Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S., Afghan Forces Sign Special Operations Agreement AFPS 08 Apr 2012 -- An agreement signed here today begins a process for Afghan national security forces to take the lead on special operations in Afghanistan.
• Kabul Reaches Deal With United States Over Night Raids RFE/RL 08 Apr 2012 -- Afghan officials have announced that Afghanistan and the United States have signed a deal putting Afghan forces in charge of controversial night raids.
• US, Afghanistan Compromise on Night Raid Operations VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- Afghanistan and the United States have reached a compromise on the controversial issue of night raids on Afghan homes by international forces. The agreement gives Afghan authorities veto power over planned operations and more say in the treatment of detainees.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Russian Inspectors Begin Surveillance Flight Over U.S. RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2012 -- A group of Russian military observers begin on Sunday a nine-day inspection mission in the skies of the United States under the Open Skies Treaty.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Surge in violence in Syria unacceptable, says UN-Arab League envoy UN News Centre 08 Apr 2012 -- The Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan today stressed the escalation of violence in Syria is 'unacceptable', and called on the Government to withdraw troops and cease all hostilities.
• UN-Backed Peace Deal in Syria Faces New Challenges VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- A U.N.-brokered peace deal for Syria appeared in jeopardy Sunday, as the country's main rebel group refused the government's demand for 'written guarantees' it would stop fighting before any troop pullout.
• Pakistani Authorities Release Names Of Soldiers Buried By Avalanche RFE/RL 08 Apr 2012 -- Pakistan's military has released the names of the 124 servicemen and 11 civilians buried by a massive avalanche in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
• Pakistani President Zardari In India For Landmark Visit RFE/RL 08 Apr 2012 -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have agreed in talks that the two neighboring countries should adopt a step-by-step approach to resolve their differences.
• Singh-Zardari meet, no structured agenda, focus on bilateral ties IRNA 08 Apr 2012 -- Focus will be on bilateral issues when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is making a three-hour stopover here tomorrow.
• India, Pak willing to find pragmatic solutions to number of issues: PM IRNA 08 Apr 2012 -- Signalling a positive outcome, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said the two countries are willing to find 'practical, pragmatic' solutions to a 'number of issues' affecting the bilateral relationship.
• Former Rwandan Official Says Root Causes of Conflict Must be Addressed VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- As Rwanda commemorates 18 years since the genocide that claimed the lives of some 800,000 people, a former Rwanda chief prosecutor has warned that the likelihood of renewed conflict, even conflict along sectarian lines, is very real in Rwanda.

News Reports

• North Korea Prepares for Underground Nuclear Test RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2012 -- North Korea is preparing for a third underground nuclear test, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Sunday, referring to intelligence officials.
• S. Korea Report Says Pyongyang Preparing for Third Nuclear Test VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- South Korea's Yonhap news agency says North Korea appears to be preparing for a third nuclear weapons test.
• Foreign Media Persons and Experts on Space Science and Technology Visit Sohae Satellite Launching Station KCNA 08 Apr 2012 -- Foreign media persons and experts on space science and technology Sunday toured the Sohae Satellite Launching Station situated in Cholsan County of North Phyongan Province. The DPRK announced its plan to launch the first working satellite on the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung.
• Mali's President Formally Resigns VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- Mali's President Amadou Toumani Toure, the democratically elected leader toppled in a military coup last month, has formally resigned from his post.
• Ban praises mediation efforts by West African regional bloc in Mali UN News Centre 08 Apr 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the continued efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to facilitate the restoration of constitutional order in Mali, and called on the country's military junta to immediately implement the accord it signed on Friday with the regional bloc.
• India, Pakistan Discuss Terrorism in Rare Top-Level Meeting VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- The leaders of India and Pakistan have spoken face to face during a rare shared meal in New Delhi. They talked frankly on subjects ranging from terrorism to disputed Kashmir.
• Easter Bomber Strikes in Northern Nigeria VOA 08 Apr 2012 -- A bombing in northern Nigeria killed at least 20 people and wounded several others on Easter Sunday despite ramped-up security throughout the region. No one immediately claimed responsibility, though many suspect the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which is known to target Christians around holidays.