Free Republic

Japan says it scrambled its jets last night after two Russian fighter jets briefly entered its airspace near disputed territories and the northern island of Hokkaido. Russia, which is currently holding military exercises around the disputed Kurile islands - or Northern Territories - denied any such intrusion took place. The incident happened on what Japan's "Northern Territories Day", when rallies are traditionally held calling for the return of the disputed islands. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe had told a rally he was determined to press ahead with negotiations with Russia for the return of the islands.

The US secretly agreed to give the Russians sensitive information on Britain’s nuclear deterrent to persuade them to sign a key treaty, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. Information about every Trident missile the US supplies to Britain will be given to Russia as part of an arms control deal signed by President Barack Obama next week. Defence analysts claim the agreement risks undermining Britain’s policy of refusing to confirm the exact size of its nuclear arsenal.

Egypt girded for a day of massive protest Friday, firming up army positions around demonstrators occupying central Cairo's Tahrir Square and slapping new restrictions on journalists.

So the world’s dictators voted against us at the United Nations last week when we ran for a seat at the Security Council. Who cares? What we should care about is that the United States didn’t lift a finger to help us. After the vote, Philip Crowley, the U.S. State Department spokesman, was asked literally six times about America’s lack of support for Canada. Crowley laughed it off, joking “I’m still remembering the Sidney Crosby goal” — a reference to Canada beating Team USA in hockey at the Olympics. That lame joke let him get out of one of the...

Exclusive: The Taliban has issued a chilling warning to Afghans, alleged in secret US military files leaked on the internet to have worked as informers for the Nato-led coalition, telling Channel 4 News "US spies" will be hunted down and punished. Speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location, Zabihullah Mujahid told Channel 4 News that the insurgent group will investigate the named individuals before deciding on their fate. "We are studying the report," he said, confirming that the insurgent group already has access to the 92,000 intelligence documents and field reports. "We knew about the spies and people who collaborate...