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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 27 Apr 2010 [PDF]
• Airpower Summary: April 24 AFNS 27 Apr 2010
• Iraqi Forces Arrest 11 Terrorism Suspects AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors arrested 11 terrorism suspects in combined operations yesterday and today in Iraq, military officials reported.
• 4-2 SBCT takes another step forward Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- With the stroke of a pen, the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division took another step forward towards the responsible reduction of forces in Iraq, transferring responsibility of Joint Coordination Center Abu Ghraib to their Iraqi Police partners during a ceremony here April 20.
• Forces in Afghanistan Find 6 Roadside Bombs AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- The discovery of six roadside bombs, including one that insurgents were in the process of planting, highlighted operations in Afghanistan yesterday and today, military officials reported.
• Airmen build facilities for warfighters AFNS 27 Apr 2010 -- As 30,000 servicemembers continue to pour into the region as part of the troop surge in Afghanistan, a 15-man team of Airmen with the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group here is building structures for warfighters.
• UN Urged Not To Leave Southern Afghan City RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- The head of Kandahar's provincial council has urged the international aid community not to pull out of the troubled southern city.
• UN Moves Some Staff Out Of Kandahar RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- The United Nations has moved some staff members out of Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar and asked local staff to stay home due to the deteriorating security situation.
• AFGHANISTAN: Kandahar violence escalates despite Karzai vow IRIN 27 Apr 2010 -- Three weeks after President Hamid Karzai promised better security and government services in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar Province, escalating armed violence has killed dozens of people, according to human rights organizations.
• U.S. drone strike kills five in Pakistan, 14 since Friday IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- A US drone aircraft killed at least five people in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region Monday, locals said.
• Suspected militants kill tribal elder in Pakistan IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- Suspected militants have killed a known and pro-government tribal elder after he and his five colleagues were kidnapped in Bajaur tribal region, his family and officials said on Monday.
• Two militants killed in Swat, 18 nabbed in Kohat IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- Two militants including commander were killed during security forces operation in Khalezai area of Swat, officials sources said on Monday.
• U.S. Forces Stay Near Haiti Through Hurricane Season AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- The American military’s role in Haiti will decrease substantially after May, but the United States will maintain a scaled-down presence in the area through hurricane season, a top military commander said today.
• Secretary-General requests rapid boosting of Haitian mission’s technical capacity UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the Security Council to endorse a rapid strengthening of the technical capacity of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to enable it provide better support to recovery efforts following January’s earthquake in the Caribbean island nation.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Gates Satisfied With U.S. Planning to Counter Iran AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed satisfaction with the level of planning by the Defense Department and other elements of the U.S. government to counter threats from Iran.
• Red Patchers walk under the danger zone USMC News 27 Apr 2010 -- Some people see the job of a landing support spe­cialist as simply waving an aircraft to its destination. The part of the job that most people do not know about is the 200 miles-per-hour winds, while a hook, elec­trified with more than 10,000 volts, hangs from an aircraft swinging inches over the heads of the LSS Marines.
• New Air Force cyberspace badge guidelines released AFNS 27 Apr 2010 -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz has approved the new cyberspace badge and associated wear criteria.
• Peleliu Wraps Up CERTEX Navy NewsStand 27 Apr 2010 -- The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG) completed its final pre-deployment work-up April 26 in preparation for its regularly-scheduled 2010 Western Pacific Deployment (WESTPAC).
• USS Louisville Departs for Western Pacific Deployment Navy NewsStand 27 Apr 2010 -- Los Angeles-class submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific region to complete several missions in support of national defense April 26.
• USS Hopper Returns from Seven-Month Deployment Navy NewsStand 27 Apr 2010 -- More than 250 Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) April 23, to a crowded pier of family and friends following a scheduled seven-month deployment.
• USNS Mercy to Set Sail for Pacific Partnership 2010 Navy NewsStand 27 Apr 2010 -- The Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) will deploy from San Diego May 1, kicking off Pacific Partnership 2010.
• APS Gunston Hall Wraps Up 20 Days of Training in Senegal Navy NewsStand 27 Apr 2010 -- The Africa Partnership Station (APS) West platform USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) completed the final phase of its APS mission and departed Dakar, Senegal, April 26.
