Russia implementing arms supply contracts with Syria - official
Moscow is continuing to ship weapons and military hardware to Syria, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, a deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technological Cooperation, said on Wednesday. “Russia has commitments to Syria under contracts signed earlier, particularly contracts signed in 2008, and more contracts on the supply of air defense systems were signed later,” he said at the Farnborough International Air Show 2012. These deals “are being implemented and will be implemented,” he stressed. Russia supplies only defensive weapons to Syria, the official noted. There are no Russian military specialists in the Syrian army.
Moscow, Syrian opposition disagree over Assad resignation
Moscow disagrees with the stance of “all of the Syrian opposition” that any talk about how to settle the conflict in Syria must be preceded by President Bashar al-Assad's resignation, Syrian National Council President Abdulbaset Sieda said. “The settlement is out of the question until Assad goes,” Interfax quoted Sieda as saying after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. “Russia has a different opinion on this account,” Sieda said. He added that the Syrian opposition has not noticed any change in Russia’s position on Syria, but said Moscow had made a “new proposal,” which will be discussed at further meetings.
Clinton stops in Laos on Southeast Asia tour
Hillary Clinton has become the first US secretary of state to visit Laos in more than five decades. She met with the communist government's prime minister and foreign minister in the capital, Vientiane, on Wednesday, AP reports. Clinton discussed environmental concerns over a proposed dam on the Mekong River and investment opportunities. The two states are making joint efforts to clean up the tens of millions of unexploded bombs the US dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War. The last US secretary of state to visit Laos was John Foster Dulles in 1955.
Kyrgyzstan wants to increase rent for Russian military bases
The rental price for three Russian military facilities on Kyrgyzstan’s territory should be increased, Kyrgyz Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Taalaibek Omuraliyev said on Wednesday. “Inflation is growing at a fast pace,” he told Interfax. “Everything is getting more expensive.” He said Kyrgyz authorities asked the Russian side to increase the rent. The minister spoke about the Russian Defense Ministry's test base for anti-submarine arms, the 338th communications base and a seismological unit. “The Kant airbase accomplishes tasks in the interests of the CSTO, of which Kyrgyzstan is a part, and we do not ask any payment for it,” Omuraliyev said.
Japan protests as Chinese ships enter waters near disputed islands
Japan lodged a protest with China on Wednesday after Chinese patrol ships entered waters near disputed islands in the East China Sea. Three Chinese fishery patrol ships entered waters near the uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, Reuters said. China said the patrol vessels carried out a “fishery protection mission in our exclusive economic zone.” The islands, claimed by Beijing, Tokyo and Taipei, lie near rich fishing grounds and potentially huge oil and gas reserves. Japan said last week it was considering a plan to buy the islands from private landowners.
Russia, Kazakhstan to merge air defenses in 2013
An agreement on the creation of a Russian-Kazakh joint regional air defense system will be signed next year, Kazakh Air Defense Commander Col. Nurjan Mukanov said. “We are currently agreeing on the documents,” he said on Wednesday. He was speaking in the wake of a meeting of the air defense coordination committee that took place in Kyrgyz town of Cholpon-Ata. Russia and Armenia are currently considering agreements to create a joint regional air defense system as well, Itar-Tass reports.
China to censor online video content
China's broadcasting and internet regulators have told internet video providers that they must prescreen all programs before making them available. The new rule was issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and the State Internet Information Office, AP reports. The decision was taken in response to the rapid growth in online video programs, some of which, authorities say, contain vulgar content, excessive violence or pornography. Online video providers will bear responsibility for web programs, though the rule did not offer specific standards or mention penalties.
US man jailed over Thai king book freed
An American jailed for translating a banned biography about the country's king and posting it online has been freed by a royal pardon, the US Embassy said on Wednesday. Joe Gordon was convicted in December for translating excerpts of the book “The King Never Smiles” from English into Thai and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. No reason was given for the pardon, AP said. Washington had pressed Thai authorities to release the Thai-born American since he was first detained in May 2011. Gordon was freed from Bangkok's Remand prison late Tuesday, US Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler said.
Hundreds of Chilean fishermen clash with police over quotas
Hundreds of fishermen have clashed with police in northern Chile over a new law. Demonstrators burned tires and threw stones at officers, who responded with water cannon and tear gas. Protesters say the legislation restricts their fishing quotas, but increases those for large-scale companies. They are also angry about rising fuel prices.
Thousands protest against court’s ruling on Egypt People's Assembly
Thousands have gathered on Tuesday evening on the iconic Tahrir Square to protest against Egypt’s highest court's decision to block the president's order to restore parliament. Demonstrators called the decision illegitimate and accused the military council of not handing power back. The country's legislative body was dissolved last month by the military, which later took control, saying many lawmakers had been fraudulently elected.
54 migrants die of thirst trying to reach Europe by boat
Fifty-four people, half of them Eritrean nationals, have died of thirst during a 15-day voyage while attempting to reach Italy from Libya in a rubber boat. There was only one survivor, who was picked up from the deflating boat by Tunisian coastguards, Reuters reports, citing UNHCR. The man, also an Eritrean national, was found to be severely dehydrated, clinging to the remains of the boat after being spotted by fishermen the night before. He was taken to a hospital in Zarzis in south-eastern Tunisia. The man said the 55-strong group left Libya at the end of June. Their boat had almost reached Italy, but the wind pushed it back out to sea.
Russian airman dies as Mi-8 helicopter crashes in Afghanistan
The Mil Mi-8 chopper with a joint Russian and Belarusian crew crashed last week, but the news only came out on Tuesday, when sources in the industry reported the incident to Interfax. The helicopter was apparently descending when it touched a fence and crashed some 60 kilometers outside the city of Kandahar. The flight engineer, a Russian citizen, died. The co-pilot - another Russian citizen – and the captain – a citizen of Belarus – were taken to a Kabul clinic and later airlifted to a hospital in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. The aircraft was on a mission delivering water to a US military base near Kandahar.
No comments:
Post a Comment