Russia Tests Stealth Missile Capable of Penetrating US shield
As tensions rising with Nato, Russia shows its might by test fired a a long-range ’stealth’ missile, Topol RS-12M. With a range of 9,500 Kms, Topol puts Europe and much of the US within its reach. The missile can carry one 550-kiloton nuclear warhead. Col Alexander Vovk of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces said: “The launch was specially tasked to test the missile’s capability to avoid ground-based detection systems.” Earlier,Vladimir Putin, said that Moscow was working on new types of nuclear weapons to boost the country’s defense against the threat of the US shield.
Birth of Two New Nations.
Russia formally recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have had de facto independence since the early 1990s, thanked Russia. The US state department had said that recognition of the two provinces’ independence would be “a violation of Georgian territorial integrity” and “inconsistent with international law”. Russian president Medvedev called on all other countries to follow suit.“That was a no easy choice to make, but it is the sole chance of saving people’s lives,” he said. US and western European countries recognized Kosovo’s independence early this year amid strong protection from Russia. There are 192 member countries in United Nations, even though Kosovo and Vatican City are recognized as independent countries they are not members of UN. With the addition of two new countries there are 196 countries in the world now.
Fragile fictions of ’sovereignty’ and ‘territorial integrity’
Just a few months ago the United States along with Britain, Germany and a host of Western states, embraced the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo from Serbia, over the vehement protests of Russia. The Western states solemnly declared that the will of the majority of Kosovans could not be ignored for the sake of ’sovereignty’ or ‘territorial integrity’. Last week these roles were laughably reversed. It was the West which backed Georgia’s onslaught into South Ossetia to end the rebellion - even though the entire population there, along with that of Abhazia, clearly want to be free of Georgian rule. The two contrasting situations have revealed the utter hypocrisy of the United States, Europe and the Russia when it comes to notions of ’sovereignty’ or ‘territorial integrity’; they have amply illustrated that whether these are important principles or fragile fictions depends wholly on if and how they suit or frustrate the self-interested maneuvers of powerful states.
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Russia and Georgia agree on Peace plan
Russia and Georgia agreed an outline peace plan brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy after Moscow ordered a ceasefire in the six-day battle over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia. The plan includes six conditions for peace, including the withdrawal of Georgian and Russian troops to positions held before the conflict and an end to the use of force. But the two sides remained split over the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another separatist region, and on the introduction of international peacekeepers. Fighting erupted last Thursday night when Georgia attacked South Ossetia.
Russia and Georgia at War
Russia sent its troops into South Ossetia, a day after Georgian forces were sent in to seize the region. South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia after a 1992 civil war. Around 1,400 people had been killed by the aerial bombardment of The South Ossetia capital of Tskhinvali by Georgian air force. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Georgian forces were engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Georgia, a U.S. ally against war against terrorism, has about 2,000 troops in Iraq. It is the third-largest contributor to coalition forces after the United States and Britain.
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G-8 For Controlling Global Emissions
The Group of Eight leading industrial nations agreed on halving world emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. In the battle against global warming all major economies are called to join to eliminate the potentially dangerous rise in world temperatures. The G-8 countries include the United States, Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Britain, Canada and Italy.
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Communists Upset with Indiana Jones
Stephen Spielberg’s new Indiana Jones movie aims to undermine communist ideology and distort history, said Members of Russia’s Communist Party. They also called for a nationwide boycott of the movie. Moscow Communist lawmaker Andrei Andreyev said “it is very disturbing if talented directors want to provoke a new Cold War.” In the movie, Indiana Jones is fighting KGB agents for control of a crystal skull. The first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark (Special Edition)
Related : Legend of Crystal Skulls
