Daily Archives: March 17, 2016
Seoul: North Korea fires ballistic missile into sea
SEOUL, South Korea, Jumada II 09, 1437, March 18, 2016, SPA — North Korea on Friday fired a ballistic missile into the sea, days after their leader Kim Jong Un ordered tests likely aimed at developing technology it needs to acquire in order to build a reliable missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, according to AP.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile flew 800 kilometers (500 miles) before crashing off the North’s east coast on Friday.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it wasn’t immediately known what type of missile was fired. South Korean media said it was believed to be a medium-range Rodong missile.
On Tuesday, North Korea’s state media said Kim had ordered tests of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads. North Korea also said it simulated test of a re-entry vehicle aimed at return a nuclear warhead into the atmosphere from space so it could hit its intended target.
–SPA
02:58 LOCAL TIME 23:58 GMT
US to declassify military records on Argentina's “dirty war”
WASHINGTON, Jumada II 09, 1437, March 18, 2016, SPA — President Barack Obama is moving to declassify the first military and intelligence documents related to Argentina’s “Dirty War,” according to AP.
Obama is traveling to Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital next week during the 40th anniversary of the 1976 military coup in Argentina. Little is known about the U.S. role leading up to the coup, which started Argentina’s 1976-83 dictatorship and a dark chapter in that country’s history.
The U.S. has previously released 4,000 State Department documents related to that period, but those documents tell only part of the story.
White House national security adviser Susan Rice said Obama will announce during his trip a “comprehensive effort” to declassify more documents, including from the U.S. military and intelligence community. Rice said Argentina requested the declassification.
–SPA
02:48 LOCAL TIME 23:48 GMT
North Korea launches ballistic missile into sea -US official
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said details on the launch were still being gathered but noted that it appeared to be a medium-range missile.
–SPA
02:11 LOCAL TIME 23:11 GMT
ISESCO condemns terror attack in mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Rabat, Jumada II 09, 1437, March 18, 2016, SPA — The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) roundly condemned the terrorist bombing at a mosque in Maiduguri (northeast of Nigeria), which claimed the lives of over a score of people and injured more others.
This criminal attack comes in the wake of a series of similar terrorist acts in other Muslim countries; the handiwork of a band of mischief-mongers assisted by hostile and malicious forces plotting to sabotage the Muslim world’s stability and security, ISESCO stressed, calling for greater solidarity and synergy on the part of countries beset by terrorism to overcome this scourge, a statement by the organization said.
For his part, the Director General of ISESCO, Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, offered sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the martyrs and wounded, reaffirming ISESCO’s solidarity with the Nigerian government in its struggle against extremist groups.
–SPA
02:03 LOCAL TIME 23:03 GMT
Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz passes away, Royal Court announces
This came in a statement issued here by the Royal Court.
–SPA
01:13 LOCAL TIME 22:13 GMT
Qatar's Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from Russian Counterpart
During the call, they discussed the developments of situation in Syria and the latest developments of the global oil market, where the two ministers stressed the desire of both countries to enhance cooperation in the field of energy, according to Qatar News Agency.
–SPA
00:05 LOCAL TIME 21:05 GMT
Chilean Navy begins rescue of Kon-Tiki balsa rafts of coast
SANTIAGO, Chile, Jumada II 08, 1437, March 17, 2016, SPA — The Chilean Navy is working to rescue 14 crewmembers aboard two balsa rafts that were swept up in strong currents hundreds of kilometers (miles) off the coast, according to AP.
The Kon-Tiki 1 and 2 rafts set sail in early January from Chile’s Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean toward the port city of Valparaiso, Chile.
However, strong currents pulled them far off course. The Navy said in a statement Thursday they were about 994 miles (1,600 kilometers) west of Puerto Montt in southern Chile. They sent out a distress signal Wednesday asking for assistance.
The crews include citizens of Norway, Peru, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia and Sweden.
The official website says the group was sailing to document climate change, pollution and marine life in the Pacific.
–SPA
00:05 LOCAL TIME 21:05 GMT
Guinea says two people tested positive for Ebola
Vaccines had been taken to the area where the new cases were found, Fode Tass Sylla, said.
–SPA
23:30 LOCAL TIME 20:30 GMT
