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Ottobre 2017 - page 8

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi: ‘complete defeat’ of IS as Hawija is liberated

in ASIA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday announced the full liberation of Hawija from the Islamic State (IS), adding he expects the “complete defeat” of the group this year. During a televised broadcast on Iraqi state television, Prime Minister Abadi said the extremist group had suffered another setback in Hawija and would be completely defeated in Iraq this year. “As I have promised to you all, this year will see the end of IS in Iraq”, the Iraqi PM said. “Members of IS are currently gripped with fear everywhere”. Abadi’s statement comes one week after he declared the recapture of the city, west of Kirkuk, after a two-week campaign against the militant group. An Iraqi army commander in Hawija said security forces had begun clearing liberated areas of booby-traps and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by IS.

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Killed 9 ISIS militants near Kirkuk

The pro-government paramilitary troops announced that nine Islamic State militants, including a suicide attacker, have been killed in an operation

Houthi militia terminate dozens of academics from Sanaa University

in MIDLE EAST/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Houthi militias are rapidly recruiting new staff and officials at Sanaa University and appointing academic leaders loyal to it, while terminating dozens of academics, employees and assistants as part of its plan to take full control over the educational institutions in Yemen. The union of faculty members and their assistants at Sanaa University revealed that the University Council decided to terminate a large number of faculty members arbitrarily and have strongly denounced these procedures and demanded they be made void. The union called on all members of Sanaa University to confront these actions firmly and to stand against any dismissal or appointment procedures that violate laws, regulations and academic and administrative standards. Also  affirmed its adherence to its legal right to take all necessary measures to defend the rights of all its members. The union held the university presidency (appointed by Houthis) under legal responsibility if it continued to dismiss its employees arbitrarily.

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Mattis says US will work to ‘stay aligned’ with Turkey

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The U.S. will work to ensure that military relations with Turkey will be unaffected by an ongoing diplomatic row, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Wednesday. “It’s a NATO ally that we will work hard to stay aligned with against our common enemy. And we are doing good work together, military to military”, Mattis told reporters en route to Central Command in Tampa, Florida. Ongoing military operations have so far been “unaffected” by the row, Mattis said. When asked if he thought future operations could be affected if tensions continue to run high, he said he did not want to speculate but said past diplomatic spats with various countries have not deteriorated military ties. The U.S. Embassy in Turkey announced Sunday it was suspending the issuance of non-immigrant visas to Turkish nationals following the arrest of Metin Topuz, a Turkish employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul. In a retaliatory move, Turkey’s Washington Embassy also suspended non-immigrant visa services. Topuz is suspected to be linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey, according to a judicial source. Erdogan warned that Turkish-U.S. ties could be further damaged if U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration played a role in the visa decision.

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Turkey in Idlib to establish peace corridor, PM Yıldırım says

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The Turkish military crossed into Idlib, Syria, earlier this week to establish a peace corridor rather than terror, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Wednesday. “We are on the field to make our precautions in advance”, he said, asserting: “We are trying to establish a peace belt rather than terror”. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) issued a written statement on Oct. 9, declaring that Turkish forces crossed into Idlib, Syria, on Oct. 8, to reconnoiter as part of efforts to bring peace to the area. The statement said the goals of the de-escalation zones, which were declared on Dec. 30, 2016, and guaranteed by Turkey, Russia and Iran through the Astana process, aim to increase the effectiveness of the cease-fire agreement, end armed clashes, provide humanitarian aid to those in need, establish proper conditions for displaced people to return and establish conditions for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Turkey also aims to contain the Afrin region, which is controlled by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the PKK affiliate in Syria, and its People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia.

 

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US flies B-1 bombers over Korean peninsula again, flanked by South Korean and Japanese fighter jets

in ASIA/FAR EAST/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The US military flew two Air Force B-1 bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force late on Tuesday amid high tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, South Korea’s military said. The two B-1B Lancer bombers were accompanied by two F-15K fighters from the South Korean military after leaving their base in Guam. The US military said in a separate statement Japanese fighters had also joined the drill, making it the first nighttime combined exercise for the US bombers with fighters from Japan and South Korea. The South Korean military said this was part of a regular exercise to bolster military defences and also to display the alliance between the United States and South Korea. South Korean and US government officials have been raising their guard against more North Korean provocations with the approach of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s ruling party, which fell on Tuesday. US Air Force Major Patrick Applegate said: “Flying and training at night with our allies in a safe, effective manner is an important capability shared between the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea and hones the tactical prowess of each nations’ aviators”. “This is a clear demonstration of our ability to conduct seamless operations with all of our allies anytime, anywhere”, the US release quoted him as saying.

