Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 23 Jun 2011 [PDF]
• Remarks by the President on the Way Forward in Afghanistan The White House 22 Jun 2011
• Background Conference Call with Senior Administration Officials to Preview the President's Plan for Implementing His Strategy to Draw Down Troops in Afghanistan The White House 22 Jun 2011
• Remarks of the President to Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York The White House 23 Jun 2011
• Obama Visits Fort Drum, Thanks First to Deploy AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama visited Fort Drum to thank members of an Army division that was among the first to deploy units following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
• Obama Visits Troops After Announcing Afghanistan Drawdown VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- A day after announcing the beginning of a U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama visited soldiers and their families at Fort Drum, New York.
• Afghan Drawdown Not Precipitous, Obama Tells Soldiers AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama assured 10th Mountain Division soldiers today that the drawdown in Afghanistan is not precipitous, and that gains made there will be sustained.
• Americans React to President's Plans for Afghanistan VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, beginning next month, is widely seen as a compromise.
• Obama Tells VOA US Will Not Abandon Afghanistan Despite Troop Cuts VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama has discussed the current situation in Afghanistan in an interview with the Voice of America.
• Obama Discusses U.S. Troop Pullout Plan, Reconciliation Talks, Pakistani Role RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has announced that one-third of U.S. forces will be withdrawn from Afghanistan over the next 18 months.
• Gates: Obama Had 'Wide Array of Options' for Reduction AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama had a range of options to select from when setting the timeline to start bringing U.S. forces home from Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.
• Mullen Endorses Afghanistan Drawdown Plan AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress today he endorses the president’s plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
• Flournoy: Afghanistan Drawdown Matches Strategy AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama’s decision to withdraw the 33,000 U.S. surge forces from Afghanistan by the end of next summer is consistent with the policy he established in 2009.
• Petraeus: Obama Afghanistan Troop Reduction 'Aggressive' VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan: Timetable for withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan is more "aggressive" than he and other military officers had counseled.
• Clinton: U.S. Employs Three-Part Plan in Afghanistan AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- The United States is employing a three-part strategy to transition responsibility to Afghan authorities, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said here today.
• Clinton Defends Obama's 'Tough Call' on Afghan Troop Levels VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Senators that President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw 33,000 American troops from Afghanistan by the end of next summer was a "tough call."
• Clinton Highlights Progress in Afghanistan VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says considerable progress has been made in Afghanistan through the increased presence of U.S. military, civilian and diplomatic personnel.
• Mixed Congressional Reaction to Obama Afghanistan Plan VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama's announcement of a gradual drawdown of American forces in Afghanistan is getting mixed reviews from U.S. lawmakers.
• NATO Secretary General Statement on US Afghan drawdown NATO 23 Jun 2011
• US troop withdrawal marks 'transition' for Afghan Government, Ban says UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed US President Barack Obama’s decision to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.
• Reaction Mixed in London to US Plans for Afghanistan VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- President Barack Obama’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan more quickly than expected reverberated in Europe.
• In Afghanistan, More Fear Than Hope Over U.S. Troop Drawdown RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by next summer.
• Britain, Germany, France All Plan Afghan Troop Withdrawals VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Britain, Germany and France all say they plan to follow the U.S. lead and withdraw their troops from the Afghan warfront.
• France Follows U.S. Afghan Withdrawal; NATO Welcomes Obama Plan RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- France has followed in the footsteps of U.S. President Barack Obama's planned withdrawal from Afghanistan, announcing its own troop drawdown.
• Pakistan Eyes US Drawdown in Afghanistan VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- US President Barack Obama announced a drawdown of U.S. forces from Afghanistan next month, with a grim warning to Pakistan: terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated.
• Karzai: Afghan Youth Must Lead After US Troops Leave VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Many Afghans welcomed the announcement that U.S. troops will begin to leave their country but there is also widespread anxiety about how it will be done.
