Beijing tries to soothe South China Sea jitters

Beijing (AFP) Oct 17, 2015 Beijing sought to soothe tensions over its South China Sea claims Saturday, saying it will avoid the use of force in the region as the US ponders sending warships close to territory claimed by the Asian giant. Speaking at the Xiangshan regional defence forum in Beijing, Fan Changlong, vice-chair of China's Central Military Commission, pledged that the country would "never recklessly resort ...

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Beijing holds defence forum as South China Sea festers

Beijing (AFP) Oct 16, 2015 China gathered defence officials and experts from across the Asia-Pacific in Beijing Friday for a three-day security forum intended to boost the Asian giant's influence on the global stage. The Xiangshan, or Fragrant Hills, conference comes as tensions rise between Washington and Beijing, the region's two largest economic and military powers, over the latter's construction of artificial isl...

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Obama, Park ready to 'engage' North Korea

Washington (AFP) Oct 16, 2015 US President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart stressed their readiness to "engage" nuclear-armed North Korea Friday, albeit with conditions. Hailing the Washington-Seoul alliance as the "lynchpin" of security on the Korean Peninsula, Obama welcomed Park Geun-Hye to the White House and said his nuclear deal with Iran carried lessons for Northeast Asia. If Pyongyang is willi...

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NATO and Czech Republic to bolster cyberdefense

Washington Oct 14, 2015 Officials from NATO and the Czech Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding aiming to improve cooperation and assistance on cyberdefense. The document was signed by NATO Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, and Czech Director of National Security Dušan Navrátil. The document is a follow up to the Enhanced NATO Policy on Cyber Defense in 2014. The Czech Republic is the firs...

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U.S. Navy to join India and Japan in Malabar 2015

Chennai, India (UPI) Oct 14, 2015 Navies from the U.S., India, and Japan will participate in naval military exercise Malabar 2015 beginning on Wednesday. Malabar is a complex military exercise that has traditionally been held by the U.S. and India with Japanese forces sitting in as observers. Japan will now be a permanent participant as the country embraces more activist military policies, according to Defense News. Th...

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Iran rejects criticism of its missile test

Tehran (AFP) Oct 17, 2015 Iran said on Saturday that its recent test launch of a long-range missile does not violate UN Security Council resolutions as claimed by the United States and France. "Our missile tests have nothing to do with Resolution 2231, which only mentions missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a news conference. Speaking in Tehran alongsi...

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EU to announce end of Iran sanctions on Sunday: sources

Brussels (AFP) Oct 16, 2015 The EU will announce Sunday the formal end to damaging economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme which the West feared would give Tehran the atomic bomb, Western diplomatic sources said. They said the decision will take effect around the end of the year after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certifies that Iran has met its commitments under a landmark July a...

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Iran broadcasts footage of underground missile base

Tehran (AFP) Oct 14, 2015 Iranian state television broadcast unprecedented footage Wednesday of a deep underground tunnel packed with missiles and launcher units, which officials said could be used if "enemies make a mistake". The pictures were released just three days after Iran tested a new long-range missile that the United States said may have breached a UN Security Council resolution. The footage also came ...

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UN atomic watchdog says Iran probe completed

Vienna (AFP) Oct 15, 2015 The UN atomic watchdog said Thursday it has completed on schedule gathering information in its probe into Iran's alleged past efforts to develop nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that, in line with a plan agreed with Iran in July, its chief Yukiya Amano will now provide a "final assessment" on the investigation by December 15. The IAEA keeps close tabs on Iran...

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Nuclear deal 'opening' for Mideast diplomacy: Steinmeier

Tehran (AFP) Oct 17, 2015 The nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers is "an opening for further diplomatic endeavours" to resolve the conflicts in the Middle East, the German foreign minister said in Tehran Saturday. "This region needs more diplomacy, not less" said Frank-Walter Steinmeier, pointing to the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, according to the text of a speech he delivered. "We need and ...

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Cathay suspends flights over Iran after missile warning

Paris (AFP) Oct 14, 2015 Cathay Pacific said Wednesday it had suspended flights over Iran and the Caspian Sea after an aviation safety body issued a warning about Russian missiles being fired at Syria, while some European airlines have also taken measures. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) took action to avoid a repeat of the tragedy involving Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down over war-tor...

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US steps up intelligence aid to fight against Boko Haram

Yaounde, Cameroon (AFP) Oct 17, 2015 The imminent deployment of 300 US soldiers in Cameroon is intended to provide nations around Lake Chad with what they most lack in the battle against Boko Haram: reliable intelligence. On Thursday and Friday, suicide bombers from the Islamist sect slew dozens of people in attacks on Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria, where the radical movement first emerged. The insurgency has claimed at leas...

