Japan places political star at heart of nuclear revival
Tokyo (AFP) Sept 06, 2014 -
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may have hoped that a 40-year-old mother-of-two with impeccable political pedigree might prove the acceptable face of nuclear power when he appointed her industry minister.
But, say observers, Yuko Obuchi will have her work cut out convincing a public still badly scarred by the Fukushima disaster that it is safe to switch the country's 48 atomic reactors ba ...
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Unmanned vehicles tested in Arctic
Ottawa (UPI) Sep 5, 2014 -
The use of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles in Artic conditions has been studied by scientists and technicians of Canada's Department of National Defense.
The department said this week that 34 tests in all were conducted last month by the Canadian Armed Forces Joint Arctic Experiment Scientific Team at Canadian Forces Station Alert.
Experiments covered issues such as the deplo ...
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Top Obama aide in Beijing to highlight vital China ties
Washington (AFP) Sept 06, 2014 -
President Barack Obama's top White House national security aide lands in Beijing on Sunday, signaling that ties with China remain a priority despite turmoil and tensions tearing at US foreign policy.
National Security Advisor Susan Rice is expected to meet President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials in talks which come two weeks after Washington accused a Chinese fighter jet of b ...
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China reveals two aircraft carrier test pilots killed
Beijing (AFP) Sept 06, 2014 -
Two pilots in a squadron conducting fighter jet take-off and landing tests for China's lone aircraft carrier were killed during trials, state media reported, offering a rare glimpse into the secretive project.
The revelation of the deaths came in a report last week on the signing of an order of commendation for the crew of China's first carrier-based jet fighter, the J-15.
"Two test pilo ...
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Ukraine crisis accelerates Russia-China energy cooperation
Moscow (AFP) Sept 07, 2014 -
Russia aims to boost its economic ties with China, particularly in the energy sector, in the face of Western sanctions over Ukraine but this could prove a high-risk strategy.
On Monday, far from the fighting in Ukraine and the threat of fresh Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin launched what is hailed as "the biggest construction project in the world" in Eastern Siberia.
The 4,00 ...
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US expands air strikes to Iraq Sunni Arab heartland
Baghdad (AFP) Sept 07, 2014 -
Washington said Sunday it had carried out air strikes against jihadists in Iraq's Sunni Arab heartland, expanding its month-long air campaign and its involvement in the conflict.
It was a significant escalation for President Barack Obama, who made his political career opposing the war in Iraq and pulled out US troops in 2011.
Previous strikes since Obama launched the US air campaign on A ...
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Laser weapon engages targets despite adverse weather conditions
Huntsville, Ala. (UPI) Sep 5, 2014 -
A high-energy laser demonstrator from Boeing has successfully engaged numerous aerial targets in adverse weather conditions.
The tests of the laser system, which was mounted on a truck, were recently conducted by Boeing and the U.S. Army at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
More than 150 targets were involved. They included unmanned aerial vehicles and 60mm mortars, Boeing said. / ...
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