Baku, May 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Azerbaijan will join neither NATO nor the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but is prepared to cooperate with both, a presidential aide said. "As Azerbaijan has been participating in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme since 1995, we envision our future security model within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement," said Ali Gasanov, head of the presidential department for socio-political issues.
Moscow, May 24 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's first light-class modification Angara 1.2PP carrier rocket is ready for its maiden launch, its manufacturer Khrunichev Center said. The first Angara will be sent to the Plesetsk space centre in northern Russia later this month, the manufacturer said in a statement, but did not give a precise launch date. Meanwhile, the first heavy-class Angara-A5 has been completed and will soon be presented to the public, a Khrunichev spokesman said.
Luohe (China), May 23 (IANS) Kazakhstan defeated India 3-2 in the China International men's volleyball tournament here.
Luhoe (China), May 22 (IANS) Chinese national men's volleyball team defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 at the China International Men's Volleyball Tournament here. China beat Kazakhstan 25-20, 25-23, 25-16 with little difficulty Tuesday, reports Xinhua. "My team consists of young players who didn't completely obey my order, so I'm very angry," said Gilyazutdinov Rafael, the assistant coach of Kazakhstan
Khabarovsk (Russia), May 20 (IANS) The Indian boxers' campaign came to an end at the Khabarovsk International Competition here with two silver and three bronze medals. The two Indians in the finals -- national games gold medallist Nanao Singh (49kg) and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dilbagh Singh (69kg) -- had to be content with a silver medal finish after they lost to their respective opponents in the title round Sunday. In the finals of the lightfly weight division, Nanao Singh went up against local lad Sagaluev Bator.
London, May 19 (IANS) Britain's first "official" astronaut, 41-year-old Major Tim Peake, has been selected to go on a five-month mission to the International Space Station in 2015, a media report said Sunday. Peake, a former army helicopter pilot, graduated as a European Space Agency astronaut more than two years ago and has been waiting for a space mission since then, the Guardian daily said.
Moscow, May 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The returnable capsule of a biological research satellite landed in Russia Sunday, bringing mice, Mongolian gerbils, geckos and various micro-organisms and plants back to Earth after their month-long flight, the Mission Control said. The capsule landed in Orenburg region near the border with Kazakhstan.
Havana, May 15 (IANS) Boxers from 15 countries and regions, including Cuba, will compete in the 43rd Giraldo Cordova Cardin International Boxing Tournament to be held here June 4-9 at Ramon Fonst Arena. Alejandro Barrientos, a judge, referee and member of the Cuban Boxing Federation, said Tuesday that Russia will send two squads to take part in the traditional tournament, while Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, the Cayman Islands, Canada, Kazakhstan, China, Jordan, Algeria, Guyana, Mongolia and Australia will also participate, reports Xinhua
Moscow, May 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Proton-M rocket carrying a French telecommunications satellite has blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, said a spokesman for Russian space agency Roscosmos.
A Soyuz space capsule carrying a three-man crew returning from a five-month mission to the International Space Station landed safely on Tuesday on the steppes of Kazakhstan. (May 14)
