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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 18 Jan 2013 [PDF]
• Clinton 'Deeply Concerned' About Algeria Hostage Crisis VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is "deeply concerned" about the ongoing hostage crisis in Algeria, and called on the Algerian government to do everything in its power to save lives.
• Panetta: Terrorists 'Will Have No Place to Hide' AFPS 18 Jan 2013 -- U.S. and allied officials are working "around the clock" to resolve the hostage situation in Algeria, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.
• US Still Seeking Clarity on Algeria Situation VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the United States is still working to get a clear picture of the situation at a natural gas facility in Algeria.
• Pakistan Pledges To Free All Afghan Taliban RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- Pakistan has said it plans to release all Afghan Taliban prisoners still in its custody.
• Afghan artillerymen certified and ready to lead Army News 18 Jan 2013 -- Soldiers with the Afghan National Army's 203rd Corps, 1st Infantry Brigade, 4th Kandak performed an indirect-fire training mission.
• MALS-31 supports Operation Enduring Freedom USMC News 18 Jan 2013 -- A detachment of Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 deployed to Helmand Province.
• U.S. Judge Orders Sanity Review In Afghan Massacre Case RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- A U.S. military judge has ordered Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians, to undergo an official sanity review.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Convening Authority for Military Commissions Declines to Withdraw Conspiracy Charge Against Alleged 9/11 Co-Conspirators Pending Appellate Ruling DoD 18 Jan 2013
• Remarks by Secretary Panetta at King's College London DoD 18 Jan 2013 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Multinational exercise Cobra Gold set to begin in Thailand USMC News 18 Jan 2013 -- Service members from every branch of the U.S. military will join military members from throughout the Asia-Pacific region to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2013 Feb. 11-21 in the Kingdom of Thailand.
• MSC Ships Underway in Support of Annual Operation Deep Freeze Antarctica Resupply Mission NNS 18 Jan 2013 -- Military Sealift Command-chartered container ship MV Ocean Giant departed Port Hueneme, Calif., loaded with nearly seven million pounds of supplies such as frozen and dry food stores, building supplies, vehicles and electronic equipment and parts, Jan. 17.
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Visits USS Theodore Roosevelt NNS 18 Jan 2013 -- Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Ashton Carter visited the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as a part of a scheduled tour of the ship Jan. 17.
• USS Lawrence Sets Sail for Maiden Deployment NNS 18 Jan 2013 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) departed its homeport San Diego for her maiden deployment Jan 14.
• RIVRON 3 Disestablishes at Naval Weapon Station Yorktown NNS 18 Jan 2013 -- Sailors, former Riverines, and family members attended a disestablishment ceremony for Naval Expeditionary Combat Command's Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 3 at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Jan. 17.
• Panetta Urges New Focus for NATO AFPS 18 Jan 2013 -- As ISAF transitions to a sustaining role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, will NATO retreat from its responsibilities, or innovate to develop and share the capabilities needed to meet growing, global security challenges?
• Army releases programmatic environmental assessment - Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment Army News 18 Jan 2013 -- The Department of the Army has completed a final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and draft Finding of No Significant Impact for Army force structure reductions and realignments that may occur from Fiscal Years 2013-2020.
• U.S. Navy Continues Operations to Free Grounded USS Guardian Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2013 -- All 79 crew members were temporarily removed and safely transferred by small boat to the nearby support vessels USNS Bowditch and MSV C-Champion.
• Checkerboards fight on USMC News 18 Jan 2013 -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 deployed Jan. 12, aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in support of Navy Carrier Air Wing 3 as well as Carrier Support Group Ten.
• Werewolves prowl into Western Pacific USMC News 18 Jan 2013 -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 set-off for the Western Pacific Jan. 10.
• Wag the dog: canine counterparts Army News 18 Jan 2013 -- The dogs, which are all trained in detecting explosives from dynamite to mortars also have their own specialized tasks.
• More National Guard Troops Arrive to Support Inauguration AFPS 18 Jan 2013 -- Nearly 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen have begun arriving to support the 57th presidential inauguration.
• Air Force Space Command to Bolster Cyber Force AFPS 18 Jan 2013 -- The Air Force Space Command expects to be directed to add 1,000 new people, mainly civilians, to its base of about 6,000 cyber professionals for the 2014 fiscal year.
• Supply Ships Support ‘Deep Freeze’ Antarctica Operation AFPS 18 Jan 2013 -- Two supply-laden Military Sealift Command-chartered vessels are en route to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, marking the start of resupply efforts in support of Operation Deep Freeze, according to a MSC news release issued today.
• Salem Takes Honor as National Guard’s Birthplace AFPS 18 Jan 2013 -- On Jan. 10, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that designates Salem, Mass., as the birthplace of the National Guard.
