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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 08 Apr 2010 [PDF]
• Air Cav. bids Iraqi Air Force 'farewell' Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- Leaders from 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-Center, joined with their Iraqi Air Force counterparts April 4 to bid each other farewell.
• New York National Guard Commander Visits Soldiers in Iraq Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- The commander of the New York National Guard is in Iraq and Kuwait this week to visit New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the Albany, NY area who are deployed there.
• Responsible drawdown: Soldiers tackle logistical challenge of equipment turn-in Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- U.S. forces have already begun redeploying to their home bases in accordance with the Security of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, which states that by Sept. 1, 2010, U.S. forces will drawdown to 50,000 troops in the country.
• Afghan Supply Mission Continues at Manas AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- Operations at the transit center at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, are delayed but have not been adversely affected the supply mission in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said today.
• Support From Kyrgyz Air Base 'Temporarily Suspended' RFE/RL 08 Apr 2010 -- The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said today that flights supporting NATO operations in Afghanistan from an air base in Kyrgyzstan have been temporarily suspended following violent political upheaval in Bishkek.
• MC-12 begins mission in southern Afghanistan AFNS 08 Apr 2010 -- Airmen from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing here welcomed one of the newest members of the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapons systems to Kandahar Airfield March 29.
• Troops in Afghanistan to say goodbye to leisure concessions Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- Beginning in May, servicemembers stationed in Afghanistan will have a harder time finding a Pizza Hut or a pair of Oakley's -- 50 Army and Air Force Exchange Service contracted concessions are slated for closure in anticipation of an additional 30,000 inbound troops.
• Loved ones bid adieu to Soldiers: 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion deploys to Afghanistan Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- More than 370 Soldiers from the 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion bid farewell to loved ones and deployed for Afghanistan last week, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This is the battalion's first deployment to Afghanistan.
• Afghan, NATO Troops Remove Taliban Leaders From Fight AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- Afghan and international forces today captured a Taliban explosives expert who is believed to be a leader for insurgent bomb-making efforts in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, military officials reported.
• British soldier killed by Afghan insurgents IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- A British soldier has died after coming under attack by insurgents in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence in London has announced.
• Recent rhetoric unhelpful for Afghanistan’s relations with its partners – Ban UN News Centre 08 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he continues to expect full cooperation between Afghanistan and its global partners, adding that recent comments critical of the international community by the country’s President Hamid Karzai are unhelpful.
• Thirteen militants killed, 20 injured in Orakzai air strikes IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- The security forces have killed more than 215 militants including 50 foreigners making successive gains in operation in Orakzai Agency during last two weeks.
• NAVFAC Building Inspector Continues Work in Haiti Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command building inspectors are knee-deep in rubble in Haiti assessing the structural damage to thousands of Haitian buildings as the Navy provides sustained assistance for the recovery of the nation after the Jan. 12 earthquake.
• HAITI: Dying to get out IRIN 08 Apr 2010 -- The US government allows foreign citizens into the US in significant numbers “for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit”. In the past, the beneficiaries of this so-called “humanitarian parole” have been thousands of refugees from Indochina, Cuba and other countries during the cold war, most fleeing communist regimes.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia at New START Treaty Signing Ceremony and Press Conference The White House 08 Apr 2010
• Obama, Medvedev Sign New START Treaty AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in Prague today, with both countries pledging to reduce their deployed, strategic nuclear weapons stockpiles.
• Obama, Medvedev Sign Treaty Cutting Nuclear Stockpiles VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev have signed a treaty to reduce their countries' nuclear stockpiles by 25 to 30 percent over seven years.
• Chairman’s Corner: Nuclear Posture Review AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- As announced during an April 6 news conference, the chiefs and I fully support the findings of this Nuclear Posture Review.
• Air Force officials launch language program for Airmen AFNS 08 Apr 2010 -- Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center here recently launched a program designed to identify Airmen with foreign language abilities and foster those skills throughout their careers.
• Immersion Training Prepares Troops for Reality of War AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- U.S. Joint Forces Command has developed a computerized training program that immerses ground troops in the sights, sounds and smells of war, officials there say.
• Yuma's MWSS-371 clears remote desert airfield USMC News 08 Apr 2010 -- Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 recently finished clearing 36,000 square feet of the overgrown Auxiliary Airfield 6 to prepare for the current Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.