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Iraqi forces in huge anti-jihadist push in Baiji

Baiji, Iraq (AFP) Oct 16, 2015 Iraqi forces defused booby traps and hunted down holdout jihadists in the strategic Baiji area Friday as part of their biggest advance against the Islamic State group in months. Baiji lies at a crossroads between several frontlines, and control of the area is seen as the key to progress in other regions, including Anbar province where forces were also closing in on IS strongholds. The a...

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US troop extension hands Afghanistan a lifeline - for now

Kabul (AFP) Oct 18, 2015 The United States' decision to extend its military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016 has thrown the war-ravaged country's government a much needed lifeline even as its dysfunctionality, blamed for the Taliban's revival, shows no signs of abating. It has been just over a year since Ashraf Ghani was sworn in as president as part of a US-brokered unity government with his main election rival...

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Yemen loyalists 'mistakenly killed' in coalition air raid

Sanaa Oct 17, 2015 A Saudi-led coalition air strike "mistakenly" hit a position held by pro-government forces in southern Yemen Saturday, causing casualties, officials, medics and witnesses said. At least 30 were killed and 40 others were wounded in the strike on Waziya, an area between Taez and Lahj provinces where rival forces have been fighting since late September, the medics and witnesses said. But A...

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Lockheed Martin completes 60 tests of laser turret for high-speed warplanes

http://ift.tt/1LB6cXT Last year, Lockheed Martin began testing a new tactical laser turret for future warplanes. After 60 test flights Lockheed says the 360° capability of the turret system has been verified, moving the technology a step closer to deployment on tactical aircraft flying at near-supersonic speeds. .. Continue Reading Lockheed Martin completes 60 tests of laser turret for high-speed warplanes Section: Military Tags: Lockheed Martin Laser...

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Samsung Gear S2 vs. Huawei Watch

http://ift.tt/1Lgw0XU In some ways Samsung's Gear S2 soars to the highest of smartwatch heights, but it also sinks to some frustrating lows that prevent it from being our top recommendation. Let's see how it compares to one of our top choices of the year, the Huawei Watch. .. Continue Reading Samsung Gear S2 vs. Huawei Watch Section: Smartwatches Tags: Android Wear Samsung Gear S2 Tizen Samsung Huawei Huawei Watch Wearable Product Comparison Related...

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Compact Wheezy trailer snaps onto your bike and makes it electric

http://ift.tt/1LyXxoS On-bike electric drives like the ConoDrive and Electron Wheel aren't the only means of adding some electric muscle to your pedaling. Powered bike trailers like the compact Ridekick or cargo-hauling Brouhaha bring their own drive wheels and give your pedaling a little extra oomph. The new, UK-designed Wheezy is a compact, easy-to-use electric trailer option. Make your bike a little more Wheezy and you can expect to be a little...

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Battelle’s DroneDefender anti-drone beam gun grounds UAVs

http://ift.tt/1kbxny9 There's recently been a run of new anti-drone systems introduced to deal with potential threats from UAVs, but these have been on the large and expensive side. To provide an affordable alternatives to plug the gap between shotguns and truck-mounted systems, national security research and development firm Battelle is introducing DroneDefender. Billed as the first portable, accurate, rapid-to-use UAV counter-weapon, it's a rifle-like...

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Scientists create a pumping artificial heart – using foam

http://ift.tt/1ZJHF96 Perhaps you sleep on a memory foam mattress. Well, in the future, a similar material could be used to create artificial body parts. Researchers at Cornell University recently used their new "elastomer foam" to build a functioning fluid pump that looks and works like a human heart. .. Continue Reading Scientists create a pumping artificial heart – using foam Section: Medical Tags: Heart Cornell University Memory foam Prosthetics Related...

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Mitsubishi to show high-tech Emirai 3 concept cars in Tokyo

http://ift.tt/1KeCl28 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation plans to highlight next-generation automotive technologies at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. It will show two related forward-looking concept cars, the Emirai 3 xDas and the Emirai 3 xAuto. The former packs a high-tech, multi-screen cockpit with next-generation human-machine interface, while the latter has a range of automated driving features. .. Continue Reading Mitsubishi to show high-tech...

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Tesla's live Autopilot upgrades give the Model S parallel parking and lane changes with the push of a button

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Helmet decal could reduce athletes' head injuries

http://ift.tt/1RN7hwP If we lived in a world where athletes only received straight-on blows to the head, then regular helmets would offer all the protection needed. In real life, however, helmets usually receive impacts at an angle, with the resulting twisting of the head potentially causing brain injuries to the wearer. Now, scientists from Vancouver's Simon Fraser University have developed something to help keep that from happening – a sticker...