• Air Force releases results of health and welfare inspection AFNS 18 Jan 2013 -- The Air Force released the results of the service-wide health and welfare inspections that were completed in an effort to emphasize an environment of respect, trust and professionalism in the workplace.
• Russia Starts Third Borey-Class Sub Test RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Russian submarine-builder Sevmash has begun moored tests of the third Borey-class submarine Vladimir Monomakh.
• Russia Plans to Revive Shipbuilding on Black Sea Coast RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Russia is planning to construct shipbuilding and ship-repair facilities on the Black Sea coast to ensure proper maintenance of its civilian and military fleets in the region.
• Shoigu Orders Doubling of Air Force HQ Staff RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered a doubling of staff at the Air Force headquarters in Moscow.
• Russian Army Says Goodbye to Earflaps RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- The Russian Army will drop its traditional fur hat with ear flaps in favor of modern winter headgear.
• New treaty to formalise defence co-operation with Australia UK MOD 18 Jan 2013 -- The UK and Australia will strengthen their long-standing relationship with a new defence treaty to provide a framework for the many strands of co-operation between the 2 countries.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, January 18, 2013 US Dept. of State 18 Jan 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 18, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 18 January 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Jan 2013
• British PM Says Algeria Hostage Siege Ongoing RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament that the hostage crisis in Algeria is not over and the situation remains "fluid and dangerous."
• Algerian Hostage Rescue Operation Ends, Toll Uncertain RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- An Algerian operation to free hostages seized by militants at a remote desert gas facility has ended but the death toll remains uncertain.
• Hostage Rescue Operation In Algeria Over - Media RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- A military operation to free hostages held by Islamic militants at a natural gas production facility in eastern Algeria is over.
• Reports: Malian, French Forces Retake Second Town VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Officials in Mali say French-backed government forces have retaken a second town that had been seized by Islamist militants.
• Rape and torture among serious rights violations spawned by Mali crisis – UN report UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- The ongoing crisis in Mali has led to serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, rape and torture.
• UN team set to arrive in Mali to assist Government resolve ongoing crisis UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- A United Nations team is set to arrive in the Malian capital of Bamako tomorrow to support the national authorities in their quest to restore constitutional order and territorial integrity.
• UNHCR Predicts Another 700,000 Displaced in Mali VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- The U.N. refugee agency says it expects another 700,000 people will be uprooted by the conflict in Mali in the coming months.
• Humanitarians unable to access Mali combat zones IRIN 18 Jan 2013 -- French and Malian military forces have blocked the access of aid workers to Konna in Mopti Region, the scene of heavy fighting over the past week, causing increasing frustration for humanitarians.
• Somalia: UN official urges African Union troops to minimize child casualties UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- A senior United Nations official urged the African Union to strengthen its efforts to minimize child casualties in their operations after several children lost their lives earlier this week in Somalia.
• International Pressure Growing to Refer Syria to ICC VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the U.N. Security Council Friday that she believes war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by both sides in the Syrian conflict, and she said the situation should be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
• Syria Violence May Worsen Post-Assad VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Syria's civil war drags on, with diplomatic efforts making little headway and, according to the United Nations, more than 60,000 people killed. Experts don't see a quick solution, and believe that even if the rebels succeed in ousting President Bashar al-Assad, the violence could well continue, and even get worse.
• UN officials alarmed by effect of systematic violence on civilians in Syria UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- Two senior United Nations officials stressed that the continued indiscriminate violence in Syria is worsening the human rights and humanitarian situations faced by civilians.
• Rocket Hits Syria's Northern City of Aleppo VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Syrian state media say a rocket slammed into a building in the country's northern city of Aleppo on Friday, causing casualties.
• Pakistan military gunships bomb areas in North Waziristan IRNA 18 Jan 2013 -- Pakistani gunships shelled positions of suspected militants in North Waziristan tribal region.
• Burma Accused of Violating International Law in Kachin VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Human Rights Watch issued a statement Friday demanding that Burma’s army cease attacks against rebels in northern Kachin state.
• DRC Government Rejects 'Unconstitutional' Rebel Demands VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has ruled out what it calls ‘unconstitutional’ demands presented by the M23 rebels at talks in Kampala, Uganda.
• Rehabilitation centre for Uganda’s LRA returnees to close IRIN 18 Jan 2013 -- One of the only two remaining reception centres in northern Uganda helping reintegrate former members of the Lord’s Resistance Army is threatened with closure.
• Gaddafi’s Son Saif Al-Islam Appears In Libyan Court RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam has appeared before a court in Libya for the first time since he was captured in 2011.
