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WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning -8th July 2019

A Chinese warship sailed within yards of an American destroyer -- forcing it to change course -- in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter as the US vessel was in contested waters in the South China Sea, an official said Monday.

The USS Decatur guided-missile destroyer was conducting what the military calls a "freedom of navigation operation" Sunday, when it passed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the remote Spratly Islands.

The 12-mile distance is commonly accepted as constituting the territorial waters of a landmass.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.&nbsp;

Beijing claims all of the Spratlys and has built a number of military installations on the islands.

During the operation, a Chinese Luyang destroyer approached the USS Decatur in "an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre in the vicinity of Gaven Reef in the South China Sea," US Pacific Fleet spokesman Commander Nate Christensen said.

The Chinese ship then conducted a series of "increasingly aggressive manoeuvres, and warned the Decatur to depart the area," he added.

The Chinese "destroyer approached within 45 yards (meters) of Decatur's bow, after which Decatur manoeuvred to prevent a collision."

In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said that its ship had "given a warning to leave" to the vessel after it entered the area "without permission."

"The US has repeatedly sent warships into the territorial waters near Chinese reefs and islands in the South China Sea," it said.

The behaviour "gravely threatens China's sovereignty and security, gravely damages relations between China and the US and their militaries, and gravely injures regional peace and stability."

US-Chinese relations have been strained on multiple levels since Donald Trump became president in 2017.

A trade war launched by Trump has infuriated Beijing, as did his authorization of a $1.3 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which China considers a rebel province.

Washington last week enacted new tariffs against China covering another $200 billion of its imports.

China has taken a series of retaliatory measures, including scrapping a US warship's planned port visit to Hong Kong and cancelling a meeting between the head of the Chinese navy and his American counterpart.

On Monday, a US defence official said that security talks due to take place later this month in Beijing between Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart had been cancelled.

A Chinese warship sailed within yards of an American destroyer -- forcing it to change course -- in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter as the US vessel was in contested waters in the South China Sea, an official said Monday.

A Chinese warship sailed within yards of an American destroyer -- forcing it to change course -- in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter as the US vessel was in contested waters in the South China Sea, an official said Monday. The USS Decatur guided-missile destroyer was conducting what the military calls a "freedom of navigation operation" Sunday, when it passed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the remote Spratly Islands. The 12-mile distance is commonly accepted as constituting the territorial waters of a landmass. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing claims all of the Spratlys and has built a number of military installations on the islands. During the operation, a Chinese Luyang destroyer approached the USS Decatur in "an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre in the vicinity of Gaven Reef in the South China Sea," US Pacific Fleet spokesman Commander Nate Christensen said. The Chinese ship then conducted a series of "increasingly aggressive manoeuvres, and warned the Decatur to depart the area," he added. The Chinese "destroyer approached within 45 yards (meters) of Decatur's bow, after which Decatur manoeuvred to prevent a collision." In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said that its ship had "given a warning to leave" to the vessel after it entered the area "without permission." "The US has repeatedly sent warships into the territorial waters near Chinese reefs and islands in the South China Sea," it said. The behaviour "gravely threatens China's sovereignty and security, gravely damages relations between China and the US and their militaries, and gravely injures regional peace and stability." US-Chinese relations have been strained on multiple levels since Donald Trump became president in 2017. A trade war launched by Trump has infuriated Beijing, as did his authorization of a $1.3 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which China considers a rebel province. Washington last week enacted new tariffs against China covering another $200 billion of its imports. China has taken a series of retaliatory measures, including scrapping a US warship's planned port visit to Hong Kong and cancelling a meeting between the head of the Chinese navy and his American counterpart. On Monday, a US defence official said that security talks due to take place later this month in Beijing between Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart had been cancelled.

Chinese destroyer extremely close to US warship: US

Torrential rain caused flooding in some cities of south China starting on Thursday, leaving many people stranded and affecting local traffic.

In Yulin City of south China's Guangxi Zhunag Autonomous Region, one of the most severely affected places, the largest rainfall on Thursday was recorded at 195.1 millimetres, which has caused flooding, waterlogging and landslides.