• President Karzai welcomes US withdrawal from Afghanistan IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan welcomed the decision to withdraw more than 30,000 American troops over the next year, calling it the “right decision for the interest of both countries.”
• Obama Announces Afghanistan Troop Drawdown VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Wednesday night at the White House, President Barack Obama announced the phased withdrawal of 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, with a target of removing the rest of a 33,000 surge force by next year.
• Obama Announces U.S. Troop Cuts In Afghanistan, Tells Americans That 'Tide Of War' Is Receding RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Declaring that 'the tide of war is receding' and that American is meeting its goals of defeating the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama has announced that he will withdraw 10,000 troops this year and 23,000 more next year, representing a U.S. force reduction of approximately 30 percent.
• Obama announces plans for U.S. troop pullout from Afghanistan RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama announced his plans to withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan this year and bring home all 33,000 U.S. “surge” troops by next summer.
• British Foreign Secretary confirms Taliban talks IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague Thursday said in Islamabad that contacts with Afghan Taliban are preliminary in nature as part of the political reconciliation process.
• Combined Force Captures Haqqani Leader AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani terrorist network leader and two of his associates during a nighttime security operation in the Sabari district of Afghanistan’s Khost province.
• EOD unit deploys to assist brigade Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- Fort Carson’s 749th Ordnance Company deployed to Afghanistan June 17 to assist 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
• U.S. Army Ground Liaison Officers Embark Reagan NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- Three U.S. Army Ground Liaison Officers joined the Ronald Reagan Strike Group (RRSG) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to help coordinate air and ground support for Operation Enduring Freedom.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- The AfPak program is a Department of Defense initiative that started with the Obama administration after realizing that one of the most effective ways of relationship building is through language.
• Kabul Court Throws Out Quarter Of Parliamentary Election Results RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- A special Afghan court set up by President Hamid Karzai has thrown out the results from about a quarter of the races in last year's fraud-plagued parliamentary elections.
• Press Conference to Launch 'World Drug Report 2011', 23 June 2011 United Nations 23 Jun 2011
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 22 Jun 2011
• Cost of Libya operations UK MOD 23 Jun 2011 -- The Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, has informed Parliament that the additional cost of military operations in support of the UN resolution regarding Libya has cost in the region of £120m.
• UK puts Libya bombing cost at £260 million IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- The British government Thursday revealed that the net additional costs to taxpayers of the military intervention in Libya has run to £260 million, higher than initially predicted.
• Minimizing the impact of the Libyan operation on merchant shipping NATO 23 Jun 2011 -- NATO is working to ensure that shipping in the Mediterranean, one of the world's most important shipping areas, is not disrupted by its mission in Libya.
• Baghdad Market Blasts Kill At Least 21 RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Iraqi security officials say three explosions tore through a market in southern Baghdad, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 40.
• Vanguard Soldiers return home Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- Approximately 1,000 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers were welcomed home by thousands of Family Members and friends, June 19 - 21.
• Welcome back! 299th returns to Belvoir after a successful deployment to Iraq Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- Family and friends of the 299th Engineer Company Multi-Role Bridge welcomed them home to Fort Belvoir Monday, after their deployment to Iraq.
• Pakistan gives legal cover to anti-militant operations IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- Pakistani President Zardari has signed a law to carry out operations in the country’s tribal regions and the northwest.
• Pakistan issues 67 visas for CIA agents IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- The Pakistan Embassy in Washington has issued 67 visas to CIA officials for deployment in Pakistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Gates Details Efforts to Change Pentagon Culture AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- When he first took office, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had no intention of changing the culture of the Defense Department.
• The Secretary's Unfinished Business AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has served for four-and-a-half years -- longer than all but four of his predecessors -- but he still has some unfinished business.
• Gates Faced Tests in Iraq, Afghanistan AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- The whole time Robert M. Gates has served as defense secretary, the nation has been at war on two fronts.
• Gates Thanks Troops, Bids Farewell AFPS 23 Jun 2011 -- It’s 110 degrees in the shade, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is answering questions from about 200 soldiers at a bleak U.S. installation near Kandahar, Afghanistan, in mid-June.
