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WORLD NEWSTuesday 5 January 2016
Abe says summit with Putin needed to resolve territorial row
ELAINE KURTENBACH Japan calls its “Northern and in the crises in Iran and time to seek negotiations the Habomai islet group.
Associated Press Territories.” Syria. with Moscow over the ter- Over the past few years,
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese When asked about Putin in Since taking office in late ritorial dispute, given Rus- both countries have sought
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a news conference, Abe 2012, Abe has sought to sia’s desire to boost foreign to encourage more devel-
said Monday that sum- said, “We both recognize make progress on improved investment in its Far East re- opment of the resource
mit talks with Russian Presi- that 70 years after the war’s relations with Russia, but gion and its currency eco- rich area, with limited suc-
dent Vladimir Putin must end, to not have conclud- the conflict in Ukraine and nomic straits, local media cess.
take place in order for the ed a peace treaty is abnor- other issues have compli- have reported recently. Outlining his achievements
countries to forge a peace mal.” cated that effort. The four disputed islands over the past few years,
treaty. “But without a summit Several tentative plans for were seized by the Soviet Abe also said Japan’s of-
Japan and Russia never meeting this Northern Ter- a visit by Putin to Japan Union in 1945. ten tense relations with Chi-
signed a peace treaty af- ritories problem cannot be have been put off due to Earlier speculation suggest- na and South Korea are
ter World War II because of resolved,” Abe said. western concerns over Rus- ed a compromise might “normalizing” following a
conflicting claims over is- He also said it was crucial sia’s involvement in such allow the countries to split summit in Seoul and he
lands north of the Japanese that Russia play a construc- crises. control of the islands: Etoro- hopes for further progress.
island of Hokkaido, which tive role in fighting terrorism Tokyo views this as a good fu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and q
Missing booksellers have Hong Kong leader ‘highly concerned’
KELVIN CHAN A woman walks past a book featuring a photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and former book storage warehouse.
Associated Press Politburo member and Chongqing city party leader Bo Xilai on the cover, at the entrance of the Four other people linked to
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong closed Causeway Bay Bookstore which is known for gossipy titles about Chinese political scan- the company went missing
Kong’s leader said Mon- dals and other sensitive issues that are popular with visiting tourists from the mainland in Hong in October, but they were
day that he was “highly Kong. last seen either in main-
concerned” about the re- landChina or Thailand.
cent disappearances of (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) In Lee’s case, his wife told
people associated with a local media that he had
publishing company in the territory that enjoys civil lib- the mainland. when the publisher’s chief called her from a number
city that specializes in titles that indicated he was in
critical of mainland Chi- erties such as freedom of The latest and most star- editor, Lee Bo, failed to re- Shenzhen, the mainland
na’s leadership. Chinese city next door to
Chief Executive Leung the press that don’t exist on tling case came last week, turn home after visiting a Hong Kong. That has led
Chun-ying told reporters many to suspect that Chi-
there’s no evidence so far nese agents crossed over
to support suspicions that into Hong Kong, snatched
mainland security agents Lee and spirited him to the
were involved. mainland.
Five people associated Late Monday, police is-
with Hong Kong publish- sued a statement saying
er Mighty Current and its the missing person’s report
Causeway Bay Bookstore involving Lee had been
have vanished in recent withdrawn, but that police
months. would continue to inves-
The disappearances have tigate. It was not clear if
raised fears that Beijing is that meant Lee had been
tightening its grip on Hong located, and his wife could
Kong, a semiautonomous not be reached for com-
ment. q
At least 1 gunman still remains at Indian air force base
CHANNI ANAND cured, Maj. Gen. Dushyant troops as of Monday morn- more than 2,000 acres, along with other military
MUNEEZA NAQVI Singh, from India’s elite Na- ing. By evening one had including forests and tall hardware. Officials have
Associated Press tional Security Guard, told been shot dead, Singh said. grass. said no military hardware
PATHANKOT, India (AP) — reporters. Defense officials have said The commanding officer has been damaged in the
A fifth gunman was killed The attack has dragged authorities had been alert- of the base, Lt. Col. J.S. fighting.
Monday on the third day on since early Saturday ed about a potential at- Dhamoon, described it as Military funerals were held
of a siege at a heavily for- morning as government tack in the area on Friday, a “mini-city” with homes Monday for the soldiers
tified Indian air base near troops struggle to contain and that aerial surveillance and a school for the chil- who were killed in the at-
the border with Pakistan the heavily armed attack- at the base spotted the dren of the personnel sta- tack. Their killings inside a
and at least one attacker ers. At least twice over the gunmen as they entered tioned there. military base despite intelli-
remained as troops worked weekend it appeared that the compound, leading to An army statement said gence alerts have angered
to secure the sprawling the attack had ended but criticism of the handling of the last gunmen were firing many in India.
compound, a military of- fresh gunfire and explosions the situation. from a building that is part “The biggest problem is the
ficial said. Seven troops erupted both times. Singh told reporters in of the living quarters on the multiplicity of command
have been killed. Four attackers were re- Pathankot that it will take a base. and control. Nobody knows
The search operations at ported killed by Saturday “long time” to declare the The base has a fleet of In- who is really in charge,”
Pathankot air force base evening, and at least two base completely secure dia’s Russian-origin MiG-21 said Rahul Bedi, an ana-
will continue until all areas were said to have been because of its size and ge- fighter jets and Mi-25 and lyst for Jane’s Information
have been completely se- exchanging gunfire with ography. It is spread over Mi-35 attack helicopters, Group.q
