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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Feb 2011 [PDF]
• Maryland National Guard unit deploys to Iraq Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- Soldiers of the 1729th Field Support Maintenance Company, Maryland National Guard, prepared to board buses to take them away for year-long deployment to Iraq.
• Task force vigilant against contract fraud AFNS 14 Feb 2011 -- Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, of Pittsburgh, stepped into a shower in Iraq in January 2008, and it was the last action he would take on this earth.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain Insurgents in Kandahar AFPS 14 Feb 2011 -- Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents yesterday in the Shah Wali Kot district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
• Taliban Claims Responsibility for Kabul Blast VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Kabul on Monday that killed two people.
• Kabul Suicide Attack Kills At Least Two Guards At Hotel RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Afghan police said a suicide attack at the entrance to a shopping mall and hotel in the capital Kabul killed at least two people.
• Storage Marines: providing supplies to troops in Afghanistan USMC News 14 Feb 2011 -- Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward)'s Supply Company support Marine units operating in Helmand and Nimruz provinces.
• 'Medusa' drives on despite IEDs USMC News 14 Feb 2011 -- Her nick name is Medusa, an AMK-36 wrecker belonging to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (Forward).
• Two UK soldiers killed in fire at Helmand base IRNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Two soldiers from the Royal Logistic Corps were killed in a fire in Helmand province Monday, the Ministry of Defence in London announced.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by the President on Unveiling of the Budget in Baltimore, Maryland The White House 14 Feb 2011
• Press Briefing by OMB Director Jack Lew and CEA Chairman Austan Goolsbee on the Budget The White House 14 Feb 2011
• DOD News Briefing by Secretary Gates from the Pentagon on the Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal DoD 14 Feb 2011
• DOD News Briefing by Under Secretary Hale and Lt. Gen. Spencer from the Pentagon on the Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal DoD 14 Feb 2011
• DOD News Briefing by Maj. Gen. McGhee and Barbara Bonessa from the Pentagon on the Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal DoD 14 Feb 2011
• DOD News Briefing by Rear Adm. Mulloy from the Pentagon on the Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal DoD 14 Feb 2011
• DOD News Briefing by Maj. Gen. Flowers and Marilyn Thomas from the Pentagon on the Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal DoD 14 Feb 2011
• DOD Releases Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal DoD 14 Feb 2011
• Gates: Defense Needs $540 Billion for Fiscal '11 AFPS 14 Feb 2011 -- Congress must provide $540 billion to the Defense Department for fiscal 2011 or the department will be in danger of not being able to perform its mission.
• Obama Asks for $671 Billion Defense Budget in Fiscal 2012 AFPS 14 Feb 2011 -- President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2012 defense budget request continues the department’s reform agenda, but protects personnel and family programs.
• Budget Balances Military Needs with Fiscal Restraint, Hale Says AFPS 14 Feb 2011 -- DoD's $671 billion fiscal 2012 budget is a responsible funding request that balances the needs of the military with efforts to control federal spending.
• Army releases budget request for Fiscal Year 2012 Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- The Army is requesting a Fiscal Year 2012 base budget of $144.9 billion, with an additional $71.1 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations.
• Department of Navy Announces FY12 Budget NNS 14 Feb 2011 -- Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget, Rear Adm. Joe Mulloy, briefed the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of the Navy budget roll-out at the Pentagon, Feb. 14.
• Efficiencies, balance main focuses of FY12 budget AFNS 14 Feb 2011 -- Air Force officials said despite a reduction in the top line request, combat capabilities and balance will remain focal points in the Air Force's portion of the president's fiscal 2012 budget.
• Obama Seeks Major Cuts in Defense Budget, Still World's Largest VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- President Barack Obama’s U.S. budget proposal includes $671 billion for the defense department, a cut from the current year.
• Sec. Clinton Letter to Chairman Harold Rogers, Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2011
• Clinton Warns of 'Devastating' Foreign Affairs Budget Cuts VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that foreign affairs budget cuts being proposed by Republican members of Congress would be "devastating" to U.S. national security interests.
• President Obama Unveils Budget Proposal VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has unveiled a $3.7 trillion federal budget for next year that seeks to cut America's mammoth deficit while retaining certain spending priorities to spur future economic expansion.
• 'Don't Ask' Repeal Training Set to Begin AFPS 14 Feb 2011 -- Training will begin shortly for experts in certain specialties and leaders as part of the plan for finalizing repeal of the law that bars gay men, lesbians and bisexuals from serving openly in the military.
