New regulations could further close China's Internet
Beijing (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Draft Chinese Internet rules could further restrict access to websites not registered in the closely regulated country, experts said Tuesday, although the measures' potential impact remained unclear.
The proposed rules come as China increases censorship across the board, ratcheting up already strict limits on access to online content and stepping up pressure on the media to toe the governmen ...
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UK defence chief says Qatar warplane deal 'on the table'
Doha (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Britain's defence minister said on Tuesday that a deal to sell Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes to Qatar was "definitely still on the table".
Michael Fallon, speaking on board a British destroyer anchored in Doha port, said he had held discussions on a possible sale with Qatari officials within the past week.
He added that the deal had not been killed off by a Qatari decision to buy 24 Rafa ...
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Iraq PM pushes back against deadline for new cabinet
Baghdad (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called Tuesday for parliament to support or reject his calls for a technocratic government, pushing back against a looming deadline for a new cabinet line-up.
"It is not wise to present a ministerial line-up that faces rejection by parliament," Abadi said in televised remarks, calling on lawmakers to clarify their position.
Parliament must decide if i ...
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Syria regime forces advance on IS town near Palmyra: monitor
Beirut (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Syrian regime forces were locked in fierce clashes with Islamic State group jihadists on Tuesday on the outskirts of a key town near the ancient city of Palmyra, a monitor said.
Just two days after seizing Palmyra from IS, pro-government fighters advanced southwest towards the jihadist-held town of Al-Qaryatain.
They seized a series of hilltops overlooking the town during the night and b ...
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Six children killed, maimed daily in Yemen since Saudi air strikes began: UN
Geneva (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Six children have been killed or maimed daily in Yemen since Saudi-led air strikes began a year ago, the UN said Tuesday, warning the conflict was taking a horrifying toll on the country's youth.
In a report marking the anniversary of the start of the Saudi-led campaign, the UN children's agency said nearly a third of the more than 3,000 civilians killed in Yemen were children.
"Children ...
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Indian Navy orders submarine rescue systems
Barrow-In-Furness, England (UPI) Mar 29, 2016 -
The Indian Navy has given Britain-headquartered James Fisher Defense a $252.3 million contract to provide and support a submarine rescue capability.
The contract includes the design, build and supply of two complete submarine rescue systems, as well as a 25-year annual maintenance contract.
The rescue systems will be fly-away units and include deep search-and-rescue vehicles, lau ...
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Russia's Syrian strikes have killed more than 1,000: report
Washington (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Russian air strikes in Syria likely killed more than 1,000 civilians in the war-torn country during the last quarter of 2015, the Airwars monitoring group said Tuesday.
The London-based group gathered media and social media reports - as well as accounts from rebel groups and non-governmental organizations - to compile a grim database detailing every known civilian casualty incident that al ...
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