USS John S. McCain Arrived In South Korea For Joint Military Drill With South Korean Troops....NSI News Source Info # 544

South Korean navy men welcome USS John S. McCain, a U.S. Aegis-equipped ship, as it enters a port in Donghae, about 280 km (174 miles) east of Seoul, March 19, 2010. The U.S. navy ship arrived in South Korea for a joint military drill with South Korean troops.

Indonesia Navy Ship KRI Slamet Riyadi Arrives In Denpasar, Island Of Bali....NSI News Source Info # 543

The Indonesia Navy ship KRI Slamet Riyadi arrives in Denpasar near the resort island of Bali on March 18, 2010 to beef up security ahead of a visit of US President Barack Obama in Bali. However the US President has dramatically postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, as he wages a vote-by-vote struggle to drive his health reform bill through Congress.

Anti-Israel Protest In The Southern Gaza Strip....NSI News Source Info # 542

Protesters wave Palestinian flags during an anti-Israel protest near the Kissufim border crossing between Israel and Gaza, east of Deir Al Balah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, March 20, 2010. On Sunday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to visit Gaza. Israel and Egypt imposed a border blockade after Hamas seized Gaza by force in 2007. The closure, including the ban on the import of building materials, has prevented reconstruction of thousands of apartments destroyed or damaged during Israel's three-week military offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers more than a year ago.

U.S. Soldiers On Patrol In Kandahar, Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 541

U.S. Army soldiers with the 293D Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, patrol at the outskirts of the town of Kandahar, southern Afghanistan March 20, 2010.

Pakistan In The Grip Of Chaos....NSI News Source Info # 540

Pakistan armed forces on high alert for Islamic militants on guard barricading road entry.

Google Says SAYONARA To China On April 10....NSI News Source Info # 539

Internet search engine Google could cease operations in China by April 10, according to a Chinese newspaper.

Myanmar, Life Under Military Junta....NSI News Source Info # 538

A Buddhist monk walks past a convoy of riot police deployed outside Yangon, Myanmar, City Hall on Friday, March 19, 2010. A day after Myanmar's ruling military junta announced electoral registration rules, security has been tightened in the town.

Thailand Politically Unrest....NSI News Source Info # 537

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, listens as chairperson of the country's Human Rights Commission Amara Pongpapitch speaks during a news conference at a military barrack in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, March 18, 2010. Abhisit said his government stands ready to talk with the "Red Shirt" United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) movement, but the anti-government activists must comply with the law without blockading government offices and the homes of key persons and they must stop inciting violence, according to Thai News Agency (TNA).

Staff Sgt. Joseph Haskell, Of Auburn, Maine In The Koz Kunar District Of Nangarhar Province In Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 536

Staff Sgt. Joseph Haskell, of Auburn, Maine and the 1st Platoon 554th Military Police Company, keeps his eyes on a boy who suddenly appeared in a doorway, Thursday, March 18, 2010, as he and his squad passed by while searching a compound for a man suspected of conducting a drive by shooting , in the Koz Kunar district of Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.

A woman Officer During A Graduation Ceremony At The ANA Academy In Kabul....NSI News Source Info # 535

A woman officer of the Afghan National Army (ANA) walks past her male counterparts during a graduation ceremony at the ANA Academy in Kabul on March 18, 2010. Improving the effectiveness of the Afghan National Army (ANA) has been a priority for the international coalition since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001, with a strong Afghan military seen as essential to national stability.

Afghan Military Officers During A Graduation Ceremony At ANA Academy In Kabul, Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 534

Afghan National Army military officers during a graduation ceremony at the Afghan National Army (ANA) Academy on March 16, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The ANA currently has100,000 troops, with plans to expand up to 240,000 by 2011. The ANA is currently funded by NATO and the US in the hope that improvement in their performance can see foreign forces start to be scaled down.

The Blissful Scene Of Hong Kong By Robie Seth....NSI News Source Info # 533

Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China; the other is Macau. Situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong's population is 95% ethnic Chinese and 5% from other groups.
Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong runs on economic and political systems different from those of mainland China. Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international financial centres, with a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation, free trade and minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism. The Hong Kong dollar is the 9th most traded currency in the world.
Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions under the common law framework. Its political system is governed by the Basic Law of Hong Kong, its constitutional document. It has a burgeoning multi-party system, and its legislature is partly elected through universal suffrage. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the head of government.
Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–1842). Originally confined to Hong Kong Island, the colony's boundaries were extended in stages so as to include the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories by 1898. It was occupied by the Japanese during the Pacific War, after which the British resumed control until 1997, when China regained sovereignty. The Basic Law stipulates that Hong Kong shall enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign relations and military defence.

*Special thanks to Robie Seth for providing the image/photograph from Hong Kong

Indian Soldiers Fighting Pakistani-Trained Militants Of Hizbul Mujahideen In Kashmir....NSI News Source Info # 532

Indian army soldiers stand guard as Kashmiris look towards the site of a gun battle between Pakistani-trained Kashmiri militants and Indian troops on March 04, 2010 in Daadsar, 37 km (23 miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, India. Indian military reports state that one Indian army Captain and four Pakistani-trained Kashmiri militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest militant outfit operating in Indian Administered Kashmir have been killed during an ongoing gun fight in the village of Daadsar which started on Wednesday morning.

China Paramilitary Policemen Patrol On Tiananmen Square In Beijing....NSI News Source Info # 531

Paramilitary policemen patrol on Tiananmen Square ahead of the third plenary meeting of China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing March 9, 2010. Big on spit and polish and parades but short on experience, new technology and force coordination, China's military has far to go before its bite begins to approach its increasingly loud, and for some fearsome, bark.

U.S. Soldiers Fighting Insurgent Forces At Howz-e-Madad In Kandahar Province, Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 530

U.S. Army soldiers run for cover across an opium poppy field after Taliban insurgents opened fire on March 14, 2010 at Howz-e-Madad in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Attack Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment had maneuvered into a Taliban-held area in order find and fight insurgent forces, when the Taliban opened fire from the rear of their joint operation with Afghan Army soldiers. Officers said they shot several Taliban during the brief but intense firefight, although deaths could not be confirmed. No U.S. or Afghan troops were injured during the exchange.

DTN News: Venezuela Obtains K-8 Military Planes From China....NSI News Source Info # 529

(NSI News Source Info) CARACAS, Venezuela - March 14, 2010: Venezuela has received its first shipment of six Chinese-made K-8 military planes, and President Hugo Chavez says his government aims to buy 40 in all.Chavez announced plans last year to buy the trainer and light attack jets.

Chavez reiterated Saturday that he turned to China and Russia for weapons because the United States has barred arms sales to Venezuela. Several planes flew overhead during the ceremony at an air base in the city of Barquisimeto.Venezuela has bought more than $4 billion worth of Russian arms since 2005, including Sukhoi fighter jets, attack helicopters and assault rifles. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to visit Venezuela soon. Chavez has said it could be next week, though no date has been announced.

U.S. Soldiers At Camp Leatherneck In Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan....NSI News Source Info # 528

Soldiers of Army National Guard 162 Engineer Company attached with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps attend a briefing before driving with a convoy from Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, March 13, 2010.

Deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra Supporters Protest In Bangkok....NSI News Source Info # 527

Supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra shout slogans as they protest the government in Bangkok on March 14, 2010. Red-clad protesters loyal to deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed to march on military barracks housing the government as they stepped up their campaign amid tight security. At least 80,000 so-called 'Red Shirts' converged on rally grounds near the government's offices in Bangkok, giving Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva an ultimatum to dissolve parliament or face further demonstrations.