PAKISTAN
US State Dept sticks by contentious readout, hails Imran-Pompeo call as a good one: Dawn
August 24, 2018
US State Department's spokesperson Heather Nauert, during Thursday's press briefing, stood by the department's readout on the phone call between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo earlier in the day. A readout issued by the US State Department had said: "Secretary Pompeo raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process. Soon after, the Foreign Office had taken exception to the "factually incorrect statement issued by the US State Department" regarding the discussion during the phone call, saying there was "no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan".Click here to read...
AFGHANISTAN
Unidentified Helicopters Support Militants In Afghanistan: Russia
August 24, 2018
Russia has recorded flights of unidentified helicopters delivering weapons to the Taliban and Daesh militants in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday. “We again draw attention to flights by “unidentified” helicopters in northern Afghanistan to deliver arms and ammunition to local ISIS (Daesh) militants and the Taliban cooperating with this terrorist group. Specifically, Afghan media and local residents claim that these flights have been recorded in the Sar-e-Pul Province," the Russian diplomat said. “We note that this is happening in the direct vicinity of Central Asian states’ borders and many ISIS (Daesh) militants in Afghanistan hail from these countries. There is no reaction to these events either from Afghan security, defense and law-enforcement agencies or the command of the US/NATO contingent deployed there. The Russian diplomat said they want to know who is behind these flights.Click here to read...
NEPAL
Nepal, China agree on rail study: Kathmandu Post
August 24, 2018
Nepal and China have agreed on the technical details of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway line, and will soon begin the process of preparing a detailed report for what has been touted as one of the most challenging projects, even for the northern neighbour that has mastered advanced railway engineering.
Government officials who returned to Kathmandu after a week-long visit to the Chinese north-central city of Xi’an told the Post that the two sides have reached a mutual agreement over the technical study conducted by China Railway First Survey and Design Institute. “The governments of Nepal and China have given a green light following the outcome of the technical study,” Department of Railways (DoR) Director General Ananta Acharya told the Post.Click here to read...
BANGLADESH
One year on: Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: Al Jazeera
August 23, 2018
At least 90 percent of the Rohingya population in Myanmar's Rakhine state fled to neighbouring Bangladesh last year to escape a campaign of violence conducted by the Myanmar army and described by the United Nations as "textbook ethnic cleansing". Since August 25, 2017, some 700,000 people crossed the border, bringing with them stories of extreme violence, burned villages, murders and rape. According to the UN, Bangladesh is hosting more than 960,000 Rohingya refugees, including those who arrived a year ago. But the Bangladeshi authorities say the number exceeds one million.Click here to read...
CHINA
Li: Accelerate western development: China Daily
August 24, 2018
A number of major projects, including the Sichuan-Tibet and Chongqing-Yunnan railways, should be accelerated in the western regions of China to help prioritize economic structure and expand domestic consumption, Premier Li Keqiang said. These projects should focus on western China's shortcomings and also be in line with national planning, Li said when presiding over a meeting of the State Council leading group for promoting western development on Tuesday. The strategy for western development has aimed for balanced regional growth in China for about two decades. It benefits 12 provincial regions, including Chongqing, the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, and China's five autonomous regions, such as Tibet.Click here to read...
China enters 'unmanned era' in Arctic observation: People’s Daily
August 24, 2018
Chinese scientists have installed an unmanned ice station system for the first time in the Arctic Ocean, ushering in an "unmanned era" for scientific observation of the North Pole. The unmanned ice station was installed by scientists on the country's ninth Arctic expedition. Installment was completed on Wednesday and the observation data was successfully transmitted home. The research stations can perform unattended observation of multiple fluxes in the ocean, the sea ice and the atmosphere, which is key to research on the changes in sea ice and air-sea-ice interactions in the Arctic, said Lei Ruibo, a scientist with the Arctic expedition team. "The unnamed ice station is an effective supplement (to the research) in the absence of scientific expedition vessels," said Lei.Click here to read...
China, U.S. have 'constructive, frank' trade talks, to keep in touch for next step: People’s Daily
August 24, 2018
Beijing and Washington had a "constructive and frank" talk on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday.
"The two sides will maintain contact regarding the next steps," the statement added. A Chinese delegation led by China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Wang Shouwen, traveled to Washington for two days of talks starting Wednesday. Click here to read...
China’s rising military stars take centre-stage as annual promotions pass over old guard: South China Morning Post
August 24, 2018
China’s annual round of military promotions has skipped a generation to focus on the military’s rising stars instead. In a break with tradition, no full generals were promoted this year on August 1, the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, but in July some 15 officers were elevated to the rank of lieutenant general.
The youngest of these was Chang Dingqiu, 51, who led the 2015 fighter jet flights over Tiananmen Square to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war.Click here to read...
