AUSTRALIA JOINS COUNTER-TERROR TRAINING
http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=97427®ion=7
Australia will join a Japanese-led counter-terrorism training exercise to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in the Asia-Pacific region.
The exercise called Team Samarai, which will be held today (tues), includes the Royal Australian Navy and Customs service.
The Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill, says the operation is part of a series of nuclear counter- proliferation exercises, which began in Darwin last year.
The United States and France will also participate in Team Samarai, while Russia has sent observers.
The Customs Minister, Senator Chris Ellison, says the operation gives Australian customs officials a unique opportunity to work alongside international agencies.
Russian navy to join NATO anti-terror patrols
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200410261816.htm
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Moscow, Oct. 26. (AP): Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday that two Russian navy ships would join NATO's anti-terrorist patrols in the Mediterranean later this week, but downplayed the cooperation by saying that NATO falls short of being Russia's ally.
Ivanov said the two ships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet would be taking part in NATO's Operation Active Endeavor effort until early next year.
"Our ships will operate in strict conformity with international law," Ivanov said in televised remarks.
He added that the naval patrols would help counter the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their components.
Operation Active Endeavor has monitored shipping in the eastern Mediterranean and Straits of Gibraltar since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
In March, the alliance extended the operation to the whole of the Mediterranean. Russia pledged earlier this year to contribute its ships to the effort.