• New program allows some Marines early discharge USMC News 08 Apr 2010 -- The Marine Corps recently announced the guidelines for a new program intended to reduce the Corps’ budget and manpower surplus by offering an earlier out for some Marines.
• Cherry Point EOD Marines prime next generation of technicians USMC News 08 Apr 2010 -- EOD technicians conducted demolition operations training at the range to help prepare Marines waiting to begin certification training at the Naval School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. EOD is a unique military occupational specialty, made entirely of sergeants and above who have transferred into the field.
• First Virginia-class Dry Dock Conducted Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF), a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity, dry docked USS Hawaii (SSN 776), March 30.
• USS Vandegrift to Deploy Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- The guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) will depart San Diego for an independent deployment to the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Western Pacific Ocean, April 12.
• NRL Breaks Ground for Autonomous Systems Research Laboratory Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) held a groundbreaking ceremony April 8 to mark the start of construction on a major new facility called the Autonomous Systems Research Laboratory (ASRL) in Washington, D.C.
• Smoking To Be Extinguished On Submarines Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR) has effected a policy April 8 banning smoking below decks aboard all U.S. Navy submarines.
• NAVFAC-Awarded Contract Armors Naval Construction Force Equipment Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center (NFELC) awarded a contract for up-armoring solutions for support equipment to ArmorWorks Enterprise, LLC, Chandler, Ariz.; Southern California Gold Products, Inc., Oxnard, Calif.; and American Defense Systems, Inc., Hicksville, N.Y., March 29.
• Freedom Performs First Carrier Strike Group Operations Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- The Navy's first littoral combat ship (LCS) recorded another milestone April 7, as USS Freedom (LCS 1) performed integrated at-sea operations with the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
• Vinson, Freedom Conduct RAS in 3rd Fleet AOR Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Freedom (LCS 1) completed a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) April 7, Vinson's first day in the 3rd Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).
• Army public health strengthened by transformation Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- The Army's public health capabilities are being integrated to form a new U.S. Army Public Health Command.
• Fort McCoy's economic impact exceeds $1.4 billion for FY 2009 Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- The total economic impact of Fort McCoy for fiscal year (FY) 2009 was an estimated $1.416 billion, up from an estimated $1.127 billion for FY 2008.
• Innovative solutions found for Camp Bullis' encroachment issues Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- Cooperative efforts between the Army, federal and state agencies, the City of San Antonio and conservation organizations have led to innovative solutions for Camp Bullis' encroachment.
• Reserve training center preparing for move to Knox Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- Staff and faculty of the Army Reserve Readiness Training Center (Provisional) at Fort McCoy are beginning the process to transition the organization to its new location at Fort Knox, Ky.
• Enduring Clean Sweep Continues to Save Fort Hood Millions Army News 08 Apr 2010 -- Fort Hood and III Corps launched Operation Clean Sweep more than a year ago to help units get rid of unused or broken equipment. Between February and September 2009, units on Fort Hood turned in nearly $14 million in supplies.
• US, Philippine Navies Co-Host Multinational Leadership Seminar Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 and Vice Adm. Ferdinand Golez, Flag Officer in Command of the Republic of the Philippines Navy (RPN), began the conference by welcoming the SLS participants, including representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Refraining from USB Usage Vital to Network Security Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Because of the highly sensitive nature of the electronic domain, the Navy is reiterating its policy of banning the plugging of Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices into government-owned computers.
• New Incinerators Operating on Camp Lemonnier Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- A pair of PENNRAM step-down incinerators installed in the expansion area of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), became fully operational, replacing the existing incinerators and increasing the camp's ability to manage waste April 1.
• Navy to Phase Out Paper Leave Chits Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- The Navy announced plans March 22 to begin phasing out traditional paper leave chits, replacing them with a new electronic leave request system.
• NSWC Port Hueneme Hosts International VLS Forum Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme hosted an international forum on the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) with nine allied nations March 23-25.
• Keel Laid for First Egyptian Navy Fast Missile Craft Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2010 -- The keel for the first Egyptian Navy Fast Missile Craft (FMC) was authenticated April 7 during a ceremony at VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.
• Africom Helps Nations Build Secure Future AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- Supporting the work of African nations in creating African solutions for African challenges is the mission of the newest U.S. unified command, a senior official of the command said yesterday.
• Counter-IED Organization Concentrates on Afghanistan AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- The number of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan has doubled. So has the number of American casualties.
• Eyes in sky give advance notice to ground troops USMC News 08 Apr 2010 -- If knowledge is power, than gathering information about enemy forces is crucial. Observing the movement or posture of the enemy greatly aids in battle planning.
