seoul government and the World Food Programme (WFP) are trying to secure ships that will be used to transport 50,000…
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East Asia
Kyrgyz university launches degree program for Korean language
A prominent state university in Kyrgyzstan has launched a Korean language degree program to meet the growing demand for learning the language among students in the country. Kyrgyz National University in Bishkek held a ceremony marking the establishment of the new department Wednesday. South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, Kyrgyz…
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South Asia
Pakistan’s Chief Selector steps down after failure in World Cup Campaign
[Islamabad] On Wednesday, during a press conference, Inzamam-ul-Haq announced that he would no longer be the chief selector of the men’s cricket team after July 30. “I think it is time to step down, I will complete my term that ends on July 30,” said Haq, who was addressing the media…
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West Asia
Iranian gold market is influenced by price reduction of Dollar and other currencies
Within several days ago, the dollar price reduced to 11-12000 toman. It seems that the influence of bad political issues in Iran is calming down and, at the same time, the central bank of Iran could bring back a calm situation in the currency market. The number of currency sellers is growing.…
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East Asia
Asean wary of being used as pawn in Washington-Beijing jostling
[Singapore] Despite the personal rapport between Donald Trump and Xi Jing-ping, Sino-US rivalry has been escalating over trade, technology, and security issues. As Trump puts it: “I am President of United States and Xi is President of China”. National interest trumps friendship. And the businessman-turned-politician has made it clear that in the…
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South East Asia
Indonesia Vision 2019-2024
After being declared the winner of the general election by the General Election Commission, the pair Joko Widodo (Jokowi) – Ma’ruf Amin delivered a speech on Indonesia’s vision 2019-2024. President Jokowi’s speech was not as usual. This time it was no longer stale and it immediately stabbed on the fundamental…
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South East Asia
Singapore editor Balji launches tell-all book
[Singapore] A new book has shed more light on how Singapore’s authoritarian leader Lee Kuan Yew rapped the knuckles of independent-minded journalists whom he deemed to have failed to toe the official line. In his memoir, The Reluctant Editor- The Singapore Media as Seen Through the Eyes of a Veteran Newspaper…
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West Asia
4th anniversary of The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
July 14th was the 4th anniversary of The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It is known as the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran, the P5+1, and the European Union. Rohani government reached the agreement after 23 months of breathless dialogue and…
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South Asia
Pakistan: 36.9% of people experience food insecurity
[Islamabad] The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) says the 36.9 percent of the population experience food insecurity. Alarmingly, among them, the 18.3% face “severe” food insecurity. In its third quarterly report on the state of the economy, released Monday, the SBP noted provincial disparities in terms of food security. Only 63.1% of…
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