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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…
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Politics
North Korea passes ball into U.S. court, leaves room for both dialogue, provocation: experts
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have passed the ball into the United States’ court with a New Year’s message that warned of “shocking actual action” and a “new strategic weapon” but still stopped short of abandoning negotiations altogether, experts said. Convening a four-day ruling party session through…
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Politics
South Korea conducts Dokdo defense exercise
Seoul: The South Korean military conducted an exercise on Friday to strengthen defense capabilities for the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, the first such drills in four months, a source said, amid budding efforts to restore ties with Japan strained over trade and wartime history. The Korean Navy did not…
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Politics
Xi ‘almost certain’ visit S. Korea in first half of next year
Seoul: Chinese President Xi Jinping is “almost certain” to visit South Korea in the first half of next year, a presidential official said Wednesday. President Moon Jae-in invited Xi to visit the South in the near future when they held summit talks in Beijing on Monday. Xi said in response…
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Politics
Singapore’s ruling party on attack mode ahead of expected elections early next year
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: Ahead of general elections tipped to be called early next year, Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is gearing up to win public support, its tactics at the moment being to assiduously censure opposition parties over hot-button issues. In the past week, the…
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Politics
Remains of 40 people discovered at former prison site in South Korea’s Gwangju
Gwangju: The remains of about 40 people have been discovered at the site of a former prison in the southwestern city of Gwangju, the government said Friday, with some claiming that they may belong to victims of crackdowns during the pro-democracy movement in the 1980s. The remains were uncovered Thursday…
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Politics
Kuwait’s cabinet includes three women for the first time
Kuwait: Kuwait’s new-look cabinet includes a new prime minister and seven new ministers, half of the total number. None of the ministers in the 36th cabinet to be formed over 57 years since the country’s independence has open affiliations to religious societies in a clear departure from traditions that have…
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Politics
South Korea mulls dispatching troops to safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Seoul: South Korea has been reviewing various options, including troop dispatch, as to what role it can play to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, officials said Wednesday. Amid tensions with Iran, the U.S. has asked its allies to join a military coalition to secure the strategic waters, and South Korea…
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Politics
Politics in Kuwait: 36 governments in 57 years
Kuwait: Kuwait’s latest cabinet announced on Tuesday is the 36th formed over 57 years since the country’s independence. On Tuesday, Kuwait announced the formation of the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah and included 15 ministers. According to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the first government,…
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South Asia
Pakistan’s former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf sentenced to death
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: A special court in Islamabad on Tuesday found former military ruler Gen. (Retired) Pervez Musharraf guilty of high treason and handed him death sentence – a first in Pakistan’s history. A three-member bench of the special court announced the verdict in the long-drawn high…
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