• USS Freedom's Blue Crew receives Rapid Refresh training Navy NewsStand 27 Apr 2010 -- USS Freedom's (LCS 1) Blue Crew received unit level training, known as Rapid Refresh that ended April 8 at the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Shore-Based Training Facility (SBTF) in San Diego. It's the first time the training has been implemented and taught to an LCS crew.
• DoD Agrees to Submit Some Fort Hood Documents to Senate AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- The Defense Department today agreed to provide access to some of the documents subpoenaed by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last week related to the Nov. 5 Fort Hood shooting investigation.
• Pace of Changes Clouds Future, Mullen Says AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- The pace of changes in the military and in the world has made looking ahead a difficult proposition, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.
• Exercise enhances training, partnerships for U.S., Bulgarian military AFNS 27 Apr 2010 -- Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors teamed with Bulgarian armed forces members to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring 2010 April 22 thorugh 28 here.
• Air Force recruiters debut 'augmented reality' mobile tour AFNS 27 Apr 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force's newest mobile marketing tour, "Command Center Alpha," was unveiled April 22 at the Suwannee River Jam in Live Oak, Fla.
• Combat coders build Web pages for warfighters AFNS 27 Apr 2010 -- Not unlike the other men and women in the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, combat coders are often tethered to their computers; their faces lit with a pixilated glow, fingertips maneuvering above matte-black keyboards, 'click-clacking' rows of keys amidst the whir of computer fans.
• Live-fire exercise trains Soldiers to defend convoys Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- Preparing for a deployment, Cavalry Soldiers who transport supplies, maintain equipment and protect leaders practiced defending convoys in an Afghan-like environment using live rounds at Camp Guernsey, Wyo., April 13.
• CAV Squadron mortar men consolidate to live-fire weapons systems Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- Mortar men from 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment conducted a consolidated live-fire exercise while training at Camp Guernsey, Wyo., April 14 and April 15.
• Soldiers conduct platoon live-fire lanes Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- Building on previous off-post training and leading into a culminating force-on-force event, Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment conducted a platoon live-fire exercise at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. April 17.
• 3rd Brigade Combat Team opens new dining facility Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- The North Riva Ridge Dining Facility was officially opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 15 on Fort Drum.
• 52nd Engineer Bn. reactivates at Carson Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- The 52nd Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, unfurled its colors for the first time in five years during an activation and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the battalion's new facilities April 16.
• Army to Muster Individual Ready Reserves Soldiers Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- U.S. Army Human Resources Command will conduct Readiness Musters for some 150 Individual Ready Reserve Soldiers at the Veteran's Affairs (VA) Medical Center Manhattan, 423 E. 23rd Street, New York, during the weekend 1-2 May.
• Reset & Fielding time Army News 27 Apr 2010 -- Perry Taylor, Closed Combat Weapon Systems Project Manager Office, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., recently assisted members of the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, N.Y., with check-out procedures and system confidence tests on equipment before final acceptance by the 3rd BCT.
• Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary Gates and Israeli Defense Minister Barak from the Pentagon DoD 27 Apr 2010 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak
• Air Guard civil engineers benefit from improvements AFNS 27 Apr 2010 -- Frequent mobilizations are still challenging the Air National Guard's civil engineers, but the planning, training and support for them has improved dramatically, Guard officials said April 26 here.
• Officials Report on Oil Spill Response AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- Though oil still continues to leak into the Gulf of Mexico after an oil rig off the Louisiana coast exploded April 20, officials in charge of clean-up operations say they’re doing the best they can to contain the spill.
• Lynn Visits Simulation Center, Marines at Pendleton AFPS 27 Apr 2010 -- The rocket-propelled grenade that exploded over his head served as an effective attention-getting device during Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III’s visit to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force’s battle simulation center here yesterday.
• US: Iran, Syria Providing Missiles to Hezbollah VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Iran and Syria are arming Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with sophisticated rockets and missiles.
• Russian warships team up in Indian Ocean for drills RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Two Russian warships grouped on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean for joint maneuvers, the Black Sea Fleet press service reported.
• Blackseafor warships successfully complete drills in Black Sea RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The warships of the Black Sea Naval group successfully completed exercises in the Black Sea on Tuesday in an effort to maintain stability in the region, a Black Sea Fleet commander has said.
• Ukraine, Russia Approve Contentious Black Sea Deal RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- Ukraine's parliament erupted in chaos today as lawmakers approved a bitterly controversial deal allowing the Russian Navy to extend its stay in Ukraine until 2042.
