THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012
PAGE 3A
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NEWS OF THE WORLD
ASIA
Associated Press
Pakistan launches missile capable of carrying warhead
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan successfully launched an upgraded ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead Wednesday, days after its neighbor and archenemy India conducted its own missile test, the Pakistani military said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Hatt IV Shaheen-1A missile was fired into the sea, the military said in a written statement.
It was described as an intermediate-range missile having a longer range than its predecessor, the Shaheen-1, which is believed to fly up to 465 miles.
If the Shaheen-1A is indeed an intermediate-range missile, it would represent a quantum leap from the previous version. Pakistan's longest range missile before Wednesday's launch was believed to be the Shaheen II, with a range of 1,240 miles. That is far enough to hit targets anywhere in India.
"The improved version of Shaheen-IA will further consolidate and strengthen Pakistan's deterence abilities," said Lt. Gt. Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, who witnessed the launch and is responsible for the country's nuclear program.
Intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of 1,865 to 3,110 miles, according to the website GlobalSecurity.org.
India announced last Thursday that it had successfully test-launched a new nuclear-capable, long-range missile, the Agni-V, which has a range of 3,100 miles.
Pakistan has launched a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. It was described as an intermediate-range missile having a longer range than its predecessor, the Shaheen-1, which is believed to fly up to 465 miles.
Pakistan and India have fought three major wars since they achieved
independence from the British empire in 1947
ASIA
North Korea has capability of building stronger weapons
PYONGYANG, North Korea North Korea is armed with "powerful modern weapons" capable of defeating the United States, a top military chief in Pyongyang said Wednesday, a claim that matches the country's regular rhetoric but is questioned by experts.
Washington worries about the possibility that North Korea might develop a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile and a nuclear bomb small enough to use as a payload.
But outside experts believe that is still a long way off.
North Korea has enough plutonium
for about four to eight "simple" bombs, according to estimates by scientist Siegfried Hecker of the Center for International Security and Cooperation, but it doesn't yet appear to have the ability to make bombs small enough to mount on a missile.
Ri Yong Ho, who is chief of the army's general staff, emphasized the importance of strengthening the military to defend North Korea against threats it sees from the United States and South Korea. He called his nation a nuclear and military power and praised new leader Kim Jong Un, believed to be in
his late 20s, as a "military strategist" who has been giving the army guidance for years.
"The Korean People's Army is armed with powerful modern weapons ... that can defeat the (U.S.) imperialists at a single blow," he told party and military officials, using familiar descriptions of the country's rivals.
Ri did not provide further details about North Korea's weapons, but his call to arms comes as the United States, Britain and others warn the North against provocations that would further heighten tensions.
AFRICA
The motion to limit Ugandan president's term might fail
NAIROBI, Kenya A bid to limit the tenure of Uganda's longtime president looks set to fail, Ugandan politicians said Wednesday, as ruling party officials argue he needs more time than the 26 years he has already served.
But critics and opposition politicians say the ruling party's reluctance to limit President Yoweri Museveni to two more terms is a sign he is interested in ruling for life. Museveni originally seized power in the East African nation in 1986. His term ends in 2016.
Presidential spokesman Tamale Mirundi said those who want Museveni gone are merely afraid to
compete with him. He said Museveni had brought peace and prosperity to Uganda.
He said: "Why should I remove the padlock that has protected my house in a neighborhood where there are robbers?"
Museveni removed the two-term limit in 2005, a year before he sought his third term. He said the limits were an obstacle to demo-
racy since he was still popular among Ugandans.
Museveni
"The question of term limits is quite important because Uganda has never seen a peaceful transfer of power," said Frederick Semppeba, a Kampala-based constitutional lawyer who in 2001 led a review of the constitution that preserved term limits. "Our fear is that if this president goes on and on you never know what will happen. There may not be a smooth transition."
SOUTH AMERICA
Museveni is now one of Africa's longest-serving rulers. Only four have been around longer: Paul Biya of Cameroon, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
BRASILIA, Brazil Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday three Marines on a U.S. Embassy security team and one embassy staff
Three members of security team and one US Embassy staff member punished after dispute with Brazilian prostitute
member were punished for allegedly pushing a prostitute out of a car in Brasilia late last year after a dispute over payment.
Panetta, speaking to reporters in
Brasilia, says the Marines were pulled out of the country. Two had their ranks reduced. The embassy staffer was removed from his post.
Panetta said he had "no tolerance
for that kind of conduct."
"Where it takes place you can be sure that we will act to make sure that they are punished and that that kind of behavior is not acceptable," he said.
According to a defense official, "there were at least two women with the Marines outside a nightclub." The official said it appears that one of the women started a fight in a vehicle.
then she was removed from the car and when she tried to re-enter fall to the ground and was injured. The official also said that no charges were filed by Brazilian authorities.