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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 04 Dec 2013 [PDF]
• Security Council strongly condemns recent attacks on aid workers in Afghanistan UN News Centre 04 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the recent attacks in Afghanistan's Uruzgan and Faryab provinces resulting in the deaths of nine development workers, bringing to 237 the number of attacks against humanitarian personnel, facilities and assets in Afghanistan so far this year.
• Afghanistan: UN lauds appointment of media commission as key step for 2014 elections UN News Centre 04 Dec 2013 -- As preparations continue for next year's presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan, the United Nations mission there today welcomed the appointment of the Media Commission as another important step towards holding credible polls.
• US forced to halt shipments out of Afghanistan Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The US military has temporarily suspended ground shipments of cargo from Afghanistan through key Pakistan supply route, citing anti-US protests and security risks to truck drivers in Pakistan, officials say.
• ISAF Ministers encouraged by preparations for 2014 Afghan elections NATO 04 Dec 2013 -- NATO Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from ISAF partner nations on Wednesday (4 December 2013) welcomed the encouraging briefings from acting Afghan Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani and Interior Minister Omar Daudzai on ongoing preparations for next year's presidential and provincial council elections. "We are confident that the Afghan forces will be capable of securing them," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. "Those elections are key for Afghanistan's future and we were encouraged to hear the Afghan government's determination that they should be timely, transparent and inclusive."

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Reductions 'First Step' in Realigning Defense Spending, Hagel Says AFPS 04 Dec 2013 -- The Defense Department's senior leaders announced changes today in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff designed to save money and better align the department's structures and resources.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Hagel and General Dempsey in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 04 Dec 2013 -- Presenter: Presenters: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin E. Dempsey
• Secretary of Defense Memorandum: Results of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Organizational Review Released 04 Dec 2013
• DoD Fact Sheet: OSD Organizational Review Released 04 Dec 2013
• George Washington Strike Group Completes 2013 Patrol NNS 04 Dec 2013 -- The USS George Washington Strike Group (GWSG) returned to its forward-operating location of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, Dec. 5, to conclude the second half of its 2013 patrol.
• Maritime Operations Center Workshop Commences with ECCAS Coastal Nations in Cameroon NNS 04 Dec 2013 -- U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa is facilitating a two-week workshop beginning Dec. 2 with Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) coastal nations in order to strengthen the abilities and develop standard operating procedures for maritime operations centers (MOCs).
• Civilian Deployment Training Continues at Camp Atterbury AFPS 04 Dec 2013 -- Although military mobilizations are scaled down and unit deployments are no longer a primary mission set here due to the drawdown of troops overseas, hundreds of contractors from various agencies or contract companies from around the nation continue to deploy civilians to regions around world from Camp Atterbury.
• Nimitz Strike Group Makes Brief Stop in Pearl Harbor NNS 04 Dec 2013 -- Just a few days shy of the 72nd anniversary of the Japanese attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, Sailors and Marines manned the rails of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as they entered the harbor Dec. 3.
• EODMU-5 Partners with Singapore Navy for Joint Training NNS 04 Dec 2013 -- Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 partnered with members of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) for the bi-annual Miata Exercise that kicked off at U.S. Naval Base Guam Dec. 3.
• US military buildup in Arctic irks Putin Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The US Navy's military capability in the Arctic has worried Russian President Vladimir Putin who has ordered his armed forces to increase their presence in the region.
• 'Geneva deal ends US need for missile defense System in Europe' Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Russians Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the recent historic nuclear deal with Iran eliminates the need for a missile defense system in Europe.
• Russia launches project to track US ballistic missiles Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The Russian defense Ministry has reportedly commissioned the development of devices and software gadgets capable of tracking US ballistic missile launch.
• Russia, Greece Sign Defense Cooperation Deal RIA Novosti 04 Dec 2013 -- Russia and Greece signed an intergovernmental agreement Tuesday on military cooperation, Russia's defense minister said.
• NATO-Russia Council approves ambitious cooperation plan for 2014 NATO 04 Dec 2013 -- NATO Foreign Ministers together with their Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Wednesday (4 December 2013) agreed to launch a joint trust fund project to dispose of obsolete and dangerous ammunition in the Kaliningrad region and discussed pressing international security issues, with a focus on Afghanistan, Iran and Syria. "Today, we agreed to launch a project for the disposal of obsolete and dangerous ammunition in a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly way", the Secretary General said. "By doing so, we will make the environment safer for all those who live near these stocks of dangerous ammunition. And we will create the conditions for former military sites to be converted to civilian use."
