Category: Asia News

Wednesday’s development come as US plans to pull out 2,000 troops from Afghanistan by mid-January…reports Asian Lite News

In a phone call, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani discussed the troops level adjustment in the war-torn country, as well as the peace process which is currently at an impasse.

Confirming the phone conversation on Wednesday, Afghan presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said: “Both sides talked about the Afghan peace process and NATO’s continued support to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces in their fight against terrorism,” TOLO News reported.

Taking to Twitter, the NATO chief said: Spoke with Ashraf Ghani on the situation in Afghanistan where it has been a long and hard road towards the peace talks. They are fragile but offer the best chance for peace. NATO remains committed to Afghanistan’s security.

Discussed #NATO’s mission with @ashrafghani. We support the #Afghanistan peace process & as part of it we’ll continue to adjust our presence. Even with the US reduction, NATO will continue to train, advise & assist the Afghan forces in their fight against international terrorism.

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) November 18, 2020

“We support the Afghanistan peace process and as part of it we’ll continue to adjust our presence.

“Even with the US reduction, NATO will continue to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces in their fight against international terrorism.”

Wednesday’s development come as US plans to pull out 2,000 troops from Afghanistan by mid-January.

Countries in the region, including Pakistan, Iran and Russia have also asked for a responsible withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

Also read:Asian Lite Daily Digital – November 18, 2020 – NATO Warns Against Troop Withdrawal…

Mladenov said that the UN and its partners continue to provide critical humanitarian development and assistance in Gaza, as unemployment and hunger have soared during the pandemic….reports Asian Lite News

The UN has welcomed the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) decision to resume coordination with Israel amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

In a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday, the UN envoy for the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov said that Gaza remains the most pressing concern as the territory is ill-equipped to face a major spike in Covid-19 cases due to poor living conditions and a fragile healthcare system, reports Xinhua news agency.

He warned that any major outbreak of the disease would have a catastrophic impact on the 2 million Palestinians living there, who are already affected by severe movement and access restrictions, cycles of violent escalation, and years of humanitarian crisis.

“For these reasons, I welcome the Palestinian Authority’s decision to restart civilian and security coordination with Israel.

#UN Envoy @nmladenov welcomes the PA's decision to restart civil. & sec. coord. w/ #Israel. Expresses appreciation to Israel for confirming that existing bilateral agreements continue to govern their relations, particularly in the context of economic, security & civilian affairs.

— UNSCO (@UNSCO_MEPP) November 18, 2020

“I express my appreciation to Israel for confirming that existing bilateral agreements continue to govern relations between both parties, particularly in the context of economic, security and civilian affairs,” Mladenov told the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

The envoy thanked all those who helped bring about this development, noting that it took months of hard work.

“I have previously expressed hope that recognition of the interdependence of Israelis and Palestinians could, with political will and leadership, translate into tangible progress towards a resolution of the conflict.

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“Both sides should understand the importance of respecting the validity and continuing force of the framework that they have agreed to govern their relations,” he added.

Mladenov said that the UN and its partners continue to provide critical humanitarian development and assistance in Gaza, as unemployment and hunger have soared during the pandemic.

Roughly 121,000 Palestinians have lost their jobs, while some 40 per cent of all households have seen their incomes drop by more than half.

Assistance provided by the UN and partners has included the delivery of nearly 85,000 Covid-19 tests, advanced laboratory equipment, ventilators, monitors and other items.

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However, Mladenov also expressed hope that the restart of coordination will bring an end to temporary measures brokered by the UN which have facilitated the transfer of patients out of Gaza and allowed for humanitarian supplies to be imported into the territory.

The envoy also addressed the need to re-examine the economic relationship between the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, as highlighted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Also read:Palestine knocks Pompeo’s plan to visit Israeli settlement

The airstrike was carried out as part of “a clear policy that I have been leading for years”, he noted…reports Asian Lite News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to carry out more airstrikes in Syria if Iran continues to maintain a military presence in the war-torn country.

“We will not allow Iranian military entrenchment against us in Syria and we will not tolerate any attempt to attack us from Syrian territory,” Xinhua news agency quoted Netanyahu as saying in a statement issued by his office on Wednesday hours after a deadly Israeli airstrike in Syria.

“This morning, the air force attacked significant Iranian Quds Force targets and Syrian military targets in Syria,” the Prime Minister said, in a rare acknowledgment of Israeli airstrikes in Syria.

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The airstrike was carried out as part of “a clear policy that I have been leading for years”, he noted.

“Whoever tries to attack us or attacks us will bear the consequences,” Netanyahu warned.

At least 10 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters were killed in airstrikes on Syrian military sites in the capital Damascus on Wednesday, the UK-based watchdog Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

In recent years, Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria.

Also read:Israel will not tolerate any attacks: Netanyahu

The agreement was made at the seventh meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov…reports Asian Lite News

China and Russia reviewed their investment cooperation progress and agreed to make efforts to overcome the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate the resumption of work and production in bilateral investment cooperation to yield more practical achievements.

The agreement was made at the seventh meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, commended the sound momentum of investment cooperation between the two countries and said China stands ready to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push China-Russia investment cooperation to a higher level.

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Han pointed out that the two sides should seize the new opportunities and encourage enterprises from the two countries to conduct cooperation in fields of digital economy and anti-pandemic fight.

Han called on the two countries to take the opportunity of the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation to strengthen investment cooperation in areas including high-tech, information and communication, and biosecurity.

The two countries should deepen cooperation at local levels and encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance cooperation, Han said, adding both sides should encourage financial innovation and support the expansion of local currency payment and settlement, giving full play to the supporting role of financial services in investment cooperation.

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Han also called for joint efforts to build a fair, just and stable business environment to boost investors’ confidence.

Belousov said facing the pandemic, Russia and China assisted each other, kept close coordination and made steady advancement in major investment cooperation projects.

Belousov also hailed Russia-China bilateral relations as a model of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. He said Russia is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, overcome difficulties and give full play to the advantages of bilateral investment cooperation mechanism and promote comprehensive practical cooperation to achieve new progress.

Also read:GCC, China meet to forge closer ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the BRICS countries for their close coordination on international and regional issues.

The BRICS are strengthening cooperation to combat terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption, Putin said during the 12th BRICS summit hosted by Russia via video conference, Xinhua reported.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, and all BRICS countries unanimously condemned the glorification of the Nazis and their henchmen as well as the attempts to revise the results of the war and revive the ideology of aggression and intolerance, Putin said.

He said the BRICS countries consistently advocate the development of constructive relations with other states and organisations on the basis of respect for the United Nations Charter and norms of international law — sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes.

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