Oil experts say Venezuelan production is slipping and Chávez’s industry policy for the long term is risky. Venezuela, like Mexico and Iran, needs reinvestment and foreign investment to keep its $100 billion industry in prime condition. But with China’s and India’s demand for crude inspiring projections for exponential growth and the U.S.’s determination to remain [...]

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The arrests of three men who allegedly tried to sell contraband uranium for $1 million show how a shadowy market for nuclear components has survived despite tightened security at nuclear facilities, experts said yesterday.
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There are signs, however, that discontent with Chavez is growing. Earlier this month, Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel, former defense minister and a long-time Chavez supporter, labeled the proposed constitution a “coup d’etat.” Dissent is appearing within the ranks of the military as well (Miami Herald). “There is a fairly widespread discontent, which doesn’t have much [...]

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Russians go to the polls on Sunday. The dominant party, United Russia, enjoys moderate support, but its leaders expect nothing short of a resounding victory. SPIEGEL presents five regional snapshots of a nation with eleven time zones, pinning its hopes on one man — Vladimir Putin. By Uwe Klussmann, Walter Mayr and Matthias Schepp more…

Photo [...]

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Japan has refused a Chinese request to tour an advanced combat ship as the US-China spat over Beijing’s refusal to allow a US aircraft carrier to dock in Hong Kong last week spilled over into Sino-Japanese military relations.
A person familiar with the Japanese decision said that the Pentagon said the move would not be appropriate [...]

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The head of Britain’s domestic security service has warned business leaders that China has been carrying out state-sponsored espionage against vital parts of the economy.
The director-general of MI5, Jonathan Evans, wrote to 300 chief executives and security heads at banks, accountancy and legal firms, warning them they were under attack from “Chinese state organisations” via [...]

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The Ashoura is a multi-stage, solid-fueled missile that could be very effective for long-range strategic use. The stated range of the Ashura is 1,240 miles.
The Shahab-3 is a single-stage, liquid-fueled missile, and that makes it much more difficult to use than the recently announced solid-fuel “Ashoura” missile. The range of the Shahab-3 is in question. [...]

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French authorities express concern over Iran’s newly developed missile, which is capable of hitting targets within a 2,000 km range.
French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said Tuesday that Paris considers Tehran’s announcement a ‘great concern’.
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Iran’s avowed new missile, Lt Gen Obering said, “is different, that’s what surprises us.” He would not elaborate on how. “That’s what we’re concerned about, this unbridled, continuing development and potential proliferation of these weapons. That’s why we think it’s important to begin now” on a European missile defence, he said.
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Iran’s new missile, military [...]

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Putin suspends Russian adherence to Cold war arms treaty: Kremlin
AFP - 4 hours ago
MOSCOW (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a decision to suspend Russia’s adherence to a Cold war treaty limiting military forces in Europe …
Russia suspends arms control pact BBC News
Putin signs law suspending Russian participation in CFE treaty Jerusalem Post
Russia [...]

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China’s show of strength ups military ante
Asia Times Online, Hong Kong - 3 hours ago
Among new weapons tested at the maneuvers were 022 stealth missiles and Russian-made SS-N-27 “Club” anti-ship cruise missiles. …

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In the build-up to an annual China-EU summit in Beijing on November 28th, European officials raised hackles by complaining about Chinese trade practices and exchange-rate policy in the kind of direct language that China had thought an annoying American trait. The European Commission’s president, José Manuel Barroso, told Communist Party officials that the emergence of [...]

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Holloman Air Force Base (NM) – In the future military bombers won’t have to slow down to subsonic speeds to drop their deadly payloads. Technicians from Boeing Phantom Works and the Air Force Research Lab say they’ve simulated a bomb drop at Mach 2.
Last year the Air Force demonstrated that it could drop a [...]

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A team of international scientists has unveiled a mosaic map of Antarctica compiled from satellite images. The new map allows experts and laypersons alike to observe its majestic landscapes online and in stunning clarity. more…

Photo Gallery: New Satellite Map of Antarctica
Northwest Passage: Scientists Report Severe Retreat of Arctic Ice

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China’s anti-satellite and space warfare program includes plans to destroy or incapacitate ‘every enemy space vehicle’ that passes over China.
The report said that China also is developing civilian technology that can be applied to military space programs and is acquiring the “ability to destroy or temporarily incapacitate every enemy space vehicle when it is located [...]

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 Do American institutions want to snuggle up with Saudi Arabia and its Dark Age values?
They had better think this one through as a tidal wave of money from Saudi Arabia — as well as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait — is crashing into these shores and buying up American assets.
They should expect no [...]

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Western forces, which could include British troops, must be sent into the Balkans to prevent Russia sparking a new European war, according to David Cameron.
“That is a direct threat to our national security, and we must therefore take decisive action now to prevent it. We need to reinforce the military presence in the region now, [...]

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Meeting on Russian Airspace Violations
The Associated Press - 19 hours ago
HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Military officials from Russia, Finland and Estonia agreed on steps Wednesday to limit airspace violations in the region after …
Russia, Finland and Estonia To Step Up Airspace Cooperation DefenseNews.com (subscription)
Finland, Russia, Estonia discuss measures to prevent airspace … Mathaba.Net
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China blocked the visit to Hong Kong last week of a United States aircraft carrier battle group and other American warships in retaliation against the Bush administration’s proposed upgrading of Taiwan’s Patriot anti-missile batteries, Chinese state media reported today.
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Don’t just zoom in on your back garden - discover 10 hidden secrets in the amazing Google Earth.To find out how to create your own virtual tours, search the stars, master the flight simulator, share your photos with the world and model your house in 3D, read the Hidden Power of Google Earth feature in [...]

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Ahmadinejad: Israel doomed to collapse
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 15 hours ago
By TEHERAN, Iran Israel is doomed to “collapse” and will not survive, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday. Iranian President Mahmoud …
Iran’s Ahmadinejad: Israel will not last AFP
Arabs Call for US Hand in Peace Talks The Associated Press
A failure, says Iran Hindu
The Associated Press - Bloomberg
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