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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 03 Jun 2013 [PDF]
• Taliban-Iran Talks Aim to Increase Tehran's Influence, Analysts Say VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- Members of the Afghan Taliban say they have met with Iranian officials and clergy in Iran, despite deep differences in Muslim ideology between the two. Some analysts see the move as part of Tehran's push to increase its influence in Afghanistan, as international combat forces prepare to leave the country.
• UN strongly condemns deadly attacks in eastern Afghanistan UN News Centre 03 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations strongly condemned the two deadly attacks which took place today in eastern Afghanistan that left at least 19 people dead, including a dozen children.
• Afghan Force Kills 20 Enemy Fighters in Paktika Province AFPS 03 Jun 2013 -- An Afghan quick-reaction force killed 20 enemy fighters and detained another while responding to an attack on a local police checkpoint in the Orgun-e district of Afghanistan's Paktika province yesterday, military officials reported.
• Afghan National Army now receiving combat training after boot camp USMC News 03 Jun 2013 -- Up until three weeks ago, Afghan National Army soldiers graduating basic training at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, would attend job training, head out to their respective units and fight the enemies of Afghanistan who have plagued this war-torn country for many years.
• Afghan Government Probes Taliban Visit To Iran RFE/RL 03 Jun 2013 -- The government of Afghanistan says it has reached out to neighboring Iran as the Taliban confirmed it had held talks with Iranian officials.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US whistleblower Bradley Manning trial begins Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- US Army whistleblower Private Bradley Manning has gone on trial in the State of Maryland, more than three years after he was arrested in Iraq.
• Military Trial of US Soldier in Underway VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- Lawyers for U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning say the soldier was young and naive, but had good intentions of making the world a better place by leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to the WikiLeaks website.
• 1st Armored Division troops aligned with CENTCOM, ready for Eager Lion kick-off Army News 03 Jun 2013 -- About 100 Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division are now in Jordan, within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, as part of an advance headquarters element that will pave the way for follow-on Soldiers in the June 'Eager Lion' exercise there.
• DDG 51 Multiyear Procurement Contract Awarded NNS 03 Jun 2013 -- The Navy awarded two contracts for the DDG 51 fiscal years (FY) 2013-2017 multiyear procurement (MYP) for DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers June 3.
• AF appoints first female chief scientist AFNS 03 Jun 2013 -- The Air Force appointed the service's first female chief scientist to lead the way in the technology and science fields.
• Kendall: Sequestration Likely to Continue into 2014 AFPS 03 Jun 2013 -- Sequestration spending cuts could continue into 2014, and the impact of the deep cuts will fall disproportionately on small business, the Pentagon's top acquisition official told a Navy industry forum today.
• Department of Defense Announces Research Equipment Awards DoD 03 Jun 2013 -- The Department of Defense today announced awards to 140 university researchers at 77 academic institutions to support the purchase of research instrumentation and equipment. The awards total $38.7 million and are being made under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program.
• Marine Prepositioning Force: from ship to shore part 1 USMC News 03 Jun 2013 -- When ground forces invade a country they do so with a limited amount of supplies. Re-supplying troops can be a herculean task, but prepositioning can alleviate and expedite the process.
• Marine Prepositioning Force: from ship to shore part 2 USMC News 03 Jun 2013 -- Once cargo leaves the Beach Operations Group it is taken to a staging area where members of the Arrival and Assembly Operations Element, AAOE, can process and make necessary repairs to equipment prior to ground forces receiving it.
• 19th CARAT Thailand Address Shared Maritime Security Priorities NNS 03 Jun 2013 -- The 19th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Marine Corps began with opening ceremonies in Sattahip, June 2.
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 Returns Home NNS 03 Jun 2013 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2, comprised of Navy EOD technicians and Sailors, returned from a 12-month deployment as the command element for Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Paladin in Afghanistan, June 1.
• Blue Ridge Arrives in Port Klang NNS 03 Jun 2013 -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), making the first stop of its current patrol, arrived in Port Klang, June 3.
• Families to join Airmen in Southwest Asia AFNS 03 Jun 2013 -- Fifteen Airmen assigned to U.S. Air Forces Central Command, the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing are taking advantage of a two-year accompanied tour opportunity -- and numbers continue to grow. In the next few years a total of 60 families will be here.
