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| December 15, 2013 |
 China denounces 'slanderous' air zone remarks by Japan PM Beijing (AFP) Dec 15, 2013 - China rejected as "slanderous" a renewed call by Japan's premier for Beijing to rescind its controversial air defence zone, the latest salvo in a territorial dispute that has increased friction in the region. Beijing's retort came hours after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a Japan-ASEAN summit in Tokyo on Saturday that he was "deeply concerned" by China's establishment of the air zone and ... more |  |
Japan, ASEAN seek 'freedom of overflight' amid China tensions Tokyo (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - Japan and Southeast Asian countries agreed Saturday on the importance of freedom in the skies, in the first major gathering of the continent's leaders since China ramped up regional tensions with a controversial air defence zone. The cautious show of support for Tokyo in its bitter row with Beijing came as Japan pledged $20 billion in aid and grants for the region. At a summit in Tokyo, ... more |  |
EU defence cooperation takes flight at joint airbase Eindhoven, Netherlands (AFP) Dec 15, 2013 - Much talked about but rare in practice, EU defence cooperation is becoming a reality at a Dutch air base where French, German and Benelux personnel mount thousands of missions each year. "Small is beautiful" could be the motto for the European Air Transport Command, working at Eindhoven to offer a real joint capability to cash-strapped European Union states. "The EATC is a unique militar ... more |  |
 Facing threats, Afghan interpreters plead for US visas Washington (AFP) Dec 15, 2013 - After a five-year wait, Mohammad Janis Shinwari is relieved to be in the United States, safe from the threats of the Taliban. But as a former interpreter for US troops in Afghanistan, Shinwari fears for the lives of his colleagues back home, who are desperately trying to secure US visas. "I am very worried for my friends. They have no protection," Shinwari told AFP. "Now I want the ... more |  |
 US Air Force has secretly built a new stealth drone Washington (AFP) Dec 15, 2013 - The US Air Force has secretly developed a new stealth drone for long-range reconnaissance missions that could be operational by 2015, according to a report Friday in an industry magazine. The unmanned drone, dubbed RQ-180, is currently in the testing phase at the top secret Groom Lake air base in Nevada - the infamous "Area 51" where the Air Force tested the U2 spy planes in the late 1950 ... more |  |
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 British hopes of $10B Emirates Typhoon deal sink Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UPI) Dec 13, 2013 - Britain's high-profile drive to sell Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets in the Persian Gulf seems to be running into trouble, with the United Arab Emirates reportedly having second thoughts about acquiring as many as 60 of the aircraft. If Emirates' planned $10 billion procurement to replace its aging Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-9 jets to counter regional rival Iran is still on, that cou ... more |  |
France loses out on Brazil jets deal: report Sao Paulo, Brazil (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - France will lose out in its bid to win a multibillion-dollar fighter jet contract with Brazil, the Folha de Sao Paulo daily reported Saturday. The newspaper set France's $4 billion proposal for 36 Rafale fighter jets, from a consortium led by French giant Dassault, will be shot down for cost reason. It did not say who would be the likely winner of the highly prized contract. The French b ... more |  |
 Syria rebel commander freezes to death: monitor Beirut (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - A rebel commander has frozen to death in the bitter cold brought by a snowstorm that has swept Syria this week, a monitoring group said Saturday. "The body of a rebel commander who was on his way from (the northwestern province of) Idlib to Homs (in central Syria) has been found. He died during the snowstorm," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Observatory director Rami Abdel ... more |  |
Afghan president says does not 'trust' US New Delhi (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - Visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in New Delhi on Saturday he no longer "trusts" the United States, accusing the Americans of saying one thing and doing another in his troubled homeland. Karzai's statement to journalists came a day after he insisted he would not be "intimidated" into signing a security pact allowing US troops in Afghanistan to stay on after next year. "I don't ... more |  |
Nordic warships ready mission to help collect Syria chemical arms Limassol, Cyprus (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - A Danish and a Norwegian frigate are anchored in the Cypriot port of Limassol awaiting orders to sail for Syria and help collect part of the regime's deadly chemical arsenal. When the call comes, they will escort two cargo ships - one from each country - to Syria's Latakia, where they will take on chemical agents, as set out in an Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons road m ... more |  |
