Taliban declare last 'spring offensive' before NATO exit
Kabul (AFP) May 08, 2014 -
Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan announced the start of their annual "spring offensive" on Thursday, vowing a final summer of bloody attacks on foreign forces before the 13-year NATO combat mission ends.
The Islamist extremists said that the offensive, beginning on Monday, would cleanse "the filth of the infidels" from the country, and warned that Afghan translators, government officials an ...
more
Japan makes first arrest over 3-D printer guns: reports
Tokyo (AFP) May 08, 2014 -
A Japanese man suspected of possessing guns made with a 3-D printer has been arrested, reports said Thursday, in what was said to be the country's first such detention.
Officers who raided the home of Yoshitomo Imura, a 27-year-old college employee, confiscated five weapons, two of which had the potential to fire lethal bullets, broadcaster NHK said.
They also recovered a 3-D printer fro ...
more
US sanctions against Russia's space industry affect Europeans
Moscow (Voice of Russia) May 05, 2014 -
US sanctions against the Russian space industry are actually targeted against another competitor of the Americans - European companies, a source in the Russian space and rocket sector told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
"Formally the US sanctions impede the export of dual- and military-purpose technology to Russia. However, it is evident that a ready satellite does not refer to this category b ...
more
Kazakhstan Urges Talks With Russia, Ukraine for Launch Pad Project
Astana, Kazakhstan (SPX) May 07, 2014 -
The head of the Kazakh space agency on Monday called for trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to discuss a new launch facility at the country's Baikonur space center.
"At the moment, the project to build the Baiterek launch facility is designed for Zenit carrier rockets, which uses non-toxic components of rocket fuel. However, trilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan, U ...
more
Roscosmos chief to inspect Crimea's space infrastructure
Moscow (Voice of Russia) May 07, 2014 -
The head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos will pay a working visit to Crimea, which became a part of Russia in March, to study the region's space industry infrastructure and the role it might play in Russia's space programs.
Roscosmos head Oleg Ostapenko earlier said that the space agency is currently compiling a list of facilities in Crimea that could be useful for Russia's space pro ...
more
ASEAN leaders meet under China cloud
Yangon (AFP) May 08, 2014 -
Southeast Asian leaders head into a historic summit in Myanmar this weekend dogged by a flare-up of high-seas tensions with China that will test the region's ability to stand together against a mighty economic partner.
Vietnam and the Philippines, both members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), squared up to Beijing this week in the South China Sea, whose waters ...
more
Japan, US express concern at China-Vietnam maritime spat
Tokyo (AFP) May 08, 2014 -
Japan and the United States said Thursday they were deeply concerned by the latest flare-up between China and Vietnam over contested waters, with Tokyo urging Beijing to rein in its "provocative" actions.
The comments came after Hanoi said Chinese vessels rammed its patrol ships and turned water cannon on them near a controversial drilling rig in a disputed patch of the South China Sea.
...
more
