A handout image of a missile-firing drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea in January. Image: Google hosted news / AFP

NKorea test-fires four ballistic missiles: SKorea

AFP | Saturday, July 4, 2009

By Park Chan-Kyong
Story originally published Friday, July 3, 2009
SEOUL (AFP) — North Korea has test-fired four ballistic missiles, on the eve of US Independence Day celebrations, according to South Korean officials, further fuelling regional tensions amid its nuclear standoff. Seoul's foreign ministry said all four of the weapons launched into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) were ballistic missiles, which the North is banned from firing under UN Security Council resolutions. It was the first time in three years that the communist state fired multiple ballistic missiles. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles had a range of between 400 and 500 km (250-312 miles) but declined to say what type they were. Yonhap news agency said they were either Scuds, or Rodong-1 missiles whose range of 1,000-1,300 km had been shortened. The North on Thursday test-fired four short-range missiles with a range of 120 km into the Sea of Japan.

The latest launches, between 8 am (2300 GMT Friday) and noon, were seen as more provocative since the missiles could potentially reach most of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan. "The military, on the basis of a strong joint defence alliance with the United States, is fully prepared to fend off any threats or provocations by the North," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The foreign ministry said the missiles were fired from a site at Kitdaeryong on the North's southeast coast. It said the "provocative act... clearly violates" three UN Security Council resolutions, including the latest one in June which toughened weapons-related sanctions on the North in response to its May 25 nuclear test. "The government expresses deep regret over North Korea's continued acts to escalate tensions in Northeast Asia in ignorance of the UN Security Council resolutions and urges North Korea to faithfully implement the resolutions," it added in a statement.

"The Scuds fired today impose a greater security threat to us because of their longer ranges," one government official was quoted as saying by Yonhap. "Thursday's missile tests were apparently made as part of a military drill but today's launches, which came on the eve of the US Independence Day, are believed to be aimed at political purposes." Japan condemned the launches. "It is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including our country," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said. Analysts said the North was flexing its military muscle amid the tough international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons and missile programmes. Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses said the North test-fires missiles three to four times each year to improve technology and maintain missile exports.

NKorea fires missiles; launch toward US feared

Boston.com / The Associated Press | Friday, July 3, 2009

FILE-In this file photo taken on Monday, June 15, 2009, a South Korean protester carries a mock North Korean missile with portraits of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during a rally against the North's nuclear and missile programs in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean media report that North Korea has test-fired two short-range missiles. Yonhap news agency reported Thursday, July 2, 2009, the North fired two ground-to-ship missiles from its eastern coast. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

By Jae-Soon Chang
Associated Press Writer / Story originally posted July 2, 2009
SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea fired a barrage of short-range missiles off its east coast in a possible prelude to the launch of a long-range missile toward Hawaii over the U.S. Independence Day holiday. Firing a ballistic missile on the July Fourth celebration would be a challenge to Washington, which has been rallying international support for enforcement of U.N. sanctions imposed against Pyongyang following a May 25 nuclear test. North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles under U.N. resolutions. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Thursday that a long-range missile launch this weekend was possible. "We cannot rule out the possibility," he said, citing Pyongyang's past behavior. In 2006, North Korea launched its most advanced Taepodong 2 missile while the U.S. celebrated Independence Day, though the rocket fizzled shortly after takeoff and fell into the ocean.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the United States remains concerned about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs but called North Korea's launches Thursday of short-range missiles "not unexpected." Several U.S. Defense Department officials said there is nothing to indicate that North Korea is ready to launch a long-range ballistic missile and there appears to be no immediate threat to the United States. The April 5 launch of a Taepodong-2 required 12 days of preparation on the launch pad, which was fully observable to U.S. satellites. Short and medium-range missiles, however, can be launched with little notice. Missile defenses around Hawaii were beefed up following a mid-June report in a Japanese newspaper that the North might fire a long-range missile toward the islands in early July.

The head of the U.S. Northern Command, Gen. Victor E. "Gene" Renuart, said in an interview with the Washington Times this week that U.S. missile defenses are prepared to knock down any incoming North Korean missile. "I think we ought to assume there might be one on the Fourth of July," he said, according to the paper. North Korea raised concern in late April when it explicitly threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile and warned of a nuclear test. The regime followed through with the atomic blast in May, leaving the ICBM test as its next likely step. "I totally expect that we will see another long-range missile launch ... because they said they will do it," Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS think tank, told The Associated Press from Beijing where he was attending a nonproliferation conference.

California in 'fiscal emergency'

BBC NEWS / Americas | Story last updated at 06:53 GMT, Thursday, 2 July 2009 07:53 UK

Mr Schwarzenegger said he was proud of California despite the crisis. Photo: AP

The governor of California has declared a fiscal emergency in the US state to address a budget deficit of some $24.3bn (£14.5bn).

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also ordered many state offices to close for three days each month until June 2010, with staff unpaid for those days. California has been one of the US states hardest hit by the recession. The moves comes after state legislators missed a 1 July deadline to approve a budget for the coming financial year. State Controller John Chiang has said the failure to meet the deadline means the state deficit will increase by up to $6.5bn by September. Mr Chiang told the BBC that many vulnerable people had been put in harm's way by the state's failure to agree the budget and to provide "essential dollars to help these people pay their rent, to put food on the table or to pay their utility bill".

