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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 13 Apr 2010 [PDF]
• US Army conducts board with Iraqi counterparts Army News 13 Apr 2010 -- Boards, in which a Soldier stands before a group of senior leaders and is examined for technical and general proficiency, are a common experience in the Army, but it is not so often that Soldiers have the opportunity to be examined by leadership from a host nation.
• A look back at a year building civil capacity Army News 13 Apr 2010 -- At the end of any combat deployment, it is common to take a moment and assess what the Soldiers of a unit have accomplished over 12 months away from friends and family.
• US Commander Says Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan Undermine Military Mission VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- The commander of U.S. military forces in the Middle East and Central Asia says civilian casualties in Afghanistan undermine the American and NATO mission there. General David Petraeus made the comments before an audience in Washington.
• Gates Cites Importance of Preventing Civilian Casualties AFPS 13 Apr 2010 -- Amid new reports of civilian casualties in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates re-emphasized today the top priority U.S. and NATO forces have put on protecting civilian lives, an effort he called critical to success of the Afghanistan strategy.
• Coalition, Afghan Forces Capture Militants, Find Weapons AFPS 13 Apr 2010 -- Afghan and international forces captured numerous militants and seized enemy weapons stockpiles in recent Afghanistan operations, military officials reported.
• Officials Explain Afghanistan’s Complexity AFPS 13 Apr 2010 -- The hurdles to be overcome in Afghanistan are no simple matter, the director of communications for NATO and U.S. forces there told reporters traveling with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen when the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited earlier this month.
• US drone strike kills 5 in Pakistan IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- A US drone aircraft fired missiles in Pakistan’s north Waziristan tribal region and killed at least five people Monday night, reports said.
• PAKISTAN: Fresh displacements strain meagre aid resources IRIN 13 Apr 2010 -- Fresh civilian displacements in northwestern Pakistan due to fighting between the Taliban and government troops is likely to place further strains both on those already displaced and on available aid resources, according to aid workers.
• Pakistani Jets Killed Civilians, Not Just Militants, Officials Say VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- Government officials and survivors say a number of civilians were among 71 people killed during a Pakistani airstrike on Saturday, even as the military insists the bombing targeted only militants.
• VAW–125 Returns Home Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- Family members welcomed Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 as they returned to Naval Station Norfolk after three months in Haiti, April 12.
• MDSU-1 Sailors Reflect on Humanitarian Mission in Haiti Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- Sailors assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 deployed to Haiti to support Operation Unified Response Jan. 20, providing humanitarian assistance to the earthquake-ravaged nation.
• National Guard supports civilian agencies during nuclear summit Army News 13 Apr 2010 -- The National Guard is assisting civilian authorities protecting 46 heads of government and international organizations at the largest domestic summit since the founding of the United Nations.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US, Russia Finalize Plutonium-Disposal Accord VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- The United States and Russia Tuesday finalized an agreement committing them to eliminate a total of 68 tons of weapons-grade plutonium. The deal was signed on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
• Russia, U.S. will each dispose of 34 metric tons of excess weapon-grade plutonium RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Russia and the U.S. will each dispose of 34 metric tons of excess weapon-grade plutonium, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
• Media Availability with Secretary Gates en route to Lima, Peru DoD 13 Apr 2010 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Enterprise Conducts Fast Cruise Replenishment Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- In preparation for sea trials, Sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducted a mock underway replenishment (UNREP) April 12 during its fast cruise exercise.
• Enterprise Completes Deceptive Lighting Drill Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) successfully completed a deceptive lighting drill April 12 during a fast cruise exercise after spending more than two years in the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyards.
• Enterprise Crash, Salvage Conducts Drills During Fast Cruise Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- The Crash and Salvage crew aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducted crash drills on the first day of the aircraft carrier's fast cruise April 11.
• Joint Warrior 10-1 Kicks Off with Fast-Paced Training Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- The multinational exercise Joint Warrior 10-1 commenced April 12 off the coast of Scotland with high-tempo training exercises.
• HSC-28 Completes Phase A Inspection Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, the Dragon Whales completed a Phase A inspection this week on an MH-60-S Seahawk. The helo is the squadron's only helicopter permanently assigned to Naples, Italy.
• Navy Region Southwest Leads the Way in Energy, Water Conservation Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- With messages of 'energy conservation' and 'reduce your carbon footprint' on the forefront of saving planet Earth, Americans are constantly looking for innovative uses of everyday consumables.