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US Angry at IRGC over Battle with Daesh

in POLITICS/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

A former Iranian foreign minister attributed the US plan to designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terrorist organization to the IRGC’s effectual war against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group which he said benefits from the backing of Washington. Without the IRGC’s advisory support for Baghdad and Damascus, Daesh would have undoubtedly dominated Iraq and Syria, Head of the Founding Council and Board of Trustees of the Islamic Azad University Ali Akbar Velayati told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday, after a meeting with Syria’s ambassador to Iran. That is why the Americans, namely the sponsors of Daesh militants, are angry at the IRGC, he said, adding that they are unable to harm the IRGC, underlining the Iranian nation’s unity and support for the IRGC and the country’s territorial integrity.

 

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Hassan Rouhani said that Iranian government was determined to develop friendly ties with neighboring countries

in MIDLE EAST/POLITICS/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed that his government was determined to develop cooperation friendly relations with neighboring countries, including Armenia, and there were no restrictions on this. In a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on Tuesday, Rouhani described the two countries’ relations and cooperation positive, saying, “Development of relations with Armenia, as a friend and neighboring country, has always been important for Iran”. Referring to the historical, cultural and civilization relations of Iran and Armenia in the region and the common positions of the two countries in various international stages, the president noted, “Today, political, social and cultural relations of Tehran and Yerevan are in good conditions, but in the field of business and economic relations and cooperation, more effort is needed to maximize the potentials of developing relations to serve the two nations”.

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Xi Jinping’s UK visit transformed China-UK relations

in ASIA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

October 19 marks the second anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the UK. Bilaterally, President Xi’s State Visit heralded a new era for China-UK relations. The State Visit was the first by China’s head of state in ten years. It took place in the first year of the second decade of China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. That was an important moment where China and the UK could build on the achievements of the past and herald a coming new era. During the State Visit, China and the UK committed to building a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century. The State Visit opened the “Golden Era” in UK-China relations featuring enduring, inclusive and win-win cooperation and raised the banner of consensus and cooperation. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Theresa May maintained close personal contact, exchanging letters on many issues and having two meetings and one telephone talk. Both leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment to building the China-UK “Golden Era”, which was a strong reassurance for the continued, healthy growth of our bilateral relationship and our ever deepening cooperation across the board. Both China and Britain are permanent members of the UN Security Council and important members of G20. We have maintained sound cooperation on international issues and have more shared commitment to economic globalization, trade liberalization and investment facilitation.

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Khawaja Asif says Islamabad attempting to start Afghan peace process

in ASIA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The foreign minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif has said Islamabad is attempting to resume the Afghan peace process in a bid to end the ongoing violence in the country. Asif, quoted by local media outlets, has said Islamabad has called for a meeting in Muscat of Oman and has requested all the concerned groups to participate in the talks. He said Pakistan is keen to play a crucial role being a member of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group which was formed to kick start the Afghan peace talks. The last meeting of the group ended without any breakthrough to start the Afghan peace process after the Taliban group responded the peace calls with unprecedented violence. The group staged some of the largest attacks last year including a major attack on the VIP protection unit that left scores of people dead or wounded. The attack forced the Afghan government to withdraw from the peace efforts and opted a strict military option against the group. In the meantime, Islamabad is informing regarding the efforts to resume the Afghan talks at a time when pressures by Washington is on the rise, mainly due to the sanctuaries of the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network.

 

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Monkey-pox: Ministry urges Enugu residents to avoid contact with animals

in AFRICA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

The Enugu State Ministry of Health has urged residents of the state to be wary of touching or coming in contact with wild animals, for self protection against Monkey-pox virus. The ministry’s Director of Public Health Services, Dr Okechukwu Ossai, gave the advice when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, on measures taken by the ministry to prevent the disease in the state. Ossai said the ministry had begun sensitisation in local radio and television stations about the disease, its signs and symptoms. He said that the ministry had also gone ahead to orientate its disease surveillance officers in all the local governments and border areas on the disease. The director said that personal, family and environmental hygiene especially hand washing, was key and necessary for all residents of the state to observe, to avoid any form of virus or contagious disease. He said monkey-pox could be contacted through touching the body or body fluid of wild animals, adding that apart from monkeys, antelopes and wild rats could also harbour the virus.

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