• Ukraine remains divided by controversial base deal RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The Ukrainian parliament has ratified a deal extending the lease for a Russian Navy base in Crimea, despite brawls in the chamber and clashes outside parliament.
• Former Ukrainian leaders outraged by naval base deal ratification RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The former Ukrainian president and prime minister have expressed anger over the ratification on Tuesday of a naval base agreement with Russia.
• Tensions rise as Ukrainian parliament ratifies controversial deal RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The Ukrainian parliament has ratified the naval base deal with Russia amid brawls in the chamber and clashes outside parliament, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Tuesday.
• Ukrainian parliament ratifies naval base deal with Russia RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The Ukrainian parliament has ratified the naval base deal with Russia amid brawls in the chamber and clashes outside parliament, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Tuesday.
• Russia praises ratification of Crimean naval base deal RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Moscow hailed the ratification of a deal to extend the lease on a Russian naval base in Crimea, which took place on Tuesday amid clashes and brawls, both outside and inside the Ukrainian parliament.
• Russian president says rent for Russian fleet base in Ukraine not overpriced RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The rent Russia pays for a newly extended lease on its Black Sea base in Ukraine is high but not overpriced, the Russian President said.
• Moscow to consult Kiev on upgrading Russian fleet in Crimea - Navy chief RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Russia will seek Ukraine's opinion on any moves to modernize its navy in Crimea, Russian Navy chief Vladimir Vysotsky said on Tuesday.
• Russian State Duma ratifies agreement extending Russia's lease on naval base in Ukraine RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The Russian State Duma has ratified an agreement extending Russia's lease on a naval base in Crimea for 25 years after the current deal expires in 2017.
• Russia's Cosmos-3M space carrier orbits military satellite RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- A Russian carrier rocket orbited a military satellite on Tuesday at 6:08 Moscow time (2:08 GMT), a spokesman for the Russian Space Forces said.
• Medvedev says Russia interested in NATO proposals on anti-missile defense RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow is interested in cooperation with NATO on issues of anti-missile defense in Europe.
• CSTO Rapid-Reaction Forces End Exercises In Tajikistan RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- Rapid-reaction forces of a regional security grouping have concluded military exercises in northern Tajikistan intended to combat insurgents, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.
• Press Gaggle by Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton and Secretary Of Agriculture Tom Vilsack En route Fort Madison on Air Force One The White House 27 Apr 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 27, 2010
• GE and Rolls-Royce Propose Fixed Price Offer for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Engine to Significantly Drive Down Costs; Offer to create and accelerate engine competition & change procurement process GE Aviation 27 Apr 2010 -- General Electric Co. and Rolls-Royce today announced that they have offered to the Pentagon a fixed price offer on their F136 engine for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
• "All systems go" for the Helios IIB satellite built by Astrium EADS 27 Apr 2010 -- The in-flight acceptance of the Helios IIB satellite has been successfully completed by Astrium on behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and under delegation from the French space agency, CNES. Helios IIB will now enter its operational phase serving the partner countries France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany. CNES will be responsible for in orbit operations.
• Orbital Successfully Launches First Minotaur IV Rocket for U.S. Air Force Orbital Sciences Corp. 27 Apr 2010 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that it successfully launched the first Minotaur IV rocket in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (HTV-2) program. The Minotaur IV rocket is the newest in the Minotaur family of launchers that Orbital produces for the U.S. Air Force under the Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 contract.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers 10,000th GMLRS Rocket To The U.S. Army Lockheed Martin 27 Apr 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] marked the delivery of the 10,000th Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket during a ceremony held at its Camden, AR, facility today. GMLRS is an all-weather, precision strike, artillery rocket system that achieves greater range and precision accuracy requiring fewer rockets to defeat targets and limiting collateral damage.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $1.5 Million Contract for Lightweight Kinetic Energy Net Armor Lockheed Martin 27 Apr 2010 -- The U.S. Army Applied Aviation Technology Directorate has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $1.5 million contract that continues development of the Kinetic Energy Net (KEN) armor design. KEN is a modular composite armor system developed by Lockheed Martin that is lighter than current aircraft armor, but offers comparable protection.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers 150th Firefinder Shelter to the U.S. Army Northrop Grumman 27 Apr 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced on-schedule delivery of the 150th Operations Central (OC)/Shelter for the Firefinder AN/TPQ-36 Radar System to the U.S. Army. This Firefinder radar system configuration, commonly referred to as the Q36, is an integrated radar system that detects and tracks hostile mortar rounds, artillery shells and rockets, instantaneously locating their source. It can handle simultaneous fire at multiple locations, detecting and reporting positions on the first round and is suitable for rapid deployment missions. The Firefinder AN/TPQ-36 (Q36) is a C-130 transportable, ground mobile on HMMWV vehicles, helicopter transportable and easy to move across the battlefield.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers Mine Detection Pods Ahead of Schedule Northrop Grumman 27 Apr 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered, ahead of schedule, all Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lot 2 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) pods to the U.S. Navy.
