.Two quakes hit Kurile Islands.

VLADIVOSTOK, March 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Two earthquakes force 4.8-4.9 hit
Kurile Islands in the past 24 hours, according to the Far Eastern regional
emergency center.

It said on Friday the epicenter of one quake was located 41 kilometers
north of the uninhabited island of Simushir and 140 kilometers under the
seabed of the Sea of Okhotsk. The epicenter of the second quake was
located 83 kilometers east of the uninhabited island of Urup and 45
kilometers under the Pacific Ocean bed.
No damage was reported in Sakhalin region and no tsunami threat was
announced.

.NKorea's Kim said to visit China in March.

TOKYO, March 5 (Itar-Tass) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il plans to
visit China in mid-March, Kyodo News reported on Thursday from Beijing
quoting sources familiar with China-North Korean relations.
"North Korea has sounded out China about the visit happening
immediately after the annual session of the National People's Congress,
which opens Friday, ends March 14, and the two countries are coordinating
the trip," the news agency quoted its sources as saying.
Kyodo said China is expected to draw a positive response from Kim on
resuming the stalled six-party denuclearization talks, while North Korea
is believed to seek assistance in rebuilding its economy.

.Gunman shoots two police officers at Pentagon.

WASHINGTON, March 5 (Itar-Tass) -- A gunman opened fire at the subway
entrance to the Pentagon military headquarters complex late on Thursday
and wounded two military police officers.
The officers fired back and wounded the attacker, the Associated Press
reported. All three were taken to hospital.
AP quoted Chris Layman, a spokesman for the Pentagon Force Protection
Agency, as saying the two officers and gunman were not thought to have
life-threatening injuries.
The subway station next to the Pentagon building was immediately
closed.

.Russian, Turkmen presidents discuss VE-Day celebrations.

MOSCOW, March 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian and Turkmen Presidents Dmitry
Medvedev and Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov discusses "preparations for
contacts in the near future" in a telephone conversation on Thursday.
The Kremlin press service said the two leaders discussed preparations
for an informal CIS summit in Moscow on May 8 and participation in
celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the VE-Day on May 9, as well as
the schedule of Turkmen president visits to Russian regions.
Berdymukhamedov reiterated his invitation to Medvedev to visit
Turkmenistan with an official visit. The time will be agreed through
diplomatic channels, the Kremlin said.


.Turkey condemns, Armenia praises US genocide bill.

ANKARA / YEREVAN, March 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Turkey condemned while
Armenia welcomed the resolution by a U.S. congressional panel that called
the World War One mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces in 1915 as
"genocide".
Turkey on Thursday recalled its ambassador to the United States for
consultations and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan expressed serious concern
the resolution would harm Turkish-U.S. ties, as well as efforts of Turkey
and Armenia to improve relations after a century of hostility.
"We condemn this bill that blames the Turkish nation for a crime it
did not commit. Our Washington ambassador was invited to Ankara tonight
for consultations," Erdogan said in a statement.
"We are seriously concerned the bill approved by the committee,
despite all our warnings, will harm Turkey-U.S. ties and efforts to
normalize Turkey-Armenia relations," he said.
In Yerevan Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said "we highly
appreciate the decision" of the congressional panel.
"This is further proof of the devotion of the American people to
universal human values and is an important step towards the prevention of
crimes against humanity," he said.

.Russian police seize Chinese-made spying equipment.

MOSCOW, March 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian police said it seized over 500
Chinese-made pieces of spying equipment in a shopping center in the
capital city.
"Detectives searched 18 places of a trade complex, exposed and
confiscated over 500 technical spying means in the form of buttons, pens,
watches, neckties, and other items," the press service of the "K"
department of the Russian interior ministry said on Thursday.
It added all the items were produced in China and boast high quality.
The price of one bug varied from eight to 25 thousand rubles (270 to 8,000
dollars).
"Over 20 people involved in illegal sales of the spying equipment were
exposed," police said adding a criminal case is being prepared.
-0-nec


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