News Story: China calls for patience with situation in Myanmar's Rakhine

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Thursday called for patience with the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

"The question of Rakhine State is rooted in a nexus of complex historical, ethnic and religious factors. Many of the differences and antagonisms have been building up over a long time. There is no quick fix," Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council.

China condemns the recent violent attacks in Rakhine State and supports Myanmar's effort to keep its domestic situation stable, he said. "We sincerely hope that order will prevail again as soon as possible so that no more harm will come to the innocent civilians, and so that social stability, unity among ethnic groups and economic development in Myanmar will be sustained."

He asked the international community to view the difficulties and challenges confronting the Myanmar government "through objective optics," exercise patience, and provide support and help.

"A viable solution will be one that goes in tandem with the reconciliation process in Myanmar," said Wu.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Myanmar Rejects Bangladesh’s Initiative on Safety Zone Along Border – Official

A senior Myanmari official told the Myanmar Times newspaper that the government had rejected Bangladesh's initiative to create a safe zone on Myanmar’s border to ensure the safety of Rohingya refugees.

BANGKOK (Sputnik) – Myanmar rejected Bangladesh's initiative to create a safe zone in Myanmar’s border area to ensure the safety of Rohingya refugees fleeing violence, U Zaw Htay, the director general of the State Counsellor Office told the Myanmar Times newspaper on Thursday.

The proposal was sent by Bangladesh last week via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"The government rejects the plan to create a safety zone," the official said adding that such zone, if created, would fall under the international control.

In late August, insurgents of Rohingya origin attacked security posts in the state of Rakhine. The attacks prompted a violent response by Myanmar's authorities, resulting in clashes and the death of hundreds of people while forcing thousands of others to flee to Bangladesh. The violence was condemned by many countries, including Russia.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Myanmar calls for int'l support to bring stability to northern state

YANGON, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government on Monday night called on the international community to best help and support its efforts to bring stability, peace and development to the northern Rakhine state in conflict.

In a press statement on the situation in the state, Myanmar Foreign Ministry said the latest Arakan Rohingya Salvarion Army (ARSA) extremist terrorists' attack was an attempt to undermine the efforts of the government to find a lasting solution to the issue of Rakhine through the speedy implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"The security forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in carrying out security operation, to exercise all due restraint, and to take full measures to avoid collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians in the course of carrying out their legitimate duty to restore stability," the statement said.

"Human rights violations and all other acts that impair stability and harmony and undermine the rule of law will be addressed in accordance with strict norms of justice," it added.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: 'Patient' on Wheelchair Kills ICRC Foreign Physiotherapist in Afghanistan

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — A foreign woman working for the International Committee of the Red Cross has been shot dead in northern Afghanistan.

ICRC spokesman Ahmad Rameen Ayaz told VOA the incident took place Monday at an orthopedic clinic in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province.

He identified the victim as 38-year-old physiotherapist, Lorena Enebral Perez, a Spanish national.

Ayaz said the Afghan intelligence agency has arrested the assailant and launched an investigation into the deadly attack.

The shooter was said to be a “regular patient” and had hidden the pistol in his wheelchair.

The ICRC spokesman added the motive for the violence was not known immediately.

Ayaz said the aid worker was quickly evacuated to a nearby NATO military hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

News Report: ICRC says two of abducted staff released in Afghanistan

GENEVA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said here on Tuesday that its two staff abducted by an armed group in February in Afghanistan have been set free.

"We are relieved and grateful that our colleagues are now back with us unharmed," the Geneva-based organization quoted its external head of delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli, as saying.

The two ICRC staff members went missing in a deadly attack, which also killed other six Red Cross colleagues.

"Their abduction and the killings of our six colleagues were emotional agony for all of us, especially for their families and friends," said the organization.

ICRC President Peter Maurer tweeted: "Relieved that our colleagues abducted in #Afghanistan have been released. Respect for humanitarians is imperative. We are #NotATarget."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: S. Korea urges DPRK to respond to dialogue overtures

SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Tuesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to give a positive response to Seoul's earlier dialogue overtures, about which Pyongyang has been mum.

"We believe it is necessary to resume inter-Korean cooperation to solve humanitarian issues and ease military tensions," Seoul's unification ministry.