• "Battleboars" receive new Bradley Fighting Vehicles, first at Stewart Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- On June 8, 14 new Bradley M2A3s rolled into the motor pool of 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment.
• Norfolk Shipyard Removes Harry S. Truman's Main Mast NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- Norfolk Naval Shipyard marked a milestone in the 13-month drydocking planned incremental availability for USS Harry S. Truman with the removal of the aircraft carrier's 89,000 pound main mast.
• NSWC Panama City Demonstrates SUMMIT During S&T Event NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- The latest advances in unmanned mine countermeasures technology are undergoing tests and exhibition during a science and technology demonstration.
• USS Pasadena Returns from Western Pacific Deployment NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- USS Pasadena returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, after a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific region, June 22.
• Navy, Coast Guard Forge Partnership to Support Maritime Strategy NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- The Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona entered into a partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, June 21, to provide performance assessment capability to the Coast Guard's advanced National Security Cutter class.
• Armor School brings its colors to Fort Benning Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- The Maneuver Center of Excellence got another chunk of Armor on Monday.
• U.S. Army Materiel Command's Touchdown Ceremony Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- The culmination of years of hard work occurred with the cut of a ribbon at the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s touchdown ceremony here June 15.
• Military working dogs offer multiple capabilities to Army Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- An often-overlooked asset is the Army’s military working dogs and their handlers.
• GW, Airwing Five Working Toward Blue Water Certification NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- USS George Washington and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 are in the final phase of the Combat Operations Efficiency evaluation, June 22.
• Marines, Air Force train together to refuel USMC News 23 Jun 2011 -- Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 pilots and weapon systems operators conducted aerial refueling training with Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers here June 13.
• C-130 'lands' at Lee for USAF training Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- A C-130A Hercules joined Fort Lee's tiny Air Force fleet Saturday when it arrived by truck from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
• Essex ARG Departs for Talisman Sabre NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- Ships of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group got underway June 23 for a patrol of the Western Pacific region and to participate in the bilateral exercise Talisman Sabre 201.
• USS Boone, USS Thach Conduct Exercises with Chilean Ships and Sub NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- USS Boone and USS Thach participated in a series of exercises with the Chilean navy submarine CNS Carrera, and Chilean navy ships CNS Condell and CNS Blanco, June 22.
• Yokota Airmen share new cargo-rigging techniques at Cope West AFNS 23 Jun 2011 -- Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, explained low-cost, low-altitude bundle rigging techniques to members of the Indonesian army and air force June 22 as a part of Exercise Cope West 11, at Halim Air Base, Indonesia.
• Texas Guard unit passes key readiness inspection Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- American exposure to the possibilities of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear events has increased exponentially.
• Guard helping Dakota residents evacuate flooded areas Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- The North Dakota National Guard is working to ensure a safe evacuation of about 12,000 people and 4,200 homes in the Souris River Valley and Minot, N.D.
• Bye-bye, beret: Switch to patrol cap brings mixed feelings Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- Last week, after 10 years of the beret, the patrol cap became the official headgear of the Army Combat Uniform again. But, Fort Jackson Soldiers should not pack away their berets so quickly.
• Afghan-American woman first to receive valor award Army News 23 Jun 2011 -- For her bravery and composure during a hostile engagement with enemy forces, Shakilla Zikeria was the first female in the history of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan to receive the Military Essential Personnel Award for Valor.
• New vehicle affects future of Air Force firefighting AFNS 23 Jun 2011 -- Soon Air Force firefighters will have a new weapon in their arsenal. The P-34 Rapid Intervention Vehicle will be in production by late September 2011.
• Submarine Electronics Technician Communications Rating and System Requirements Reviewed NNS 23 Jun 2011 -- Naval Education and Training Command's , Submarine Learning Center concluded a Human Performance Requirements Review for Electronics Technician (Submarines) Communications training.
