High speed trains make sense in bustling S. Korea, but not in depressed Britain

High speed trains make sense in bustling S. Korea, but not in depressed Britain

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com MANCHESTER, England — The Brits face a problem that Koreans might — or might not — appreciate. By now Koreans have gotten thoroughly used to zipping up and down the Republic of Korea, that is, the Korean peninsula south of the DMZ, on super-fast trains at relatively inexpensive […]

Russian flotilla heads for Mediterranean to counter NATO role in Syria

Russian flotilla heads for Mediterranean to counter NATO role in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com Over 300 Russian Marines are onboard a flotilla of at least five warships from Russia’s Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet en route to the Syrian coast in the Mediterranean, both Russian and Israeli sources have confirmed. Moscow had earlier stated that the purpose of sending […]

After policy disasters, U.S. AFRICOM to deploy troops to 35 countries

After policy disasters, U.S. AFRICOM to deploy troops to 35 countries

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com The United States will deploy troops to 35 African countries in 2013 to deal with increasing Al Qaida or Al Qaida-like terrorist threats. The total number of Africa-bound troops will be around 3,500 and they will come from the 2nd Brigade’s Heavy Combat Team of the First […]

Addressing global terrorism on a day when it was everywhere

Addressing global terrorism on a day when it was everywhere

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The Hydra-headed challenge of global terrorism continues as the multi-faceted threat changes and mutates in response to increasingly effective counter-measures. Few countries have been in the cross hairs of violence as has been Pakistan, so it should come as no surprise that in the Security Council’s urgent meeting to […]

Xi’s answer to America’s strategic shift to Asia: Closer ties with Moscow

Xi’s answer to America’s strategic shift to Asia: Closer ties with Moscow

Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com General Secretary and Commander-in-chief Xi Jinping is set to continue the “pro-Russian” policy of his predecessor, Hu Jintao, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership becomes more nervous than ever over Washington’s perceived “anti-China containment policy.” While meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev in Beijing on […]

Terror crisis in Mali, desecration in Timbuktu and the suppression of millions: World shrugs

Terror crisis in Mali, desecration in Timbuktu and the suppression of millions: World shrugs

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Regions of a vast landlocked country, remote but strategic, has fallen under the control of Al Qaida terrorists and fundamentalist forces. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled a regime which persecutes women, imposes stringent Sharia law, and desecrates and destroys ancient towns and even mosques. The outside world […]

‘Almost noiseless’ 3rd Russian nuclear-powered sub begins sea trials

‘Almost noiseless’ 3rd Russian nuclear-powered sub begins sea trials

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com Russia’s third Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), the Vladimir Monomakh, recently began sea trials from the northern shipbuilding town of Severodvinsk. The official RIA Novosti news agency called the Vladimir Monomakh “super-modern, powerful and almost noiseless.” The Borei-class SSBN is Russia’s first post-Soviet designed nuclear submarine. […]

Remembering Vaclav Havel who inspired freedom fighters from E. Europe to N. Korea, China

Remembering Vaclav Havel who inspired freedom fighters from E. Europe to N. Korea, China

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — One year ago the renowned author, playwright, and former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel died at age 75. In tribute to this extraordinary European Renaissance Man, I’m reissuing my column in the spirit of memory and the season. “Havel’s career as literary figure, intellectual and a political […]

Europe gets the prize: Sixty years of peace, if not prosperity

Europe gets the prize: Sixty years of peace, if not prosperity

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The European Union, the concert of 27 countries ranging from the Bay of Biscay to the Baltics and the Balkans has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. Some may smile, others may smirk, and many, when they think about it for a second time, may say […]

Where’s Vladimir? Kremlin spokesmen vague on Putin’s health

Where’s Vladimir? Kremlin spokesmen vague on Putin’s health

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com The Kremlin is adamant that rumors about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ill health are only rumors. But Putin has not been meeting his scheduled events over the past couple of months. In early November, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin suffered from some illness. He denied […]