IRAQ: Closure of Iranian border affects Kurdistan region’s economy

Aid agencies in the northern semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan have said the continuing closure of Iraq’s border with Iran will not hamper their work as they do not use the Iranian border for getting supplies.
However, Azad Ahmed, a 45-year old pharmacist in Sulaimaniyah, said that although medicines are imported from neighbouring countries other than Iran [...]

World defence developments

USN awards Raytheon Zumwalt-class MSE contract modification
Raytheon Systems has been awarded a USD993.4 million contract modification for mission system equipment (MSE) and engineering support services that are part of the ship design and integration effort for the US Navy (USN) Zumwalt-class destroyer programme. Work on the 14,564-ton destroyer will include: total ship’s computing infrastructure; acoustic [...]

Serbia and Kosovo discuss a split

Spain and Russia fear that Kovoso’s independence may set a dangerous precedent for other territories with nationalist leanings.
By Tom A. Peter
from the September 29, 2007 edition
Kosovo and Serbia are set to have their first face-to-face talks at the United Nations starting on Friday. The meeting is billed as the final attempt to forge an agreement [...]

Cyprus-Korea set to sign maritime accord

Cyprus and the Republic of Korea are set to sign an agreement on maritime matters to help strengthen existing ties.
Speaking after a meeting with Acting Foreign Minister Fotis Fotiou, the Korean Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Kang Moo Hyun said he conveyed a letter from the Korean President to his Cypriot counterpart Tassos Papadopoulos.
“The [...]

Japan Successfully Launches Kaguya Lunar Orbit Explorer

The thirteenth H-IIA rocket carrying a lunar obiter to explore the surface of the moon was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on September 14. The orbiter, officially called SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) and nicknamed Kaguya, successfully separated from the rocket and went into orbit about 45 minutes after liftoff. Kaguya, [...]

Monthly Economic Report for Japan

Assessment of the current state of the Japanese economy
The economy is recovering, despite weakness in industrial production in some sectors.
Corporate profits are improving and business investment is increasing.
The employment situation is improving on a broader basis, though some severe aspects remain.
Private consumption is picking up.
Exports and industrial production are flat.
  As for short-term prospects, the [...]

From Bulgarian To Kosovo Syndrome

By Nodar Mosaki – senior research associate – Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
The Kosovo issue turned into one of the main issues in the international relations over the last years. Moreover it turned into an inexhaustible source of disagreements between Russia and the West. It is worthwhile to mention that Russia seems more pro Serbian [...]

Global defence developments

NATO troops will remain in Afghanistan until 2009 as ANA numbers build
The number of NATO troops operating in Afghanistan will not be reduced until 2009 at the very earliest, according to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander, General Dan McNeill. Describing the ISAF as an “interim force” aimed at buying time and space for the [...]

Three private universities established in Cyprus

The number of universities in Cyprus has risen to six with the approval of the applications of three tertiary educational institutions to become private universities, announced here Wednesday Education and Culture Minister Akis Kleanthous.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister said that the Council of Ministers after the Evaluation Committee of Private Universities (ECPU) of [...]

IRAQ-JORDAN: Visas to control flow of Iraqi refugees

Iraqis fleeing their country’s sectarian violence and wishing to enter Jordan will be required to obtain visas, Jordanian officials told IRIN on 18 September. But it is not clear when the new requirement will take effect.
The measure is meant to regulate the flow of refugees and allow security personnel to conduct thorough checks before allowing [...]