• MiG-29 flights suspended after fighter jet crash RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- The Russian Air Force has suspended the flights of MiG-29 fighter jets following a crash in Astrakhan region that killed two pilots.
• Russian MiG-29 fighter jet crashes, two killed RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- Two pilots were killed on Thursday when a Russian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet crashed in the Astrakhan region.
• UN ''Operational Readiness'' mirrors NATO Interoperability NATO 23 Jun 2011 -- Today, Lt.Gen Babacar Gaye, the Military Advisor of the United Nations met with NATO's Military Committee.
• Develop indigenous weapon systems suited to Indian climate IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- India’s Defence Minister, A K Antony asked the domestic industry to develop indigenous weapons systems.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 23, 2011
• BAE Systems Awarded $14 Million to Support Fielding Vehicles for the Iraqi Army BAE Systems 23 Jun 2011 -- BAE Systems was awarded a $14.2 million contract to provide field service representatives to support the transition activities of 1,026 refurbished M113A2s and 21 refurbished M88A1s to the Iraqi Army. This work will include maintenance support and training to the crews and units that will operate and maintain this equipment.
• Eurocopter signs cooperation agreement with the Malaysian government related to the supply of 12 EC725 helicopters EADS 23 Jun 2011 -- Eurocopter signed today with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence a cooperation contract related to the supply of 12 EC725 helicopters, to be operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force in search and rescue (SAR) and utility missions.
• Eurocopter to supply three more EC135 helicopters to the French Gendarmerie police force EADS 23 Jun 2011 -- This new acquisition agreement – organized through the French DGA armament procurement agency – will provide an incremental expansion of the Gendarmerie's multi-role, twin-engine EC135 fleet, which is used for police and medical evacuation missions.
• Afghan Airmen Complete First Phase of Pilot Training on Raytheon-led Contract Raytheon 23 Jun 2011 -- The first 16 Afghan Air Force (AAF) students recently completed English-immersion training on a contract led by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to provide fixed- and rotary-wing pilot training for up to 80 Afghan airmen.
• Raytheon Delivers Patriot GEM-T Test Missiles for UAE Raytheon 23 Jun 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has completed the first major delivery of materials under the UAE contract.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 23 June 2011 United Nations 23 Jun 2011
• Libyan Rebels Defend NATO After Errant Strikes VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Libya's rebel military is defending NATO after airstrikes killed a number of Libyan civilians.
• Defiant Gadhafi Denounces NATO as 'Murderers' VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has vowed to continue fighting, as he denounced NATO for airstrikes that caused civilian casualties.
• Rights Group Calls on Tunisia to Protect Migrants VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- A human rights group says Tunisia must do more to protect migrant workers who fled the violence in neighboring Libya.
• US Envoy Demands 'Immediate' Power Transfer in Yemen VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- A U.S. envoy Thursday called for an "immediate" power transfer in Yemen.
• Secretary Clinton Remarks With Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario After Their Meeting US Dept. of State 23 Jun 2011
• Clinton Reaffirms US Commitment to Philippines Amid Islands Dispute VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed the U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing.
• SUDAN: Southern Kordofan briefing IRIN 23 Jun 2011 -- More than 73,000 people have fled fighting in the Northern oil state of Southern Kordofan after heavy fighting broke out on 5 June.
• Security Council calls on Darfur combatants to make peace based on Doha declaration UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- The Security Council called upon all parties to the long-running conflict in Darfur to reach an agreement.
• India, Pakistan Hold Peace Talks VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- India and Pakistan are holding talks focused on peace and security in a bid to repair relations that have been strained since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
• Top Indian, Pakistani Diplomats To Meet In Islamabad RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Top Indian and Pakistani diplomats are to open two days of scheduled talks in a bid to push forward the peace process between the nuclear-armed neighboring rivals.
• Pakistan, India to begin 2-day talks today IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- The Pakistani and Indian foreign secretaries will begin two-day talks in Islamabad to discuss the longstanding Kashmir dispute, Peace and Security and confidence building measures.
