Foreign militants take part in terrorist attack on Philippines

May 26, 2017May 27, 2017 Avis Krane

26.05.2017, the Philippines.

Filipino Solicitor General Jose Calida claimed on May 26 that Indonesian and Malaysian mercenaries are fighting alongside the Maute group terrorists against the Philippine Army on the island of Mindanao.

At the news conference, Jose Calida said, “Before it was just a local terrorist group. But now they have sworn allegiance to the ideology of ISIL” (organization banned in Russia – Rossa Primavera News Agency).

Currently, the Army battles terrorists that have captured the southern city with a population of 200,000 people. The Army uses helicopters and special forces. Eleven soldiers and thirty-one militants are reportedly killed. Continue reading →

China protests against US Navy’s actions in the South China Sea

May 26, 2017 Avis Krane

26.05.2017, China.

On May 25, a Chinese Defense Ministry representative voiced a protest against US actions connected with an American destroyer’s entering the waters of the Nansha Archipelago [Spratly Islands – Editor], according to the RIA Novosti News Agency. Continue reading →

Terrorists take Catholic priest hostage during siege of Filipino city

May 25, 2017 Avis Krane

25.05.2017, Philippines.

On May 24, during the siege of the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines, Muslim extremists took a Catholic priest and more than a dozen parishioners hostage, The Associated Press reports.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said that the militants forced their way into the Marawi Cathedral and seized a Catholic priest, ten worshippers, and three church workers. Villegas also added that the priest, Father Chito, and the others had no role in the conflict. Continue reading →

President of the Philippines imposes martial law in connection with Islamist attack

May 25, 2017 Avis Krane

25.05.2017, Philippines.

Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines, imposed martial law in the province of Mindanao directly from the Russian capital, the website of the President of Russia reported on May 24.

Rodrigo Duterte, the Filipino leader, came to Moscow for a scheduled visit. Purchases of the Russian-made arms and manufactured products, as well as cooperation in the energy sector, were the topics of negotiations. Continue reading →

South Korea wants to reestablish telephone communication with the North

May 18, 2017 Avis Krane

18.05.2017, South Korea.

Official Seoul declared its intent to reopen telephone communication with North Korea via Panmunjom truce village on the countries’ border, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports on May 17.

The newly elected government of South Korea is looking for means to develop interstate relations on the Korean peninsula.

“The restoration of inter-Korean dialogue must start with the normal functioning of the Panmunjom communication site. There will be relevant announcement from the government soon”, said Yang Moon-jin, a professor at University of North Korean studies and consultant to newly elect president Moon Jae-in on the North Korea issues. Continue reading →

China: Hong Kong claims financial leadership in the New Silk Road project

May 15, 2017 Avis Krane

15.05.2017, China.

Hong Kong has every opportunity to become a leading financial platform for the “New Silk Road” initiative, said Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, at the One Belt, One Road Forum in Beijing on May 15, TASS News Agency reports.

Leung Chun-ying noted that being China’s international financial center, Hong Kong becomes a superconductor between the People’s Republic of China and the rest of the world. Today Hong Kong is the most preferable place for capital from mainland China because there are no foreign exchange control and restrictions. In addition, for 23 consecutive years, the Heritage Foundation [in its annual Index of Economic Freedom publication – Editor], lists Hong Kong among the freest economies in the world. Continue reading →

Memory of Soviet soldier-liberators honored in many countries

May 11, 2017 Avis Krane

11.05.2017

Events dedicated to the memory of the heroism of the Soviet soldier-liberators who saved the world from Nazism during the Great Patriotic War (is the name used to refer to the part of World War II which started with the invasion of Nazis into the Soviet Union and ended with the Red Banner over Reichstag and defeat of Nazis from the hands of the Soviet people – Editor) were held in many countries on May 9, mass media reported.

The capital of China, Beijing, hosted the procession of the “Immortal Regiment”. Participants and guests received St. George ribbons. The procession of the column of the “Immortal Regiment” passed through the “Chaoyang” central park to the “Soviet Falcon” sculpture, dedicated to Soviet pilots. Participants of the event paid tribute to the memory of the dead with a Minute of Silence and laying flowers at the monument. The ambassador of Russia in China, Andrey Denisov, took part in the event. After the procession of the “Immortal Regiment”, the events dedicated to the 9th of May continued in the “Jintai” Art Gallery, where a gala concert was held and a photo exhibition dedicated to the Great Patriotic War was organized. More than 100 people took part in the events. Continue reading →

President of South Korea is not satisfied with the US THAAD deployment treaty

May 11, 2017 Avis Krane

11.05.2017, South Korea.

The head of Democratic United Party Moon Jae-in, who won the presidential elections in South Korea, said that conditions for the deployment of the US missile defense system may require revision, “RBC” media group reported on May 10.

During his inauguration ceremony, which took place in the South Korean parliament, Moon Jae-in declared that he will do all that is possible to keep the peace on the Korean Peninsula. “If it is necessary, I will immediately fly to Washington. I will go to Beijing and Tokyo, and if possible, I am ready to visit Pyongyang,” said Moon Jae-in in his speech.

Continue reading →

China announces new missile test near the Korean peninsula

May 11, 2017 Avis Krane

11.05.2017, China.

The Chinese Defense Ministry issued a brief report on testing a new type of guided missile in the Bohai Bay, Agence France-Presse reported May 9.

The Ministry did not mention technical specifications of the missile, the type of launcher, or the exact dates of the launch, limiting itself to calling it “recent”. The purpose of the tests was defined as “enhancing the operational capabilities of the armed forces, and the effectiveness of the response to national security threats.” Continue reading →

China honors memory of Soviet pilots

May 5, 2017 Avis Krane

05.05.2017, China.

A wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial of pilots who perished during the Second Sino-Japanese War, was held in Nanjing, TASS News Agency reported on May 4.

Diplomatic staff of the Russian and Belarussian Consulates General in Shanghai attended the ceremony.

It has become a tradition to lay wreaths at the Memorial every year at the eve of May 9. Continue reading →