• Defense Department Launches Open Government Plan AFPS 08 Apr 2010 -- The Defense Department today released its Open Government Plan, which articulates how the department seeks to make its operations and data more transparent to the public, officials said.
• More than 145 Marines from LF CARAT-2010 aim for black USMC News 08 Apr 2010 -- Since stepping on the yellow foot prints at recruit training, every Marine has formed a habit of firing rifles. It's ingrained in every Marine, no matter what military occupational specialty, that knowing basic combat marksmanship fundamentals is a requirement to be in the Corps – those fundamentals must be maintained.
• New kennel expands working dogs' capabilities USMC News 08 Apr 2010 -- A new facility for military working dogs had its official opening Monday on Camp Hansen.
• Russian warship en route to Blackseafor naval drills RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- The Caesar Kunikov large amphibious landing ship from Russia's Black Sea Fleet set out on Thursday to take part in Blackseafor naval drills, the fleet's press service said.
• Russia sends paratroopers to its airbase in Kyrgyzstan - General Staff RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Russia has sent some 150 paratroopers to its Kant airbase in the ex-Soviet Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan to ensure the safety of families of Russian military staff, the General Staff chief Nikolay Makarov said.
• Russia to build port facilities for Mistral ships RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Russia will have to build port facilities if it decides to purchase a French Mistral helicopter carrier for the Russian Navy, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin said.
• Russian airbase in Kant unaffected by unrest in Bishkek - Russian Air Force RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- The Russian airbase in Kant, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, is continuing to function normally, a Russian Air Force spokesman, Vladimir Drik, said on Thursday.
• Russia's military airbase in Kyrgyzstan put on high alert RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Russian airbase in Kyrgyzstan has been put on high alert in the wake of an unrest in the Central Asian country that left at least 47 people killed and some 400 injured, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Kenya Seeks Return of Citizen from Guantanamo VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- Kenya has requested the United States transfer one of its citizens being held at the Guantanamo Bay prison back into Kenyan custody.
• Top UN officials hail new Russian-US arms control treaty UN News Centre 08 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog have welcomed the new treaty signed today by the leaders of Russia and the United States by which they pledged to slash their nuclear arsenals by a third.
• Russia proposes global missile defense cooperation with U.S. - Medvedev RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Russia has proposed cooperation with the United States in creating a global missile defense system, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.
• Moscow: S-300s contract with Iran honored IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- Head of Russia’s Technical and Military Cooperation Agency announced Wednesday evening Russia honors S-300 contract it has sighed with I. R. of Iran.
• US donates equipment to NW Pakistani Police IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- Following attack on US Consulate General in Pakistani northwestern city of Peshawar, which killed two guards, US has donated communications equipment to police, US Embassy said Wednesday.
• US and S. Korea Announce War Exercises KCNA 08 Apr 2010 -- The U.S. imperialist warmongers announced that they would stage large-scale firepower exercises together with the south Korean puppet army in the U.S. forces training ground in Phochon, Kyonggi Province, in mid April, according to Yonhap News of south Korea on April 6.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 08 Apr 2010
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs,Deputy National Security Advisor For Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian Affairs Michael Mcfaul The White House 08 Apr 2010
• Gaggle by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes aboard Air Force One en route Prague, 4/8/10 The White House 08 Apr 2010

Defense Industry

• General Dynamics Awarded $29 Million for RG-31 MRAP Upgrades General Dynamics 08 Apr 2010 -- U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a USD$28.6 million delivery order modification for proposed vehicle engineering upgrades and associated non-recurring engineering costs in support of RG-31 Mk5E vehicles under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company’s parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• First Live Warhead Flight For Lockheed Martin’s Multi-Purpose Hellfire II Missile Lockheed Martin 08 Apr 2010 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] multi-purpose AGM 114R HELLFIRE II missile scored another success in its second proof-of-principle (POP) flight test, the first armed with a live warhead. The R model, or “Romeo” missile, features a multi-purpose warhead that enables a single HELLFIRE missile to cover all of the target sets of the currently fielded laser-guided variants.
• Northrop Grumman Salutes First Flight of First F-35 Mission Systems Aircraft Northrop Grumman 08 Apr 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today congratulated F-35 Lightning II prime contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) for successfully completing the inaugural flight of the first F-35 mission systems aircraft.