• GTMO Says Good-Bye to Paper Service Records Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- In an effort to provide more efficient administrative services, the Navy is phasing out hard copy, enlisted service field records for all Sailors. Sailors' records will now be maintained digitally online and become their responsibility to ensure that they are accurate.
• Freedom, Mexican Sailors Help Local Orphanage Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- Sailors from the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) provided repairs and painted a Manzanillo orphanage April 12 during their first port visit in Mexico.
• Navy Medical Team Provides Care Above Arctic Circle During Alaskan Humanitarian Mission Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- A Navy Reserve medical team from Operational Health Support Unit Camp Lejeune (OHSU CL) is participating in a two-week humanitarian mission to Alaska April 10-24 in a real-world operation called "Operation Arctic Care."
• USS Harpers Ferry Changes Command While Underway Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- Dock-landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) held a change of command ceremony while underway in the Yellow Sea April 12.
• Partnership Between Navy, National Aquarium Helps Rebuild Sand Dunes at Dam Neck Annex Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- Sailors volunteered to help rebuild sand dunes at Dam Neck Annex in Virginia Beach, Va., as part of an ongoing partnership between the Navy and the National Aquarium in Baltimore April 9-10.
• Navy to Eliminate Little Used Fitness Waiver Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- The Navy announced plans April 12 to discontinue waivers that allow Sailors who exceed Navy body-fat standards to receive a passing score for the semi-annual physical fitness assessment (PFA).
• USS Virginia Returns From Maiden Six-Month Deployment Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- A cloudy sky gave way to bright smiles and warm cheers April 13 as friends and family welcomed the crew of Virginia-class attack submarine USS Virginia (SSN 774) back to Submarine Base New London after a six-month deployment.
• DFT Latvia Breaks New Ground Navy NewsStand 13 Apr 2010 -- A Deployment for Training of 24 Seabees, from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7, has begun construction projects in preparation for Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2010.
• Gates Expresses Confidence in Continued Manas Access AFPS 13 Apr 2010 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence today that political upheaval in Kyrgyzstan won’t cause the United States to lose use of an air base that’s critical to supplying operations in Afghanistan.
• Gates Travels to Peru to Promote Regional Cooperation AFPS 13 Apr 2010 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is traveling to Lima, Peru, for the first stop of a regional visit during which he plans to encourage continued multilateral cooperation in confronting common threats and to explore new ways the United States can help.
• Elmendorf Airmen validate air-to-air gunnery capability AFNS 13 Apr 2010 -- Airmen from the 3rd Operations Group validated their air-to-air gunnery capability April 7 by performing their first live fire gunnery mission over a range in Alaska.
• DoD News: DOD Announces Winners of the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards DoD 13 Apr 2010 -- The Department of Defense has announced the winners of the 2010 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.
• LF-CARAT 2010 prepares for embarkation USMC News 13 Apr 2010 -- April 12-16, the last training week before the Landing Force, participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2010, will start its embarkation on ship and set sail to their first CARAT exercise.
• India, US reiterate commitment to enhance naval cooperation IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- India and United States have reiterated their commitment to enhance naval cooperation between the two countries.
• Bulava missile designer blames industry for test failures RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Yury Solomonov, the designer of the troubled Bulava ballistic missile, said that the poor state of the Russian defense industry was the main cause of the weapon's failed test launches.
• Russia plans to upgrade Black Sea Fleet with new warships RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet will receive up to four frigates and four diesel-electric submarines in the next five years, a Navy source told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
• Russia delays launch of new nuclear submarine RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Russia will not float out a new nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine as planned on May 7 due to technical reasons, a source in the shipbuilding industry said on Tuesday.
• U.S. helicopter sale to Taiwan to be finalized in May CNA 13 Apr 2010 -- The U.S. sale of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to Taiwan is expected to be finalized in May, a weekly said here Monday.
• U.S. Department of State FPC Briefing - The Nuclear Security Summit US Dept. of State 13 Apr 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 13, 2010
• UK’s BAE tops world arms sales IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- Britain’s BAE has become first non-US company to top world arms sales, according to latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• Boeing Completes Chinook Industrial Cooperation Program in Spain Boeing 13 Apr 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has successfully completed its industrial cooperation program for the third phase of the CH-47D Chinook rotorcraft upgrades performed for the Spanish Army's Airmobile Force, FAMET. Boeing finished the industrial cooperation program on schedule while exceeding the $80 million requirement, demonstrating the company's continued success in meeting its commitments.