The ministry urged the DPRK to respond to Seoul's dialogue offers, vowing multilateral efforts to ease military tensions and solve urgent humanitarian issues including the reunion of separated families.

The Moon Jae-in government, which was inaugurated on May 10, proposed to hold talks on military affairs with the DPRK on July 21 at the truce village of Panmumjom. It was aimed at stopping all hostile acts near the military demarcation line (MDL).

The Moon administration also suggested Red Cross talks with the DPRK be held on Aug. 1, but Pyongyang has been mum about both dialogue proposals.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: S. Korea vows to seek dialogue with and sanctions on N. Korea

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top diplomat reiterated Saturday that Seoul will seek dialogue with North Korea while keeping up pressure and sanctions on Pyongyang over its provocations.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in a phone conversation with her British counterpart Boris Johnson earlier in the day that Seoul will continue to push for engagement with North Korea, noting that pressure is meant to bring the isolated country back to the negotiating table.

Her comments came as North Korea has remained silent on South Korea's recent offer for two separate talks on military matters and family reunions.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: Moon says nuclear talks with N. Korea may be far away, but not humanitarian dialogue

South Korean President Moon Jae-in

SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in reiterated his decision to resume talks with North Korea on Wednesday, saying inter-Korean dialogue will be aimed at addressing humanitarian issues that may in turn help denuclearize the communist state.

The new South Korean president also insisted the decision on whether to resume such dialogue was entirely up to his country.

Moon's remarks came two days after his government proposed holding military and Red Cross talks with Pyongyang, which, if held, would mark a resumption of inter-Korean dialogue that has nearly come to naught over the past five years under Seoul's former conservative administration.

The U.S., however, has expressed its apparent opposition to resuming inter-Korean talks in the near future, noting the current conditions were "far away" from those needed for the resumption of dialogue with Pyongyang.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: White House - Current conditions 'far away' to reopen inter-Korean talks

By Lee Haye-ah

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Yonhap) -- The White House expressed veiled opposition to South Korea's proposal for rare inter-Korean talks Monday, saying current conditions are "far away" from those needed to reopen dialogue with the recalcitrant state.

Seoul proposed military talks for this coming Friday and Red Cross talks on Aug. 1 to discuss ways to ease tensions along their shared border and resume reunions of families separated since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The offer came amid renewed tensions over the North's first launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4.

"Well, obviously those comments came out of the Republic of Korea and I would refer you back to them," Press Secretary Sean Spicer said during a briefing, when asked if there are certain conditions U.S. President Donald Trump would like to see met before the talks take place. "That being said, I think the president has made clear in the past with respect that any type of conditions that would have to be met are clearly far away from where we are now."

Other government officials expressed a cautious attitude earlier in the day.

"We refer you to the ROK government for comment," Katina Adams, a State Department spokeswoman, said in response to a query from Yonhap about whether Washington views the proposal as appropriate in the wake of the latest provocation.

The last time the Koreas held official talks was in December 2015.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Report: Seoul Ready for Dialogue With Pyongyang Depending on N Korea's Denuclearization

Seoul is ready to fully launch the dialogue with Pyongyang, but depending on what position North Korea would have on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Monday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Seoul offered Pyongyang to hold negotiations on the level of military officials on Friday in order to stop all hostilities on the bilateral border and also proposed to have talks on the level of Red Cross charity representatives on August 1, according to the Yonhap news agency.

“We will consider the normalization of dialogue between the South and the North, monitoring the latter’s position on denuclearization,” the unification minister said, as quoted by the agency.

Tensions between the two countries have risen in the recent years amid Pyongyang's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, conducted in violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions. However, the dialogue with North Korea and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula became a part of policy of new South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: South Korea Proposes Military Talks With North

Brian Padden

SEOUL — South Korea proposed military talks and family reunions with North Korea on Monday to reduce the increasing potential for conflict over Pyongyang’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

“The Defense Ministry proposes to hold a military talks between the two Koreas on July 21 at Tongilgak in North Korea to stop all hostile actions which heightens military tensions at the border,” said Seoul’s Vice Defense Minister Seo Joo-seok on Monday.

Military talks

Tongilgak is a North Korean building at the Panmunjom truce village on the border used in the past for inter-Korea talks. The last government-level meetings were held in December, 2015.

