Around The World Archives - Defence Monitor

29 Oct

Pakistan’s economic recovery narrative based on fudged figures: Report

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) The latest figures released by Pakistan’s National Accounts Committee contradict the government’s earlier narrative that the country’s economy has stabilised, according to a new report. The National Accounts Committee recorded a growth of 2.0 per cent in the final quarter in the last financial year, revised the annual figure down to 3.65 per cent, and added as much as $14.8 billion to recorded imports across five financial years. The hike in the figure for imports shows that the external accounts underwriting the stabilisation story were wrong throughout the period Islamabad claimed to be fixing them.…

29 Oct

Hong Kong suffers economic hardship, property slump over China’s policy changes: Report

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Hong Kong was once celebrated as Asia’s ultimate success story is now enduring economic and social hardship due to property market pressures and business closures linked to Beijing’s policy changes, a new report has said. The report from Myanmar-based Ayeyarwady Times said Hong Kong is now ridden with vacant storefronts, rental notices hanging from once-premium retail properties, struggling restaurants, declining property values. While Hong Kong remains a major international financial centre, many residents feel the city has lost its dynamic, opportunity-rich metropolis character. The report attributed the fall to multiple factors including economic shocks, corrections…

29 Oct

Pakistan’s Taiwan airspace U-turn exposes diplomatic balancing act

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Pakistan’s abrupt decision to bar Taiwanese commercial airlines from using its airspace, followed by an equally swift U-turn, has exposed the tight diplomatic rope that Islamabad treads to keep open all possible sources of support for the crumbling administration and its economy, and the frequent slips while doing that. While engaging desperately in parleys to solve the vexed issue of being pitted against neighbour Iran with its strategic defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Pakistan is on the edge between “all-weather” partner China and the United States, who Islamabad needs to urge upon financial…

27 Oct

Ukraine, Russia begin humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky

Moscow/Kyiv, Oct 27 (IANS) A humanitarian ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in the area around Oleshky took effect on Tuesday, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said on social media. The ceasefire began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time (0100 GMT) as part of a previously agreed humanitarian mission, Lubinets said on Facebook, adding that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments under the agreement reached with Russia, Xinhua news agency reported. Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed that Russian forces had ceased fire in the Kherson direction and a "silence regime" had been introduced from 4 a.m. Moscow time (0100…

27 Oct

Kim’s China trip may have been more than economic event: South Korean minister

Seoul, Oct 27 (IANS) South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's trip to China last week may have been more than an economic event, given the makeup of his delegation. "The fact that both sides fielded their diplomatic and security teams deserves a close look," Chung said at a parliamentary audit, responding to a lawmaker's question about the meaning of Kim's surprise one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday. He noted the North Korean delegation was heavy with diplomatic and security officials, and that no economic officials were present…

24 Oct

Indian Americans in Michigan courted as Trump heads to Port Huron

Washington, Oct 24 (IANS) Michigan’s Indian American community, the largest Asian group in a state that could decide control of Congress, is being courted by Asian American political groups in the closing days of the midterm campaign, as President Donald Trump prepares to rally supporters in Port Huron on Sunday. Trump is scheduled to speak at McMorran Place in Port Huron on Sunday, according to the White House schedule, his third rally in three days after Fort Myers, Florida, on Friday and Perry, Georgia, on Saturday. The AAPI Victory Fund, a super PAC that backs Asian American candidates and voters,…

24 Oct

Four Philippine Air Force pilots killed as two SF-260 aircraft crash during training flight

Manila, Oct 24 (IANS) Four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed after two SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province on Friday, October 23, the air force confirmed on Saturday. According to the PAF, the accident occurred at approximately 3:51 pm local time, when both aircraft went down within the perimeter of Fernando Air Base. No other casualties were reported in the incident. The air force expressed grief over the loss of the four pilots and said an investigation had been launched to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash. As…

23 Oct

Support for US to be seen as ‘hostile act’ toward Iran: Official

Tehran, Oct 23 (IANS) Iran has warned regional countries that any support for the United States (US) in the event of a renewed armed conflict would be regarded as a hostile act toward Tehran, an Iranian official said on Friday. Iran would be able to identify which regional states are prepared to back American forces if military action resumes, Fada Hossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told RIA Novosti in an interview. "In that case, the decisions taken by Iran may go beyond strikes on the military bases of those countries, and…

23 Oct

South Korea proposes military talks with North to ease tensions along border

Seoul, Oct 23 (IANS) South Korea renewed its offer Friday to hold military talks with North Korea to discuss their conflicting views on where the inter-Korean border sits, seeking to ease tensions sparked by last month's land mine blast inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Seoul and Pyongyang have traded sharp rhetoric since South Korea blamed the North for the September 21 mine blast inside the DMZ that injured three South Korean troops. Pyongyang has denied responsibility and vowed to take military actions along the border, if needed. "Different perceptions remain over the Military Demarcation Line (MDL)," Deputy Defence Minister Kim…

22 Oct

India condemns attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian and energy infrastructure, hopes peace returns to region

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) India on Thursday condemned the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the attack on King Fahd International Airport and Aramco's Shaybah oil field, while expressing hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest. "We strongly condemn the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province on October 21. These attacks have unfortunately resulted in civilian deaths and injuries," the Ministry of External Affairs…