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West Asia
Iran’s defense budget increases by 86%
Iran has boosted its defense budget by 86% in the past four years, the Iranian Government Spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said. “Our budget in the defense and security field has increased 86% in the past 4 years,” he said. According to him, the budget for the upcoming Iranian fiscal year…
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West Asia
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East Asia
Chinese diplomat calls for joint efforts to secure progress in Syria talks
Zhao Cheng – People’s Daily A senior Chinese diplomat called on the Syrian government, the opposition, as well as factions of the opposition to join their efforts to realize national reconciliation by prioritizing the interests of the whole country and its people on Friday, one day after the new round…
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East Asia
Central Asia and Turkey: Playwriting the National Interests
On 17-18 November 2016 Turkish President Recep Erdogan visited Uzbekistan. This visit took place soon after the death of the first President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, on September 2nd, 2016. For a long time, Uzbek-Turkish relations have been a stumbling block in the advancement of Turkey’s overall policy towards a…
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Central Asia
Embracing Cultural Approaches to the Integration of Central Asia
Many things have been said by local and foreign experts about the importance or necessity of integration in Central Asia. One should underline several factors could be used in national or inter-regional politics, aimed at new rapprochement in the region. First, we would like to point out common cultural and…
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West Asia
The Lebanese Recurrent Crisis
Lebanon went through repetitive political, social and economic crisis which reflected negatively on its social reality and living, and up until now, Lebanon is suffering from the repercussions. A series of protests and political demonstrations were staged demanding political and social repairs. One of the biggest protests that lasted until…
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East Asia
Georgia strengthens Silk Road economic links
On 16 January 2017 Georgian Economy Minister Giorgi Gakharia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Strengthening the New Silk Road Initiative” with Zhang Yuzhou, CEO of CEFC China Energy Company Limited. The corporation has a business interest in energy and financial services and intends to purchase 75 percent of…
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South Asia
Observing Human Rights in the Middle East
Tony Lee – The AsiaN Correspondent It becomes evident when traveling in war zones and isolated areas that the most vulnerable in such places are women and young children. In January, on a train bound from Mashhad, Iran, to Tabriz, I met a woman who looked to be in her…
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West Asia
Railway line of Azerbaijani and Iranian Astara to start operating in March
Chairman of CJSC Azerbaijani Railways (ADY) Javid Gurbanov has received Said Mohammadzade, Deputy Minister of Roads & Urban Development of Iran and President of Iranian Railways, abc.az reports. ADY reports that during the meeting the parties discussed progress of the construction of a railroad between Azerbaijani and Iranian Astara, the…
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Central Asia
Putin ratifies Turkish Stream deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified deal with Turkey on Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project on Tuesday, Daily Sabah reports. The upper house of Russian Parliament, the Federation Council of Russia, previously approved the bill on ratification of TurkStream gas pipeline project on Feb. 01, whereas it was approved by…
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