France has reportedly received approval from the Pentagon to buy two unarmed Reaper drones, this as Paris says the war in Mali this year exposed France's shortage of up-to-date surveillance aircraft. We also find out more about the war of words over plans to teach classes in English in France's universities. And the French electronic duo is back with a new album: Daft Punk’s "Random Access Memories" is set to fly off the record shelves.
China’s military on Tuesday denied US accusations it sponsored hacking activities targeting United States government and other computer systems, saying that the two countries should work together against the global threat of cyber crime.
A senior US Department of Defence official said Tuesday that the regional ECOWAS troops tasked with relieving French troops in Mali are "completely incapable" and warned al Qaeda may try to retake parts of the country after France's withdrawal.
The Wall Street Journal Europe reports on what it says is a "trans-Atlantic disconnect" in the Western world's security plan, with a breakdown in communication between Paris and Washington over Mali. We also look at sabre-rattling in Korea, and at the Pentagon's decision to allow US women onto the frontline.
The US military on Thursday formally announced its decision to lift a ban on women serving in frontline combat roles, a historic move that could open up thousands of fighting posts to women for the first time.
The Pentagon threatened legal action Thursday against a retired Navy SEAL who wrote a book on the May 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad just days before its release, saying he had broken a non-disclosure agreement.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta began a visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday, just hours after being questioned over why the soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers was returned to combat despite sustaining a brain injury.
The Pentagon's 2013 budget, released Thursday, would eliminate nearly 100,000 ground troops from the U.S. military as part of cuts to reduce spending by $487 billion over the next decade. Republicans criticised the plan.
Does leaner mean weaker? That's the question after US President Barack Obama announces a shift in military objectives and Pentagon budget cuts. We also look at the stand-off with Iran, changes in Burma and er...memory loss...er, I can't remember...oh yes, it begins at 45. That's the focus for this press review for Friday 6th January, 2012.
The world papers look at the crisis with Iran as efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions inches towards a stand-off. Is this just a question of psychological warfare or the real thing? Also, China's mounting military might and astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says women are the real mystery of the universe. That's the focus for this Thursday 5th January 2012.