• Foreign Ministers praise Georgia's reform efforts NATO 04 Dec 2013 -- NATO Foreign Ministers met with their Georgian counterpart for the first time since the inauguration of Georgia's new president. They agreed that much has been achieved since the NATO-Georgia Commission was created five years ago.
• US, China Emphasize Cooperation, Dialogue Amid Defense Zone Dispute VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- The United States and China are talking about the need for cooperation and dialogue as visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and China's president, Xi Jinping met in the Chinese capital. Among other issues, the two discussed the dispute over China's declaration of an air defense zone over islands administered by Japan. When they met with journalists, though, neither Biden nor Xi brought up the matter.
• Biden, Xi Discuss ADIZ, Wide Range of US-China Issues VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- U.S. officials say Vice President Joe Biden expressed Washington's concerns over China's new air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, during talks Wednesday with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
• China sends security force for peacekeeping mission in Mali People's Daily 04 Dec 2013 -- China sent 135 peacekeepers on Tuesday for a peacekeeping mission to Mali, marking the first time the country has dispatched security forces for a peacekeeping mission.
• Chang Wanquan holds talks with Djibouti defense minister People's Daily 04 Dec 2013 -- Chang Wanquan, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), state councilor and minister of national defense of the People's Republic of China (PRC), held talks with Hassan Darar Houffaneh, the visiting minister of defense of Djibouti, on the afternoon of December 2, 2013 in Beijing.
• Fan Changlong meets with Djibouti defense minister People's Daily 04 Dec 2013 -- Fan Changlong, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the CPC, met with Hassan Darar Houffaneh, the visiting minister of defense of Djibouti, and his party on the afternoon of December 2, 2013 in Beijing.
• China's aircraft carrier combat taskforce is still unfledged People's Daily 04 Dec 2013 -- China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning ship, sailed out from a military port in Qingdao of east China's Shandong province to the South China Sea on the morning of November 26, accompanied by the guided missile destroyers 'Shenyang' and 'Shijiazhuang', the guided missile frigates 'Yantai' and 'Weifang' of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN). The Liaoning ship and its accompanying warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait into the South China Sea on November 28, and made its first berth at a military port in Sanya, Hainan province on the morning of November 29.
• Commander: Enemies unable to recognize Irans preventive force IRNA 04 Dec 2013 -- Commander of Irans Navy said that with presence in all oceans, Irans Navy is trying for world peace, adding that the force has an effective preventive power, which enemies are unable to recognize.
• Iranian navy repels ten pirate attacks and frees two seized vessels Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Iranian Navy commander says the country's naval forces have since, last summer, repelled ten pirate attacks and freed two vessels seized by pirates.
• Iran to dispatch 28th naval flotilla to India soon Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the country will dispatch its 28th Naval Flotilla to western Indian port city of Mumbai tomorrow.
• December 4, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 04 Dec 2013
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary, 12/3/2013 The White House 04 Dec 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 04, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 4 December 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 04 Dec 2013
• NATO-Russia Council Statement of Support for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission NATO 04 Dec 2013 -- Press Release (2013) 139
• Preparations in 'full swing' for removing Syria's chemical agents, says OPCW-UN mission chief UN News Centre 04 Dec 2013 -- Preparations are proceeding for removing Syria's chemical agents out of the country for their destruction, the head of the joint mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations reported today, calling for continued support from the international community to complete this important task.
• Syrian refugee women have key role to play in country's future – UN official UN News Centre 04 Dec 2013 -- Syrian refugee women have a key role to play in shaping the future of their war-torn homeland, the protection chief of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) told a conference in London today.
• Foreign intelligence services back militants: FSA Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- One of the former commanders of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) says militants in Syria are supported by foreign intelligence agencies, including Israeli services, a Syrian TV channel says.
• Al-Qaeda base in Syria threatens European countries Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Western intelligence officials have warned that al-Qaeda-linked terrorists are establishing a base in Syria which threatens Europe.
• Taipei is Republic of China's capital: minister CNA 04 Dec 2013 -- Dragged into a controversy over the identity of the Republic of China's capital, Interior Minister Lee Hong-yuan said Wednesday that Taipei is the country's capital because it is the seat of the central government.
• 4 December 2013 - Press Conference on Humanitarian Situation in South Sudan United Nations 04 Dec 2013
• South Sudan: UN official says world's youngest nation struggling to meet needs of its people UN News Centre 04 Dec 2013 -- A senior United Nations relief official said today that while there has been improvement in the situation in strife-torn South Sudan, the UN will adjust its humanitarian strategy in the coming year to ensure that the world's youngest nation is better able to fortify itself against the impacts of crises, both man-made and natural.
