Pakistan has successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable missile with a range of 2,000km (1,250 miles), the Pakistani military has said. It was the second test-firing of the surface-to-surface Hatf VI (Shaheen II) missile, which was first tested in March 2005, officials said. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz watched the launch, at an undisclosed location. The Hatf VI is Pakistan's longest-range ballistic missile system, with the potential to reach 2,500km. "The missile test was conducted to validate additional technical parameters beyond those that were verified in the last test fire in March 2005," a military statement said. Pakistan informed its regional neighbours of the test in advance, and said it would not hurt improving relations with India, the Associated Press news agency said. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk censor News |
Editor - 09:25:00 04-29-06 |
US charges ex-Abu Ghraib officer |
The US military has charged the former head of the interrogation centre at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison over the abuse of Iraqi detainees. Lt-Col Steven Jordan has been charged with seven offences including maltreatment of prisoners. He is the highest ranking officer to face criminal charges over events at the prison. Ten lower-ranking soldiers have already been convicted for abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib from 2003 to 2004. Two officers more senior than Lt-Col Jordan have been disciplined by the army over the scandal, but neither faced criminal charges. The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says the new development could throw some light on how the situation actually arose. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4956946.stm
full News |
Editor - 09:23:00 04-29-06 |
Bush dismisses gas 'rip-off' charges. It’s just a coincidence that gas was only about a buck a gallon before he started this illegal war |
Bush yesterday rejected calls from Capitol Hill to levy a tax on oil-company profits and said there is "no evidence" of price gouging. He urged the industry to increase oil exploration and to reinvest billions in earnings from high gasoline prices to build new refineries. "I have no evidence that there is any rip-off taking place," Mr. Bush said at a morning press conference in the White House Rose Garden. "But it's the role of the Federal Trade Commission to assure me that my inclination and instinct is right." Mr. Bush said calls to tax the oil industry's profits would take money that should be reinvested in refineries, pipeline construction for natural gas deliveries and exploration in "environmentally friendly ways." "Look, the temptation in Washington is to tax everything, and they spend the money -- 'they' being the people in Washington," said the president, who has called on Congress to strip away tax breaks the corporations are enjoying amid record profits. ... http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060428-111844-9551r.htm
full News |
Editor - 09:20:00 04-29-06 |
Iran: Checks resume if U.N. drops case |
An Iranian official has said the Islamic republic is ready to allow snap inspections of its nuclear facilities if the U.N. Security Council does not involve itself with the country's nuclear program.Muhammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iranian Atomic Energy Agency, said on Saturday Iran wants to deal solely with the U.N. nuclear inspection group -- the International Atomic Energy Agency.This is the latest development in the Iranian nuclear issue.Iran said its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. But the West, suspecting Iran wants to build nuclear weapons, wants Iran to stop enriching uranium.... http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/04/29/iran.nuclear/index.html?section=cnn_world
full News |
Editor - 09:14:00 04-29-06 |
Ex-Soviet dissident warns of U.S. plot against Russia |
Alexander Solzhenitsyn has accused the United States of launching a military campaign to encircle Russia and turn it into a NATO chattel. The Nobel laureate also delivered his strongest endorsement yet of President Vladimir Putin, surprising Kremlin critics who argue that the country is growing more authoritarian. Replying in writing to questions from the weekly Moscow News, the 87-year-old former Soviet dissident said military action by the United States in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan underlined the menace to Russian sovereignty. "Though it is clear that present-day Russia poses no threat to it whatsoever, NATO is methodically and persistently expanding its military apparatus in the east of Europe and is implementing an encirclement of Russia from the south," he wrote. He also attacked Western support for recent revolutions that toppled Moscow-backed regimes in Ukraine and Georgia. "All this leaves no doubt that they are preparing a complete encirclement of Russia, which will ... http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060428-111836-7402r.htm
full News |
Editor - 09:10:00 04-29-06 |
Bush Says `New Chapter' Underway for U.S. Involvement in Iraq. Yes, it will properly get worse |
Bush said the selection of Jawad al-Maliki to be prime minister of Iraq's government marks the beginning of a ``new chapter'' in U.S. involvement in the Middle Eastern nation. ``This is an important milestone on the road to democracy in Iraq,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address. ``We've all been impressed by the Iraqi leaders' commitment to maintain the unity of their country and effectively represent the Iraqi people.'' Al-Maliki was chosen last weekend by the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiite Muslim bloc that won the most votes in December parliamentary elections. The Bush administration welcomed his appointment because he has the backing of the largest minority groups, the Kurds and Sunnis. Al-Maliki will begin to form a permanent government that will serve a four-year term. ... http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aCt1xka0hSVI&refer=home
full News |
Editor - 09:03:00 04-29-06 |
|
post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
|