Moscow, Sep 13 (RIA Novosti) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said the US should improve relations with Russia marred by the Russian-Georgian conflict over South Ossetia last month. (more…)
Moscow, Sep 13 (RIA Novosti) Russia has hiked its defence spending for 2009 to 1.2 trillion roubles ($46.8 billion), a top ranking government official has said. The spending is outlined in the budget for 2009-2011 which is due to be tabled in the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, Sep 19. (more…)
Moscow, Sep 13 (DPA) Russia has withdrawn its last troops from the Georgian port of Poti, reports said Saturday. Russian television showed the troops dismantling checkpoints at the Black Sea port before leaving in trucks. Around 150 Russian soldiers and ten tanks had been stationed in Poti, locals said.
On Monday French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the current holder of the European Union’s rotating presidency, brokered in Moscow a deal to end Russia’s current military occupation of Georgia.
Under the deal, Russia was to pull its troops out of Poti by Sep 15 and pull back from undisputed parts of Georgia within the next 10 days. At least 200 EU observers are to be in position by Oct 1 at the latest.
Colombo, Sep 13 (IANS) Sri Lanka Saturday said that “massive influx of people” who had come to Colombo and suburbs and were “staying without any valid reason are creating a huge security concern” for the defence authorities, a media report said. (more…)
Balasore (Orissa), Sep 13 (IANS) India successfully test fired the Astra air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur-on-sea off the Orissa coast Saturday. “Astra is a beyond visual range air-to-air missile. The test was a success,” S.P. Das, director of the ITR, told IANS. (more…)
Islamabad, Sep 13 (DPA) Clashes in Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border have left at least 40 rebels and two soldiers dead, officials said. Thousands of troops - backed by gunship helicopters, tanks and artillery fire - Friday targeted several militant position in the Tang Khata, Rashkai and Khazana areas of Bajaur tribal district, a known sanctuary of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, who launch cross-border attacks on the US-led international forces in Afghanistan. (more…)
Washington, Sep 13(IANS) The US is yet to give a definitive word about President George Bush’s controversial assertion that US assurances to India about reliable supply of nuclear fuel were “political commitments” and not legally binding. (more…)
Washington, Sep 13 (IANS) The US Congress has set the ball rolling for fast track approval of the India-US civil nuclear deal with a key Senate panel set to review the implementing 123 agreement next Thursday. (more…)
Islamabad, Sep 13 (DPA) Clashes in Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border Friday left at least 40 rebels and two soldiers dead, officials said. Thousands of troops - backed by gunship helicopters, tanks and artillery fire - targeted several militant position in the Tang Khata, Rashkai and Khazana areas of Bajaur tribal district, a known sanctuary of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, who launch cross-border attacks on the US-led international forces in Afghanistan. (more…)
Tehran, Sep 12 (IANS) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will present a new report on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme to its board of governors in Vienna Monday, the official IRNA News agency reported Friday, quoting an IAEA official. (more…)