In Yulin's affiliated Shatian Town, firefighters rescued eight female teachers trapped by floodwater in a village school and transferred them to safety.

In Bobai County of Yulin, firefighters saved 17 villagers residing in a village inundated in around-one-meter-high accumulated water near the major G80 Expressway on Thursday.

Firefighters in Bobai also successfully sent food to over 180 children and ten teachers who were stranded for one day in a three-story kindergarten soaked in floodwaters, and then transferred them from the building.

In response to the heavy rain, Guangxi's regional meteorological department issued a blue alert regarding flooding early on Thursday morning.

In the meantime, in south China's Guangdong Province, due to the heavy rain, the floodwaters were surging into some counties like Yangxi, also with local people and traffic being affected.

In Yangxi County, firefighters rescued a total of 88 people from vehicles, houses, and stores which were besieged by water on Thursday. No one was reported injured or dead.

In Tangkou Town of Yangxi, a road which connects seven villages was damaged by the destructive floodwaters, incapacitating nearly 10,000 people's ability to travel.

As of now, repair work remains underway, and a bridge will be erected to serve as a temporary passage for the affected villagers on Friday evening, according to the local traffic sector.

The downpour also suspended schools in Yangxi, with much floodwaters still to drain out from campuses.

The local meteorological department issued two red alerts against the rainstorm, but as of now, the rain has stopped in some parts of Yangxi, and the alert has been downgraded to yellow.

In Yulin City of south China's Guangxi Zhunag Autonomous Region the largest rainfall on Thursday was recorded at 195.1 millimetres

Torrential rain caused flooding in some cities of south China starting on Thursday, leaving many people stranded and affecting local traffic. In Yulin City of south China's Guangxi Zhunag Autonomous Region, one of the most severely affected places, the largest rainfall on Thursday was recorded at 195.1 millimetres, which has caused flooding, waterlogging and landslides. In Yulin's affiliated Shatian Town, firefighters rescued eight female teachers trapped by floodwater in a village school and transferred them to safety. In Bobai County of Yulin, firefighters saved 17 villagers residing in a village inundated in around-one-meter-high accumulated water near the major G80 Expressway on Thursday. Firefighters in Bobai also successfully sent food to over 180 children and ten teachers who were stranded for one day in a three-story kindergarten soaked in floodwaters, and then transferred them from the building. In response to the heavy rain, Guangxi's regional meteorological department issued a blue alert regarding flooding early on Thursday morning. In the meantime, in south China's Guangdong Province, due to the heavy rain, the floodwaters were surging into some counties like Yangxi, also with local people and traffic being affected. In Yangxi County, firefighters rescued a total of 88 people from vehicles, houses, and stores which were besieged by water on Thursday. No one was reported injured or dead. In Tangkou Town of Yangxi, a road which connects seven villages was damaged by the destructive floodwaters, incapacitating nearly 10,000 people's ability to travel. As of now, repair work remains underway, and a bridge will be erected to serve as a temporary passage for the affected villagers on Friday evening, according to the local traffic sector. The downpour also suspended schools in Yangxi, with much floodwaters still to drain out from campuses. The local meteorological department issued two red alerts against the rainstorm, but as of now, the rain has stopped in some parts of Yangxi, and the alert has been downgraded to yellow.

Heavy rain causes flooding in south China

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-sridevis-body-on-its-way-back-to-mumbai-10-new-developments-in-the-case-34243">Sridevi&#39;s body on its way back to Mumbai: 10 new developments in the case</a>

The mortal remains of actress Sridevi have finally been handed over to actress&#39; family. The past three days have been daunting for the Kapoor family as the Dubai Police took time to investigate the case and hand over Sridevi&#39;s mortal remains to her family as they had &#39;formalities&#39; to clear.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-questions-ex-cmd-of-pnb-other-top-officials-34247">CBI questions ex-CMD of PNB, other top officials</a>

