Iraq faces criticism on press freedoms
Baghdad (AFP) May 03, 2014 -
From unsolved murders of journalists to lawsuits against commentators, rights groups and diplomats say Iraq's press freedom record falls dramatically short of international standards.
Reporters, photographers and videojournalists face threats and pressures from both militants and the security forces, as well as mundane everyday restrictions.
In a statement marking Saturday's World Press ...
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Thousands rally in Taipei to counter anti-government protests
Taipei (AFP) May 04, 2014 -
Thousands of Taiwanese calling for peace and the rule of law rallied in Taipei Sunday to counter a recent series of demonstrations that turned violent and led to clashes with police.
Police estimated that about 1,500 people from the ruling Kuomintang party and their supporters rallied in the downtown area, ending up with a march to police headquarters.
Demonstrators voiced gratitude to p ...
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French rout in Vietnam 60 years ago a watershed in colonial history
Paris (AFP) May 05, 2014 -
Sixty years ago, French troops were crushed by Vietnamese fighters in a landmark battle that led to the country's independence, dented Paris's prestige and fuelled independence movements in other colonies.
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which ended on May 7, 1954 after nearly two months of relentless fighting in a valley where French soldiers were encircled and roundly defeated was also a mile ...
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Guerrilla warfare to golf: Vietnam army's evolves
Hanoi (AFP) May 05, 2014 -
From ragtag volunteers with home-made shotguns to stealth frigates, telecoms conglomerates and golf courses - the Vietnam People's Army has transformed since its victory over the French six decades ago.
"We had nothing: some homemade rifles and explosives, some anti-tank bombs so rudimentary they killed the soldier who detonated them," said military historian Major General Vu Quang Dao.
...
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AFSPC cuts ribbon for new network operations center
Peterson AFB CO (SPX) May 05, 2014 -
Gen. William Shelton, Air Force Space Command commander, officially opened the new 561st Network Operations Squadron's renovated operations center April 28 here. As part of the larger Air Force Information Network, the 561st NOS is one of three squadrons of its type in the Air Force, all belonging to AFSPC's 24th Air Force.
The ribbon cutting ceremony included a full showing of the $4.5 mi ...
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DISA Awards Northrop Grumman contract for Joint Command and Control System
McLeav VA (SPX) May 05, 2014 -
Northrop Grumman has been awarded $53 million to continue modernizing and sustaining the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) command and control (C2) system used to plan, execute and manage joint and multinational military operations. The award is an option exercised on the Global Command and Control System-Joint (GCCS-J) contract first announced in March 2013.
The contract extension for the ...
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Shelling kills 11 in Iraq's Fallujah: doctor
Baghdad (AFP) May 04, 2014 -
Shelling in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, held by anti-government fighters for more than four months, has killed 11 people in less than 24 hours, a doctor said on Sunday.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the shelling in various areas in the south of city, just a short drive to the west of Baghdad.
The bombardment began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday, Doctor Ahmed Sh ...
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