Author: Kuning Omar

Attack on police training academy and nearby airport one of the worst since unrest began more than a decade ago. More than 70 people are thought to have been killed in an attack by an al-Qaeda-linked group on Mali’s capital Bamako earlier this week, according to diplomatic and security sources. Hardline fighters from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) carried out the attack on an elite police training academy and the nearby airport on Tuesday, prompting shock and anger in the West African country. A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AFP news agency that 77 people had…

In a move that can cause fresh tensions in the region, Sri Lanka has allowed the Chinese Navy training ship, Po Lang, to dock at its port, despite a 12-month moratorium imposed earlier this year on foreign research vessels, following security concerns raised by India and the United States. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath explained the decision to permit the Po Lang—a three-masted tall ship with a crew of 130. He emphasized that the vessel is classified as “a training vessel and not a research craft.” He stated that there has been no change in the policy regarding research vessels. The…

Brussels/Dushanbe (10/8- 75) Once more Tajikistan comes on the radar screen. Who will be the next president of Tajikistan? How is the ban on the hijab helping the deradicalization of Tajik society? What is the role of the Chinese and Russian influence? And how is the relationship with the European Union coming along? Every year we face a plethora of Tajik issues, for example corruption and drug usage involving officials, now the ban on face veils, or the newest version a ban on black clothes. The desecration of the grave of one of leaders and the promotions of killer squad…

On April 17, the application process for grants from the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan for the Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights ends. An official announcement on the launch of a new project by the EU delegation in Dushanbe on March 12 said that projects “to promote and protect human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms in Tajikistan” will be selected on a competitive basis. Representatives of civil society can participate in the competition. The total budget of the competition was 1 million 855 thousand euros. Applicants can request a grant of €300,000 to €400,000 for a period…

Dec 9 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was travelling to Argentina on Saturday to attend the inauguration of new Argentine President Javier Milei, his first trip to Latin America. Zelenskiy’s trip, announced on the Telegram messaging app, will focus on Ukraine’s longstanding bid to secure the support of countries in the Global South in Ukraine’s 21-month-old war against Russia. The Ukrainian president said he had met the prime minister of the West African country of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia e Silva, en route to Argentina and thanked him for “condemning Russian aggression” and supporting Ukrainian initiatives. Zelenskiy hopes to…

Malaysia’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a major cabinet reshuffle and promised to focus on the economy, health and education amid growing public concern about the country’s economic situation. Speaking at a televised press conference on Tuesday, Anwar appointed Amir Hamzah Azizan, formerly chief executive of Malaysia’s biggest pension fund, as second finance minister. He also said he was moving Mohamad Hasan, the deputy president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), from the defence ministry to the foreign ministry. The former foreign minister takes on higher education instead. Anwar also moved Fadillah Yusof, one of…

NATO’s secretary general said Monday that the alliance is reviewing a permanent increase of NATO peacekeepers to Kosovo and Bosnia at a time of increasing violence and warnings of Russian interference. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Bosnian-Serb leaders have stepped up their rhetoric seeking secession from the federation, NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO allies “strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.” “We are concerned by the secessionist and divisive rhetoric, as well as malign foreign interference, including Russia,” Stoltenberg said in Sarajevo. Stoltenberg later on Monday stopped in Kosovo, where on September 24 dozens of heavily armed…

Nov 2 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a law withdrawing Russia’s ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests, a step condemned by the organisation which promotes adherence to the landmark arms control pact. The move, though expected, is evidence of the deep chill between the United States and Russia, whose ties are at their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis over the war in Ukraine and what Moscow casts as Washington’s attempts to stymie the emergence of a new multipolar world order. Washington expressed deep concern about Russia’s decision and it was a…

Malaysia on Thursday welcomed the new deal between Israel and Hamas for a four-day humanitarian pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip, calling it a “step in the right direction.” Hailing the role played by Qatar, Egypt and the US in reaching the deal between Palestinian group Hamas and Israel, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the step would “bring to an end the killing of civilians and minimize the suffering of the people in Gaza.” It, however, called on “concerned parties to intensify efforts for a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Under the humanitarian pause, Hamas is expected to release 50…

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy and the Defense Department completed an updated study of the submarine-industrial base, its upcoming workload, and what the military and industry ought to do to bolster the sector. Previous studies — which informed about $6.3 billion in past and planned future government spending to shore up suppliers and prepare the industrial base to increase its output — looked at what it would take to prepare prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat and its thousands of suppliers to build one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines a year, Jay Stefany, the acting assistant secretary of the Navy…