Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Insurgents Detained In Kabul With 10 Tons Of Explosives RFE/RL 21 Apr 2012 -- Afghan security forces have detained five insurgents with 10,000 kilograms of explosives in Kabul.
• Militants Planning 'Massive' Attacks Arrested in Kabul RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2012 -- Afghan security forces have arrested five militants suspected of planning large-scale attack in Kabul, the BBC reported on Saturday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• VP-1 Assists in Taiwanese Fishing Vessel Rescue NNS 21 Apr 2012 -- A P-3 Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 1, in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard's District 14, assisted in the rescue of 10 Taiwanese fishermen April 21, 700 miles off the west coast of Guam.
• USS Alaska Claims Omaha Trophy NNS 21 Apr 2012 -- USS Alaska (SSBN 732) was selected as one of four recipients of the 2011 Omaha Trophy April 19.
• USS Missouri Changes Commanders NNS 21 Apr 2012 -- Virginia-class attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780), held a change of command ceremony aboard the submarine at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton April 20.
• Dempsey Visits Jordan to Reaffirm Partnership AFPS 21 Apr 2012 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived here today to visit his Jordanian counterpart and to meet with officials at the U.S. Embassy.
• Russian Warships Arrive in China for Joint Drills RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2012 -- A Russian naval task group arrived at the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao on Saturday for joint exercises with the Chinese navy, a captain said.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• UN Approves 300 Observers Dispatch to Syria RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2012 -- The UN Security Council has authorized on Saturday a dispatch of 300 military observers to Syria to supervise on the ceasefire between the government and opposition forces.
• Security Council authorizes UN observer mission in Syria, Ban welcomes decision UN News Centre 21 Apr 2012 -- The Security Council today authorized the establishment of a United Nations observer mission to Syria, for an initial period 90 days, to monitor the cessation of violence there, as well as monitor and support the full implementation of a peace plan.
• Unrest Continues in Syria VOA 21 Apr 2012 -- The United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution sending 300 unarmed observers to Syria, boosting the strength of a previously approved force of 30. The move comes as a ten-day-old cease-fire agreement has failed, so far, to bring an end to violence in many parts of the country.
• UN Approves 300 Member Observer Mission to Syria VOA 21 Apr 2012 -- The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution authorizing up to 300 unarmed U.N. observers to be deployed to Syria to monitor a fragile 10-day old truce. The additional monitors will join a small advance team already on the ground in Syria.
• Germany to send hundreds of troops to volatile Kosovo: report IRNA 21 Apr 2012 -- Germany will dispatch hundreds of troops to Kosovo as part of a NATO-led rapid reaction force ahead of elections in Serbia which sparked tensions in its mostly Albanian former province, the Hamburg-based news magazine Der Spiegel reported Saturday.
• Obama to Sudan, South Sudan: Conflict Is Not Inevitable VOA 21 Apr 2012 -- President Barack Obama is appealing to the governments and people of Sudan and South Sudan to avoid a return to war. The president called for peaceful negotiations, in a video message posted Friday on the Internet site YouTube.
• Mali's New Leader Says Talks with Rebels Possible VOA 21 Apr 2012 -- Mali's transitional prime minister says the country is ready to negotiate with Tuareg rebels in the north. But he insists that no Malian territory would remain occupied by armed groups.

News Reports

• Security Council demands 'immediate' restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau UN News Centre 21 Apr 2012 -- Raising the possibility of targeted sanctions, the United Nations Security Council today demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, as well as the reinstatement of the West African country's legitimate government.
• China's Taiwan affairs team to be reshuffled, policy unchanged CNA 21 Apr 2012 -- China will reshuffle its panel of officials dealing with Taiwan affairs following the country's leadership transition that will begin this autumn, but its policy toward Taiwan is not expected to change for the foreseeable future, a local scholar said Saturday.