After PNB reported a further scam of Rs 1,251 crores, the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) began questioning two auditors including a former Managing Director and two General Managers in the multi-crore scam. The CBI today questioned NS Kannan, Executive Director, ICICI Bank which was the leader of Consortium Bank who lent money to Geetanjali Group of Companies.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-china-sea-will-be-discussed-during-vietnam-presidents-visit-to-india-says-vietnam-ambassador-to-india-34231">&#39;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-china-sea-will-be-discussed-during-vietnam-presidents-visit-to-india-says-vietnam-ambassador-to-india-34231">South</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-china-sea-will-be-discussed-during-vietnam-presidents-visit-to-india-says-vietnam-ambassador-to-india-34231"> China Sea will be discussed during President&#39;s visit to India,&#39; says Vietnam ambassador to India</a>

Ton Sinh Thanh, Vietnam&#39;s ambassador to India, said today President Tran Dai Quang who will be visiting India next week will be discussing the South China issue with PM Modi. &quot;Vietnam is one of the few countries in South-East Asia that is raising its voice against China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea. China claims a number of territories and islands as its own over the South China Sea,&quot; Ton Sinh Thanh said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/excercise-milan-indias-naval-23-nation-naval-excercise-is-provocative-say-chinese-observerers-34216">Excercise Milan: India&#39;s 23-nation naval </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/excercise-milan-indias-naval-23-nation-naval-excercise-is-provocative-say-chinese-observerers-34216">excercise</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/excercise-milan-indias-naval-23-nation-naval-excercise-is-provocative-say-chinese-observerers-34216"> is &#39;provocative&#39;, say Chinese observers</a>

Chinese observers speaking to state-run newspaper Global Times said today that India&#39;s new Naval initiative exercise Milan consisting of 23 countries is a &quot;provocative&quot; gesture which will &quot;not benefit the development of Sino-Indian relations&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-working-towards-developing-long-range-unmanned-strike-system-34221">Russia working towards developing long-range unmanned strike system</a>

Russia is working on developing a long-range unmanned strike system, built by Zvezda, media reports have informed on Tuesday. Alexander Nemov, deputy chief of the research department at the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute outside Moscow said that the large unnamed aircraft would come out next year which will infiltrate far into an enemy&#39;s territory.&nbsp;

Sridevi's body on its way back to Mumbai: 10 new developments in the case The mortal remains of actress Sridevi have finally been handed over to actress' family. The past three days have been daunting for the Kapoor family as the Dubai Police took time to investigate the case and hand over Sridevi's mortal remains to her family as they had 'formalities' to clear. CBI questions ex-CMD of PNB, other top officials After PNB reported a further scam of Rs 1,251 crores, the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) began questioning two auditors including a former Managing Director and two General Managers in the multi-crore scam. The CBI today questioned NS Kannan, Executive Director, ICICI Bank which was the leader of Consortium Bank who lent money to Geetanjali Group of Companies. 'South China Sea will be discussed during President's visit to India,' says Vietnam ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh, Vietnam's ambassador to India, said today President Tran Dai Quang who will be visiting India next week will be discussing the South China issue with PM Modi. "Vietnam is one of the few countries in South-East Asia that is raising its voice against China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea. China claims a number of territories and islands as its own over the South China Sea," Ton Sinh Thanh said. Excercise Milan: India's 23-nation naval excercise is 'provocative', say Chinese observers Chinese observers speaking to state-run newspaper Global Times said today that India's new Naval initiative exercise Milan consisting of 23 countries is a "provocative" gesture which will "not benefit the development of Sino-Indian relations". Russia working towards developing long-range unmanned strike system Russia is working on developing a long-range unmanned strike system, built by Zvezda, media reports have informed on Tuesday. Alexander Nemov, deputy chief of the research department at the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute outside Moscow said that the large unnamed aircraft would come out next year which will infiltrate far into an enemy's territory.

WION news brief, February 27, 2018

Five people have been rescued after two cargo ships collided off the coast of China&#39;s southern Guangdong province, but seven crew members are still &quot;trapped&quot; inside a cabin, state media said Tuesday.

The five rescued from a sunken ship cabin on Tuesday afternoon told rescue staff that the other seven were trapped inside and still alive, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The collision occurred at about 3:00 am on Monday near the Pearl River estuary.&nbsp;

One ship carrying over 5,000 tons of steel managed to make it to shore, but the second ship carrying 5,000 tons of sand sank after the collision, the Guangzhou maritime search and rescue centre said on Monday.

