Special to WorldTribune.com JERUSALEM — Iran’s supreme leader has long envisioned all-out war with Israel and the United States. Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar asserted that Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei concluded that Teheran would make war on Israel and the United States. Aznar recalled a meeting with Khamenei in 2000 in which [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Jordan has begun hosting a major military exercise with Arab and NATO allies but has made clear it has no implications for Syria. Jordan’s military has launched Eager Lion-2012, deemed the largest international exercise in the Hashemite Kingdom. Eager Lion, which began on May 9, was comprised of 10,000 troops [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has warned against travel to Egypt, particularly the turbulent Sinai Peninsula. The Foreign Office has issued a travel warning against several Middle East states, including Egypt and Turkey. The government department cited the danger of attack and abduction by anti-government elements along major highways, particularly in Sinai. “Due to [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com North Korea’s youthful leader Kim Jong-Un is taking another risky step to win much-needed foreign currency by allowing certain capitalist practices in the world’s last Stalinist nation. Workers at state-run shops in the capital city of Pyongyang have begun wearing name cards instead of badges displaying Kim’s grandfather [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has ordered the purging of unflattering references to Islam in military training programs. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has issued a directive to review military education programs that deal with Islamic insurgency or extremism. Officials said the directive to the heads of [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com Judging by the rhetoric of the official Chinese media and military commentators, the Chinese Communist Party authorities seem to be readying a small-scale naval skirmish to “teach the Philippines a lesson.” Yet at the same time, Beijing is brandishing non-military solutions, such as joint development of oil and [...]
John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Despite the persistent economic headwinds which are expected to slow economic expansion this year, “growth in the Asia and the Pacific area remains better than in any other region; continuing as an anchor of stability and a new growth pole for the world economy.” That’s the guardedly optimistic prognosis [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — In an unprecedented move, the European Union has directed air strikes against Somalia. The EU said a range of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft attacked the Somali coast in search of pirates. The EU said the May 15 operation, in which no casualties were reported, took place in the Somali region [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com GAZA CITY — The fishing industry in the Gaza Strip was said to have been suspended by a fuel shortage. Palestinian sources said the fishing industry could no longer deploy boats off the Gaza coast because of lack of fuel. They said virtually all Palestinian fishing boat owners were unable to afford [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — An airlines established by the Palestinian Authority has resumed operations after an absence of seven years. Palestinian Airlines has begun flights in the Middle East but has not been permitted to land in either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. Its first flight took place on May 9, leaving [...]