• Socom Officials Work on Plan for Global Network AFPS 03 Jun 2013 -- About 100 people are hard at work at the U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters here on a new plan that will operationalize the way the command provides manpower and capability in support of the new defense strategic guidance.
• Hagel Arrives in Brussels for NATO Defense Meetings AFPS 03 Jun 2013 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived here today to join NATO and partner defense ministers for discussions on topics including Afghanistan, cybersecurity, a possible Libya training mission and collective defense.
• NATO Starts Security Drills in the Baltics RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- NATO countries start on Monday large-scale security cooperation exercises on the territory of the former Soviet republics in the Baltic region, the Estonian military said.
• NATO Inspectors Fly 'Open Skies' Mission Over Russia RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- US and Canadian military inspectors are expected to complete on Monday their two-day joint monitoring mission over Russian territory under the international Open Skies Treaty, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Poland to Spend $40Bln on Defense Modernization RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- Poland is committed to modernizing its armed forces despite prolonged economic woes and will invest about $40 billion in its military within the next decade, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Monday.
• Press Conference on Opening for Signature of Arms Trade Treaty United Nations 03 Jun 2013
• World's first binding treaty on conventional arms trade opens for signature at UN UN News Centre 03 Jun 2013 -- The first international treaty regulating the global arms trade opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters this morning, culminating a decades-long push to halt illegal shipments of weapons such as missiles, combat aircraft and attack helicopters.
• Afghanistan Focus For Better Ties with US - Moscow RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- Russia-US relations could be improved through collaboration in Afghanistan, despite having suffered a difficult phase recently, a senior Russian MP and foreign affairs spokesman said on Monday.
• Russian Military Drones Inferior to Foreign Models – Minister RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- Unmanned air vehicles (UAV), ground-based robotic systems and unmanned submersibles which Russian industry is developing for the Defense Ministry, are inferior to foreign analogs, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.
• Russian Soldiers Still Unfit – Shoigu RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- The physical fitness of Russia's soldiers remains inadequate due to the poor state of recruits and shoddy training, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.
• Russia's New Nuclear Sub in Sea Trials RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- Russia's Project 885 Yasen-class attack submarine, the Severodvinsk, has embarked on its latest series of official tests in the White Sea, the manufacturer said Monday.
• Taiwan not planning to cut military personnel to 120,000 CNA 03 Jun 2013 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday that it has no plans to cut the country's military personnel to 120,000 from the current approximately 260,000.
• June 3, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Jun 2013
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 6/3/2013 The White House 03 Jun 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 03, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 3 June 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Jun 2013
• Syrian army foils infiltration attempt by militants on Lebanese border Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- The Syrian army has driven back a group of militants who were attempting to infiltrate Syria through the Lebanese border.
• Syria Tops Russia-EU Summit Agenda VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- Russia and the European Union are beginning two days of talks overshadowed by disputes over the EU's strong backing of the Syrian opposition and Moscow's continued support for President Bashar al-Assad.
• In message to Jewish Global Forum, UN Chief urges support for two-State solution UN News Centre 03 Jun 2013 -- Israel has a right to live in peace and security, but needs to halt settlement activity and take concrete action to end the occupations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated, cautioning that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is approaching "a point of no return."
• Kerry: Collapse of Palestinian Authority Would be Worse for Israel and US VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is asking American Jewish leaders to help break a deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that he says helps fuel extremism and terrorism across the world. Kerry says he is considering another trip to the region to push talks forward.
• Palestinian Leader Picks Scholar as New Prime Minister RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed politically independent academic as his new prime minister, official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
• Palestinians Give Mixed Reaction to New Prime Minister VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- The appointment of a new prime minister of the Palestinian Authority by President Mahmoud Abbas has received support from his Fatah movement, but criticism from the rival Hamas movement.
• Briefing: Fresh hopes for peace in Myanmar's Kachin State IRIN 03 Jun 2013 -- The UN and others have welcomed recent peace talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire in Myanmar's conflict-affected Kachin State, but building trust will take time, say experts.
• NATO Disturbed by S.Ossetia Border Fences RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- NATO is concerned by the situation on the Georgia-South Ossetia border, where Russian forces put up wire fences along the border last week, NATO's envoy for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai said on Monday.