He had earlier warned that drastic measures would have to be taken to conserve cash, including delaying payments to companies working for the state and to those relying on benefits and grants. Under the emergency measures, some state offices will be closed on the first, second and third Friday of every month until June 2010, with staff not paid for those days. Mr Schwarzenegger said in a statement that although the legislature had failed to remedy the budget problems, "solving the entire deficit" remained his "first and only priority". "I will not rest until we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road - the road stops here," he said. The White House said it was closely monitoring the situation in the state.

'Still proud'

On Tuesday, the Californian Senate failed to agree on Democratic proposals to shave $3.3bn from education and other programmes as a stopgap measure to address the shortfall. Democrats believe cuts should not slash vital social programmes while Republicans argued that much deeper spending cuts were needed to balance the budget. Republicans and Mr Schwarzenegger have also ruled out tax increases. California struggles to balance its budget every year, but this year has been particularly difficult. And the size of the Californian economy - it is the world's eighth largest economy and generates nearly 13% of US gross domestic product - means what happens there matters for the rest of the country.

Around a thousand people had to be evacuated from the nearby houses. Image: Google hosted news / AFP

Italian train inferno kills 16

AFP | Wednesday, July 01, 2009

By Mathieu Gorse
Originally posted June 30, 2009
VIAREGGIO, Italy (AFP) — A train carrying liquid petroleum gas derailed in an Italian seaside resort town sending a fireball that engulfed nearby houses, killed at least 16 people and injured dozens, officials said. Witnesses spoke of terrifying scenes as many of the injured in Viareggio were left with extensive burns. The driver told of his "miracle" escape after his cabin filled with the liquid gas. The local health service gave the latest toll of 16 dead and 36 injured, of whom 14 were in critical condition. Two of the dead were children, officials said. Hundreds of firefighters from across the region rushed to help with the rescue operation and ensure remaining tankers did not catch fire.

More than 1,000 people were evacuated because of the danger of more explosions, said Luca Lunardini, mayor of the city of 50,000 people, adding before the latest toll was issued that five people were still missing. Authorities declared a state of emergency and Transport Minister Altero Matteoli set up an official inquiry. Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram expressing his "deep compassion for the pain which has touched the whole town", while Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi visited Viareggio to "take control of the situation". One of the drivers told of his scramble to escape the inferno just before midnight on Monday. "The drivers' cabin filled with the gas, we managed to escape. We are alive, it is a miracle."

Guido Bertolaso, the chief of the civil protection services, said: "There are several bodies in the streets thrown out of the buildings by the explosion," and added that many corpses were charred beyond recognition. Another witness told of finding a burnt body in the street. "I heard the explosion and I went out into the street to find myself faced with flames and a motionless charred body lying on the ground," the witness, who works at a nearby pharmaceutical company, told Italian news agency ANSA. He called it a "terrifying scene that I will never forget". A young girl caught in the blast on her scooter threw herself to the ground to put out her burning clothes, ANSA quoted another witness as saying. One wagon in the 14-carriage train transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) came off the rails in the town, which is just northwest of Pisa.

Iran's Guardian Council Affirms Vote Result

The Washington Post / World / Middle East / Iran | Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Recount of 10 Percent of Ballot Boxes Certifies Landslide Victory by Ahmadinejad

By Thomas Erdbrink and William Branigin
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
TEHRAN, June 29 -- A top supervisory body reviewing Iran's disputed June 12 election formally dismissed all opposition complaints of fraud Monday and affirmed a landslide victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, setting off shouts of protest from Tehran's rooftops but leaving opponents with few options amid an intensifying government crackdown. The decision by the Guardian Council, a 12-member panel of Shiite Muslim clerics and jurists who oversee elections and certify results, was announced about 10 p.m. Tehran time after a partial recount was conducted in an effort to mollify political opponents who charge that Ahmadinejad benefited from massive vote-rigging.

Before the announcement, security forces, including members of the pro-government Basij militia, deployed in large numbers to prevent street protests, witnesses said. But that did not stop people from taking to their rooftops to chant "Allahu akbar" (God is great) and "Death to the dictator" in a form of protest used by the popular movement that ultimately deposed the shah of Iran three decades ago. Witnesses said the chanting Monday night was louder than usual, as Tehran residents vented their anger at a government that has largely crushed street demonstrations after declaring them illegal and threatening their organizers with execution. In a letter to Interior Minister Sadegh Mahsouli, the head of the Guardian Council said members reached their "final decision" on the election results after an extended review, Iran's state television and radio network reported.

"The Guardian Council held numerous sessions and agreed that the complaints were not valid and has now approved the soundness of the 10th presidential election," said the letter from Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati. He said that "most of the complaints were not cases of vote-rigging or electoral violation or were minor violations that might happen in every election and can be ignored." He called the election "a golden page . . . of Iran's democratic history," according to an official translation. The recount of 10 percent of ballot boxes went ahead over the objections of two opposition presidential candidates, who demanded that the election be annulled on grounds of massive vote-rigging.