• KCNA on New US Military Strategy KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, on February 8 unveiled the 2011 National Military Strategy.
• KCNA on US-Japan-S. Korea Military Alliance KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Essential for ensuring peace and security of Asia and the rest of the world and building a new independent and prosperous Asia.
• California Reserve Unit first to get new PLS-A1 trucks Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- The 730th Transportation Company of the Army Reserve has become the first unit to be equipped with the new Palletized Load System truck.
• Soldiers at Fort McCoy train with M-ATV Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- The M-ATV, the newest member of the MRAP family, made its appearance on Fort McCoy's roads and off-roads, in recent months.
• 837th executes largest retrograde ammunition operation Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- The 597th Transportation Brigade's 837th Transportation Battalion, stationed in Busan, Republic of Korea, executed its largest retrograde ammunition operation to date from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4 in Chinhae, ROK.
• 598th provides NATO a cost-savings plan for cargo movement Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- The Military SDDC's 598th Transportation Brigade drew upon the Universal Services Contract to offer-up a cost-savings plan to the Dutch Ministry of Defense for a surface movement requirement they have.
• Marines participate in jungle survival training with Thai counterparts USMC News 14 Feb 2011 -- From the tropical jungles of Vietnam, the scorching deserts of Iraq, to the frozen Chosin of Korea, Marines are famous for their ability to "fight in any clime or place."
• Multinational officials plan for Cobra Gold 2012 AFNS 14 Feb 2011 -- Military planners from more than 24 nations are in Thailand making a plan to deal with aggressive Arcadian military forces that took over a portion of neighboring Khuistan and Free Mojave on the subcontinent of Pacifica.
• Alaska paratroopers land in Thailand Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- Paratroopers with the Alaska-based 3-509th Infantry conducted a joint airborne mission Feb. 9 with members of the 3-31st Infantry, King's Guard of the Royal Thai Army.
• Alaska Soldiers train with Thai army Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- Soldiers with the 3-509th Infantry spent the Feb. 10 cross-training on weapons and tactics at Camp Erawan, Thailand, with members of the Royal Thai Army's 3-31st Infantry, King's Guard.
• Live-fire training unites U.S., Thai troops Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- Two division-level generals from the Thai Army attended a live-fire exercise Feb. 11 combining troops from the Thai Royal Army and U.S. Army Alaska's 3-509th Infantry.
• ROK, U.S. Air Defense Artillery units train together Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Seong Kim proudly watched his Soldiers executing the Patriot missile reload drill.
• Bamako planning conference paves way for Africa Endeavor 2011 Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- U.S. Africa Command concluded the main planning conference for Africa Endeavor 2011 in Bamako, Mali, Jan. 27, after four days of deliberation and exercise planning sessions.
• Guantanamo Bay Sailors Assist Visiting Army Landing Craft NNS 14 Feb 2011 -- Personnel assigned to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba's Port Operations department provided logistical support to U.S. Army Runnymede-class large landing craft USAV Chickahominy while in port, Feb. 9-12.
• Essex Team Conducts Successful NEO Exercise NNS 14 Feb 2011 -- Conducted as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2011, the NEO was designed to demonstrate the ARG's ability to quickly evacuate civilians during a time of crisis.
• European training command offering counter-IED training to multinational forces Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- European Command, and subsequently USAREUR tasked the Joint Multinational Training Command to increase the capacity of C-IED training for partner nations in Europe.
• New Zealand Soldiers Train at the National Training Center Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- A new chapter in the partnership between the Armies' of New Zealand and the United States began Feb. 11 at the U.S. Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
• Reuben James Conducts Fisheries Patrol NNS 14 Feb 2011 -- USS Reuben James conducted a fisheries patrol in the Exclusive Economic Zones of various Pacific Island Nations Feb. 1-14, during transit from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii through the Central and Western Pacific Ocean.
• U.S. Army Dedicates New WSOC On Island Army News 14 Feb 2011 -- USASMDC/ARSTRAT will dedicate its new Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Center Feb. 23.
• Russia, NATO 'on verge of breakthrough' RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Russia and NATO are about to achieve a new quality of relations, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.
• Officers stay on as rumors abound of Taiwan military struggle CNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Four-star Adm. Lin Chen-yi, chief of the General Staff under the Ministry of National Defense, will remain in his post for an extra year.