• Sahel Attacks Prompt Fears in France Over Energy Supply VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- Security is being stepped up at Western installations across Africa's Sahel region following twin attacks in Niger late last month by Islamist militants. Fears are growing over the extent of the militants' reach in a region with close links to Europe. The stakes are especially great for France, which is highly dependent on resources mined in its former colonies.

News Reports

• Russia urges swift resumption of Iran-P5+1 talks Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has called on Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers to resume talks mainly on the Islamic Republic's nuclear energy program as soon as possible.
• IAEA report verifies non-diversion in nuclear program: Iran Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh says the new report by the agency verifies there has been no diversion in Tehran's peaceful nuclear energy program, Press TV reports.
• Unilateral, illegal sanctions no solution to N-issue: Iran Spokesman Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi says unilateral sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic cannot resolve the issue of Tehran's nuclear energy program.
• No Guarantees That Iranian Nuclear Program Peaceful – IAEA RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2013 -- Iran has not provided the International Atomic Energy Agency with sufficient information to substantiate its claim that its nuclear program is peaceful, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said Monday. An Iranian official in Moscow later called the allegation "unfounded."
• UN, Iran nuclear talks 'going around in circles' – UN official UN News Centre 03 Jun 2013 -- Discussions between the United Nations and Iran on clarifying outstanding issues related to the country's nuclear programme are "going around in circles," the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported today
• What's Really Fueling The Turkish Protests? RFE/RL 03 Jun 2013 -- Ostensibly, the protests rocking Istanbul now are over the government's plans to raze one of the city's remaining parks to build new commercial properties.
• Erdogan Angry At 'Arab Spring' Comparison; Demonstrator Killed RFE/RL 03 Jun 2013 -- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has angrily rejected comparisons between street protests in Turkey and the Arab Spring uprisings amid continued clashes between police and demonstrators.
• Turkish PM Blames Protests on Extremists VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- There have been more clashes in Turkey's capital, Ankara, between anti-government protesters and security forces, as civil unrest in the country continues. The prime minister condemned the protestors and called for calm. Protests are also continuing in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul.
• Former president attempts suicide CNA 03 Jun 2013 -- Former President Chen Shui-bian tried to hang himself Sunday night, apparently disillusioned over snags in his bid to rejoin his former party and the Legislature's move to absolve politicians of abuses of taxpayer funds, the Ministry of Justice said.
• Israel spy agencies budget grew 26% under Netanyahu: Report Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- Israel intelligence services, the Mossad and Shin Bet, have seen a 26-percent increase in their budget under the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's term in office.
• British govt. may discuss Assange case with Ecuador Iran Press TV 03 Jun 2013 -- The UK government has considered a request from Ecuador to discuss the situation of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian mission in London.
• Armenia Looks West, Tries To Loosen Moscow's Grip RFE/RL 03 Jun 2013 -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian decided not to attend an 'informal summit' of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on May 28. Sarkisian's office cited Armenia's Republic Day holiday that day and a visit to Yerevan by Britain's Prince Charles.
• U.S. Lawmakers Seek Russia Cooperation RFE/RL 03 Jun 2013 -- U.S. lawmakers say they found no evidence in Russia suggesting that U.S. agents could have done anything differently to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings.
• US Lawmakers: No Security Lapse in Boston Bombings VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- After a week-long visit in Russia, U.S. lawmakers say they have found no glaring misstep by American intelligence that allowed the Boston marathon bombings to go undetected.
• UN and Japan sign agreement to combat illicit drugs and human trafficking UN News Centre 03 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations and the Government of Japan today agreed to enhance regional cooperation to fight the trade of illicit narcotics and human trafficking, as well as terrorism and cybercrime in Africa and Southeast Asia.
• London Soldier Murder Suspects Go to Court VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- The two Muslim converts suspected of brutally hacking to death a soldier on a London street appear in court on Monday.
• Accused Somali Pirates Face Death Penalty in US Trial VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- Three Somali men face a possible death penalty when they go on trial this week for a pirate attack that led to the death of four Americans.
• Kenya's Ruto to Go On Trial September 10 VOA 03 Jun 2013 -- The International Criminal Court has set a new trial date for Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, who along with President Uhuru Kenyatta is facing charges of crimes against humanity.