Since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took power in May, his government has tried to engage the North to reduce tensions, including offers of humanitarian aid, non-political exchanges and reviving the inter-Korean military hotline that Pyongyang cut off in early 2016 after Seoul shut down the jointly run Kaesong Industrial complex to punish the North for its nuclear testing and long-range rocket launches.

News Story: China applauds proposal for military, Red Cross talks between ROK, DPRK

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday responded to a proposal by the Republic of Korea (ROK) to hold inter-Korean military and Red Cross talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), urging the the two sides to work together to break the stalemate.

"China believes it is in the fundamental interests of both sides to improve ties through dialogue, and promote reconciliation and cooperation," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang at a press briefing. "It also helps to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and boost the peace, stability and security of the region."

The ROK on Monday proposed holding inter-Korean military talks on Friday at Tongilgak, a building on the DPRK side of the truce village of Panmunjom, to ease military tensions along the border.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Seeking talks, S. Korea tests Kim Jong-un's appetite for warming ties

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, July 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's offer of military and family reunion talks with North Korea on Monday reflects President Moon Jae-in's resolve to draw a line between sanctions on Pyongyang and efforts to improve bilateral ties.

It's also seen as a litmus test of whether the Kim Jong-un regime is interested in changing the course of belligerence.

Moon, the South's first liberal leader in a decade, believes dialogue should be used to help build trust, as stated in his Berlin address early this month.

He laid out a vision for denuclearizing the peninsula and bringing permanent peace to it through dialogue and tension-easing measures.

Moon was emboldened by U.S. President Donald Trump's support for Seoul to take the initiative in dealing with Korea issues. But Moon's push was overshadowed by the North's July 4 launch of an apparent intercontinental ballistic missile.

The U.N. Security Council is working on a new resolution to ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang for the latest missile firing.

Moon's point man on the North sought to assure the communist state of the South's sincerity and seriousness behind Monday's proposal.

"South Korea has no hostile policy toward North Korea as (the president) clearly stated in his Berlin doctrine that he will never pursue the collapse of North Korea and an absorption-based reunification," Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said in a statement.

It came hours after the Ministry of National Defense proposed holding military talks with the North on Friday to reduce tensions, and the (South) Korea Red Cross suggested an Aug. 1 meeting with its northern counterpart aimed at arranging an event for separated families to get reunited briefly.

It represented the Moon administration's first formal offer of inter-Korean talks.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: S. Korea prepares to propose military talks to N.K.

SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea may propose inter-Korean military talks as early as this week to follow up on President Moon Jae-in's offer to stop all acts of hostility on the border, a government official said Sunday.

The unification, military and other relevant ministries are discussing the plan one day after Pyongyang first reacted to Moon's suggestion, according to the official who asked not to be named de to sensitivity of the issue.

During his speech in Berlin on July 6, Moon laid out his vision for bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula, including a proposal to mutually halt acts of hostility along their tense border as of the July 27 anniversary of the armistice treaty that ended the three-year Korean War in 1953.

He also offered to hold reunions of families torn apart by the war on Oct. 4, Korea's lunar fall harvest holiday and the 10th anniversary of the second inter-Korean summit.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

USA: USS Ronald Reagan begins exercise Talisman Saber

From USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 prepares to launch from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during Talisman Saber, July 8. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Jamal McNeill) >>

CORAL SEA - The Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) began participating in exercise Talisman Saber 2017 (TS 17) off the coast of Australia, July 8.

TS 17 is a joint exercise sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force Headquarters Joint Operations Command designed to enhance U.S.-Australian military interoperability through a variety of maritime, land and air operations scenarios.

“Talisman Saber is an excellent opportunity for Sailors from both navies to train together and enhance our collective, maritime capabilities,” said Capt. Buzz Donnelly, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer. “Our ability to integrate seamlessly with our Australian Defence Force partners is integral to our combined efforts to support peace and stability in the region.”

TS 17, which began June 23, will include more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel and feature 21 ships, to including the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, and more than 200 joint aircraft.

News Story: Foreign aid pours in for Marawi victims

By Pia Lee-Brago and Helen Flores

MANILA, Philippines - Donations and assistance from other countries have started pouring in for victims of the armed conflict in Marawi City.

The Korean government, through its Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-shin, yesterday delivered to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) P5 million in humanitarian aid for civilians displaced by the conflict.

