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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Illiteracy persists among Afghan troops despite $200M US-backed program Voice of Russia 29 Jan 2014 -- The US government has committed $200 million to a program teaching Afghan soldiers to read - but a new report shows more than half of them still may be illiterate.
• NATO pressures Kabul to sign post-2014 security pact Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is pressuring Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign the so-called bilateral security agreement with the United States.
• Afghan Officials Give Obama Speech Mixed Reviews VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- Politicians and peace negotiators from Afghanistan gave mixed reactions to parts of U.S. President Barack Obama's State of the Union address dealing with the future of U.S. troops in the country.
• Sources: US Drone Strike Nearly Hit al-Shabab Leader VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- Sources in Somalia say a U.S. drone strike on Sunday nearly hit the leader of militant group al-Shabab.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Clapper: Snowden Caused 'Massive, Historic' Security Damage AFPS 29 Jan 2014 -- The ongoing leaks of classified documents by former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden amount to the most "massive and damaging theft of intelligence in our history," the director of national intelligence told Congress today.
• Snowden Leaks Making US Security Efforts More Difficult VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- National Intelligence Director James Clapper says terrorists have 'gone to school' on U.S. surveillance efforts following Edward Snowden's information leaks.
• US spy chief calls on Snowden to give back NSA documents Voice of Russia 29 Jan 2014 -- Leaks from ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden have damaged America's national security and he should return the secret documents he has 'stolen,' the US spy chief said Wednesday.
• Defense Department Press Briefing with Rear Adm. Kirby from the Pentagon DoD 29 Jan 2014 -- Presenter: Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby
• Hagel Meets With Leaders of DOD Nuclear Enterprise AFPS 29 Jan 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with the leaders of the Defense Department’s nuclear enterprise today to discuss the health of the force.
• GSA and DoD Announce Acquisition Cybersecurity and Resilience Recommendations DoD 29 Jan 2014 -- The Department of Defense and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) jointly released a report today, “Improving Cybersecurity and Resilience through Acquisition,” announcing six planned reforms to improve the cybersecurity and resilience of the Federal Acquisition System.
• Red Flag returns to Nevada AFNS 29 Jan 2014 -- The latest iteration of the Air Force's premier air-to-air combat training exercise kicked off Jan. 27 as allied and U.S aircraft launched to simulate battle in the sky over the Nevada Test and Training Range.
• Pentagon Links Prosperity to Asia-Pacific Partnerships AFPS 29 Jan 2014 -- U.S. prosperity increasingly is tied to the Asia-Pacific region, a senior Defense Department official told the House Armed Services Committee here yesterday.
• USS Elrod Arrives In Mauritania for Port Visit NNS 29 Jan 2014 -- Guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) arrived in Mauritania for a scheduled port visit, Jan. 29.
• USS Simpson and Armed Forces of Malta Exchange Tactics NNS 29 Jan 2014 -- Members of the Armed Forces of Malta joined with Sailors from guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) to share tactics and techniques in a number of maritime mission areas, Jan. 24.
• In Annual Address, Obama Attacks Rich-Poor Divide, Maps Out Afghan And Iran Plans RFE/RL 29 Jan 2014 -- President Barack Obama has used his annual State of the Union address to announce what he called "concrete, practical proposals" to reduce the gap between rich and poor in the United States.
• Pentagon alarmed by China's new hypersonic glide vehicle: Official Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- The Pentagon is increasingly concerned by China's recent test of a new ultra-high speed strike vehicle which poses a serious challenge to the US military's technological edge, a senior Pentagon official says.
• US concerned by China's new hypersonic missile Voice of Russia 29 Jan 2014 -- China's recent test of a new ultra-high speed strike vehicle highlights growing concerns that Chinese military advances will overtake those of the United States in as few as five years, a senior Pentagon official told Congress Tuesday.
• Russian Senators Back Putin's Military Police Bill RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2014 -- Russia's upper house of parliament Wednesday passed a Kremlin-backed bill clarifying the broad role to be played by the fledgling military police, whose ranks will as a result have to swell substantially.
• January 29, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 29 Jan 2014
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew Aboard AF1 en route Pittsburgh, PA The White House 29 Jan 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 29, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 29 January 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 29 Jan 2014
• Security Council stresses reconciliation during debate on 'war and the search for lasting peace' UN News Centre 29 Jan 2014 -- A halt to fighting does not necessarily end a conflict, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council today, detailing ways in which the Organization is taking a more systematic approach to reconciliation, particularly in the aftermath of conflicts within States.
• N. Korea Warns Against War Games in Rare News Conference VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- North Korea's ambassador to China warned South Korea and the United States Wednesday against upcoming joint military drills on the peninsula.
• North Korea Blames US for Tensions VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- North Korea blamed the United States and South Korea for tensions on the Korean peninsula and warned once again against upcoming joint military drills.
• Syria: UN ready to rush food, medicines into besieged Homs once green light is given UN News Centre 28 Jan 2014 -- United Nations trucks in Syria are on standby to deliver urgently needed food and medicines to 500 besieged families who have been trapped in the Old City of Homs without any aid for almost two years, once the warring parties allow access, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced today.
