Section: Business Insider (USA)
The family of a missing former FBI agent is furious he wasn’t part of the Iran prisoner swap
AP Photo/Manuel Balce CenetaCORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — The family and colleagues of a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran nine years ago while on a CIA mission expressed anger and disappointment at a rally Saturday that he wasn’t part of a January prisoner exchange with Tehran. Several hundred people attended the rally for Robert...
135 people were killed in the first week of a fragile truce in Syria
REUTERS/Khalil AshawiBEIRUT (Reuters) – A total of 135 people were killed in the first week of a fragile truce in Syria in areas covered by the cessation of hostilities agreement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday. In areas not covered by the ceasefire, which came into force on Feb. 27, 552 people were killed, the...
A Ukrainian plane company is threatening to overtake defense giant Lockheed Martin
Liz Kaszynski/Lockheed MartinUkraine has lost Crimea, and much of its eastern border region as well, to invading troops from Russia. But could this beleaguered country soon book a win in the airplane market? Several recent news items suggest that it could — and that it could do this at Lockheed Martin’s expense. Last month, we relayed to...
The US Air Force is losing ground to Russia and China
via U.S. Air ForceThe Air Force’s top general is warning Congress that one day soon the U.S. might not be able to keep pace with Russia and China when it comes to producing and fielding next-generation fighter jets. In two Capitol Hill appearances this week, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh sounded the alarm about the advancements...
Russia is concerned by North Korea’s readiness to use nuclear weapons
KCNA/ReutersMOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is seriously worried by North Korea’s declared readiness to use its nuclear weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. “This raises pretty serious concerns,” Peskov told a teleconference with journalists. “We hope that all countries in the region will maintain...
The ceasefire in Syria brings a rare glimpse of normality to the region
REUTERS/Abdalrhman IsmailAMMAN (Reuters) – In the devastated Syrian city of Aleppo, children are outside playing and many people are going to the shops safely for the first time in months thanks to a partial halt to the war that is providing relief even if most doubt that peace will take hold. “Look at the markets. Where were all...
China will increase its military spending by the smallest amount in five years
Thomson ReutersBEIJING (AP) — China says it will boost military spending by about 7 to 8 percent this year, the smallest increase in about five years, reflecting slowing economic growth and a drawdown of 300,000 troops as Beijing seeks to build a more streamlined, modern military. Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the National People’s Congress,...
Hong Kong and China are locked in a furious debate over the alphabet
REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonHongkongers’ sensitivity about their language has been pricked again by a mooted plan to teach simplified Chinese in schools. At the start of last month, it emerged that the Education Bureau’s latest consultation document said local pupils should learn to read simplified characters. Traditional characters are the...
The Pentagon is trying to court hackers from Silicon Valley
AP Photo/Mel EvansThe U.S. Defense Department is stepping up its efforts to collaborate with Silicon Valley, hoping to attract the best and brightest into government service and boost its ability to equip American troops with cutting-edge technology. The multi-pronged approach announced in earnest on Wednesday introduced a somewhat commonly used...
North Korea leader tells military to be ready to use nuclear weapons at any time
REUTERS/KCNASEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered his country’s nuclear weapons made ready for use at a moment’s notice, the country’s official state news agency reported Friday. Kim also said his country will ready its military so it is prepared to carry out pre-emptive attacks, calling the...
