The Baloch House

http://m.dw.com/en/japan-commits-to-chinas-one-belt-one-road-initiative/a-39686569


PM Shinzo Abe sees opportunities for Japanese companies in the ambitious economic development plan, but he also fears not taking part may mean Tokyo being sidelined by increasingly wealthy and influential Beijing.During talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the fringes of the recent G20 summit in Hamburg, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed Tokyo's intention to participate in Beijing's ambitious "One Belt, One Road" economic plan, a significant concession from a government that had previously distanced itself from Chinese economic and development initiatives.Analysts say that while the Japanese leader is hoping for a windfall for domestic companies, he also recognizes that Japan simply cannot afford to be left out of a growing international project without any say in its future direction. Yet another motivation is to pressure President Donald Trump's administration to …

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/216522-Iran-seeks-Quetta-Taftan-train-section-in-CPEC



ISLAMABAD: Iran has said that being an important section in Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Container Train Corridor, Quetta-Taftan railway line must be given extra attention by Pakistan, a statement said on Friday. “It should also be given priority in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Moreover, all the technical and mechanical issues of this section must be resolved as soon as possible,” Majid Arjooni, DG South East Railway Company of Iran, demanded during a meeting with Parveen Agha, secretary Ministry of Railways at her office.  “Iran has also reduced the transshipment cost for ITI freight train at its Zahedan station. The newly proposed rates for loaded and empty containers have been set at 30 euros and 10 euros respectively.” Arjooni, who is leading a high-level Iranian delegation to Pakistan, also urged the government of Pakistan to ensure the doors of container train were sealed…

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5968f9a7e4b09e26b6d76780



07/14/2017 01:09 pm ETBHEEM RAJ /THAR VOICE FORUMA massive protest against the Gorrano Dam on January 26 2017 in Islamkot, Tharparkar.Dr. Amiera Sawas, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi and Dr Nausheen H. Anwar, Institute of Business Administration, KarachiAdvertisementIn Pakistan, there’s no topic hotter than the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar bilateral development project that will, officials promised in 2015, “usher in an era of unprecedented progress and prosperity”. The CPEC is not only Pakistan’s first big injection of foreign direct investment in a while, its focus on energy development is also desperately needed in a country that has suffered worsening energy shortages for two decades.With renewables constituting much of the US$33 billion earmarked for energy, the CPEC is also set to make Pakistan a global player in meeting its Paris agreement commitments to fight climate c…

http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/asserting-sovereignty-indonesia-renames-part-of-south-china-sea/news-story/aa16a3ae60476df35ef6c216713b23fc

JULY 15, 20175:43AMChina builds new military facilities in the South China SeaReutersNews Corp Australia NetworkINDONESIA has renamed the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea as the North Natuna Sea, the latest act of resistance by Southeast Asian nations to China’s territorial ambitions in the maritime region.Seen by analysts as an assertion of Indonesian sovereignty, part of the renamed sea is claimed by China under its contentious maritime boundary, known as the ‘nine-dash line’, that encompasses most of the resource-rich sea.Several Southeast Asian states dispute China’s territorial claims and are competing with China to exploit the South China Sea’s abundant hydrocarbon and fishing resources.Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Picture: AP.Source:SuppliedChina has raised the ante by deploying military assets on…

https://www.the-american-interest.com/2017/07/14/indonesia-stakes-claim-south-china-sea/


With the stroke of a pen and the release of a new map, Indonesia just made the South China Sea a little more complicated. Reuters:Indonesia renamed the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea as the North Natuna Sea on Friday, the latest act of resistance by Southeast Asian nations to China’s territorial ambitions in the maritime region.Seen by analysts as an assertion of Indonesian sovereignty, part of the renamed sea is claimed by China under its contentious maritime boundary, known as the ‘nine-dash line’, that encompasses most of the resource-rich sea. […]Indonesia insists it’s a non-claimant state in the South China Sea dispute but has clashed with China over fishing rights around the Natuna Islands, detaining Chinese fishermen and expanding its military presence in the area over the past 18 months.