• No Iranian troops fighting in Syria: FM Zarif Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reiterated that the Islamic Republic has deployed no military forces in war-stricken Syria.
• At Syria Talks, Ice is 'Breaking Slowly' VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- U.N.-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said the United Nations and the Assad government are still negotiating sending aid convoy to rebel-held city of Homs during comments to the press in Geneva, where peace talks are being held.
• Iraq forces retake control of key areas in Baghdad Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- Officials say Iraqi forces have retaken control of key areas in west Baghdad from militants amid a deadly standoff between militants and security forces.
• Libya interior minister escapes assassination Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- Libya's Interior Minister Seddik Abdelkarim has escaped an assassination attempt in the capital Tripoli, reports say.
• Cooperation with China conducive to peace in Taiwan Strait: President CNA 29 Jan 2014 -- Speaking to overseas Chinese and Taiwanese in Los Angeles, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said that cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is conducive to peace.
• Commentary: Arrogant, bigoted Abe leads Japan to nowhere Xinhua 29 Jan 2014 -- Japan is at the crossroads again at the start of this year, as its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hurtling toward right-wing fundamentalism.
• UN humanitarian chief hopes South Sudan ceasefire will ease civilian suffering UN News Centre 29 Jan 2014 -- Noting that the recent conflict in South Sudan has rolled back development gains made over the past two years since independence, the top United Nations humanitarian official today voiced her hope that a recent ceasefire will enable people to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
• South Sudan humanitarian state critical: UN Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- The United Nations (UN) says the humanitarian situation in South Sudan is critical despite a recently signed ceasefire between the government and rebels.
• Politics undermining Côte d'Ivoire trials, activists say IRIN 29 Jan 2014 -- With just a single trial concluded out of the 86 cases arising from Côte d'Ivoire's 2010-2011 post-poll violence, concerns are emerging that justice is being undermined by political compromises.
• Ban welcomes new efforts to put Central African Republic 'back on track' UN News Centre 29 Jan 2014 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the establishment of a new transition Government in the Central African Republic (CAR), and urged determined national and international efforts to stop sectarian violence which is affecting more than half of the country's population.
• UN concerned about growing displacement of people in DR Congo's Katanga province UN News Centre 29 Jan 2014 -- More than 400,000 people have been displaced recently in the so-called "Triangle of Death" – the area between the towns of Pweto, Mitwaba and Manono – in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations confirmed today.

News Reports

• Mushrooming Citizen Patrols In Ukraine Raise Fear Of More Violence, Divisions RFE/RL 29 Jan 2014 -- As Ukraine's civil unrest spreads across Ukraine, with antigovernment protesters laying siege to official buildings in a dozen cities, jittery citizens are taking security into their own hands.
• EU Officials In Kyiv Talks After Cabinet Resigns RFE/RL 29 Jan 2014 -- European Union officials are due to meet with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on January 29 - a day after President Viktor Yanukovych accepted the resignation of the government and parliament overturned controversial antiprotest laws that it had passed just two weeks ago.
• Ukraine Parliament Begins Special Session As EU Officials Visit Kyiv RFE/RL 29 Jan 2014 -- Lawmakers in Ukraine have adjourned a special session of parliament at which they were expected to debate a possible amnesty for scores of detained antigovernment protesters.
• Ex-President Kravchuk Warns Of Ukraine 'Civil War' RFE/RL 29 Jan 2014 -- Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk has told parliament the country is on the verge of a 'civil war' and urged lawmakers to act with utmost responsibility.
• Russia to Wait for New Ukrainian Govt Before Releasing More Aid RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2014 -- Russia warned Ukraine on Wednesday that it will halt the implementation of a financial aid package until the crisis-hit former Soviet nation has formed a new government.
• Ukrainian Parliament Ponders Amnesty for Protesters VOA 29 Jan 2014 -- Ukraine's parliament is considering an amnesty for scores of people arrested during the past two months of recent political protests in Kiev.
• Several thousand protesters move from Independence Square to Ukraine's Parliament Voice of Russia 29 Jan 2014 -- A column of demonstrators has left Independence Square in Kiev and is moving towards Institutskaya Street, leading to the government quarter. The protesters are walking along the roadway causing traffic to come to a halt.
• Obama vows to veto new sanctions on Iran ISNA 29 Jan 2014 -- Any new economic sanctions that Congress tries to impose against Iran during international negotiations to limit the country's nuclear program will be vetoed, the US President Barack Obama warned lawmakers.
• IAEA inspectors visit Iran's Gachin uranium mine Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors have made a five-hour visit to the Gachin uranium mine in southern Iran.
• Iran ready to counter enemy aggression: Defense Minister Iran Press TV 29 Jan 2014 -- Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the Islamic Republic is ready to counter any act of aggression against the country.
• NASA Extends Reliance on Russian Spacecraft Until 2018 RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2014 -- American astronauts will continue to fly to the International Space Station aboard Russian spacecraft through 2017, NASA said Wednesday.