Minister – Page 7

Singapore’s long-ruling party seeks stronger election victory in test for new prime minister

Singapore (File Photo AP) SINGAPORE: Singaporeans will vote Saturday in a general election that is set to return to power the city-state’s long ruling party, and it will be closely watched as a gauge of public confidence in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership. The People’s Action Party has won every election since the Asian financial […]

South Korean finance minister Choi resigns: Ministry

South Korea’s finance minister Choi Sang-mok (Image: AP) SEOUL: South Korea’s finance minister Choi Sang-mok handed in his resignation on Thursday and it was accepted, his ministry said in a statement, as the country’s parliament was voting on his impeachment.“Choi’s resignation has been accepted,” said the finance ministry in a statement. Choi was set to […]

Vietnam jails former minister over solar energy pricing scheme |

HANOI: A court in Vietnam jailed a former deputy minister of industry and trade for six years on Tuesday after finding him guilty of “power abuse” in a solar energy development plan.The Southeast Asian country has committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and is trying to increase wind and solar production to meet […]

India’s ‘incursion’ imminent, claims Pakistan defence minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s defence minister said Monday that a military incursion by neighbouring India was imminent in the aftermath of a deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir last week, as tensions rise between the two nuclear-armed nations.The attack killed 26 people and triggered outrage in India, along with calls for action against Pakistan. “We have […]

Pakistan defence minister seeks stronger ties with Bangladesh

DHAKA: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif underlined the affection between the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh and sought stronger ties with Bangladesh. Asif, referring to the cordial ties between the two countries, said that both capitals were keenly working for furthering economic, political, and cultural cooperation. “We value our relations with Bangladesh and look […]

Pak defence minister admits his country harbours terror organisations, says it is to do ‘the West’s dirty work’

LONDON: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has admitted on Sky News that Pakistan harbours and funds terror organisations, saying that it has been “doing the West’s dirty work for decades”.He also said the Pakistan-based terror groups are “not multiple organisations” but “one single organisation religiously organised with different faces”.When asked by Sky’s Yalda Hakim on […]

Twelve children and teens drown in Ivory coast boat capsize: Minister

ABIDJAN: A boat overturned during a church outing for Easter on a lagoon near the city of Abidjan in Ivory Coast, killing 12 children and teenagers, a government minister told AFP Tuesday.“Twelve bodies have been recovered and are being taken to the morgue,” said Sports Minister Adje Silas Metch, who went during the night to […]

Iranian foreign minister to visit China on Tuesday: spokesman

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi (Image: AP) TEHRAN: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit China on Tuesday, the ministry said, ahead of a third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.The visit to China, which was a signatory to a since-abandoned 2015 nuclear agreement that reined in Tehran’s nuclear […]

Lebanon former minister appears before court in Beirut blast inquiry | World News

BEIRUT: Former Lebanese interior minister appeared in court Thursday for the first time before a judge investigating the 2020 Beirut port explosion, a judicial source told AFP.The catastrophic blast on August 4, 2020 — one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history — devastated large parts of Beirut, killing more than 220 people and injuring […]

Israeli defence minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely

Reference Photo (AP) JERUSALEM: Israel‘s defence minister said Wednesday that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria indefinitely, remarks that could further complicate talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release. Israeli forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in a renewed campaign to pressure […]