• Northrop Grumman Welcomes Back Sponsor of Submarine California (SSN 781) Northrop Grumman 08 Apr 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) hosted a tour and construction update briefing for Mrs. Donna Willard, the sponsor of California (SSN 781) on March 22. During the tour, she also met with ship's crew and shipbuilders who are building California. Mrs. Willard is the wife of Adm. Robert F. Willard, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.
• Oshkosh Defense Receives Four Awards Valued at $19 Million to Refurbish Vehicles In-Theater Oshkosh 08 Apr 2010 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has received four awards valued at more than $19 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) for additional work to be included under its Theater-Provided Equipment Refurbishment (TPER) program with the U.S. military. This work includes the delivery of nearly 200 refurbished heavy and line-haul vehicles, and will extend the Oshkosh Defense TPER work at its Kuwait facility to January 2011.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Apr 2010
• Russia hopes Israel will lift blockade on Gaza Strip RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Russia hopes that Israel's decision to allow consumer goods to be transported to the Gaza Strip will finally lead to the lifting of the blockade in the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
• Peace talks to continue in Darfur after weekend elections, AU-UN official stresses UN News Centre 08 Apr 2010 -- The joint African Union-United Nations chief mediator for Darfur confirmed today that negotiations aimed at generating a comprehensive peace deal to end the ongoing conflict in the western Sudanese region will continue after Sudanese vote in national elections starting this Sunday.
• SUDAN: Voting in troubled times IRIN 08 Apr 2010 -- Millions of Sudanese are preparing to vote in presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections this weekend, but the belated polls come at a time when Sudan continues to grapple with significant humanitarian challenges.

News Reports

• Kyrgyz President Won't Back Down, As Opposition Claims Power RFE/RL 08 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev has said he will not relinquish power to an opposition coalition that said it was forming an interim government in the wake of a violent uprising.
• Who Is Roza Otunbaeva? RFE/RL 08 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyz opposition leader Roza Otunbaeva has said she is now the head of a temporary caretaker government, after the opposition said it had taken power following violent protests in Bishkek.
• Kyrgyz president goes into hiding, refuses to step down (WRAPUP 4) RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who fled the capital Bishkek amid violent opposition protests, said on Thursday he no longer has any real power but vowed not to resign, local news agency 24.kg reported.
• Russia throws weight behind provisional Kyrgyz govt. (WRAPUP 3) RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Russia on Thursday threw its weight behind the provisional Kyrgyz government, which took power in the capital and several regions of the ex-Soviet Central Asian state after two days of violent protests in which 74 people died and more than 500 were injured.
• Kyrgyz provisional authorities dismiss parliament, take over from president, govt.; 74 killed in protests (WRAPUP 1) RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- The head of Kyrgyzstan's provisional authorities declared on Thursday that they were dismissing parliament and taking over from President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his government after a day of bloody protests in the capital of the ex-Soviet Central Asian state.
• Profile: Kyrgyz opposition-nominated premier Roza Otunbayeva RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- On April 7, Roza Otunbayeva was nominated the Kyrgyz premier by the opposition which has taken control over Kyrgyzstan seizing the key government buildings to oust Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
• Kyrgyz opposition says taken full power; 65 killed in protests (WRAPUP) RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- A government formed by opposition in Kyrgyzstan said it has taken full power in the country after two days of unrest that left at least 65 people killed, the opposition-nominated premier said.
• Washington says closely monitors situation in Kyrgyzstan RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- Washington is closely monitoring the situation in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, where bloody protests left at least 47 people killed and some 400 injured, the U.S. Department of State said.
• Ban dispatches special envoy to Kyrgyzstan after violent uprising UN News Centre 08 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today dispatched a special envoy to Kyrgyzstan, which has been rocked by bloody unrest after demonstrations against the high cost of energy appear to have turned into an uprising against the Government.
• Kyrgyzstan Opposition Forms Interim Government VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's opposition has proclaimed an interim government to replace the administration of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. At least 65 people were killed in violent protests that forced the president to flee the capital, Bishkek.
• Firouzabadi: US will lose all its soldiers if dares to attack Iran IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said on Thursday that if US dares to target Iran, none of its soldiers in the region will return home alive.
• Sanctions will not stop Iranian nuclear program: Ahmadinejad IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- Threatening Iran with sanctions will not stop its nuclear program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in an exclusive interview with the private German television network RTL, due to be aired Thursday evening.
