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East Asia
G20 leaders adopt St. Petersburg development strategy
The Group of Twenty (G20) leaders on Thursday approved here a strategy outlining development priorities for the group members over the medium term. The St. Petersburg Development Strategy, prepared by the development working panel of G20, detailed such priorities as reinforcing G20’s commitment to shared growth and improving the group’s…
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West Asia
UN chief stresses need for cooperation on global issues
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Wednesday highlighted the importance of cooperation in addressing the challenges facing the world, as leaders from major economies are to attend a G20 summit in Russia. After arrived in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday for the summit, Ban said the international…
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West Asia
Assad warns military strike on Syria would spark uncontrollable war
France released an intelligence report on Monday alleging chemical weapons use by Syria’s regime that dovetailed with similar U.S. claims, as President Bashar Assad warned that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war and spread “chaos and extremism.” The verbal crossfire, including a rejection of…
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West Asia
Egyptian judges recommend legal dissolution of Muslim Brotherhood
A panel of Egyptian judges recommended Monday the dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood, adding momentum to a push by authorities to ban the ousted president’s main backer and a pillar of political Islam in the region. Since the military deposed Mohammed Morsi in a July 3 coup, it has steadily…
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West Asia
US Congress divided on authorizing proposed military strike on Syria
The U.S. Congress is splitting on whether to give green light to Obama administration for launching a limited military strike on Syria, to punish Damascus for an alleged chemical attack that killed hundreds of people. President Barack Obama on Saturday announced that though he has decided to take military action…
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West Asia
Egypt’s ousted president Morsi to stand trial for ‘inciting murder’ charges
Egyptian prosecutors referred Sunday ousted president Mohamed Morsi and 14 other people to a criminal court over the killing of a journalist and the violence that erupted over his controversial presidential declaration last year, official news agency MENA reported. The prosecutor general, Hesham Barakat, accused Morsi of inciting violence and…
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Politics
Asia-Pacific Defense Ministers vow to promote peace and stability in region
Defense ministers from ASEAN and its regional dialogue partners on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense cooperation in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Brought together by the second ASEAN defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which concluded here Thursday, defense ministers reiterated the strategic importance of the ADMM-Plus…
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West Asia
US readies limited, unilateral military action on Syria as Britain opts out
President Barack Obama on Thursday prepared for the possibility of launching unilateral American military action against Syria within days as Britain opted out in a stunning vote by Parliament. Facing skepticism at home, too, the administration shared intelligence with lawmakers aimed at convincing them the Syrian government used chemical weapons…
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West Asia
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood leader denies ‘terrorism’ accusations
A fugitive leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has denied accusations his group is committing acts of “terrorism” following the coup that toppled the country’s president. Mohammed el-Beltagy’s address, which aired Tuesday, comes as the Brotherhood plans new demonstrations to defy a crippling security crackdown that has put most of its…
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East Asia
US, allies ready to launch strikes on Syrian military assets within days
The Obama administration tried to bolster its case Tuesday for possible military action against Syria within days, with intelligence agencies preparing to release intercepted communications aimed at proving Bashar Assad perpetrated a large-scale chemical weapons attack on civilians. “There’s no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical…
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