Egypt cuts natural gas supply to Israel

While insisting the move is not political, Egypt has cut the country's natural gas supply to Israel on Sunday. Egypt cited violations of contractual obligations.

On Sunday, Egypt's Natural Gas Holding Company announced the termination of its contract with Israel. Company head, Mohamed Shoeb has stated that Israel has not paid for its gas in 4 months. Shoeb stated: "This has nothing to do with anything outside of the commercial relations."

Israel purchases 40% of its natural gas supply from Egypt.

This move by Egypt also comes in the wake of cross-border attacks at gas pipelines following last year’s uprising... read full article.

Borat turns Kazakhstan into a desired travel destination

While leaders in Kazakhstan were initially upset at the spoof movie, 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan', it seems the exposure has helped the tourism industry in the country.

In 2006 when the satirical film was released, there was an uproar. While the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not ban the movie outright, they did request the film's distributors not to release it in their country.

British comedian of Jewish origin Sacha Baron Cohen released the "mockumentary" and also plays the lead.

The story revolves around a fictitious Kazakh television star, Borat Sagdiyev, who travels to the U.S. in an attempt to improve the image of his home country abroad. He tells people that he is making a documentary on behalf of the imaginary Kazakh Ministry of Information. Many people interviewed in the movie believed he was the real deal.... read full article.

Pentagon's backup plan places 100's of Tomahawks near Iran

While Iran continues to deny that it is developing nuclear weapons, Washington is still concerned and has now deployed approximately 430 Tomahawk missiles in the Persian Gulf.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has reported that their plan for Iran "will be successful" according to CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

In an interview between Blitzer and Panetta, it was advised that Washington has not yet dropped its "all options stance" on Iran. The Pentagon still fears that Tehran may be building nuclear weapons.

Panetta said: “We are prepared with all options on the table if we have to respond," and added "there are plans to deal with Iran if the country does not give up its nuclear ambitions. I don’t think there is any question that if we have to implement that plan, it will be successful.” ... read full article.

Video: Russia & China unite in 'Naval Cooperation 2012'

Russian-Chinese naval maneuvers are on the go in Qingdao, a port in southern China. 4 Russian warships are docked at a Chinese naval base to cooperate on anti-piracy measures.

Normally the warships are situated in the pirate-infested waters near Somalia, but they are taking a break for joint military drills in the Chinese port.

RT reports that the maneuvers have been dubbed "Naval Cooperation 2012" and began on Sunday this week.

When the Russian convoy traveled from Vladivostok, they were frequently followed by NATO reconnaissance destroyers, submarines and planes. However, both Russia and China were quick to stress that these war games are not being directed against a particular military bloc or country.

The Russian-Chinese exercises have been designed to build on the experiences of the two counter-piracy forces in the Gulf of Aden... read full article and view video.

8 U.S. troopers died of opiate overdose in Afghanistan

Investigative reports have shown that 8 U.S. soldiers have died from a heroin overdose or by mixing prescription and other opiate drugs during 2010/2011.

The United States Army Criminal Investigation Command has released a report on 56 U.S. soldiers who were investigated on suspicion of using, possessing or distributing heroin and other opiates. Of the 56 soldiers, 8 have died from an overdose.

CNN reports that the death of the 8 soldiers was shown to be caused by heroin toxicity or by taking a mix of opiate and prescription drugs.

Statistics prepared by the military also indicate that the number of U.S. soldiers based in Afghanistan, who tested positive for heroin has risen from 10 in 2002 up to 116 in 2010... read full article.

Iran begins cloning U.S. drone ― reverse engineering complete

Iran announced in December 2011 that they had successfully captured the RQ-170 U.S. spy drone that had invaded their airspace. It seems they have been playing with it ever since and have now succeeded in making a clone.

While the U.S. thought it had crashed, the Iranian military had apparently hacked the drone's control system and brought it down safely.

Some time ago, Iran made a copy of the clone as a simple toy and sent it to the U.S. in a joking response to demands to hand over the aircraft.

Media in Tehran now says that they have completed reverse-engineering the drone and have begun building their own.... read full article.

Video: Two explosions hit chemical plant in Japan

2 blasts at a chemical plant in western Japan today have killed 1 worker and injured 22 persons, including workers and residents nearby.

RT reports that workers were trying to shut down the Mitsui Chemicals Iwakuni-Ohtake plant, due to a problem in another section of the plant. The plant produces adhesives for rubber tyres and wood.

The explosions occurred while attempting to shut down the plant, which is based in Waki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, some 700 kilometers (434 miles) southwest of Tokyo... read full article and view video.

Video: Presidential candidate wants France out of Eurozone

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Gaulist candidate in the French presidential elections, says if elected, he wants France out of the EU bloc.

The French people are off to the polls today for the presidential elections with 5 candidates leading the polls. Current President Nicolas Sarkozy, the Socialist Party's Francois Hollande, the National Front's Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Melenchon of the Left Front and Democratic Movement leader Francois Bayrou are ahead in the race according to opinion polls on Friday.

However, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who has formed the party "Arise the Republic", is still hopeful that he might get through. 

In an interview with RT News Mr Dupont-Aignan explains that France is not free anymore, and that the leaders are dominated by Brussels and the European Union. He says that the situation is undemocratic. He states that he wants to restore democracy in France... read full article and view video.

Sunday travel ― 'Life's a beach' in Fuengirola, Spain

Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol is famous for its 5 km stretch of sandy, well-kept beaches, running from the Sohail Castle all the way through to Torreblanca.

Relatively empty out of season but packed in summer, the beaches curve along the coastline with many restaurants, bars and chiringuitos (beach cafes) to choose from.

A beach promenade (Paseo Maritimo Rey de España) runs the full length, giving opportunities for strolling, jogging, power walking or just for simply walking the dogs in the fresh sea air... read full article.

Chilling new video of US border patrol beating immigrant to death

In May 2010, a U.S. citizen was crossing the bridge from Mexico into the U.S.A. She witnessed the brutal violence of several federal agents against a Mexican immigrant, who later died from his injuries.

Now an amateur video taken by Seattle resident Ashley Young has come to light, which shows 42-year-old Anastacio Hernandez-Rojas lying in the fetal position on the ground while at least 12 federal agents repeatedly shock him with a stun gun.  

The video was obtained by a lawyer who is representing the Hernandez-Rojas family in their wrongful death suit against the U.S. government... read full article and watch video.