Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Day: August 9, 2016

Risk management key to peace at sea: Editorial in Global Times,2016/8/8

The sudden growing presence of Chinese coast guard ships and fishing boats around the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea has incurred protests and complaints from Japan. Japan has also protested over the installation of a small radar on a Chinese oil rig in the East China Sea. Japanese media has shown concerns that China might upgrade to more powerful air surveillance radar systems in the future. Meanwhile, China has arranged a patrol…

Patrols intensify around Diaoyu,Japan lodges multiple protests over ‘intrusion’ By Zhang Yu in Global Times,2016/8/8

China’s top oceanic agency announced Sunday that two more Coast Guard ships are patrolling the waters near the Diaoyu Islands, a day after over 200 fishing boats and seven Coast Guard vessels were reportedly sailing in the region. Analysts said the patrols are a routine measure to demonstrate China’s sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, as ties between China and Japan have been further deteriorating in the past months due to Japan’s meddling in the South…

Chinese workers abducted in Nigeria rescued: embassy Xinhua report in Global Times, 2016/8/7

Two Chinese workers who were kidnapped in central Nigeria’s Nasarawa state have been rescued, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria said Sunday. Zheng Jun, an official with the embassy, told Xinhua that the two Chinese were rescued Saturday night, and are currently in sound condition. Local police said earlier that two Chinese workers were ambushed by unknown gunmen at about 2:28 p.m. local time Saturday in Nasarawa while on their way to the capital Abuja.http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/998937.shtml

China holds nuclear security emergency drill: Xinhua report in Global Times, 2016/8/7

China held its first comprehensive nuclear security emergency drill on Saturday, to test and improve its security-incident response mechanism, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Code-named “Fengbao-2016,” the drill, which was neither scripted nor had a preplanned result, tested the effectiveness of the nuclear security system, said the administration. The drill was presided over by Wang Yiren, vice director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry…

Afghanistan’s import from Iran jumps to $1.5b

KABUL: Director General of Afghanistan Customs Department Ahmad Reshad Popal on Sunday said that Afghanistan imported $1.5 billion goods from Iran. He said this during his visit to the development project of Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar. “Afghanistan annual exports to Iran, especially from Sistan-Baluchestan reaches to 36 million [US] dollars,” IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. He said that Afghan officials’ visit to Iran, especially to Sistan-Baluchestan province, is facilitating investment and development…

No success in recovery of copter passengers: by Jawad R Awan & Maqbool Malik in The Nation, Aug 8, 2016

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD – There is no breakthrough about safe return of the crew members of ill-fated M-17 helicopter of the Punjab government which crash-landed in Afghanistan. However, highly-placed officials told The Nation yesterday that influential groups of religious-right and tribal elders have been engaged for the recovery of the crew who reportedly were taken hostage by the Afghan Taliban. The helicopter was on its way to Russia via Uzbekistan for maintenance when it crashed near Kabul…

TTP denies taking seven Punjab copter crew hostage : By Mushtaq Yusufzai in The News, Aug 8, 2016

PESHAWAR: Pakistani officials remained in custody of the Afghan Taliban for fourth consecutive day on Sunday, while Pakistani Taliban on Sunday denied their involvement in shooting down the Punjab government transport helicopter that crash-landed in Afghanistan’s eastern Logar province or taking the seven officials hostage, saying no militant group does exist by the name of Hakimullah Mehsud. Mohammad Khurassani, a spokesman of the proscribed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), headed by Maulana Fazlullah Khorasani, on Sunday reacted…

Fresh violence claims lives of 10 soldiers, 61 militants: MoD By KHAAMA PRESS – Sat Aug 06 2016

At least 10 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers lost their lives in the latest counter-terrorism operations across the country in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Saturday. According to a statement by MoD, the operations were conducted in Helmand, Khost, Nangarhar, Ghazni, Kunar, Logar, Uruzgan, and Farah province. The statement further added 61 militants were killed, 53 others including the 13 were wounded during the same operations. At least 13 of…

6 ISIS loyalists killed in an airstrike in East of Afghanistan By KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Aug 07 2016

At least 6 loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in an airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the airstrike was carried out in the restive Achin district, leaving 6 of them dead and 2 others wounded. No further details were given if the airstrike was carried out by the Afghan forces or the US forces based in Afghanistan. The latest…

Helmand War Rages As Battles Spread To Outskirts Of Capital by Abdul Wali Arian in Tolonews.com, Aug 7, 2016

As battles continue raging in the war-hit southern province of Helmand, some lawmakers on Saturday blasted provincial authorities for what they called a lack of coordination between security forces. They said that several areas in the province have collapsed to the Taliban over the past few weeks and that the fighting is taking a heavy toll on security forces. “They (Taliban) fight in groups including guerrilla war, they can not be deployed in a certain…

Govt, Hizb-e-Islami Expected To Resume Talks: by Mir Abed Joenda in Tolonews.com. Aug 6, 2016

Ghairat Baheer, head of the political wing of Hizb-e-Islami, said Saturday that a four-member delegation from Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) is expected to arrive in Kabul with a few days to resume peace talks with the Afghan government. This comes after initial rounds of talks hit a deadlock in June reportedly over certain demands tabled by the militant group. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s High Peace Council (HPC) has said that the draft peace accord with Hizb-e-Islami has been…