IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Turkey

Delivery of S-400 will start in 2019

Russia will begin delivering its advanced S-400 missile defense system to Turkey in 2019, the Interfax news agency cited Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport as saying on Tuesday. The United States has expressed concern that NATO member Turkey's planned deployment of the Russian-made S-400 could risk the security of several US-made weapons used by Turkey, including the F-35 jet. Rosoboronexport also said it would switch to using local currencies in deals with foreign trade partners, instead of using the dollar, the RIA news agency reported.

Japan

Fleet catches 177 whales in latest hunt

A fleet of Japanese whaling ships caught 177 minke and sei whales during a three-month tour of the northwestern Pacific, the government said on Wednesday. The three-ship mission returned home as Tokyo prepares to make its case to resume commercial whaling at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Brazil next month. Foreign pressure on Japan to stop whaling has only made conservatives and politicians more resolute about continuing their push to resume commercial whaling.

Pakistan

PM proposes dialogue with India

Pakistan's newly-elected prime minister on Tuesday offered to start a dialogue with India to resolve long-running disputes between the two nuclear-armed rivals, including over the Kashmir region. Imran Khan, a former cricket star who was sworn in last week, tweeted that the two countries should focus on alleviating poverty in South Asia by pursuing new trade agreements. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Khan after his swearing-in and expressed a desire for talks.

Reuters - Ap - Afp

(China Daily 08/23/2018 page12)