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'StratoBus' drone-satellite hybrid to provide new level of surveillance
A new project of an autonomous airship – a hybrid between a drone and a satellite – has been developed in France. The ‘StratoBus’ dirigible drone will be able to carry out long endurance observation operating at an altitude of about 20 kilometers.
The new breed of autonomous zeppelin has a mission of “observation, security, telecommunications, broadcasting, and navigation,” developers...
Turkey blocks Twitter after PM threatens to wipe it out
Turkey has blocked Twitter hours after embattled Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan threatened to close it down ahead of a key election. It comes after audio recordings purportedly demonstrating corruption among his associates were posted on the site.
Just before midnight, access to Twitter was blocked, Hurriyet Daily reports.
“We now have a court order. We will wipe out Twitter,” the Islamist-leaning...
US fears Russian forces near Ukraine border
The administration of US President Barack Obama says Washington is “very concerned” about Russian forces near Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders, saying training exercises might not be the only purpose they are there for.
The White House says intelligence from the field has bolstered their skepticism that as early as coming days Moscow might engage in military incursions into Ukraine, an...
Russia to ease visa regime for foreigners
Today the number of outgoing tourists from Russia is much higher than the number of incoming ones. Citizens of other countries are unenthusiastic about the idea of vacationing in Russia. This is caused not only by long distances, but also the difficulties in obtaining a Russian visa. The Russian government is planning to soften the harsh rules for issuing visas.
While foreign countries that...
Spanish anti-austerity protesters, police clash
An anti-austerity demonstration that drew tens of thousands of people from across Spain to central Madrid has turned violent, leaving 88 injured and 29 arrested as protesters clashed with security forces.
On Saturday, some protesters sought to break through a police barrier and make their way toward the nearby headquarters of the ruling conservative Popular Party.
Riot police then attacked the protesters,...
Australian aircraft spots objects in MH370 search zone - PM Abbott
The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the longest civil aircraft disappearance in modern history, has unearthed more questions than answers, as the mystery surrounding the fate of the missing jetliner continues to intensify with each passing day.
An Australian aircraft spotted objects, including a wooden pallet, during the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Saturday, according...
Malaysia Airlines “Suspicious Cargo” Destroyed In Massive New Mexico Explosion
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (GRU) is reporting today that the “highly suspicious” cargo retrieved by the US from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that had been “disappeared” to one of the United States most secretive bases in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia, was flown this past week to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico where it was then destroyed...
Ukraine, EU sign ‘political provisions’ of association deal
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy (R) and Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk sign the political provisions of the Association Agreement on March 20, 2014.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy says Ukraine’s interim government has signed the “political” provisions of an association agreement with the EU.
“Signing [the] political part [of the] EU-Ukraine Association...
New York Trains To Install Audio, Video Surveillance Recorders
Thousands of audio and video recorders to protect passengers from “train derailments”.
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced its plan to install several thousand audio and video recorders on its commuter trains Wednesday, reportedly in response to federal safety recommendations.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, several derailments last year have prompted...
Putin signs Crimea reunification documents
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law the documents officially making Crimea part of Russian territory.
Putin signed the bills at the Kremlin on Friday, completing the process of making Ukraine’s strategic Black Sea region part of the Russian Federation.
The Russian president also signed legislation creating two new Russian administrative districts: Crimea and the port city of Sevastopol.
Before...
Crimea's referendum corrected Soviet-era mistake - Gorbachev
The people of Crimea fixed a Soviet-era mistake with the Sunday’s referendum and the will of the people should not be punished by sanctions, said former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
“Earlier Crimea was merged with Ukraine under Soviet laws, to be more exact by the [Communist] party’s laws, without asking the people, and now the people have decided to correct that mistake. This should...
Russia imposes counter sanctions on US
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has published a reciprocal sanctions list of US citizens, consisting of 10 names, including: House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, Senator J. McCain; and advisers to President Obama D. Pfeiffer and C. Atkinson.
These officials, along with another five named by the Foreign Ministry, are banned from entering the country.
The move comes in response to US sanctions...
Snowden might reveal US war plans to China, Russia
Former intelligence officials say most of Snowden’s documents are related to US military capabilities.
Former US intelligence officials have warned that American whistleblower Edward Snowden might disclose US war plans to China and Russia, according to a report.
The Hill reported in an article on Wednesday that “US officials might not know for years whether former National Security Agency contractor...
Israel Budgets Billions for Plan to Attack Iran
Israel believes agreement reached on Iran’s nuclear program presents an existential threat.
Despite what is characterized as substantive progress in talks between Iran, the United States, and the European Union on Iran’s nuclear program, the state of Israel has announced it is allocating in excess of 10 billion shekels for war preparations.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz cites three members of...
Russia's top court says Crimea treaty legal
Russia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the treaty on rejoining the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation is legal.
Valery Zorkin, chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court, said on Wednesday the court had ruled in a unanimous vote that President Vladimir Putin acted legally by signing a treaty to make Crimea and Sevastopol parts of Russia.
The court also...