Israel successfully tests missile interceptor: report

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Israel, Missiles, Defence System, Dome System, Gaza Strip, Hamas, hezbollah, Iron Dome, Israel, Israeli Security Officials, Katyusha, Katyusha Rockets, Militia, Missile Interceptor, Mortar Fire, Public Radio, Southern Lebanon

Israel has successfully tested a new defence system designed to intercept rockets fired from southern Lebanon and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, public radio reported on Sunday.
The “Iron Dome” system is expected to be fully operational within a year and will be able to intercept the military-grade Katyusha rockets used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and the [...]

Chinks in China’s Armor

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in China, Armor, beijing, China, Chinese Citizens, Chinks, Commandos, Exposed, Inferior Quality, Law Enforcement Officers, Missiles, Olympics, People S Liberation Army, Recent Incidents, Regard, Security Effort, Sky, Summer Olympics, Surface To Air, War Footing

It may be a sporting event but Beijing is on war footing with an estimated 100,000 soldiers, police and anti-terrorist commandos mobilized to guarantee the safety of next month’s Summer Olympics. The People’s Liberation Army has also deployed a battery of surface-to-air Hongqi missiles to guard against attacks from the sky. Despite the preparations, however, [...]

Corrupt Countries

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Russia, general, Argentina, Brazil, Corrupt Countries, Corruption, Greece, Index Scores, India, Mexico, Number Of Countries, Pakistan, Percentage Terms, Persistent Poverty, Political Instability, Rampant Corruption, Russia, Saudi-Arabia, Surveys, Thailand, Transparency International, Watchdog Group

Corruption continues to intensify in two-fifths of the world’s nations, nurtured by persistent poverty, political instability and crime.
In percentage terms, the number of countries perceived to be corrupt fell slightly, according to recent surveys by Transparency International, an international watchdog group. But that’s only because the sample size of its annual study has gotten larger [...]

Quietly, Brazil eclipses an ally

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Brazil, Venezuela, Ally, American Influence, Array, Bloc, Brazil, Brazilian President, Colombia, Colombian Rebels, Credentials, Decline, Different Paths, Dramatic Rescue, Eclipses, Hostages, Jungle, Leadership, Pragmatic Approach, Rivals, South-America, Struggle, Uribe

Today the two leaders, often partners but sometimes rivals, offer starkly different paths toward development, and it is Brazil’s milder and more pragmatic approach that appears ascendant. Amid the decline of American influence in the region, the Brazilian president is discreetly outflanking Chávez at almost every turn in the struggle for leadership in South America.
Chávez [...]

Iran has resumed A-bomb project, says West

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Atomic Weapons, Bomb Project, Intelligence, Iran, Nuclear Experts, Sophisticated Equipment, Western Diplomats

Iran has resumed work on constructing highly sophisticated equipment that nuclear experts say is primarily used for building atomic weapons, according to the latest intelligence reports received by Western diplomats.
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Most Obnoxious Tourists? The French

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Off-Topic, Canadians, French Tourists, French Travelers, germans, Off-Topic, Thais, Tourists

Over all, French travelers landed 19th out of 21 nations worldwide, far behind the first-place Japanese, considered most polite, quiet and tidy. Following the Japanese as most-liked tourists were the Germans, British and Canadians. Americans finished in 11th place alongside the Thais.
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My Comment:
This is a little off-topic, but I just couldn’t resist posting this [...]

Nordic Defence: Pooling Resources

Posted by Matt in July 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Military, Finland, NATO, Nato Members, Neighbour, Nordic Countries, Pooling Resources, Russia, Sweden

If Finland, Russia’s immediate neighbour, feels twitchy enough to think about joining NATO, that may ignite debate in Sweden. That could in turn foster closer co-operation among all five Nordic countries—though even full NATO members are not always good at this.
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