• Sokh: In One Tiny Territory, A World Of Problems RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- Kyrgyz border guards on January 17 began to install the 10-kilometer fence between Charbak, a Kyrgyz village, and Hoshyar, which is located inside Uzbekistan's Sokh exclave.
• Tajik Security Forces Kill IMU Suspect, Arrest Nine RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- Tajik security forces have killed one alleged member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and arrested nine other suspects in the country's north.
• Tajikistan Requests Documents On Borders From Russia RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- The Tajik foreign minister has officially asked Russian authorities to provide Dushanbe with historical documents related to borders between former Soviet republics in Central Asia.
• HRW Concerned about Ivorian Fugitive’s Possible Extradition VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Authorities in Ghana this week arrested Charles Ble Goude, the leader of a youth group in Ivory Coast who was implicated in crimes and what are called "grave human rights violations" during his country’s 2010-11 post-election violence.
• EU's Van Rompuy 'Encouraged' By Serbia-Kosovo Talks RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- European Council President Herman van Rompuy says Serbia has made enough progress in normalizing relations with Kosovo for the European Union to look at the possibility of opening accession talks with Belgrade.

News Reports

• IAEA, Iran Fail to Reach Deal on Nuclear Inspections VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- The chief United Nations nuclear inspector says no deal has been reached with Iran to investigate its controversial nuclear program, but that a meeting will take place next month.
• No date, venue set for Iran-5+1 talks: FM IRNA 18 Jan 2013 -- Date and venue for talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 have not been decided as yet.
• Russia stresses talks between Iran, 5+1 in near future IRNA 18 Jan 2013 -- Russia said it is trying to firm up plans for a new round of talks this month between global powers and Iran on Tehran's nuclear program.
• Iran: UN welcomes temporary release of imprisoned human rights defender UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- The United Nations human rights office welcomed the temporary release of lawyer and human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh.
• Russia Ready to Back North Korea Resolution - UN envoy RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Russia is ready to back a draft UN Security Council resolution on North Korea.
• Pakistan Supreme Court Gives Six Days For PM Investigation RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has given the government's top anticorruption official six days to further investigate corruption charges against Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
• Pakistani religious scholar ends protest after deal with gov't IRNA 18 Jan 2013 -- Pakistani government and a powerful religious scholar reached an agreement that peacefully ended a four-day sit-in outside the parliament house in Islamabad.
• Japanese Prime Minister Ends Southeast Asia Visit VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ended a three-nation tour of South East Asia this week aimed at building closer ties through increased investment and development.
• Somali President: ‘Delighted’ with US Recognition VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- The United States government officially recognized the new Somali government Thursday.
• AU Urged to Take Humanitarian Action in Sudan VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Human Rights Watch says the conflict in Sudan's Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states has displaced or severely affected an estimated 900,000 people and caused widespread hunger, malnutrition, and associated illness.
• Zimbabwe: UN condemns attacks on human rights defenders ahead of elections UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- Citing arbitrary arrests, intimidation and harassment, the United Nations human rights arm today condemned recent attacks against human rights defenders in Zimbabwe ahead of elections expected later this year.
• Haiti: top UN official calls for delayed elections to be held within the year UN News Centre 18 Jan 2013 -- The top United Nations official in Haiti called on the Government of the beleaguered Caribbean country to carry out free and fair elections.
• French Police Hold Two in Kurd Killings VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- French police have detained two suspects for questioning over the killing of three Kurdish rebel activists in Paris earlier this month.
• Turkey Rounds Up Human Rights Lawyers VOA 18 Jan 2013 -- Security forces in Turkey have detained more than a dozen lawyers as part of a nationwide sweep against illegal leftist groups.
• Russia Calls for Human Rights Report on Georgia RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- The Russian delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will push for a special report to be compiled on human rights violations in Georgia during Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency.
• Prosecutor Says Tymoshenko Suspected Of Ordering Lawmaker's Murder RFE/RL 18 Jan 2013 -- Ukraine's prosecutor-general says jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko could face life imprisonment for her alleged role in the murder of a lawmaker 16 years ago.
• Prosecutors Say Tymoshenko Financed Lawmaker’s Murder RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Jailed former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko is now an official suspect in the 1996 killing of Ukrainian businessman and lawmaker Yevhen Shcherban, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General said
• Tymoshenko in 'Critical' Condition - Lawyer RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Imprisoned former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s health is in critical condition.
• Eurasian Integration No 'Reincarnation of USSR' - Nazarbayev RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Former Soviet states' involvement in Eurasian integration does not herald a return to the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
• Russia Confirms Existence of 'Guantanamo List' Against US RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2013 -- Russia confirmed on Friday the existence of its "Guantanamo List," which it said was a retaliatory measure for the US Congress' passage of the Magnitsky Act.