• China supports India, Pakistan resolving differences through talks IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- China supports dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their differences.
• India releases six Pakistani prisoners IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- India has sent back six Pakistani prisoners after they were released on Wednesday from different jails.
• Palestinians Mull Options in Asking UN General Assembly for Recognition VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Palestinian officials have said they will ask the U.N. General Assembly to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
• UN political chief calls for urgent resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- The UN political chief called for the urgent resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
• UN expert calls for immediate lifting of Israeli blockade of Gaza UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- A United Nations human rights expert on the occupied Palestinian territories today called on Israel to lift its Gaza blockade “entirely and immediately.”
• Red Cross Demands Hamas Prove Israeli Soldier is Alive VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- The International Red Cross has demanded that the Palestinian militant group Hamas prove that kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is alive.
• Israel to prevent new Freedom Flotilla to near Gaza RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- Israel plans to block Freedom Flotilla ships attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
• With new Prime Minister in place, UN urges Somalis to move forward on transition UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- The UN envoy dealing with Somalia congratulated Abdiweli Mohamed Ali on his appointment as the country’s new PM.
• Somalia Appoints New Prime Minister VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Somalia's Transitional Federal Government has named a Somali-American Economist as the next Prime Minister.
• Readout of President Obama's Call with Armenian President Serzh Sargsian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev The White House 23 Jun 2011
• Armenian Opposition Parties Warn Against Karabakh 'Sellout' RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Two major Armenian opposition parties have warned President Serzh Sarkisian against accepting a compromise solution to the conflict over the breakaway Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Kazan Summit: Time For Breakthrough In Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process? RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- When the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia meet this week, flanked by U.S. and French diplomats, they'll attempt to budge a geopolitical bolder.
• UN to investigate reports of rape in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- The UN is dispatching some of its peacekeepers to a town in the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate reports of recent rapes.
• Aid Group Decries Mass Rape in DR Congo VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- A medical aid group says more than 100 women in the Democratic Republic of Congo were raped during a two-day attack in South Kivu province this month.
• Voter Registration Increases in DRC's North Kivu province, Says UN Official VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- A U.N. official in the DRC says there's been a sharp increase in voter registration over the past 10 days in North Kivu province as the country prepares for general elections on November 28.
• Moscow irked by U.S. role in territorial dispute with Japan RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- Moscow reacted angrily to Washington's possible involvement in the Russian-Japanese territorial dispute over to the Kuril Islands.
• Key Trial of Khmer Rouge Leaders Starts in Cambodia VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- On Monday the United Nations-backed tribunal in Phnom Penh will open its hearing into the four surviving leaders of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge movement.
• Notice from the President regarding the contintuation of the national emergecy with respect to the Western Balkans The White House 23 Jun 2011
• Message from the President regarding the contintuation of the national emergecy with respect to the Western Balkans The White House 23 Jun 2011
• Serbian president to pay first official visit to Sarajevo RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- Serbian President Boris Tadic will pay an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital of Sarajevo on July 6.

News Reports

• Syrian Military Advance Forces Hundreds More into Turkey VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Hundreds more refugees are pouring from Syria into Turkey as they try to escape advancing Syrian troops.
• Syrian Troops Mass Near Turkish Border RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Syrian troops massed near the Turkish border overnight as President Bashar al-Assad uses increasing military force to crush protests against his rule.
• Syrian Soldiers Enter Village Near Turkish Border VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Activists say Syrian soldiers and tanks have entered a village near the Turkish border, as EU diplomats prepare to expand sanctions against Syria.
• EU wants to spark 'chaos' in Syria - foreign minister RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has accused the European Union of attempting to "plant strife and chaos" in Syria.
• Bahrain: Ban voices deep concern at lengthy jail terms handed out to activists UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban spoke out against the lengthy jail sentences given to 21 political activists, human rights defenders and opposition leaders in Bahrain earlier this week.
• Military court has no legitimacy, says sentenced Bahraini activist IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- The sentenced Bahraini opposition leaders are not going to even bother to appeal against their jail terms because the military courts in Manama have no legitimacy.
