-
Politics
U.S. underscores commitment to Indo-Pacific region after RCEP deal
Washington: The United States has underscored its commitment to free trade with the Indo-Pacific region after a bloc of nations led by China struck a major trade deal without U.S. participation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement, was announced earlier Monday by the 10 member…
Read More » -
Politics
South Korea’s president revs up ASEAN diplomacy, breaks ice with Abe
Bangkok: Attending ASEAN-hosted summits here this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in had multiple goals — from drumming up support for the dormant Korea peace process to reaching out to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He also placed a focus on drawing more attention to an upcoming ASEAN-South Korea commemorative…
Read More » -
Politics
Kuwait’s Al Hajraf to be named new Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General
By Habib Toumi Manama: Kuwait’s finance minister Nayef Al Hajraf will be the next Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), reports in Kuwait said on Monday evening. The position rotates among the member states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Oman…
Read More » -
South Asia
Pakistan closes Kabul embassy following harassment of diplomats
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul will remain closed from today (Monday) for an indefinite period due to the harassment of Pakistani diplomats in Afghanistan’s capital. “Due to security reasons, Consular Section of the Embassy of Pakistan, Kabul will be closed from tomorrow Monday, 4th November,…
Read More » -
Politics
Moon, Abe hold 11-minute separate ‘conversation’ in Bangkok
Bangkok: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a brief one-on-one “conversation” in Bangkok on Monday, Cheong Wa Dae announced. They sat down together for 11 minutes on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three summit at IMPACT Forum in the Thai capital. Moon and…
Read More » -
Politics
Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. hold talks in Bangkok
Washington/Seoul: Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States have held talks in Thailand over the bilateral alliance and trilateral cooperation with Japan, their ministries said on Sunday. Yoon Soon-gu, deputy minister for political affairs at Seoul’s foreign ministry, met with David Stilwell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for…
Read More » -
Politics
Kyrgyzstan president highlights priorities in meeting with media
Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov has stressed that reforming the judicial and legal system and the fight against corruption were among the priorities of his presidency. The digitalization of the country, the implementation of the state policy for regional development, taking measures to improve the investment climate and supporting the…
Read More » -
South East Asia
35th ASEAN Summit opens in Thailand
By Habib Toumi Bangkok: The 35th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officially began on Sunday morning at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in the Thai capital. Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired the plenary session attended by the ASEAN leaders from the 10 members…
Read More » -
Politics
Halfway into term, Moon desperate for renewed vigor in turbulent presidency
Seoul: On the threshold of the latter half of his single five-year tenure, President Moon Jae-in sets his sights on bringing hope back to the minds of the people here, who still long for inter-Korean peace and South Korea’s political and social reforms. He often said his liberal administration was…
Read More » -
Politics
ASEAN, Bahrain partnership maturing through Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
By Habib Toumi Manama: What does in an international treaty with ten countries mean? A lot. stronger relations, common approaches, closer strategic dimensions, mutual benefits and support at various levels and lucrative economic deals, to cite just a few. The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) signed by Bahrain on…
Read More »