A 6.1 magnitude earthquake offshore shook southern Philippines on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. The offshore quake was at a depth of 115 miles and was centered about 53 miles southeast of General Santos in the island [...]]]>
6.1- Magnitude Earth quake Rocks Mindanao
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake offshore shook southern Philippines on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. The offshore quake was at a depth of 115 miles and was centered about 53 miles southeast of General Santos in the island of Mindanao or 640 miles south-southeast of Manila. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage and no tsunami warning was issued for the quake.
US Faces Biological Attack Within 5 Years
The terrorism threat to the United States during the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security, and increasing Internet savvy, says a new intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.
Russia to Supply Missiles to Syria
Russia plans to supply air-defense missile systems valued at $250 million to seven countries including Syria, Libya and Venezuela, Vedomosti reported, citing an unidentified Russian Technologies Corp official. The Moscow-based newspaper reported that
Russia had started fulfilling orders of 200 S-125 systems that were due to be delivered during the next three years. On Monday, US officials said that they wanted answers from Russia about whether it was selling advanced surface-to-air missiles to Iran.
Gaza Braces For Israeli Offensive
The spectre of a military invasion on Friday hung over Hamas-run Gaza Strip where two children were killed as Palestinian militants fired more rockets despite Israeli threats of harsh retaliation.
Two girls, one aged five and the other 12, were killed when their house in northern Gaza was hit by a rocket which witnesses said was apparently fired by Palestinian militants targeting southern Israel.
Pakistan Troops Move to Indian Borders
Pakistan troops were deployed on Thursday to protect vital points along the Line of Control in Kashmir and the international border with India, defence sources told Daily Times. Reports in Indian media said Pakistan moved its 10th Brigade to Lahore and ordered the 3rd Armoured Brigade to march towards Jhelum, following a heavy concentration of Indian troops on the borders. Pakistan’s 10th and 11th divisions have been put on high alert, Indian media said, and troops had been stationed in Rajouri and Poonch sectors of Kashmir.
Indian TV channels also reported that Pakistan Air Force continued its state of high alert and started aerial surveillance of the Chashma power plant and other sensitive sites on Thursday amid fears of a ‘surgical strike’ by India.
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3 Russian Warships Visit Cold War Ally Cuba
A Russian anti-submarine destroyer and two logistical warships are entering waters off Cuba in a nonmilitary visit that’s the first of its kind since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The Russian ships plan [...]]]>
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3 Russian Warships Visit Cold War Ally Cuba
A Russian anti-submarine destroyer and two logistical warships are entering waters off Cuba in a nonmilitary visit that’s the first of its kind since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The Russian ships plan to moor on Friday in Havana in a show of increased cooperation between the two countries, though Cuba’s government is not commenting.
Ben-Elizer: Israel Won’t Accept a ‘Half-Truce’ in the Gaza Strip
The IDF is in its best form ever, and will be ready for attack, Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said on Friday. “There’s a limit to what Israel can absorb, and at the moment it’s like we’re standing with a stopwatch in hand,” he said. “The IDF has never been in a greater state of readiness, and in the case of an attack, it will know how to operate in the best way.”
Meridor ‘Working Very Hard’ to CreateGolan Giveaway Coalition
conversation at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference in Tel Aviv that he is “working very hard” and “making every effort” to convince Binyamin Netanyahu to “make history” by changing Israel’s posture towards Syria and the idea of ceding the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty.
Meridor, who chaired one of the sessions in Thursday’s exclusive conference on Security Challenges of the 21st Century said this in a private – but not very quiet – conversation with one of Israel’s top advertisers and strategic advisors, Moshe Teomim, after the session ended.
Massive Arrests Of Christians In China
Over a dozen Christians will spend Christmas behind bars in China after police raided a Christian leaders gathering in Henan province, while in the capital Beijing two officials of the banned Chinese House Church Alliance were detained, an advocacy group and Chinese Christians confirmed Thursday, December 18.
More than 40 Christians were arrested Tuesday, December 16, in an area of Henan’s Nanyang city, where authorities interrupted a meeting of Christian leaders, said the US-based China Aid Association (CAA).
After paying fines of up to $300 in local currency, most were freed, but 16 Christian leaders, including a man hosting the gathering, Yan Linshan, received 10 to 15 days “administrative detention” on charges of involvement in an “illegal religious gathering,” the group added.
President Bush Meets with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, I’m thinking about the first time I met you — I think it was in Jordan. And I can’t help but reflect on how far the process has come to bring peace to the Holy Land.
You have done a lot of important and hard work in helping the region understand the importance of two states living side by side in peace. No question this is a hard challenge, but nevertheless, people must recognize that we have made a good deal of progress. And a lot of it has to do with your leadership, and I thank you.
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