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded $19 Million for In-Theater M-ATV Support Oshkosh 27 Apr 2010 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has received two awards for more than $19 million from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to provide in-theater support for MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) in Afghanistan. These awards add an additional 60 Oshkosh field service representatives (FSR) that will provide support in Afghanistan through May 2011.
• Oshkosh Defense Receives $79 Million for M-ATV Protection and Remote Weapon System Kits Oshkosh 27 Apr 2010 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has received two awards valued at more than $79 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to supply more than 1,750 add-on rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) protection kits and more than 1,000 kits to support remote weapon systems for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Work for both orders is expected to be completed in September 2010.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 27 Apr 2010
• Press Conference by Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus United Nations 27 Apr 2010
• Cyprus: UN envoy says negotiations should start where they ended UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- Negotiations on the unification of Cyprus should continue where they left off, the United Nations envoy tasked with steering the talks said today as he made his first public remarks since the election of a new Turkish Cypriot leader.
• We Don’t Recognize Bashir as Legitimate President, Says UMMA Party Official VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- The vice president of Sudan’s UMMA party says the opposition group will not recognize President-Elect Omar Hassan al-Bashir as Sudan’s legitimate leader because the election was fraught with widespread irregularities.
• Sudan: Ban stresses need for peaceful resolution of any electoral disputes UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Sudanese authorities and political parties to peacefully resolve any disputes arising from this month’s presidential and parliamentary elections as he commended the country’s people for taking part in the recent ballot.
• Sudan's Bashir, Fresh off Win, Visits Egypt VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir traveled Tuesday to Egypt, one day after official results showed him winning re-election in a controversial poll. Egypt continues to welcome Mr. Bashir, despite his being wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges.
• UN chief discusses Middle East peace process with US special envoy UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Special Envoy George Mitchell discussed continuing efforts to get the Israelis and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, as well as the situation in Gaza.
• Israel Said to Be Curbing East Jerusalem Construction VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Israel could be making a concession aimed at breaking the deadlock in the Middle East peace process.
• Israeli Officers Reprimanded for Palestinian Deaths VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Israel's military chief has reprimanded two senior officers for separate shooting incidents in the West Bank last month that resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians.
• PNA leader Abbas says ready for work with Israeli PM Netanyahu RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Palestinian leader Mahmound Abbas said he is ready to work with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hopes that the Arab League will approve this week the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
• Ban voices relief at release of UN-AU peacekeepers freed in Darfur UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his relief at the release of four peacekeepers serving with the joint African Union-United Nations mission in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur who were set free after having spent more than two weeks in captivity.
• UN welcomes resumption of returns of displaced Sri Lankans UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- Following a three-week pause due to parliamentary polls and holidays, Government-backed returns of people uprooted by decades of fighting to their home areas has resumed in northern Sri Lanka, a move welcomed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• SOMALIA: Where fun is forbidden IRIN 27 Apr 2010 -- Living in a war-torn city is hard enough for Mogadishu's youngsters, but even those few opportunities for entertainment they used to enjoy have now been banned. Listening to music, watching football or films can earn one up to 30 lashes from the enforcers who patrol neighbourhoods checking for "un-Islamic" behaviour.

News Reports

• New Russian Legislation Would Increase FSB's Authority RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- which comes in the aftermath of the March 29 subway bombings in Moscow that killed dozens of rush-hour commuters -- is necessary due to what it describes as a sharp rise in extremist activity in recent years.
• Indian Diplomat Arrested on Charges of Spying for Pakistan VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Indian authorities have arrested a female diplomat posted at the Indian Embassy in Islamabad on charges of spying for Pakistan.