Two crew members from the sunken ship and all eleven sailors from the steel ship were initially rescued on Monday.

Some 300 people, including more than 20 divers, were participating in search efforts Tuesday.&nbsp;Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, according to Xinhua.&nbsp;

The collision occurred at about 3:00 am on Monday near the Pearl River estuary

Five people have been rescued after two cargo ships collided off the coast of China's southern Guangdong province, but seven crew members are still "trapped" inside a cabin, state media said Tuesday. The five rescued from a sunken ship cabin on Tuesday afternoon told rescue staff that the other seven were trapped inside and still alive, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The collision occurred at about 3:00 am on Monday near the Pearl River estuary. One ship carrying over 5,000 tons of steel managed to make it to shore, but the second ship carrying 5,000 tons of sand sank after the collision, the Guangzhou maritime search and rescue centre said on Monday. Two crew members from the sunken ship and all eleven sailors from the steel ship were initially rescued on Monday. Some 300 people, including more than 20 divers, were participating in search efforts Tuesday. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, according to Xinhua.

Seven 'trapped' after cargo ships collide off south China

Making a bold move to assert sovereignty over the area in the southern reaches of the South China Sea after Beijing stated its &quot;over-lapping claim&quot; on nearby waters, Indonesia&#39;s president visited the Natuna Islands aboard a warship on Thursday.&nbsp; 
 
President Joko Widodo&#39;s visit along with his chief security minister and foreign minister was described by Indonesian officials as the strongest message that has been given to China over the issue. A presidential palace statement said Widodo intended to hold a cabinet meeting aboard the warship. 
 
&quot;In the course of our history, we&#39;ve never been this stern (with China). This is also to demonstrate that the president is not taking the issue lightly,&quot; Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told The Jakarta Post newspaper. 
 
On Monday, it may be recalled, Beijing said that while China does not dispute Indonesia&#39;s sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, &quot;some waters of the South China Sea&quot; were subject to &quot;overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests&rdquo;.&nbsp; 
 
Indonesia&#39;s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, however, Wednesday rejected China&#39;s stance, saying the waters around Natuna are in Indonesian territory.&nbsp; 
 
There have been a series of face-offs between Indonesian and Chinese vessels in the area but both sides have denied that the matter is a territorial or diplomatic dispute. 
 
&quot;We want to show that Indonesia is a big country and we have to show this physically,&quot; Widodo said in a statement, referring to those infrastructure ambitions.&nbsp; 
 
Widodo&#39;s visit to the remote island chain, which lies over 340 kilometres (212 miles) off the northwest tip of Kalimantan - Indonesia&#39;s portion of Borneo island - was also aimed at promoting infrastructure development in Indonesia&#39;s border areas, asserted official sources.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Even after a series of face-offs between Indonesian and Chinese vessels, both sides deny there's a diplomatic dispute

Making a bold move to assert sovereignty over the area in the southern reaches of the South China Sea after Beijing stated its "over-lapping claim" on nearby waters, Indonesia's president visited the Natuna Islands aboard a warship on Thursday. President Joko Widodo's visit along with his chief security minister and foreign minister was described by Indonesian officials as the strongest message that has been given to China over the issue. A presidential palace statement said Widodo intended to hold a cabinet meeting aboard the warship. "In the course of our history, we've never been this stern (with China). This is also to demonstrate that the president is not taking the issue lightly," Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told The Jakarta Post newspaper. On Monday, it may be recalled, Beijing said that while China does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, "some waters of the South China Sea" were subject to "overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests”. Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, however, Wednesday rejected China's stance, saying the waters around Natuna are in Indonesian territory. There have been a series of face-offs between Indonesian and Chinese vessels in the area but both sides have denied that the matter is a territorial or diplomatic dispute. "We want to show that Indonesia is a big country and we have to show this physically," Widodo said in a statement, referring to those infrastructure ambitions. Widodo's visit to the remote island chain, which lies over 340 kilometres (212 miles) off the northwest tip of Kalimantan - Indonesia's portion of Borneo island - was also aimed at promoting infrastructure development in Indonesia's border areas, asserted official sources. (Reuters)

Aboard warship, Indonesia President sails to South China

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