• Lockheed Martin to Provide Surveillance Radar to United Kingdom for World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Lockheed Martin 13 Apr 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] will deliver a long-range air surveillance radar system to the United Kingdom that overcomes sensor performance issues commonly caused by the rotating blades of wind turbines.
• Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-To-Ground Missile (JAGM) Successfully Completes Limited Dirty Battlefield/Countermeasures Testing Lockheed Martin 13 Apr 2010 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] Joint Air-To-Ground Missile (JAGM) team has successfully completed an extensive series of static, tower-based and captive-carry flight tests of its tri-mode seeker in a limited dirty battlefield/countermeasure rich environment at Redstone Arsenal, AL. The tests successfully validated the capability and technological maturity of the Lockheed Martin tri-mode seeker, a critical element to a low-risk, on time, on-budget fielding of the JAGM system.
• AF-1 Completes Final Finishes, Scheduled to Return to Flight Lockheed Martin 13 Apr 2010 -- AF-1, the first optimized Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35A Lightning II conventional takeoff and landing test plane, rolls out of the F-35 Final Finishes Facility sporting a new hand-painted fin flash on its vertical stabilizers. While at the facility, the plane also received highly accurate robot-applied coatings. The stealth jet flew twice before entering an intensive period of ground testing, and is preparing for its return to flight and ferry to the Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. test site.
• Northrop Grumman Completes System Development, Demonstration Phase of B-2 Radar Modernization Program Northrop Grumman 13 Apr 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has helped the U.S. Air Force improve the mission availability of its fleet of B-2 stealth bombers by successfully completing the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the B-2 Radar Modernization Program (RMP).
• SAIC Awarded Contract To Support the U.S. Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) SAIC 13 Apr 2010 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded, in a competitive solicitation, a prime contract by the Fleet Industrial Support Center Norfolk Det Philadelphia for the Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) to provide technical services in support of the TARP (Technical Assistance for Repairable Processing) program. The follow-on, single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options and a ceiling value of more than $47 million, if all options are exercised.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Offices of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the General Assembly President United Nations 13 Apr 2010
• Press Conference by Chair of Peacebuilding Commission United Nations 13 Apr 2010
• Review of UN peacebuilding activities will benefit post-conflict nations, says official UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- Efforts to help post-conflict countries build sustainable peace could be improved, the head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) said today, welcoming this year’s review of the world body’s efforts in this crucial arena and the impact it will have on the countries concerned.
• Sudan: UN welcomes two-day extension of vote in national elections UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- The United Nations today welcomed the decision by Sudanese electoral authorities to extend the voting period in the country’s historic elections until Thursday to allow them to deal with the many technical challenges that have emerged during the ballot.
• UN to begin first phase of pullout of blue helmets in DR Congo by July UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) told the Security Council today that the first stage of withdrawing blue helmets from the country by July is “operationally feasible,” but the safety of civilians under threat from militias and criminals remains a priority.
• Arab League Meets on West Bank Expulsions VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- The Arab League has held an emergency meeting to discuss Israel's decision to authorize expulsions of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank who do not have Israeli permits.
• Death Toll in Mogadishu Rises Amid Allegations Against AU Forces VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- The toll from Monday's violence in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, has risen to more than 30 dead and as many as 100 wounded. There are renewed accusations that African Union peacekeepers are using excessive force to respond to insurgent attacks.
• Security Concerns Remain as Southern Sudan Approaches 2011 Referendum VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- A recent report on disarmament indicates a security vacuum exists in parts of southern Sudan that could plague the region as it approaches the 2011 referendum.
• Karadzic Trial Resumes; First Witness Called RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- The war crimes trial of Radovan Karadzic resumed today in The Hague, where the former Bosnian Serb leader is facing 11 counts of genocide and crimes against humanity.
• Genocide trial of Karadzic resumes at UN war crimes tribunal UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- The genocide trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžic resumed today at a United Nations war crimes tribunal with the start of the prosecution’s case after judges rejected the defendant’s appeal for another delay to the hearing.
• NIGERIA: Bringing perpetrators of mass violence to book - or not IRIN 13 Apr 2010 -- To what extent are the perpetrators of mass killings, such as what took place in central Nigeria’s Plateau State recently, held accountable for their actions?
