Failed UN mission to Iran may have serious consequences

The "make work" project for western intelligence agencies

Moscow (AFP) Feb 22, 2012 -
Russia on Wednesday warned a strike against Iran could have "catastrophic" consequences and urged nations not to draw early conclusions from this week's failed mission by UN nuclear experts. Russia said it was particularly concerned that a strike against Iran could be launched from an air base the United States leases in Central Asia's ex-Soviet state of Kyrgyzstan. [READ...]

Russian Early Warning Radar begins combat duty

The Voronezh-M early warning radar in Lekhtusi, near St.-Petersburg finally began combat duty on February 11, 2012.

S. Korea live fire drill may spark international incident

27/01/2012 3:57 AM
Seoul (AFP) Jan 26, 2012 -

South Korean Marines Thursday staged a live-fire artillery drill on an island shelled by North Korea in 2010, the first such exercise since the death of Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong-Il last month.

"Our troops staged two-hour firing drills today" on two frontline islands -- Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong, a Marine spokesman told AFP.

A similar drill on Yeonpyeong in November 2010 provoked a North Korean artillery barrage which killed two Marines and two civilians and sparked international alarm.

"This is one of our routine and regular drills," the spokesman said, adding it had been planned well before Kim's death on December 17.

The firing drills near the disputed Yellow Sea border involve K-9 self-propelled guns, Vulcan cannon and other artillery, Yonhap news agency said.