• Taiwan probing those involved in espionage, execution cases CNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu: Military will get to the bottom of a case in which an army general spied for China.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, February 14, 2011 US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 14, 2011
• General Dynamics Awarded $9 Million Marine Corps Network Systems Integration Contract General Dynamics 14 Feb 2011 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $9.3 million, eight-month task order to perform network systems integration for the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command under the U.S. Air Force Network-Centric Solutions (NETCENTS) contract.
• First Navy Pilot Flies Carrier Variant Of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lockheed Martin 14 Feb 2011 -- Lt. Cmdr. Eric “Magic” Buus on Friday became the first United States Navy pilot to fly the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35C Lightning II. The F-35C will operate from the U.S. Navy’s large aircraft carriers by way of catapult launch and arrested landing. The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force also will employ the F-35C.
• Northrop Grumman Announces Team to Outfit Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Containers, Site to Install Modules Northrop Grumman 14 Feb 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will support assembly of the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mission packages at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif. It also has rounded out its team of subcontractors to support the production effort.
• Lockheed Martin Integrates MONAX System with Aerostat Platform Lockheed Martin 14 Feb 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently demonstrated the integration of the MONAX 3G wireless communications system with an aerostat platform demonstrating the ability to deliver real-time video and data directly to soldiers on the ground.
• Boeing-built LightSquared Space-Based Network Ready to Begin Service Boeing 14 Feb 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has completed the post-launch testing and on-orbit handover of the first LightSquared satellite and Space-Based Network (SBN). The satellite system has been accepted by LightSquared and is ready to begin service.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 14 February 2011 United Nations 14 Feb 2011
• S. Korea Urged to Drop Confrontation Policy KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- The south Korean authorities' policy for confrontation with the DPRK is the main cause of blocking the north-south dialogue.
• Palestinian Cabinet Resigns Amid Calls for Political Reform in West Bank VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- The Palestinian Cabinet submitted its resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas.
• Palestinian Government Resigns RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Reports say Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad tendered his government's resignation, months before the Palestinians were scheduled to hold general elections.
• Côte d'Ivoire: UN troops prevent possible resumption of civil war UN News Centre 14 Feb 2011 -- UN peacekeepers in Côte d’Ivoire are crucial to preventing a possible resumption of civil war.
• Economic Sanctions Hurting Ivory Coast Economy VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- The political crisis between rival governments in Ivory Coast is beginning to effect its economy, as sanctions against the incumbent president lead to fuel and currency shortages.
• Governor Expels French Aid Group From South Darfur VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- A state in Sudan's Darfur region has expelled the French aid Group Medecins du Monde, or Doctors of the World.
• Former Ugandan LRA Rebels Fear Going Home VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- A report released Monday outlines a plan to demobilize the Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army.
• FARC Fails the Promised Release of 2 Hostages VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Colombian officials say rebels who had announced plans to release three hostages Sunday have released only one so far.
• Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, 14 January 2011 United Nations 14 Feb 2011
• UN Security Council Urges Permanent Cambodia-Thailand Cease-Fire VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- The UN Security Council is urging Cambodia and Thailand to resolve their ongoing border dispute and establish a permanent cease-fire.
• Security Council urges permanent ceasefire after recent Thai-Cambodia clashes UN News Centre 14 Feb 2011 -- Security Council urged the South-East Asian neighbours to establish a permanent ceasefire.
• Thailand, Cambodia Foreign Ministers to Face Off at UN VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Thailand and Cambodia's are to make their case before the United Nations in New York over deadly border fighting that erupted a week ago.
• UN reaffirms support for Lebanon court on 6th anniversary of ex-premier's death UN News Centre 14 Feb 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban marked the 6th anniversary of the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri by stressing UN support for court set up to uncover the truth.
• Chechnya's Youngest Insurgents RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Despite the threats and reprisals meted out over the past couple of years, there are few signs of exodus to join the insurgency abating.
• Japanese opposition criticize government for anti-Russian rhetoric RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Anti-Russian rhetoric by the Japanese premier made the foreign minister's recent visit to Moscow 'pointless.'
• Russia Exclaims against Japan's Territorial Claim KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- The Foreign Ministry of Russia recently released a statement in protest against Japan's statement on the Southern Kuril Islands.
• Rhetoric Escalated between Russia, Japan KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- The situation has been aggravated after Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called Russian President Dmitri Medvedev's visit to the southern Kurils an "unforgivable outrage".