• NIGERIA: Investigations of mass killings in Nigeria IRIN 13 Apr 2010 -- Perpetrators of mass killings in Nigeria have largely gone unpunished over the past decade, according to legal experts and human rights groups. Following is a list of some investigations into inter-communal violence that has killed more than 13,000 people since 1999, according to Human Rights Watch. Commissions set up by Plateau State government:
• UN agency urges Zambia to halt deportation of refugees UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- The United Nations refugee agency today urged the Zambian Government to halt the expulsion of refugees and asylum-seekers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after 36 individuals were recently sent back.
• Timor-Leste: UN continues transfer of functions to national police UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- The United Nations has handed back policing responsibilities to Timor-Leste in a fifth district as part of the gradual transfer of the functions it assumed in 2006 after a wave of deadly violence shook the newly independent country.

News Reports

• Ukraine Pledges To Dispose Of Weapons-Grade Uranium RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- Ukraine has pledged to get rid of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the material that can be used to make nuclear weapons.
• Risk of Nuclear Attack Has Grown, Obama Says AFPS 13 Apr 2010 -- While the risk of nuclear war between countries has dropped, the risk of a nuclear attack has risen, President Barack Obama said today.
• Summit Leaders Agree To Secure Loose Nuclear Material RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has secured promises from world leaders gathered at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington to make greater efforts to secure materials that terrorists could use to make crude nuclear weapons.
• Ban calls for preventing extremists from acquiring nuclear weapons IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- As world leaders gather Monday in Washington for the start of a nuclear security summit, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he will urge those leaders to come together to rein in nuclear proliferation and prevent extremists from acquiring atomic weapons.
• World leaders begin plenary session of nuclear summit in Washington RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- A plenary session of the 47-nation U.S. summit on nuclear security has begun in Washington.
• Obama Warns About Potential of Nuclear Terrorism VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has opened the 47-nation Nuclear Security Summit in Washington with a warning about the potential of nuclear terrorism. The president says al-Qaida and other terrorist groups are trying to acquire nuclear material, and must be stopped.
• Pakistan Uses Multi-Pronged Approach to Keep Nuclear Assets from Terrorist Threats VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- As the two-day nuclear summit ends Tuesday in Washington, foreign leaders are focusing on how to keep terrorists from acquiring nuclear materials.
• Obama: China Considering New Iran Nuclear Sanctions VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- While 47 nations attended Tuesday's Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, much of the day's attention focused on two countries which were not invited-Iran and North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama says China, which has opposed further sanctions against Iran, is now sincerely considering them.
• Gates: No Iranian Nuclear Weapon for 'At Least a Year' VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he does not expect Iran to have a capacity to produce nuclear weapons for at least a year.
• Salehi: Iran wants tangible guarantees for nuclear swap deal IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday that Iran is ready for nuclear swap deal of one ton of 3.5 percent enriched uranium for 100 kg of 20 percent enriched uranium if provided tangible guarantees.
• FM spokesman: Iran to react “very strongly” to any attacks IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said the reaction of Iran and regional countries to any attacks would be very harsh.
• Mottaki: Those whose power is centralized on A-bombs play with fire IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- IRI foreign minister said in a meeting with new ambassador of Turkey to Tehran those who have unwisely based their power on nuclear weapons are playing with fire.
• Soltaniyeh to IRNA: Washington Conference held to mislead world public opinion IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- IRI representative and permanent ambassador to IAEA in Vienna said here Monday Washington Conference is held to mislead world public opinion regarding serious threat of US A-bombs.
• Khaza’ie: Nuclear threatening of a nation clear case of state sponsored terrorism IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- Iran’s Representative to UN said here Monday at UN Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) threatening a nation of using nuclear weapons is a clear case of state sponsored terrorism.
• Hu, Obama Discuss Iran Nuclear Program RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have discussed Iran's nuclear program on the sidelines of the nuclear safety summit in Washington.
• Iran still ready to discuss nuclear fuel swap RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Tehran is still open to discussion on a nuclear fuel swap with any supplier, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
• Iran says U.S. nuclear threats harm global stability RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Attempts by Washington to threaten Tehran with possible nuclear strikes undermines global security and brings harm to the global community, an Iranian news agency said citing the country's foreign minister.
• China backs UN Security Council's 'dual-track' strategy on Iran RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- China supports the 'dual- track' strategy by the UN Security Council to convince Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said on Tuesday.
• Iran hopes Russia will not take sides at UN over nuclear issue RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Iran is counting on Russia to remain neutral regarding the UN Security Council's possible adoption of new sanctions over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, the country's top nuclear official said.