• Vahidi: No power can threaten Iran IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Thursday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is very powerful and no country in the world dares to threaten it.
• Ahmadinejad: US doomed to defeat; no power dares to invade Iran IRNA 08 Apr 2010 -- IRI President said here Wednesday nothing is left of US fabulous power today since whether they would evacuate Iraq and Afghanistan, or they would stay they are doomed to defeat.
• UN Security Council may revise Iran issue - Medvedev RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- The UN Security Council may revise its approach to Iran as Tehran is not responding to compromise proposals on its nuclear program, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.
• Iran sanctions 'practical' - Russian Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- The issue of the imposition of sanctions against Iran has become "practical," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said on Thursday.
• China Joins Iran Sanctions Talks in New York VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- China confirms it will join the United States and other world powers for talks on a possible new round of United Nations sanctions against Iran for its nuclear activities.
• Iranian Leaders Criticize New Threat of International Sanctions VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- Top Iranian leaders are again lashing out at Western nations over the threats of new sanctions.
• South Side Assets in Mt. Kumgang to Be Frozen KCNA 08 Apr 2010 -- A spokesman for the General Guidance Bureau for the Development of Scenic Spots of the DPRK issued the following statement Thursday:
• Pakistani National Assembly Votes to Limit Presidential Powers VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- Pakistani parliament's lawmaking lower house has unanimously approved an amendment in the country's constitution, curbing crucial powers of the president.
• Russia launches ESA's CryoSat-2 satellite from Baikonur RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- A Russian Dnepr carrier rocket with the European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 Earth Explorer satellite blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
• EU Official Says Ukraine Association Talks At Crucial Juncture RFE/RL 08 Apr 2010 -- A top EU official said on April 7 that Ukraine could wrap up its Association Agreement talks with the European Union within the next six to 12 months.
• Soviet ambassador to U.S. during Cuban missile crisis dies RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2010 -- The Soviet ambassador to the U.S. during the Cuban Missile crisis has died at the age of 91, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
• YEMEN: No ID, no registration as an IDP IRIN 08 Apr 2010 -- After an arduous three-day walk from Jabal Dukhan, a mountain straddling the Yemen-Saudi border, Nasser Mohammed and his family hoped to receive aid in one of the three al-Mazraq camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Yemen.
• AFGHANISTAN: Family-related determinants of poverty IRIN 08 Apr 2010 -- Family size and composition have strong economic and social consequences in Afghanistan, experts say.
• AFRICA: Donors spend more for health, governments less IRIN 08 Apr 2010 -- In Africa government spending on health care, as a percentage of national expenses, rose just 0.3 percent from 2001 to 2007, while donor funding of the sector during the same period increased from 15.3 to 20.1 percent, according to a review of 52 African countries’ health spending by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• Sri Lanka Holds Polls to Elect New Parliament VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- In Sri Lanka, polls held to choose a new parliament are expected to consolidate President Mahinda Rajapaksa's dominance on the country's political landscape. The elections are being held months after the president was re-elected and nearly a year after the end of a quarter century long separatist insurgency.
• Senegal Says It Remains Committed to Try Former Chadian leader VOA 08 Apr 2010 -- Senegal says it remains committed to trying former Chadian leader Hissène Habré for crimes against humanity, but will not move forward until it receives the entire $38 million trial budget from the international community. Habré remains under house arrest in Dakar.
• EU Frustrated By South Caucasus Divisions RFE/RL 08 Apr 2010 -- The three South Caucasus countries represent a particularly frustrating challenge for the EU's Neighborhood Policy. The compact region is of great strategic interest for the bloc and as such forms a natural target for its considerable potential for aid and assistance.
• Czech Vice-Premier: Obama's Dinner with European Leaders A 'First Step' RFE/RL 08 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama will seek to address the concerns of Central and Eastern European leaders over dinner in Prague tonight following his signing of a new strategic nuclear arms agreement with Russia. RFE/RL's Gregory Feifer asked former Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra about his hopes for the discussion and his views about the treaty.
• Funding fails to keep pace with expanding UN war on crime, drugs and terrorism UN News Centre 08 Apr 2010 -- The United Nations agency spearheading the global war against trans-national criminal networks as part of an integrated strategy to combat drugs, crime and terrorism is woefully short of the resources needed to rise to the challenge, according to a new report issued today.
• Press Conference on new Initiative – SPIRIT – Aimed at Student Participation in Resolving Conflict United Nations 08 Apr 2010