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Central Asia
Former Pakistani President Musharraf indicted for murder of ex-PM Bhutto
In an unprecedented ruling that tests the military’s aura of inviolability, a court indicted former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf Tuesday on murder charges stemming from the 2007 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf, who became a key U.S. ally in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001…
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South Asia
Pakistan’s PM Nawaz Sharif calls for peace talks with anti-gov’t militants
Pakistan’s prime minister reiterated Monday an offer of peace talks with militants in the country’s northwest who have waged a bloody campaign against the government and so far rejected any talk of negotiations. But Nawaz Sharif also held out the option of new military operations to root out the militants…
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West Asia
The top leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood arrested in Cairo
General Guide of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie was arrested by police in Cairo, official news agency MENA reported early Tuesday, citing a security source. He has been transferred with intensive security measures to Torah prison, where former President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons are detained, the report said.…
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East Asia
China-Russia vow to deepen strategic ties, coordination on int’l affairs
Russian President Vladimir Putin met visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi here on Friday, with both sides pledging to deepen their strategic ties. Putin asked Yang to conveyed greetings to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, noting that he and Xi had agreed to lift the Russia-China relationship to a new level. Russia has the…
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West Asia
Egypt’s DM vows to stand firm against violence amid warnings of war
Egypt’s DM vows to stand firm against violence, Islamists cancel marches Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fatah al-Sisi vowed on Sunday to stand firm against violence, as supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi cancelled some of their planned marches in Cairo for “security reasons.” The army chief said so in a…
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South Asia
India marks Independence Day amid tight security in disputed Kashmir
The local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir Thursday held Indian Independence Day functions amid tight security arrangements and complete shutdown called by separatists, officials said. The main function was held at the Bhakshi stadium in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. The region’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoisted the…
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Politics
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon expresses deep concerns over Israeli settlement plans
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday expressed deep concerns about Israel’s new settlement plans. The plan fuels the Palestinian people’s “mistrust of the seriousness of the Israeli side toward achieving peace,” Ban said at a press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Ban…
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East Asia
Hong Kong activists march to protest against Japanese militarism
Members of several social groups parade towards the Japanese Consulate General in south China’s Hong Kong, Aug. 15, 2013. Thursday marks the 68th anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allies and China’s victory on Japan’s aggression war in 1945. Local activists in Hong Hong organzied a parade to commemorate the…
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West Asia
Iran’s parliament approves Rouhani’s candidates for cabinet posts except 3
Iran’s Majlis (parliament) on Thursday approved President Hassan Rouhani’s candidates for key posts in his cabinet while disqualifying three other nominees. Iran’s Majlis had started to study the qualifications of the 18- member cabinet line-up on Monday. Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh, who served as minister of energy from 1988 to 1997 and…
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West Asia
Death toll reaches 638 in Egypt as gov’t declares state of emergency
Weeping relatives in search of loved ones uncovered the faces of the bloodied, unclaimed dead in a Cairo mosque near the smoldering epicenter of support for ousted President Mohammed Morsi, as the death toll soared past 600 Thursday from Egypt’s deadliest day since the Arab Spring began. World condemnation widened…
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