The renaming of the sea does not carry any legal weight, but it …

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2017/07/14/these-4-countries-will-resist-chinas-rising-power-in-a-disputed-sea/?s=ForeignAffairs
An activist shouts anti-China slogans during a rally marking the 42nd anniversary of the 1974 naval battle between China and then-South Vietnamese troops over the Paracel Islands, in Hanoi on January 19, 2017. (HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images)China claimed to be king of the widely disputed sea off its south coast before a world arbitration court ruled a year ago that it lacked legal grounds for the massive maritime claim. A year after that ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Beijing has become only more dominant over the South China Sea despite competing claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam. That’s because China rejected the ruling but to make sure no one squawked, it stepped up economic cooperation with some of the other countries.China has the world’s third largest military and second biggest GDP,…

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1458032/seven-british-pakistani-drug-traffickers-jailed-nearly-140-years-uk/
By News DeskPublished: July 14, 2017

Eight convicted of conspiring to smuggle heroin from Pakistan. PHOTO COURTESY: Birmingham MailSeven British-Pakistanis were among an eight-member Birmingham drugs gang have been jailed for more than 138 years for conspired to smuggle up to £19 million of heroin into the United Kingdom from Pakistan, Birmingham Mail reported on Friday.The crooks had hid the drugs inside industrial machinery shipped from Lahore, but were arrested following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).The eight, including a British-Indian, were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday for a total of 138 and a half years after being convicted of conspiracy to import heroin.British-Pakistani arrested for attempting to smuggle partridges to UKRingleaders Ameran Zeb Khan, 38; Mohammed Ali, 36; and Sajid Hussain, 32; were sentenced to 22 years each.The court pre…

https://arynews.tv/en/gen-bajwa-briefed-security-situation-balochistan/


By Web DeskPosted on July 14, 2017QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday visited the Quetta Garrison where he was given detailed briefing on security situation of the province in Balochistan.The army chief was apprised that there has been phenomenal reduction in sectarian killing, while terrorists in desperation were now targeting law enforcement agencies and other soft targets.He also visited the Southern Command headquarters and Frontier Constabulary Baluchistan (North) headquarters.Gen Bajwa appreciated achievements of Army, FC, police, intelligence and other agencies including provincial administration towards improvement of security situation.He hailed efforts in socioeconomic domain and the considerable willing surrender of Baloch militants in the province.He said that Baluchistan is his prime focus and the main objective is to being the prosperity of people of Baluchistan at par with…

PHOTO: FILE
AGP dismisses TCC claim as highly disproportionate. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected $11.5 billion claim made by the Tethyan Copper Company Pty Ltd (TCC), a joint venture between Antofagasta and Canada’s Barrick Gold Corporation, in the Reko Diq case.The arbitration claim had been submitted in 2012 by the TCC. Five years later, in 2017, it filed for compensatory damages amounting to $9.1 billion based on a fair market value of its investments in the project till November 15, 2011. In addition, it also filed a claim of $2.3 billion as pre-award compound interest.The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) issued a statement on Thursday, wherein it is stated that “the amount claimed in the international arbitration is being rejected by Pakistan as highly speculative and disproportionate, being hundreds of times larger than any amounts invested by the claimant”.
Reko Diq gold mine project: Pakistan may face $11.5-billion penaltyThe AGP office says that in any event, c…

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1457509/cpec-create-jobs-new-avenues/



By APPPublished: July 14, 2017

PHOTO: AFPISLAMABAD: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects will open new avenues and opportunities for the people of this country, said Planning and Development Member Governance Tariq Hijazi.While talking to PTV on Thursday, he said that foreign direct investment of $46 billion was coming to Pakistan through CPEC, which will provide access to other countries besides China.A comprehensive strategy adopted by the present government will bring development, create opportunities and improve the life of the common man, said Hijazi.We’ll make CPEC a success, come what may: COASDue to the peaceful environment and better law and order situation, Japan, EU and the Asian Development Bank were ready to provide funding for Bhasha dam, he added.“China wants to see continuity in policies, stable government and better security for the people coming to invest in Pakistan under CPEC.”Publishe…