News Reports

• Sec. Clinton Remarks After Meeting with House Speaker John Boehner US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2011
• Sec. Clinton Interview With Michel Ghandour of Al Hurra US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2011
• Sec. Clinton Interview With Hisham Melhem of Al Arabiya US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2011
• Sec. Clinton Interview With Abderrahim Foukara of Al Jazeera US Dept. of State 14 Feb 2011
• Constitutional Referendum in Egypt Promised in 2 Months VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Egyptian pro-democracy activist Wael Ghonim says the country's new military rulers have promised him that a referendum will be held on a revised constitution in two months.
• High Food Prices Helped Spark Egypt Protests VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Many developing countries are closely watching the role escalating food prices is playing in the turmoil in North Africa.
• Public Holiday Gives Egypt's Rulers More Time to Implement Reforms VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Egyptians have another day off work Monday, as the country’s new military leaders lay out their plans for the future.
• Labor Strikes Hit Egypt as Military Calls Public Holiday VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's military is calling for an end to labor strikes and is implementing a public holiday Monday, to allow Egyptians more time to ease into normal life after President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.
• Egyptian Military Criticizes Public Worker Strikes VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's new ruling military council is criticizing public workers who are striking and protesting for better pay following President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.
• Egypt's military council set to ban strikes RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's military council, which took over the country following President Hosni Mubarak's resignation, is expected to ban strikes.
• Egypt's military council urges end of strikes RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- The Supreme Council of the Egyptian armed forces reiterated on Monday its call to opposition activists and labor leaders to end protests and return to work.
• Egyptian Demonstrators Leave Square As Workers Remain Defiant RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's new military rulers have urged protesters to return to work, saying a growing wave of strikes is harming the nation's security and economy.
• Protesters Leave Cairo's Tahrir Square RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Thousands of protesters have left Cairo's Tahrir square after the country's new military rulers suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament.
• EGYPT: Life slowly returns to normal IRIN 14 Feb 2011 -- The world has been transfixed by the 18 days of protest in Egypt that ended 30 years of Hosni Mubarak’s rule.
• Monument to victims of Egyptian uprising installed on Tahrir Square RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- A symbolic monument to the victims of anti-government riots in Egypt has been installed on Cairo's central Tahrir Square.
• Political difference in UK over freezing Mubarak's assets IRNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Differences have emerged between the British government and the opposition Labour Party in acting immediately to seize the assets of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
• Mubarak ill but not in coma says Egyptian state media RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's state media denied reports on Monday that former leader Hosni Mubarak was in a coma but admitted he was ill.
• Mubarak granted refuge in UAE: German report IRNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak reportedly left his homeland on Friday to head to the Persian Gulf sheikdom of United Arab Emirates where he has been granted refuge.
• Egyptian Museum recovers artifacts looted during uprising RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Cairo's Egyptian Museum has recovered two valuable artifacts stolen during recent protests.
• Witnesses: Police Fire Tear Gas At Tehran Protesters RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Hundreds of protesters are reported to have answered an Iranian opposition call to turn out for a banned rally in Tehran.
• Police use teargas to disperse protesters in Iran - opposition RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Iranian police have dispersed an opposition demonstration in Tehran with teargas.
• Iranian Police Fire Tear Gas at Protesters VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Iranian security forces have fired tear gas on Monday to disperse thousands of Iranians rallying in support of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
• Supreme Leader orders pardoning, commuting of sentence of inmates IRNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei ordered pardoning and commuting of sentences of 661 prisoners.
• Supporters, Opponents of Yemen's President Clash in Capital VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Anti-government protesters marched in Yemen's capital again Monday, calling for the resignation of President Ali Abdallah Saleh.
• Yemenis Stage 4th Day of Anti-President Protests in Sana'a VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Yemeni opposition activists have staged a fourth day of protests in the capital Sana'a to demand the ouster of authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
• Protesters In Yemen Demand President Step Down RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Reports from Yemen's capital, Sanaa, say thousands of students have taken to to the streets for a second day, demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
• Yemenis stage new protests, demand president leave office RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- At least 3,000 protestors gathered on Monday on the streets of Yemen's capital Sanaa in a hopes of repeating the success of the recent revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia.
• Algerian Emergency Law to End VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Algeria's foreign minister says the country's nearly 20-year emergency law will be lifted shortly, but he plays down recent anti-government protests.