At the turnover ceremony held at the PRC Tower in Mandaluyong City, Kim expressed his condolences to the victims and his hope that the conflict will end as soon as possible.

He said Korea wants to help in easing the difficulties of the people in evacuation centers with its donation.

The aid will be spent to provide water, food and non-food items to the evacuees and to run portalets and bathing facilities in various evacuation centers housing the displaced residents of Marawi.

“The Republic of Korea is committed to fight against terrorism and is ready to provide necessary help to the Philippines in this time of difficulty,” the Korean embassy in Manila said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

USA: Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 highlights enduring US, Australia alliance

From U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs

In this file photo, Royal Australian Navy and U.S. Navy ships steam together during Talisman Saber in 2015. (Royal Australian Navy photo) >>

FORT Shafter, Hawaii - More than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel will participate in the biennial military training exercise Talisman Saber 2017 in Australia, June 23 to July 25, 2017.

Talisman Saber, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force Headquarters Joint Operations Command, will incorporate U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and the Australian Defence Force as well as other government agencies from each country.

Featuring 21 ships, to include the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, and more than 200 joint aircraft, this seventh iteration of the exercise will focus on training a Combined Task Force of U.S. and Australian forces in a mid-intensity, high-end warfighting scenario, incorporating interagency participation, along with a command post exercise involving a transition between a 3 and 4-star Headquarters. U.S. Pacific Command units and Australian forces will conduct live and virtual training exercises in multi domains on sea, land, air, cyber and throughout multiple training areas in and around Australia.

News Story: Displaced residents in Marawi conflict in Philippines hope to return home soon

MANILA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Casamudin Riga, a displaced Marawi resident temporarily sheltered in an evacuation center, is anxious about the situation of thousands of evacuees that fled the southern Philippine city over the ongoing fighting between government forces and militants allied with the Islamic State (IS).

"Our situation inside the evacuation center is not easy. It's humid during the day, but it's too cold at night. As evacuees, we don't have much choice. I am just grateful because at least my family is complete and safe," said the 51-year-old trader.

Riga voiced his hope that he could return home soon and start his life all over again.

However, the month-long conflict in the southern Philippine city of Marawi marked its first month with no sign of "immediate end in sight," the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement on Friday.

The aid agency said that Riga and the more than 200,000 people displaced by the raging war continue to face many humanitarian needs as fighting continue to rage.

"The situation is far from over. Fighting is ongoing, and civilians who are trapped or are displaced continue to face challenging situations," said Roberto Petronio, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Mindanao.

Petronio appealed for food, drinking water, sanitation facilities and health care, saying the displaced people need them badly in the coming weeks.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Australia announces 11.4 mln USD humanitarian aid package for Afghanistan, Pakistan

CANBERRA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has allocated an additional 15 million Australian dollars (11.41 million U.S. dollars) to provide humanitarian support to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the nation's Foreign Minister announced on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the package as part of World Refugee Day.

"The United Nations (UN) estimates over 3.3 million Afghan people are currently displaced across Afghanistan and Pakistan," Bishop said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Australia's assistance of 15 million Australian dollars will provide vital protection services, healthcare and nutrition to Afghan refugees in Pakistan, people returning from neighboring countries, people displaced by conflict and host communities in Pakistan. It will focus on protecting the most vulnerable, including women and children and people with disabilities," she said.

Bishop said the assistance would be allocated to and provided by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund, the International Organisation for Migration, and the UN Population Fund.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: USS Lake Erie completes relief mission in Sri Lanka

From Destroyer Squadron 7 Public Affairs

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Jason McEntire works with Sri Lankan Marines to repair levees during humanitarian assistance operations, June 12. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Joshua Fulton) >>

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -U.S. Sailors from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) completed their contributions to the humanitarian assistance mission in Sri Lanka, June 17.

More than 400 Sailors participated in the mission in Sri Lanka, where recent heavy rainfalls brought by a southwest monsoon triggered flooding and landslides throughout the country, displacing thousands of people and causing significant damage to homes and buildings.

"Our mission here was straight-forward, to provide support and relief efforts to our friends in Sri Lanka who were impacted by this disaster," said Capt. Alexis T. Walker, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7. "Working alongside Sailors and Marines from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, our team conducted irrigation repairs, well rehabilitation and levee repairs throughout the region. I'm proud of our efforts this week and the assistance we were able to provide."