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 US warns N. Korea against provocation following execution Seoul (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - The United States has warned North Korea against any "provocative acts" following the shock execution of leader Kim Jong-Un's uncle, as the reclusive state campaigned to rally support behind the young supremo. Washington also sought to step up talks with its Asian allies, voicing concern over regional stability after Jang Song-Thaek - seen as Kim's political regent and the country's unoffic ... more |  |
Israel begins fuel transfer for Gaza power plant Gaza City, Palestinian Territories (AFP) Dec 15, 2013 - Israel began transferring fuel to the Gaza Strip's sole power plant Sunday, a Palestinian official said, as the Hamas-ruled enclave struggled to deal with massive flooding caused by winter downpours. Raed Fatuh, a Palestinian Authority official in charge of the transfer of goods between Gaza and Israel, said Israel would be transferring 450,000 litres of fuel to the plant, which has been shu ... more |  |
Turkey calls on Greek Cypriots to contribute to talks Nicosia (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on the Greek Cypriots Saturday to make "positive" contributions toward stalled UN-backed peace talks on the decades-old division of Cyprus. Davutoglu spoke during a visit to the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of a recently intensified push to resume the talks. "We hope that the Greek Cypriot side will make pos ... more |  |
FARC set for unilateral ceasefire try Bogota (AFP) Dec 15, 2013 - Colombia's FARC rebels begin a 30-day unilateral ceasefire Sunday as peace talks continue with the government to try to end Latin America's longest insurgency. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) asked its units to "cease fire and hostilities for 30 days" from December 15 in a message last week from Havana where the talks are being held. President Juan Manuel Santos' gover ... more |  |
 Russian arms dealer's partner convicted in US New York (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - A US-Syrian citizen was convicted Friday of conspiring with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to purchase commercial aircraft in violation of American sanctions. A federal jury in New York found Richard Ammar Chichakli guilty of one count of violating US sanctions, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of wire fraud conspiracy and six counts of wire fraud. Chichakli, who was ... more |  |
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 Bombings and shootings kill 15 in Iraq Baghdad (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - Attacks in Iraq, including two bombings in a market and a blast targeting people who give food and water to Shiite pilgrims, killed 15 people on Saturday, officials said. Violence has reached a level this year not seen since 2008, when Iraq was just emerging from a period of brutal sectarian killings, raising fears that the country is falling back into all-out conflict. In the deadliest ... more |  |
US, Chinese warships nearly collide in S. China Sea Washington (AFP) Dec 13, 2013 - A Chinese naval vessel came dangerously close to a US warship during a tense incident in the South China Sea last week, US military officials said Friday. The USS Cowpens, a guided missile cruiser, was forced to maneuver to avoid a collision with the Chinese ship that had crossed directly in front of it and halted, according to naval officers and defense officials. China's amphibious doc ... more |  |
Japan seeks ASEAN backing on China with $20 bn pledge Tokyo (AFP) Dec 14, 2013 - Japan pledged $20 billion in aid and loans to Southeast Asia on Saturday, in its latest charm offensive to woo global public opinion in a territorial dispute with China. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered the cash over five years for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a celebratory summit to mark 40 years of ties with the bloc. The announcement crowns a year ... more |  |
Iran quits nuclear talks protesting US blacklist move Tehran (AFP) Dec 13, 2013 - Iran has quit nuclear talks with world powers, accusing Washington on Friday of going against the spirit of a landmark agreement reached last month by expanding its sanctions blacklist. US Secretary of State John Kerry and a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the major powers in the talks, both played down the suspension and said talks were expected to res ... more |  |
 US to cut funding on Turkish Chinese-missile purchase Washington (AFP) Dec 13, 2013 - The US Congress is set to adopt a law next week forbidding Turkey from using American funds to acquire a $4 billion missile system from a Chinese company blacklisted by Washington. The United States has voiced deep concern over Turkey's decision in September to enter negotiations with China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation for its first long-range anti-missile system. CPMIEC ... more |  |
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