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Politics
North Korea, Iran, Syria remain on US State Sponsor of Terrorism list
WASHINGTON: Three countries now remain on the US State Sponsor of Terrorism list following the delisting of Sudan. According to the State Department website, the three countries are Syria (listed in 1979), Iran (1984) and North Korea (2017). Sudan was put on the list in 1993 after it was accused of…
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Politics
Budget unity emergency contemplated in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are holding their breath as they wait for more developments to unfold in the coming hours regarding the situation in the country amid reports that the state of emergency would be declared. Official news agency Bernama said that was received by Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and…
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Politics
Kyrgyzstan’s rerun parliamentary elections delayed until after constitutional reform
BISHKEK: Acting President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov signed the constitutional law of the Kyrgyz Republic to postpone the date of repeat parliamentary elections until the constitutional reform. The press service of the acting president said that the need to adopt the constitutional law is dictated by a number of…
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Politics
Kyrgyzstan President resigns on anniversary of assuming power
BISHKEK: President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned, saying he did not want to be remembered in the history of Kyrgyzstan as the President who shed blood and shot at his own citizens. As the unrest linked to the announced results of the parliamentary elections on October 4 has not abated and…
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Politics
Uzbekistan elected to United Nations Human Rights Council
By Dilmurod Jumabaev TASHKENT: Uzbekistan has made a new achievement after it was elected to the Human Rights Council for the first time in its history. On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly elected 15 new members to the 47-seat Council. Among the five candidates from the Asia-Pacific region vying for four…
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Politics
‘Poison’ drip at centre of Singapore PM’s court battle
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has testified in court in a libel suit against blogger-turned-politician Leong Sze Hian to clear his name from what he affirmed were unfounded allegations of involvement in the Malaysian state fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (MDB),…
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Politics
Kyrgyzstan Parliament names Sadyr Zhaparov, 51, as new Prime Minister
By Nurzhan Kasmalieva Reporter, Kyrgyzstan Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan’s parliament on Saturday chose 51-year-old Sadyr Zhaparov as the country’s new prime minister. The decision is expected to end the power vacuum in the Central Asian nation created by the protests started after the announcement of the parliamentary election results. Holding an extraordinary…
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Politics
Amid international in-person and online participation, 2020 DMZ Peace Festival stresses peace is more precious than triumph
By Seok-Jae Kang GCS International Secretary-General Vice President of the Asian Journalists Association SEOUL: The 2020 DMZ Peace Festival was held successfully in both on- and off-line formats on October 7 in Seoul, Korea. The 2020 DMZ (demilitarized zone) Peace Festival, the second of its kind, was jointly promoted…
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West Asia
Bahrain: Agreement with Israel aims to boost chances for peace in Middle East
By Habib Toumi BAHRAIN: Since the signing of the declaration to support peace by Bahrain and Israel almost one month ago, contacts between officials from the two countries have been intensifying amid promises to build on the agreement to move closer to peace, security and cooperation across the region. For…
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Politics
Parliamentary elections underway in Kyrgyzstan amid strict anti-COVID measures
By Nurzhan Kasmalieva Reporter, Kyrgyzstan BISHKEK: Parliamentary elections got underway on Sunday in Kyrgyzstan amid COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen political parties are competing for the 120 seats for the new quinquennial term. A total of 2,474 polling stations have been opened throughout the country at 8 a.m. local time and…
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