Kazakhs, foreign investors puzzled by power-sharing leaders
The new Kazakh president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, flies a modest Airbus A321 jet. His predecessor and patron Nursultan Nazarbayev moves around on a much bigger wide-body Airbus A330-200.
Cambodian PM says China ready to help if EU imposes sanctions
China will help Cambodia if the European Union (EU) withdraws special market access over its rights record, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday as he announced a 600 million yuan ($89 million) Chinese aid package for his military.
Algeria’s former national police chief appears in court over corruption charges
Algeria’s former national police chief Abdelghani Hamel appeared in a court on Monday as part of a probe into corruption allegations, private Ennahar TV said.
Security beefed up in Tokyo as emperor prepares to abdicate
Divers scoured moats around the Imperial Palace and police dogs sniffed in bushes on Monday as authorities ramped up security for the start of Japan’s new “Reiwa” imperial era.
Chief commander of Quds force Soleimani says talks with U.S. impossible: Fars
The influential chief commander of Iran’s Quds force said on Monday that the country’s clerical establishment would never negotiate with the United States under enforced economic pressure, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Sri Lanka bans face veils after attacks by Islamist militants
Authorities in Sri Lanka on Monday banned women from wearing face veils under an emergency law put in place after deadly Easter Sunday attacks by Islamist militants.
Indonesian president plans to move capital city: planning minister
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has decided to move the capital of Southeast Asia’s largest economy away from the crowded main island of Java, the planning minister said on Monday.
Bangladesh kills two suspects linked to 2016 Dhaka cafe attack
Bangladesh security forces on Monday killed at least two people suspected of belonging to an Islamist militant group behind a deadly cafe attack in Dhaka in 2016, police said after a raid at a tin-shed hideout in the capital.
Afghan president opens grand assembly in bid to gain initiative in Taliban talks
Thousands of Afghans congregated in Kabul on Monday for a rare consultative meeting aimed at finding ways to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban and end Afghanistan’s war.
France says it has foiled terrorist act, suspects held in custody
France has foiled a terrorist act and is holding four suspects in custody, said the French interior minister and a police source on Monday.