• Bahrain Police Disperse Rallies With Tear Gas VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Bahrain's security forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, a day after police tightened security around Shi'ite villages throughout the island.
• Clashes Reported In Bahrain Ahead Of Protest Rally RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Small-scale clashes were reported in two villages in Bahrain ahead of a protest rally planned for today in a "Day of Wrath" inspired by recent protests in Egypt and Tunisia.
• Uprisings spread across Arab world RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- The authorities in Iran and Bahrain have stepped up security ahead of planned protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
• WikiLeaks Founder Remains Cause Celebre VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- The internet site WikiLeaks is credited with helping topple the regime in Tunisia, and exposing a variety of U.S. government secrets.
• Tunisia Ready to Cooperate on Immigration VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Tunisian troops are patrolling fishing ports in an effort to halt the flow of illegal immigrants to Europe, after rejecting an Italian request to deploy police to the North African country.
• EU Foreign Policy Chief In Tunisia RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is in Tunisia for meetings with Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and other officials.
• Iran installs new atom Chief ISNA 14 Feb 2011-- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued an order appointing Fereidoun Abbasi as chief of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and Vice President.
• Pakistani Gov't Says No Change on American Diplomat's Case VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Pakistan's gov is distancing itself from comments by ruling party official who said the detained American has diplomatic immunity.
• Burma Warns Aung San Suu Kyi to Avoid 'Tragic End' VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- State controlled media in Burma have a chilling warning for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party.
• Kim Jong Il Receives Chinese Minister of Public Security KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received Meng Jianzhu, state councilor of the People's Republic of China and minister of Public Security.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Chinese Minister of Public Security KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Kim Yong Nam met and had a friendly talk with Meng Jianzhu, minister of Public Security.
• Ri Yong Ho Meets Chinese Minister of Public Security KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Ri Yong Ho met and had a friendly talk with Meng Jianzhu, state councilor of the People's Republic of China and minister of Public Security.
• China Overtakes Japan As World's Second-Biggest Economy RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- China has overtaken Japan as the world's second-biggest economy, putting it on course to surpass the US within the next 15 years.
• China replaces Japan as world's second largest economy RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Japan ceded the title of the world's second largest economy to China.
• ZIMBABWE: Political violence escalates IRIN 14 Feb 2011 -- Zimbabwe's Government of National Unity (GNU) was born out of political violence in 2008, and analysts see its demise occurring in much the same way.
• Mugabe's Absence Reportedly Hinders Zimbabwe Government VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- President Robert Mugabe left Zimbabwe last Friday for medical treatment in Asia.
• Conflicting Accounts of Ghanaian Police Raid on Refugee Camp VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Ghanaian police raided the Buduburam Refugee Camp outside the capital, Accra, and there are conflicting accounts as to the number of casualties and the cause of the violence.
• Niger Politicians Forge Alliances Before March Election VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- Niger's lead opposition candidate is forging political alliances that could prove decisive in next month's presidential run-off.
• Russian Foreign Minister Visits Britain Amid Tense Relations RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov begins a two-day visit to Britain today that will include meetings with Prime Minister David Cameron and British Foreign Minister William Hague.
• Court Employee Says Khodorkovsky Judge Pressured RFE/RL 14 Feb 2011 -- Russia's political community is reeling over allegations that high officials pressured a judge into convicting Khodorkovsky on fresh charges.
• Court aide says Khodorkovsky verdict 'forced on judge' RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2011 -- Aide to judge who imposed a jail sentence on Mikhail Khodorkovsky has claimed the verdict was determined by "higher" powers.
• Judges Rule Case Against Dutch Anti-Islam MP To Continue VOA 14 Feb 2011 -- A court in Amsterdam has ruled that the hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders will go on, with new judges listening to the defense’s preliminary objections to the case.
• Food Shortage Becomes Serious in World KCNA 14 Feb 2011 -- Grain price has gone up sharply in the international market from the beginning of the year.
• ATV: "Mini" Earth travels to the International Space Station EADS 14 Feb 2011 -- Tomorrow, Tuesday 15 February, a "Mini" Earth is scheduled to be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) to gain a better understanding of the processes in the Earth's mantle, which lead to volcanism, plate tectonics and also to earthquakes. The scientific experiment Geoflow II was built by Astrium on behalf of the European Space Agency.