IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Australia

Govt to launch airstrikes on IS

Australia has announced it will launch airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria within days and resettle an additional 12,000 refugees from the deepening humanitarian and security crisis in the Middle East. Prime Minister Tony Abbott also said on Wednesday his government will pay an additional $31 million to keep 240,000 Syrians and Iraqis in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The 12,000 refugee places are in addition to Australia's usual annual refugee intake of 13,750.

Somalia

US diplomatic mission opens

The US has opened a diplomatic mission for Somalia, based in the US embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of its effort to normalize relations with the East African nation, which continues to battle Islamic extremist rebels. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US State Department said the US mission will be led by a charge d'affaires until President Barack Obama appoints and the Senate confirms an ambassador.

Russia

Moscow criticizes US 'boorishness'

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the United States' requests to Greece and Bulgaria to close their airspace for Russian flights to Syria amount to "international boorishness". The United States asked Greece and Bulgaria earlier this week to deny overflight access, concerned by reports of a Russian military buildup in Syria. Moscow said it is simply helping Damascus fight Islamist militants. Bulgaria said on Wednesday it will allow Russian supply flights to Syria to use its airspace if Moscow agrees to checks of its cargo at a Bulgarian airport.

Iran

Teheran will not talk beyond deal

Iran's supreme leader said Teheran will not negotiate with the United States on any issue after the landmark nuclear deal with world powers in July, according to his official website on Wednesday. "We negotiated with the US on the nuclear issue for specific reasons. (The US) behaved well in the talks, but we didn't and we won't allow negotiation with the Americans on other issues," Ayatollah Khamenei was quoted as saying.

Germany

1,000 flights canceled in strike

Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline, said it has canceled 1,000 flights after pilots went on strike in an ongoing labor dispute. The pilots union, Vereinigung Cockpit, began its strike on long-haul flights on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of 90 flights, and extended the walkout to medium-and short-haul flights on Wednesday. Lufthansa said some 140,000 travelers were affected, but that about 500 of the airline's flights would still operate.

AFP - AP - Reuters

(China Daily 09/10/2015 page12)