Taiwan signs free trade deal with Singapore
Taiwan signed a free trade deal with Singapore on Thursday, its first with a Southeast Asian country, as the diplomatically isolated island steps up efforts to join regional economic blocs.
Central Asia not ready for integration
Kazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerlan Idrisov believes it premature to discuss integration in Central Asia and more appropriate to think of it as cooperation.
Israel opposes alleged Iran nuclear proposal
Israel urged world powers on Wednesday to reject what it said was an Iranian offer to partly cut back its nuclear programme in return for an easing of Western sanctions.
Tajiks set to elect strongman leader for fourth termVoters in Tajikistan, the poorest state in the former USSR, were set Wednesday to hand President Emomali Rakhmon an easy victory for a fourth term at the helm of his country bordering Afghanistan.
Kerry seeks to rescue Israeli-Palestinian peace processUS Secretary of State John Kerry will hold talks Wednesday with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to keep the peace process from collapsing, urging them to reach a long-elusive deal.
Japan mulling boosting Aegis destroyer fleet: reportJapan is considering boosting its fleet of Aegis-equipped destroyers from six to eight to counter threats from North Korean missile development and tensions with China over territory.