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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Vanguard 'Patriots' complete mission in eastern Afghanistan Army News 30 Oct 2013 -- U.S. Army artillerymen from 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team 'Vanguard,' 3rd Infantry Division, were recognized at an end of tour ceremony, Oct. 18, on Forward Operating Base Shank as their mission of providing supporting fires to the Vanguard Brigade and advising Afghan National Army soldiers comes to an end.
• Over 2,000 people have died in drone attacks in Pakistan since 2008 IRNA 30 Oct 2013 -- Pakistani Senate was informed on Wednesday that 2,227 people have so far been killed in 317 US drone attacks since 2008.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Says It Is Not Spying on UN Communications VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- The United Nations says it has received assurances from the U.S. government that U.N. communications networks 'are not and will not be monitored'' by American intelligence agencies.
• Government Sues Company that Handled Snowden Security Investigation VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- The U.S. Justice Department is joining a lawsuit against the company that handled the background check of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
• U.S. has surveillance facility in Taipei: report CNA 30 Oct 2013 -- The United States has maintained a surveillance facility in its representative office in Taipei, according to an Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) report.
• Clapper: Obama was aware of NSA spying efforts Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2013 -- Despite US President Barack Obama rejecting the idea that he was aware of Washington's spying on world leaders, the nation's top spymaster said Tuesday that the president had been informed about the surveillance activities.
• US Officials Defend Spying, Say Allies Do the Same RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2013 -- Top US intelligence officials Tuesday defended sweeping American surveillance programs as "lawful" and said senior US officials have been targets of espionage by the nation's allies, including European Union members.
• Aviano AB F-16 accident report released AFNS 30 Oct 2013 -- U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa officials released the results of their investigation into the Jan. 28 crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon over the Adriatic Sea, resulting in the death of the pilot on board.
• Readout of Secretary Hagel's Call with Egyptian Minister of Defense General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi DoD 30 Oct 2013
• Readout of Secretary Hagel's Meeting with Latvian Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks DoD 30 Oct 2013
• Defense Officials Detail Nuke Upgrade Program AFPS 30 Oct 2013 -- Defense Department officials testified on Capitol Hill yesterday about the program to modernize one of the oldest weapons in the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
• Alexander: Defending Against Cyberattacks Requires Collaboration AFPS 30 Oct 2013 -- Catastrophic cyberattacks loom in the nation's future, and only collaboration among government agencies, Internet service providers and U.S. allies worldwide can help citizens prepare for them, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command said this afternoon.
• Reserve Leaders Advise Against Proposed Air Guard Merger AFPS 30 Oct 2013 -- Merging the Air Force Reserve with the Air National Guard would create little value and would cause numerous adverse impacts, detracting from the broader goal of improving the Air Force structure, Air Force Reserve leaders have told members of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.
• USS Nimitz Arrives in Naples, Italy NNS 30 Oct 2013 -- The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with embarked Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Destroyer Squadron 23 arrived in Naples, Italy for a port visit, Oct. 30.
• CNO Speaks to Electronic Warfare and Information Operations Professionals NNS 30 Oct 2013 -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert was the keynote speaker at a national electronic warfare convention held in D.C. Oct. 29.
• US warship under repair ahead of drills Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2013 -- For the second time in three months, the first-in-class littoral combat ship USS Freedom has found itself pier-side because of maintenance issues.
• Flu Drug Under DOD Development Completes Second Clinical Trial AFPS 30 Oct 2013 -- The successful completion of a Phase 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for the anti-influenza drug T-705a clears the way for Phase 3 clinical trials to begin in November.
• NATO and Ukraine navy together in the fight against piracy NATO 30 Oct 2013 -- The Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, General Knud Bartels, travelled to the Gulf of Aden on 28-30 October 2013 to visit the Ukrainian Navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy deployed there as part of Operation Ocean Shield, NATO's counter piracy mission. 'Ukraine's ability to plug in and out of NATO's operations show the high level of interoperability the Alliance can achieve with its partners,' General Bartels said.
• Putin Checks Readiness of Russia's Nuclear Deterrent RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2013 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a snap check Wednesday of Russia's nuclear deterrent, aerospace defenses and strategic aviation.
• Fan Changlong meets with Pakistani chief of army staff People's Daily 30 Oct 2013 -- Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), met with Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the visiting chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, in Beijing on the afternoon of October 28, 2013.
• China decommissions 1st nuclear submarine People's Daily 30 Oct 2013 -- China has decommissioned its first nuclear-powered submarine after more than 40 years of service in the military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily reported Tuesday.
• China's first nuclear submarine to be decommissioned People's Daily 30 Oct 2013 -- The first nuclear submarine of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN) to be decommissioned berthed quietly at a naval dock.
• Royal Navy trains off coast of Oman UK MOD 30 Oct 2013 -- The Royal Navy's Response Force Task Group has successfully completed a 6-day exercise with the Royal Omani Armed Forces.
• October 30, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Oct 2013
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Boston, MA, 10/30/2013 The White House 30 Oct 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 28, 2013
• Russia's Kalashnikov Expands Small Arms Export List RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2013 -- Russia's newly formed arms maker Kalashnikov Concern has added three new firearms to the list of weaponry authorized for export, a company spokesperson said Wednesday.

