Japan, a professed pacifist nation since the end of World War II, is set to become the planet’s third-biggest military spender. It will be armed with U.S.-built missiles capable of striking China. In a significant departure from its postwar national security strategy—nominally limited to self-defense along with hosting U.S. troops—Japan on Friday announced its plan to […]
PENTAGON — The United States is preparing to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine to shoot down incoming Russian missiles, a decision that could be announced as soon as this week, a U.S. defense official and a second U.S. official told VOA on Tuesday. Both officials spoke on condition that they not be identified […]
An earthquake struck Indonesia’s main island of Java Monday, killing at more than 50 people and injuring hundreds. The head of the country’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the earthquake damaged dozens of buildings. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the magnitude 5.6 quake was in Cianjur. Shaking was felt in the capital, […]
Despite rebuffs from Western nations, Russia continued to accuse Ukraine of preparing to use a “dirty bomb” and said it would bring the matter to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. Diplomats said Russia has told council counterparts it will bring up the issue during a closed-door meeting of the 15-member body. Russia’s Ambassador to […]