• Libyan Leader Says Libya Should be Rewarded for Giving Up Nuclear Arms VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi says the Obama administration made a political blunder in not inviting his country to a nuclear summit earlier this month in Washington. He says that is discouraging Iran and other countries from renouncing nuclear weapons.
• Clinton: Iran Should Direct Concerns to IAEA VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Iran should be directing its concerns to the International Atomic Energy Agency instead of trying to sway public opinion about its nuclear program.
• Velayati: Sanctions against Iran ineffective IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- Supreme Leader’s advisor Ali-Akbar Velayati said here on Tuesday that sanctions against Iran are ineffective and that the country will continue its peaceful nuclear activities.
• Brazil calls for peaceful settlement of Iran’s nuclear dispute IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- Brazilian Foreign Minister Brasil Celso Amorim said on Tuesday that his country calls for peaceful settlement of the dispute about Iranian nuclear program.
• Iran optimistic about fuel swap: Mottaki IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is optimistic about fuel swap and considers it as a means for confidence-building between Iran and the west.
• Mottaki: Uranium exchange file still on table IRNA 27 Apr 2010 -- IRI Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says he believes uranium exchange file is still on the table.
• Brazil Demands Iran Guarantee On Nuclear Program RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- The foreign minister of Brazil, a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, has demanded that Iran guarantee its nuclear program has no military aims.
• Tehran says Iran Six need will for progress on nuclear issue RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- If the international community showed the necessary political will the dispute with Iran over the proposed nuclear fuel exchange could be resolved, Tehran's foreign minister said on Tuesday.
• Iran behaves 'irresponsibly' regarding nuclear program - Medvedev RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Iran has behaved irresponsibly in response to international concerns over Tehran's controversial nuclear program, the Russian president said.
• Iran Opposition Leaders Call for Election Anniversary Rallies VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Two major Iranian opposition leaders are calling for demonstrations on June 12, the anniversary of a disputed election that placed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for another term.
• Iraqi Bloc Plans Response To Candidates' Disqualification RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- Members of Al-Iraqiyah, the front-running political bloc in Iraq's parliamentary elections, are meeting in Baghdad to plan a response to a ruling that has thrown the outcome of the March 7 vote into question and driven the country into deeper political turmoil.
• French Judge Jails Noriega Ahead of Money Laundering Trial VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- A French judge has ordered former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega jailed in Paris while awaiting trial on money laundering charges.
• Panama's Noriega Extradited From U.S. To France RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega has been sent to France following an extradition order from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
• Draft Kyrgyz Constitution Would Empower Parliament At Expense Of President RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government has introduced a draft constitution that would alter the country's political system by giving more power to parliament while reducing the president's authority.
• Security Council suggests possible tribunals to deal with Somali piracy problem UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- The Security Council put forward today the possibility of establishing international tribunals to try pirates, as its members called for tougher legislation aimed at prosecuting and jailing suspects caught off the coast of Somalia.
• UN Urges Tougher Legal Action Against Somalia Pirates VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for tougher laws against pirates operating off the coast of Somalia.
• UN Security Council adopts Russian anti-piracy resolution RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by Russia on the creation of a special body to try hijackers captured during anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast.
• Russia, Norway reach agreement to divide Arctic territories - Norwegian premier RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- After almost 40 years of talks, Russia and Norway reached on Tuesday an agreement on the demarcation of their maritime borders in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.
• Thai Government Open to New Talks VOA 27 Apr 2010 -- Anti-government protesters in Thailand are threatening to move their rallies closer to pro-government groups. But the Thai government, under siege after almost seven weeks of protests, says it is open to new talks if there is no fresh violence.
• Armenia Church Leader Meets Azerbaijani President RFE/RL 27 Apr 2010 -- The leader of Armenia's Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II, met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and prayed in an abandoned Armenian church in Baku at the end of his landmark visit to Azerbaijan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• UN humanitarian chief sees deprivation among Niger’s hungry UN News Centre 27 Apr 2010 -- The top United Nations humanitarian official today traveled to south-eastern Niger to assess the human impact of a grave food crisis that has affected more than half of the West African country’s 14 million people.
• YEMEN: Protests threaten stability IRIN 27 Apr 2010 -- A wave of protests in cities throughout Yemen earlier this month is prompting concerns that if the government does not react appropriately, the country’s stability and unity could be at risk.
• Russia to send freighter with candy, books to ISS RIA Novosti 27 Apr 2010 -- Russia will launch a cargo module to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 28, mission control said on Tuesday.