The Great Horned Owl is a magnificent raptor with feathers so soft its prey can't even hear it coming until it's too late. But even this superb hunter has a major challenge to overcome — it cannot move its eyes. To scan forest or field for danger — or its next meal — the owl, its eyes fixed straight ahead, must rotate its head. Today, the U.S. national security apparatus is much like an owl with a stiff neck.
An expanding alliance of Russia, China and four Central Asian states should not be seen as an anti-American plot designed to slash Washington's influence in the region, Kyrgyzstan's ambassador to Washington said in an interview yesterday.
The Russian navy, much as its predecessor the Soviet fleet, has long yearned for a warm water port to compensate for the long winter months when Baltic ports freeze over. If Syrian opposition forces are to be believed, Moscow's search may be over with Damascus offering the Russians use of their ports of Tartous and Latakia on the Mediterranean Sea.
Division rejected
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The leaders of Russia, China and Iran yesterday said Central Asia should be left alone to manage its stability and security — an apparent warning to the United States to avoid interfering in the strategic, resource-rich region.
MOSCOW — A Russian region best known as the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin has found a novel way to fight the nation's birthrate crisis: It has declared Sept. 12 the Day of Conception and for the third year running is giving couples time off from work to procreate.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — When the presidents of 10 countries gather today to map out their strategy for the security of Central Asia, there will be one major player conspicuously missing: the United States.
NORILSK, Russia (AP) — Norilsk Nickel's company anthem praises its smelters as "the light in Russia's window," but even in summer the Arctic city sits wreathed in a gray cloud of pollution.
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian region best known as the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin has found a novel way to fight the nation's birthrate crisis: It has declared Sept. 12 the Day of Conception and for the third year running is giving couples time off from work to procreate.