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Powered by body heat, Lumen flashlight never needs batteries

http://ift.tt/1X9FPML Whether it be for everyday carry (EDC), outdoor adventure, or disaster preparation, flashlights tend to be found towards the top of must-have items. But one common aspect of these luminescent devices is that they're only as good as the batteries inside. If you've ever switched on a flashlight only to experience a flood of frustrated disappointment, you might appreciate owning an "eternal flashlight." Lumen is designed to be...

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New algorithm minimizes impacts for falling robots

http://ift.tt/1PmGaKt A team of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed an algorithm that teaches robots how to fall, allowing them to trip up with a little more grace, and hopefully cause themselves less damage when they do. .. Continue Reading New algorithm minimizes impacts for falling robots Section: Robotics Tags: Georgia Institute of Technology Related Articles: Researchers turn to cats to help soften robot...

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New study finds common link between young stars and black holes

http://ift.tt/1OIUKdG A research project led by the University of Leicester in the UK has identified similarities in the readings from the discs surrounding black holes and young stars, even though the objects have wildly different properties. The discovery was made by studying the brightness variations produced by accretion discs around various astronomical objects. These huge discs of matter play a central part in the growth of most objects in...

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Yamaha unveils Tokyo-bound concept models

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Microsoft Surface Book vs. 2015 Retina MacBook Pro

http://ift.tt/1Pxakd8 The Microsoft Surface Book is more of a laptop than a 2-in-1, but it does stay true to its Surface name by letting you rip its screen off to use it as a (gigantic) tablet. Let's see how it compares to a 100 percent purebred laptop, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. .. Continue Reading Microsoft Surface Book vs. 2015 Retina MacBook Pro Section: Laptops Tags: Microsoft MacBook Pro Microsoft Surface Apple Product...

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EasyMile's driverless bus rolls-out in Singapore and California

http://ift.tt/1RfcGvv A driverless bus developed by French firm EasyMile is to go into operation at a business park in California and a park in Singapore. The EZ10 is operated entirely autonomously and doesn't even have a steering wheel. Easymile says it hopes to have 100-200 EZ10s in operation by 2017. .. Continue Reading EasyMile's driverless bus rolls-out in Singapore and California Section: Automotive Tags: Autonomous Vehicles Buses Electric...

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1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB sells for $10 million

http://ift.tt/1LdQ6lK Earlier this week a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT short-wheelbase (SWB) Berlinetta (chassis 1995 GT – one just 167 ever built), sold for £7,392,000 (US$11,439,774), becoming just the 26th car in history to sell for beyond seven figures. The 55 year old red V12 Ferrari had been donated by the late Richard Colton, a Ferrari collector, to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (UK). Read on for full details of this new inductee into the...

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Burntwood School wins 2015 Stirling Prize

http://ift.tt/1Pm0go5 The 2015 RIBA Stirling prize has been awarded to Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) architects for Burntwood School. AHMM’s transformation of Burntwood School is said to reimagine a 1950s modernist secondary school campus for 2,000 girls and 200 staff. It was selected from a shortlist of six finalists. .. Continue Reading Burntwood School wins 2015 Stirling Prize Section: Architecture Tags: Building and Construction Education Awards School Related...

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Renzo Piano renovating Moscow power station into art gallery

http://ift.tt/1VWphuo Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the eponymous firm of the Italian architect behind London's Shard building, is turning a large Moscow power station into an art space. Commissioned by the V-A-C Foundation, which promotes Russian contemporary art, the project is due to be completed by early 2019. .. Continue Reading Renzo Piano renovating Moscow power station into art gallery Section: Architecture Tags: Art Renzo Piano Moscow Related...

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Meson f0(1710) could be so-called “glueball” particle made purely of nuclear force

http://ift.tt/1jse3gj Terms to describe the strange world of quantum physics have come to be quite common in our lexicon. Who, for instance, hasn't at least heard of a quark, or a gluon or even Schrodinger's cat? Now there's a new name to remember: "Glueball." A long sought-after exotic particle, and recently claimed to have been detected by researchers at TU Wien, the glueball's strangest characteristic is that it is composed entirely of gluons....

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Tonke turns the new VW T6 into versatile camper van

http://ift.tt/1jG7YfC Volkswagen introduced the sixth-generation Transporter van back in April, and camper van converters quickly got to work showing their new T6 camper van packages. We saw the new California from Volkswagen itself, and now Dutch converter Tonke, best known for its stylish wood and aluminum-skinned camper modules, has transformed the new VW into a slick, versatile explorer. .. Continue Reading Tonke turns the new VW T6 into versatile...

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SkinSuit designed to reduce harmful physical effects of weightlessness tested on ISS

http://ift.tt/1NLaQFb The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) got a fashion show with a medical twist last month as Denmark’s first astronaut, Andreas Mogensen, donned a SkinSuit designed to counteract the harmful effects of prolonged periods of weightlessness on the human body. Developed as part of an international effort led by RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, the new suit is designed to simulate the pressures of normal gravity...

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