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East Asia
China, Japan, S. Korea launch 2nd round of trilateral FTA talks in Shanghai
China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan started their second round of trilateral talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. The talks, which will end on Friday, will cover the cargo and service trade, rules of origins, customs procedures, trade remedies, intellectual property rights and e-commerce, said Yu Jianhua, a representative…
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South East Asia
Cambodia’s opposition demands investigation of election irregularities
After nearly three decades of autocratic rule, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen may be facing his biggest political dilemma in years, with his party’s parliamentary majority vastly eroded in weekend elections by a burgeoning opposition that could block his forming a government. But the farmer’s son whose favorite pastime is…
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West Asia
Israel-Palestine negotiators shake hands as peace talks resume in Washington
Why does it matter? Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would remove a major source of instability in the Middle East, reduce the risk of war there and improve U.S. ties with the Arab and Muslim world. A peace deal, to be endorsed by 57 Muslim and Arab nations, would end Israel’s…
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West Asia
Tunisian PM rejects demands to step down and promises to hold election in December
In a defiant speech, Tunisia’s prime minister rejected opposition demands that his government step down and promised on Monday to complete the country’s democratic transition with a new constitution by August and elections in December. The assassination of two opposition legislators over the last six months has plunged Tunisia –…
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Politics
Obama-Hillary’s private dine at White House sparks 2016 presidential race
President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shared a meal Monday. While only that much is known for sure, the political speculation machine nevertheless went into overdrive, highlighting how closely both are being watched for signs of their intentions in the 2016 presidential race. For Clinton,…
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South East Asia
Cambodia’s ruling party led by Hun Sen wins majority in July 28 general election
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen won a majority vote in Sunday’s general elections, indicating that the prime minister, who has ruled the country for 28 years, will continue to stay in power for another five years. “Preliminary results shows that the ruling CPP…
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West Asia
Israel-Palestine resume peace talks in Washington on July 29, US says
The Israelis and the Palestinians are set to resume their peace talks in Washington D.C. on Monday, the U.S. State Department said on Sunday. Secretary of State John Kerry extended his invitation to both sides in his phone talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,…
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West Asia
Kuwait’s conservative Sunni tribes smile at July 27 parliamentary election results
Kuwait’s conservative Sunni tribes made gains in parliamentary elections while liberals reclaimed a foothold in the Gulf region’s most politically powerful elected body, according to results Sunday after voting forced by the ongoing political upheavals in the oil-rich nation. The outcome from Saturday’s election still leaves the 50-seat parliament in…
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West Asia
Israel agrees to free 104 Palestinian prisoners for resumption of peace talk
Israel’s Cabinet approved the release of 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners Sunday, clearing a hurdle toward a possible resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after five years of paralysis. The prisoner release is part of a push by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to bring the two sides back to the…
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Politics
Tunisian people protest against assassination of leftist opposition leader
Angry anti-government demonstrations broke out Thursday across Tunisia after gunmen killed the leader of a leftist opposition party, raising fears of new chaos on the difficult road to democracy in the cradle of the Arab Spring. Just five months after a similar assassination plunged the country into crisis, two gunmen…
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