Other Conflicts

• 30 October 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Oct 2013
• As part of peace efforts, UN-Arab League envoy meets Syrian President in Damascus UN News Centre 30 Oct 2013 -- The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, today met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, as part of his ongoing efforts to bring all parties to the conflict to the negotiating table.
• Syria pres. holds talks with Lakhdar Brahimi Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2013 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has held talks with the UN-Arab League Special Envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, on the third day of his visit to the country.
• Russian, US Top Diplomats Discuss Syria RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2013 -- Top Russian and US diplomats have discussed the situation in Syria and preparation for the Geneva-2 international conference designed to get the Middle Eastern country's government and opposition groups to meet for peace talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
• Syria's Assad Meets UN Envoy VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is warning the U.N.-Arab League envoy that proposed peace talks can only succeed if other countries end their support for rebel groups.
• Syrian Dismissal Seen as 'Jockeying' Ahead of Peace Talks VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- The dismissal of Syria's Deputy Prime Minister, Qadri Jamil on Tuesday appears to be part of complex maneuvering ahead of the "Geneva 2" peace talks the U.S. and Russia are proposing for next month, say analysts and rebel leaders.
• US Reiterates Commitment to Iraq, Hints Help on the Way VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- Iraq's prime minister appears to be getting some assurances of U.S. help to counter a surge in violence as he begins a series of meetings with top officials in Washington.
• What's keeping the military in Pakistan's Swat Valley? IRIN 30 Oct 2013 -- More than four years after Pakistan's army launched a major offensive against Islamist militants in Swat Valley, close to the Afghan border, security has yet to fully return to the mountainous district, once a major tourist attraction.
• Press Conference by Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967 United Nations 30 Oct 2013
• UN chief deplores plans for further Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory UN News Centre 30 Oct 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the announcements today of further Israeli settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, pointing out that settlement activity is contrary to international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace.
• Deals linked to settlements in occupied territories could be 'criminal,' UN expert warns UN News Centre 30 Oct 2013 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today warned that financial institutions and real estate companies involved with housing settlements in occupied Palestinian territory – which are considered illegal under international law – may be held criminally accountable.
• Security Council urged to support 'temporary boost' to African forces in Somalia UN News Centre 30 Oct 2013 -- Without adequate security, the efforts of the Somali Government and people, and those of their partners, could be in vain, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations said today, calling on the Security Council to support a temporary boost to national and international forces aiming to maintain basic security in the Horn of Africa nation.
• UN Mulls Additional Troops for Somalia VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- The U.N. Security Council is considering authorizing 4,000 additional troops for African Union operations in Somalia, where Somali and African forces are battling al-Shabab militants.
• Fighting Erupts Between Soldiers, M23 in DRC VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's army has recaptured the eastern town of Bunagana, one of the last remaining strongholds of rebel group M23.
• DRC Seeks M23 Rebels' Extradition from Neighboring Countries VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) information minister says Kinshasa is seeking the extradition of M23 rebels who fled to neighboring countries following recent clashes with the national army (FARDC).
• UN envoy for Western Sahara dispute launches 'new phase' in negotiations UN News Centre 30 Oct 2013 -- The United Nations envoy dealing with Western Sahara today told the Security Council that he plans to return to the region in the coming weeks to pursue a new approach to ending the dispute over the territory.
• Refugee influx causes unease in Cameroon IRIN 30 Oct 2013 -- Cameroon is grappling with the influx of over a hundred thousand refugees from neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) and Nigeria, whose presence is causing tensions with the local population.
• China Patriotism Campaign Backfires in Tibet VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- A Chinese government campaign to build patriotism in Tibet appears to have backfired, leading to protests, mass shootings and detentions in a restive area 560 kilometers northeast of Lhasa.

News Reports

• German delegation in US over spying scandal Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2013 -- Germany has sent a high-profile delegation to Washington to demand explanation about spying by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on Chancellor Angela Merkel.
• German Officials Hold Spy Talks at White House VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- Key German and U.S. national security officials are meeting in Washington Wednesday over allegations that American spies tapped into the cell phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
• Ashton's deputy: Iran has taken new approach in N. talks ISNA 30 Oct 2013 -- Deputy to Catherine Ashton, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy Pierre Vimont said Iran has adopted a new approach in nuclear talks.
• 'More Iran-IAEA cooperation needs framework' Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2013 -- A top Iranian nuclear negotiator says any cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is beyond the Safeguards Agreement must be defined within a clear framework and accepted by both sides.
• Keeping remittances to Somalia flowing IRIN 30 Oct 2013 -- Never has the UK's Somali community taken so much interest in a court case. Dahabshiil Holdings Ltd, by far the biggest company remitting money from the UK to Somalia, has taken Barclays to court to try to prevent the bank closing down its account, without which the company says it cannot legally continue to operate. Other remittance companies have already had their accounts closed, because of what banks say are security concerns about money laundering and terrorism.
• China Arrests 5 for Tiananmen 'Terror Attack' VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- Chinese authorities say terrorists were responsible for carrying out an attack Monday in China's Tiananmen Square that left five dead and injured 40.
• Maldives Supreme Court undermining democratic process – UN rights chief UN News Centre 30 Oct 2013 -- The repeated interventions of the Supreme Court in the presidential election process in the Maldives are undermining the country's democracy, the United Nations human rights chief said today, calling on reforms to the judiciary to safeguard the rule of law.
• Egyptian Authorities Arrest Muslim Brotherhood Leader VOA 30 Oct 2013 -- Egyptian authorities have arrested a key Muslim Brotherhood leader, continuing a crackdown against the group following the military's ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.