Author: Suib Jusoh

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn on October 9 joined Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira in the trilateral meeting involving ASEAN Chair Indonesia, Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN Brazil, and the ASEAN Secretariat. Jakarta (VNA) – ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn on October 9 joined Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira in the trilateral meeting involving ASEAN Chair Indonesia, Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN Brazil, and the ASEAN Secretariat. Participants exchanged views on ongoing efforts to advance ASEAN-Brazil relations, as well as ways…

As the war in Israel rages, an ongoing struggle to control the narrative of the conflict is unfolding between Hamas and the Jewish state. This propaganda battle is not novel, as it has long been observed to coexist with the kinetic action between Israel and the Palestinian armed groups, dating back to at least 2014. Drawing from its prior clashes with Israel, Hamas has gained vital insights on how to effectively counter Israel. Despite being at a military disadvantage in nearly every area, Hamas has developed unconventional methods to attack Israel, including a powerful propaganda system to garner global backing…

Copenhagen (26/10 – 76.9) UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea called on Tajikistan to adapt and review its laws, policies, and practices regarding religion or belief following her 10-day visit. She stated that the implementation of religious freedom and belief in the country is a cause for concern. During a press conference at the UN office in Tajikistan, she also urged Tajikistan’s authorities to “leave the past behind and protect freedom of religion and belief.” Ghanea stated, “This will contribute to development, peace, and understanding in the country. The shadow of civil war looms over…

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Africa is an important part of the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”. In your opinion, there are many significant impacts has the “Belt and Road” initiative had on China-Africa cooperation, as China’s Belt and Road Initiative represented a turning point in the history of Chinese-African relations. This is because this initiative put these relations on the right path, with the concepts, frameworks, horizons, philosophies, and frameworks it provided for large, deep, and new partnerships that resulted in achieving great development for African countries. These are relationships in…

The counterterrorism expert and author of “Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Massacre: Lessons for the International Community” explains how religious extremism manifested in Sri Lanka’s deadliest terror attack. On April 21, 2019 – Easter Sunday – a coordinated series of bombings ripped through Sri Lanka, targeting churches and luxury hotels. Over 260 people were killed, making it the deadliest terrorist attack ever suffered by Sri Lanka. The attack has continued to resonate in Sri Lankan society and politics, as the public demands to untangle questions of responsibility: Why was the attack not prevented, and what can be done to stop the…

China’s nuclear industry giant presented “China’s solutions” for the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to members of ASEAN at the Second China-ASEAN Forum on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology held in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Saturday. At the forum, fruitful results on further deepening China-ASEAN nuclear cooperation have been achieved. The China Isotope and Radiation Industry Association announcedsix China-ASEAN peaceful use nuclear technology cooperation demonstration projects and a total of 10 documents were signed between Chinese nuclear companies and ASEAN member states and the local government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Global Times has…

The United States on Tuesday (5th Sept.) rejected the so-called “standard map” claims by China and called on the nation to comport with its maritime claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere. In a regular press briefing on Tuesday, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Vedant Patel said that China’s expansive and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law. “We note that the PRC recently released national map has elicited a wave of protests from countries that reject the territorial and maritime claims depicted on it. With respect to the…

A top US diplomat has questioned the absence of China’s defence minister Li Shangfu, renewing speculation of a possible corruption purge. General Li has been not seen in public for about two weeks and has reportedly missed several meetings. Rahm Emanuel, the US envoy to Japan, speculated on Mr Li’s absence, tweeting that the “unemployment rate” in the Chinese government was very high. Mr Li’s absence follows recent axings of several top military officials. Citing sources in the US and China, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Mr Li is being removed from his post. It also comes months after foreign minister…

US President Joe Biden (pic) will visit Vietnam next month to meet with top officials on issues ranging from technology and the economy to regional stability and climate change, as Washington eyes closer ties in a region where China looms large. Biden will meet with Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other top Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Sept 10 before travelling to Alaska to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the White House said. Washington is eager to upgrade relations with Hanoi, considering it a key partner in the region…

Brussels (21/08 – 62.50) The theatrical performance, 40 Days of Miracles was shown in the main concert hall of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea by the Republican State Academic Korean Theater of Musical Comedy of Kazakhstan, which is on tour in South Korea. In total, more than 500 spectators attended the event, including the Chairman of the Korea-Kazakhstan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Woo Won Shik, deputies, politicians, the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, cultural and art figures, businessmen, as well as representatives of the…