• China Supports 'Dual-Track' Strategy on Iran VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- China's foreign minister says Beijing supports the United Nations "dual-track" strategy to persuade Iran to end its sensitive nuclear work.
• Report: Iran to Join 'Nuclear Club' to Deter Attacks VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- Iran's Fars news agency reports that a senior Iranian nuclear official has declared that Tehran will join the "world nuclear club" within a month to deter possible attacks on the country.
• Kyrgyz President to Resign if Family's Safety Guaranteed VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's president, deposed last week amid violence, is offering to "go into retirement" if the safety of his relatives and others allied with him is guaranteed.
• Kyrgyzstan Searches for Peaceful Transfer of Power VOA 13 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan is being run by an interim government, following last week's bloody uprising against President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The country is now reported to be quiet. But many Kyrgyz people are seeking to establish the institutions needed for the peaceful transfer of power before bloody revolts become institutionalized.
• Kyrgyz ousted president says he is ready to quit with immunity IRNA 13 Apr 2010 -- The ousted president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Tuesday he would step down after the provisional government stripped him of his immunity and gave him until the end of the day Tuesday to surrender.
• Kyrgyz President Sets Conditions For Resignation RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's embattled president, Kurmanbek Bakiev, has said in the face of a threat of attack that he is willing to resign if his security is guaranteed.
• Bakiyev ready to resign if interim government guarantees his security RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Deposed Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said on Tuesday he will resign only if the interim government guarantees his and his family's security and order in the country.
• New Kyrgyz government strips Bakiyev's immunity, threatens arrest RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government said on Tuesday it had issued a decree removing the immunity of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and threatened to arrest him if he does not return to Bishkek.
• As stalemate continues, Ban appeals for peaceful end to Kyrgyz crisis UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called once again on all parties in Kyrgyzstan to restore constitutional order in a peaceful manner, as the crisis which saw the country’s President ousted amid violent protests last week continues.
• Poland starts own probe into presidential plane crash RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Polish military prosecutors have opened an investigation into the plane crash that claimed the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and dozens of the country's top officials, Polish Attorney General Krzysztof Parulski said on Tuesday.
• Crashed Polish plane landed without permission - air traffic controller RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- The crew of the Polish president's plane, which crashed in Russia last Saturday killing President Lech Kaczynski and other top officials, attempted to land without permission, an air traffic controller said on Tuesday.
• Ban Talks About Democracy Message To Central Asia RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he repeated a "simple and direct" message to Central Asian leaders on the importance of respect for human rights during a recent tour of the region.
• YEMEN: Making health care accessible for refugees in south IRIN 13 Apr 2010 -- Volunteers at some hospitals in Aden, southern Yemen, have started a new initiative to help African refugees, mainly Somalis, access health care.
• Obama Urges Armenia, Turkey To Normalize Ties RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has said Armenia and Turkey should "make every effort" to advance the process of normalizing relations.
• Georgia Gets A Timely -- And Welcome -- Phone Call RFE/RL 13 Apr 2010 -- U.S. President Barak Obama's phone call last week to Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili came with Georgia's pro-Western political regime increasingly isolated in the post-Soviet space.
• GLOBAL: Taming the debt vultures IRIN 13 Apr 2010 -- A so-called Vulture Funds bill – to stop finance companies using British courts to extort excessive debt repayments from some of the world's poorest countries - was passed in the frantic scramble to finish outstanding parliamentary business before Britain's general election in May.
• At least a million Haitian earthquake survivors receive emergency shelter – UN UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- More than a million survivors of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti three months ago, or nine of out 10 of those in need, have now received emergency shelter materials, the United Nations reported today.
• UN envoy voices hope for calm and safe Lebanese municipal elections UN News Centre 13 Apr 2010 -- The top United Nations envoy to Lebanon today stressed the need to ensure a calm and safe atmosphere ahead of the country’s municipal elections, which are slated to be held next month.
• Russia denies granting visa to fugitive Thai ex-PM RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Russia has rejected allegations that the fugitive Thai ex-prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been allowed to enter Russia.
• Russian satellite navigation system to be complete by yearend - Ivanov RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- The Russian navigation system Glonass will cover 100% of the Earth's surface by yearend, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday.
• Russia confirms plans of rocket launch from French Guiana in 2010 RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2010 -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov on Tuesday confirmed plans to launch a Soyuz carrier rocket from the Kourou space center in French Guiana later this year.