Italy Finmeccanica sues US over Airbus helicopter deal
New York (AFP) Sept 23, 2014 -
Italian aerospace giant Finmeccanica has sued the US government over the Pentagon's plan to award an Army helicopter contract to Airbus, violating its rules against sole-source contracts.
According to the complaint filed recently by AgustaWestland North America, a unit of Finmeccanica, the company is asking the court to block the Army's planned order of 155 Airbus helicopters.
"This pre- ...
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Australian police shoot dead 'known terror suspect'
Sydney (AFP) Sept 24, 2014 -
Police in Melbourne have shot dead a "known terror suspect" who stabbed two officers, a day after the Islamic State group called for Muslims to indiscriminately kill Australians, officials said Wednesday.
The 18-year-old, whose passport was cancelled a week ago on security grounds, was killed on Tuesday evening, having arrived at a police station on the outskirts of Melbourne to attend a "ro ...
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Uighur scholar sentenced to life urges 'peace' from prison: lawyer
Beijing (AFP) Sept 24, 2014 -
A prominent Uighur academic sentenced to life in prison called Wednesday for "peace", his lawyer said, as China hit back at western powers which accused it of silencing a moderate voice.
Analysts say the sentencing of Ilham Tohti - a persistent but moderate government critic who spoke out for the rights of the mostly-Muslim Uighur minority - on charges of "separatism" risks inflaming tensi ...
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Australia OKs low-rate production of new military rifle
Sydney (UPI) Sep 23, 2014 -
A new assault rifle for the Australian Defense Force is entering low-rate production under a Department of Defense contract.
The weapon by Thales Australia is the F90, a lightweight 5.56mm rifle that recently achieved Provisional Design Acceptance following an extensive testing period.
The rifle is in a bull-pup design, has an open architecture that incorporates a NATO tri-rail s ...
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Kerry, Abbas meet in New York to discuss Gaza situation
New York (AFP) Sept 24, 2014 -
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza, a state department official said.
The meeting in New York came as leaders converged for the United Nations General Assembly, and a day after Abbas gave a speech at Cooper Union vowing to present a new timetable for peace talks with Israel.
Kerry and Abbas agreed on the ...
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Khorasan: latest incarnation of Al-Qaeda anti-west threat
Washington (AFP) Sept 23, 2014 -
A little-known Al-Qaeda offshoot, the Khorasan group, found itself in the crosshairs of the United States on Tuesday as they prepared attacks on western targets from bases inside war-torn Syria.
With Islamic State jihadists terrorizing the region and seizing large chunks of Iraq and Syria, it came as a surprise to many that the Pentagon aimed its Tomahawk cruise missiles and other firepower ...
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Obama hails 'vision' of Iraqi PM at first meeting
United Nations, United States (AFP) Sept 24, 2014 -
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday hailed the "political vision" and inclusive nature of new Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi as the two leaders met for the first time.
"I want to say directly to the prime minister that we fully support his political vision" and strategy of working with other countries in the Middle East, Obama said at the talks on the sidelines of the UN General Ass ...
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