• Jail sentences not stop Bahrain uprising, says convicted protester IRNA 23 Jun 2011 -- One of opposition figures sentenced by a military court in Bahrain said that the jail terms will not stop the pro-democracy campaign in the Persian Gulf states.
• Egypt Jails 3 Accused of Spying for Israel VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- A court in Egypt has sentenced an Egyptian businessman and two Israelis to 25 years in prison for spying for Israel.
• Iran Arrests Former Deputy Foreign Minister VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Iranian media report the arrest of the former deputy foreign minister who resigned this week in a political spat.
• Ally Of Iranian President Arrested RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Iranian news agencies say a former member of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's entourage has been arrested.
• Iran Insists Nuclear Bomb Not on Agenda VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Iran's president says Tehran is not interested in building a nuclear bomb, but will not be stopped by the West if it desires to create one.
• UN monitoring body encourages States' cooperation on Iranian sanctions UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- Chair of the UN committee monitoring the arms embargo imposed on Iran encouraged Member States to cooperate with the world body.
• U.S. Sanctions Iran's National Airline RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- The U.S. Treasury has said it has blacklisted a major Iranian port operator and the country's national airline, Iran Air.
• Notice from the President regarding the contintuation of the national emergency with respect to North Korea The White House 23 Jun 2011
• Message from the President regarding the contintuation of the national emergency with respect to North Korea The White House 23 Jun 2011
• Nuclear Crisis Gets Serious in Fukushima KCNA 23 Jun 2011 -- Tokyo Electric Power Co. officially admitted the possibility of the nuclear fuel penetration into the containment vessel.
• Statement by the Press Secretary on New Rules on Sensitive Nuclear Trade Approved by the Nuclear Suppliers Group The White House 23 Jun 2011
• ICC prosecutor seeks authorization to probe Côte d'Ivoire violence UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- The prosecutor of the ICC has requested authorization to open an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Côte d’Ivoire.
• China Urges Freed Artist to Abide By Bail Release Terms VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- China is calling on freed artist-activist Ai Weiwei to abide by the terms of his bail release.
• Georgian Police Arrest 'Armed Opposition Group' RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Georgia's Interior Ministry says eight opposition activists have been charged with forming an illegal armed group to bring a fugitive politician back to the country.
• Georgian police accuse opposition party of forming armed group RIA Novosti 23 Jun 2011 -- Four members of the opposition Georgian Party have been arrested on suspicion of forming an armed group.
• Shooting Deaths Reportedly Rise On Uzbek-Kyrgyz Border RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Uzbek border guards have shot dead at least 13 people who were crossing into Uzbekistan from Kyrgyzstan's southern Batken region in the past two months.
• Thai Ruling Party Stages Rally at Emotional Site VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Thailand's governing Democrat Party, lagging behind in national polls ahead of the July 3 general election, stepped up its campaign by staging a rally at the site of anti-government protests last year.
• Report: Turkey's Pro-Kurdish Group To Boycott Parliament RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Newly-elected Kurdish lawmakers have reportedly decided to boycott Turkey's parliament after one of them was stripped of his seat.
• Senegal's Ruling Party Drops Constitutional Changes After Riots in Dakar VOA 23 Jun 2011 -- Senegal's ruling party is dropping proposed constitutional changes that would make it easier to be elected president.
• Rivals In Kazakh Power Struggle Take Their Feud To Washington RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Victims of persecution from around the world often come to Washington seeking justice.
• Dutch Court Acquits Geert Wilders Of Hate-Speech Charges RFE/RL 23 Jun 2011 -- Dutch politician Geert Wilders has been acquitted by an Amsterdam court of all charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.
• UN agency welcomes G20 decisions aimed at boosting food security UN News Centre 23 Jun 2011 -- The UN World Food Programme welcomed declaration adopted by the Group of 20 as a message that the world’s largest economies are serious about helping the poor and strengthening food security.