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South Asia
Citing security concerns, senior Sri Lankan cricketers refuse to travel to Pakistan
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Correspondent Islamabad: Several senior Sri Lankan players have expressed their reservations over travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming one-day international and T20 series. According to a report on BBC Urdu, senior players including ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne, T20 captain Lasith Malinga and former captain Angelo Mathews…
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Politics
South Korea considering naming non-diplomat official to lead defense cost negotiations with U.S.: sources
Seoul: The government is considering naming a non-diplomat official, such as a financial technocrat, to head negotiations with the U.S. on sharing the cost for the upkeep of American troops, sources said Friday. That would mark a departure from the tradition that officials from either the foreign or defense ministries…
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Politics
Moon’s regional tour injects fresh vigor into his New Southern Policy Diplomacy
Vientiane: South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s campaign to reinforce Seoul’s strategic partnerships with Southeast Asian nations has gained fresh momentum this week, as he made a fruitful tour of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, Cheong Wa Dae aides said Friday. Moon made a pitch for the New Southern Policy less than…
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Politics
Bahrain workshop experts discuss safe return of Syrian refugees
By Habib Toumi Manama: The U.S. wants Syrian refugees to return to their homes in Syria but insists it should be done in the right conditions, a senior U.S. official has said. “We are here to dispel myths about U.S. policy and to reiterate that the U.S. wants Syrian refugees…
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South Asia
Pakistan’s Army Chief meets Saudi, UAE Foreign Ministers
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Correspondent Islamabad: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday met the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to discuss the prevailing situation in the region. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army,…
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Politics
Kyrgyzstan plans to eliminate corruption practices, create better business practices
Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan is launching an ambitious action plan to reduce corruption practices and assert favorable conditions for doing business in and with the Central Asian country. The plan includes submitting a draft government decree “On Approval of the Action Plan to Reduce the Level of the Unobserved Sector of the…
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Politics
Malaysia, Russia discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties
Vladivostok: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin have discussed ways to further strengthen ties between the two countries. During the 30-minute meeting on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in the port city overlooking Golden Horn Bay, near the borders with China and…
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South Asia
Pakistan prime minister holds meeting with Saudi, UAE foreign ministers
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Correspondent Islamabad: Saudi Arabia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir and Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Bin Sultan-al Nahyan met with Prime Minister Imran Khan. The two visiting ministers discussed the ongoing unrest in Indian-administered Kashmir. Imran expressed concern…
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Politics
U.S. says it respects South Korea’s decision to expedite return of bases
Washington: The United States respects South Korea’s decision to seek an early return of more than two dozen American military bases in the country and will work with its ally to get the bases returned “as expeditiously as possible,” U.S. Forces Korea said Tuesday. South Korea’s presidential office Cheong Wa…
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Politics
South Korea calls on Japan to reconsider allowing use of imperial flag during Tokyo Olympics
Seoul: South Korea on Tuesday called on Japan to retract its stance to effectively allow the use of its old imperial flag, seen as a symbol of its past militarism, during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A local media outlet reported that the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic…
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