• AU Expresses Concern Over Security in CAR VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- The African Union (AU) is gravely concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) following violence that has forced thousands to flee after the overthrow of President Francois Bozize last March, says Erastus Mwencha, deputy AU chairman.
• UN deploys surveillance drones over DR Congo Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations has for the first time deployed surveillance drones over the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor the border with Rwanda and Uganda, officials say.
• Hezbollah says its commander killed near Beirut Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, says one of its commanders, Hassan al-Laqqis, has been assassinated near the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
• Nigerian military wants 500 tried for terrorism Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The Nigerian military says 500 people who have been detained during security operations against Boko Haram militants in three northeastern states must be tried on terrorism charges.

News Reports

• South Korea Cautious on North Political Shuffling VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- South Korea's ministry in charge of relations with North Korea is urging caution over reports of a power shuffle in Pyongyang. Seoul's spy agency said leader Kim Jong Un removed his uncle as second in charge and had two of his aids executed prompting a media frenzy of speculation.
• Crisis Piles Pressure On Ukraine's Fragile Economy RFE/RL 04 Dec 2013 -- As Ukraine tumbles into what could be protracted political unrest, investor confidence in the country is plunging, too.
• Former Ukrainian Presidents Back Anti-Government Protests in Kyiv VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- Three former Ukrainian presidents have endorsed ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Kyiv aimed at ousting President Viktor Yanukovych for backing out of a trade deal with the European Union.
• Ukrainian PM Warns Opposition Against 'Escalating' Tensions RFE/RL 04 Dec 2013 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has warned the opposition to stop its escalation of political tensions as protesters continue to demand his government's resignation.
• US Urges Ukraine to Heed Calls for European Future RIA Novosti 04 Dec 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday called on Ukraine to "listen to the voices of its people" amid mass protests in the former Soviet republic over its government's sudden rejection of a long-awaited trade deal with the European Union.
• Ukraine's Ruling Party Calls Supporters Onto the Streets RIA Novosti 04 Dec 2013 -- Ukraine's ruling party has called for its supporters to come out onto the streets in defense of government buildings as the political stand-off in the former Soviet nation continued Wednesday.
• Lavrov Says Russia Will Not Interfere in Ukraine VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow will not interfere in the political unrest in neighboring Ukraine and says other nations should stay out of the dispute as well. Demonstrations have been growing since late last month, when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych backed out of a trade deal with the European Union, saying the country needed to develop closer ties with Russia.
• Iran can return to previous oil production level of 4m bpd: Zanganeh IRNA 04 Dec 2013 -- Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Tuesday that the country can restore its oil production to the previous level of four million barrels.
• IAEA inspectors to visit Iran's heavy water facility in Arak Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors are scheduled to visit the Arak heavy water facility on Sunday, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says.
• Final deal with Iran can include capacity for enrichment: US Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The final comprehensive agreement the six world powers seek to reach with Iran over its nuclear energy program could include the capacity for uranium enrichment, the White House said.
• UN team praises Japan's efforts to decommission damaged nuclear plant, notes challenges UN News Centre 04 Dec 2013 -- A team from the United Nations nuclear watchdog today praised Japan for its efforts to decommission the damaged Fukushima power station, while noting that several complex challenges have to be addressed to ensure the plant's stability.
• Russia's Future Space Launchpad Violated Construction Laws RIA Novosti 04 Dec 2013 -- Russian prosecutors said Wednesday that a probe revealed environmental, labor and building violations in the construction of what is slated to become the country's main space launch site.
• Astronomers Spot Water on Five Exoplanets VOA 04 Dec 2013 -- Scientists say they have found evidence of water on five planets outside our solar system.
• NSA tracking hundreds of millions of cellphone locations worldwide Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Top-secret documents and interviews show that the US National Security Agency collects almost 5 billion cellphone records a day, enabling the agency to track individuals' movements and map their relationships.
• Guardian editor says daily intimidated over NSA leaks Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The editor-in-chief of The Guardian says the paper has come under concerted pressure and intimidation for publishing leaks by US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
• Europe's HR court probes Polish hosting of CIA torture sites Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- Europe's human rights court has conducted the very first judicial examination of Poland's role in the detention and torture of suspects in 'black site' prisons used by US spy agency CIA.
• France mulls internet espionage powers Iran Press TV 04 Dec 2013 -- The French National Assembly has adopted a bill allowing authorities to monitor and collect internet user data without judicial approval, with critics saying it goes "against the principles of democracy."