• Politics

    Strange ‌events in Tehran-Kiev plane crash

    By Alireza Bahrami Tehran: The crash of a Ukrainian plane that left Tehran for Kiev last Wednesday morning but crashed was accompanied by strange and sometimes interesting events. The flight came shortly after Iran’s military strike on the US military base in Iraq. As the plane crashed near Tehran shortly…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    Sultan Qaboos, the ruler of Oman, dies at 79

    By Habib Toumi Muscat: Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a ruler who embodied Oman as he led its transformation from a sleepy enclave into a modern state, was laid to rest on Saturday. Qaboos, 79, ruled for almost five decades, having replaced his father as the Sultan of the country on…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    Tunisia’s parliament rejects proposed government

    Tunis: Tunisia’s lawmakers on Friday evening rejected by a great majority the government formed by Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli. Following a marathon session that lasted well into the evening, 134 lawmakers voted against the proposed cabinet while 72 supported it. Three MPs abstained. Al Nahda, a a moderate Islamist party, won…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    Work on Kyrgyzstan-Azerbaijan Friendship Park launched

    Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan are reinforcing their relations by building a park and a high school that would symbolize their increasing their friendship. The agreement on the construction was reached following talks between President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of Kyrgyzstan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on the margins of the Summit…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    South Korea’s exports largely unaffected by Mideast tension

    Seoul: South Korea said Friday the lingering uncertainties in the Middle East sparked by U.S.-Iran tensions are expected to have only a limited impact on its exports but vowed swift countermeasures if there is increased volatility. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy organized a meeting with related institutions, including…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    South Korea conveys Trump’s birthday message for Kim Jong-un

    Seoul: U.S. President Donald Trump has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his birthday, South Korea’s top presidential security adviser said Friday after returning from his trip to Washington, D.C. Chung Eui-yong, head of Cheong Wa Dae’s national security office, had a brief meeting with Trump at the White…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    Moon urges inter-Korean efforts to realize Kim Jong-un visit to South Korea

    Seoul: President Moon Jae-in proposed Tuesday that the two Koreas make concerted efforts to create the conditions for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit South Korea as agreed. In his New Year’s address, he also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pushing for the resumption of two major inter-Korean projects…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    North Korea’s official newspaper warns of immediate, powerful strike against threats

    Seoul: North Korea’s official newspaper said Friday that any attempt to infringe upon the communist state’s dignity and survival should be met by an “immediate and powerful” strike, calling for all-out efforts to build up its national defense capability. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened at a key party meeting…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    Bahrain to name GCC chief as its Foreign Minister

    By Habib Toumi Manama: Abdul Lateef Rashid Al Zayani, the current secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will become Bahrain’s foreign ministry when his term ends on March 31. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa today told Al Zayani that King Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa is…

    Read More »
  • Politics

    North Korea defectors sense job opportunities in coffee

    Seoul: Cho Kyung-ja (alias), a 33-year-old North Korean defector, is busy operating an espresso machine, preparing four cappuccinos, grinding, temping, frothing and sometimes wiping away beans that scatter here and there. As she lays the four cups down on a table, she shyly smiles as she says, “Excuse me. Here…

    Read More »