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East Asia
Can Korea say no to US?
Oh Young-jin – The Korea Times It appears to be unthinkable for South Korea to give up its decades-old alliance with the United States and choose China in its place. However, a combination of events gives a sense of reality to this unlikely scenario. Recently, a group of opposition lawmakers…
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Central Asia
Syria peace talks in Astana : A new period starts
In summer, 2016 Kazakhstan competently mediated in ending political crisis related to Turkey’s downing of Russian warplane. The diplomatic efforts, intuitively made by Astana to reconcile Russia and Turkey, were made for avoiding the undesirable repercussions of the diplomatic strains between major strategic partners of Kazakhstan. Few people knew that…
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South East Asia
Women in political leadership: Bangladesh a unique model
Bangladesh has become a unique example of women leadership in politics. One may not find such record in other countries in the globe since women were given political rights to vote and stand in elections more than 100 years ago. Bangladesh has been run by two women political leaders: Sheikh…
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Central Asia
Central Asia: 25 Years without Miracle
From September till December 2016 all five Central Asian countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – have lived in the special historical atmosphere: one after another they have celebrated 25th anniversary of independence. A quarter of century passed since they gained independence after the collapse of the former Soviet…
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West Asia
Hashemi Rafsanjani dies at 82
Iran’s Head of Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has died of a heart failure. Mohammad Hashemi, younger brother to Hashemi, told reporters that Mr. Hashemi had been in a ‘satisfactory condition’ after efforts to resuscitate former president and Revolutionary figure. An update of the same story unofficially said that…
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West Asia
Does PKK use drug addicts to conduct suicide attacks?
For the illegal Marxist organizations, a suicide attack is a last effort to stand up for themselves. Especially as a result of the successful operations in Eastern and South-eastern Anatolia against the organization, PKK has changed its strategy and started to go for suicide attacks by employing its urban settlements.…
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Central Asia
Syria talks to start in Kazakhstan’s capital on January 23
Talks between the Syrian Government and opposition groups will begin in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 23, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on January 4. He also said that Russian experts are expected to arrive in Turkey on January 9-10 to discuss the forthcoming Syrian negotiations in the capital of…
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Central Asia
Turkey eyes trilateral format with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan
Turkey is working to create an Azerbaijan-Turkey-Kazakhstan trilateral format, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. According to the minister, trilateral formats created by Turkey in the Caucasus and Balkan regions operate very efficiently, TRT Haber news channel reports. There are currently a number of trilateral formats, such as Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey,…
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East Asia
Trump and Asia
Bernard Rowan – The Korea Times I didn’t think Trump had a chance. His campaign rhetoric didn’t reveal much knowledge of global affairs. Beyond the pedestrian, it showed a demagogue hell-bent on thumping illegal immigrants and socking it to convenient enemies. However, Trump did win, and he’ll soon raise the…
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Central Asia
Russia reshapes Mideast
Arthur I. Cyr – The Korea Times Just before Christmas, a summit in Moscow brought together the leaders of Iran, Russia and Turkey. President Vladimir Putin of Russia orchestrated this major meeting. After the discussions, his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced significant agreement to extend a ceasefire beyond the devastated…
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