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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 07 Feb 2014 [PDF]
• U.S. Continues to Plan for Post-2014 Afghan Mission, Hagel Says AFPS 07 Feb 2014 -- The United States continues to plan for a post-2014 training and assistance mission in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today, despite the fact that Afghan President Hamid Karzai continues to delay the signing of an agreement that would allow for the new mission.
• 'Pakistani Taliban concerned how to save their skin in peace talks with gov't' - expert Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- The first round of peace talks between the Pakistani Taliban and the government has been held in Islamabad following numerous delays. That's according to Al Jazeera.
• Afghan govt. urges Taliban militants to lay down arms Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- Afghanistan's High Peace Council has called on Taliban to give up militant activities and join the government-led peace process in Afghanistan.
• Taliban Questions Pakistani Government Talk Conditions VOA 07 Feb 2014 -- A Taliban representative on Friday questioned a key term set out by the Pakistani government for negotiations with the militant group.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Balance Key to Fiscal 2015 Budget Reductions, Hagel Says AFPS 07 Feb 2014 -- Balance is the key to handling budget reductions for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Hagel in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 07 Feb 2014 -- BPresenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Readout of Secretary Hagel's Meeting With Japan Foreign Minister Kishida DoD 07 Feb 2014
• Congressional changes to UCMJ to come USMC News 07 Feb 2014 -- Congress made the biggest changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the past decade, Dec. 26, 2013, under the National Defense Authorization Act. These changes are scheduled to be implemented in throughout 2014 and the Marine Corps will begin to see some of the major changes that were made to Articles 32, 60, 120 and 125 in the coming months.
• USS Elrod Conducts Passing Exercise with Royal Moroccan Navy NNS 07 Feb 2014 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) and the Royal Moroccan Navy Sigma-class corvette Allal Ben Abellah (FMMM 615) conducted a series of at sea drills, Feb. 6.
• International Partners Finalize Plans for Obangame Express 2014 NNS 07 Feb 2014 -- Maritime professionals from West Africa, Europe, South America and the U.S. met to finalize plans for the fourth iteration of Obangame Express, Feb. 4-7.
• 'Great deal of symmetry' between AF, national commission recommendations AFNS 07 Feb 2014 -- The national commission which was created to examine how to modify the Air Force's structure to best fill current and future mission requirements, presented its recommendations during two public meetings on Capitol Hill here Jan. 30.
• China has ambitious plans to upgrade naval fleet: U.S. report CNA 07 Feb 2014 -- The Chinese navy has ambitious plans over the next 15 years to upgrade its fleet of surface ships as well as weapons systems, a U.S. Navy report said.
• China's submarines can nuke Hawaii Alaska: Report Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- The US Navy has expressed concerns in a new report over China's new submarines armed with nuclear missiles which are capable of hitting the US states of Alaska and Hawaii.
• First Salvo Launch of Russian-Indian Cruise Missiles From Ship Successful RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- The first ever test launch of an advanced Russian-Indian Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from a warship in salvo mode took place earlier this year and was successful, a Brahmos Aerospace spokesman said Thursday.
• First Indian MiG-29 Fighter Jet Lands on Vikramaditya RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- An Indian MiG-29 naval jet landed on a refitted former Soviet aircraft carrier Friday, marking the first such operation since the ship was delivered by Russia to the south Asian nation earlier this year.
• Russia to Begin Building 9 Submarines by Next Year RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- Russia will begin construction on nine submarines in the next two years, the head of the country's largest shipbuilder said Friday.
• February 7, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Feb 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 07, 2014
• Defexpo-2014: Russian-Indian defence ties Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- DEFEXPO-2014 is a land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition in New Delhi, yet it's impossible to avoid the discussion of aircraft production on t he fringes of the exhibition, especially because the Indian media have recently launched a campaign of criticism against one of the most ambitious joint Russian-Indian programmes, that of developing the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, or FGFA, a derivative project from the T-50 PAK FA Russian jet fighter.
• Kalashnikov Concern Estimates Operating Loss of $50M in 2013 RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- The operating loss of Russia's Kalashnikov gun maker last year is estimated at about 1.7 billion rubles ($50 million), the company's newly appointed general director said Friday.
• Kalashnikov Eyes Indian Partners for Weapons Production RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- Russia's Kalashnikov Concern is in talks with several Indian companies on setting up joint ventures to produce small arms and high-precision weaponry, a company official said Thursday.

Other Conflicts

• 7 February 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 07 Feb 2014
• Syria: first civilians evacuated from Homs after nearly two-year siege, UN reports UN News Centre 07 Feb 2014 -- As the first of 2,500 Syrians trapped by war in the Old City of Homs without aid for nearly two years were evacuated today under a three-day accord allowing people out and aid in, the United Nations called for immediate access to nearly 1.6 million others throughout the country who have been without regular food or medical supplies for many months.
• 1000s return home in southwest Syria after truce Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- Thousands of Syrians have returned home in southwestern Syria, after a ceasefire deal between the government and foreign-backed opposition, Press TV reports.
• Homs evacuation starts under UN supervision Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- Hundreds of civilians are being evacuated from militant-held areas of Syria's third largest city of Homs under a UN-supervised deal between the government and the foreign-backed opposition.
• UN to evacuate some 200 civilians of besieged Homs Friday, deliver aid Saturday Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- A promised aid delivery to besieged rebel-held areas of Homs will not take place until Saturday after an evacuation of civilians on Friday, the Syrian city's governor said.
• Old fault lines, new flashpoints in Iraq's Anbar IRIN 07 Feb 2014 -- In just over four weeks, more than 260,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Iraq's Anbar Province, creating a new humanitarian crisis in a country already straining to cope with an upsurge in sectarian killings.
• China slams Philippine leader remarks on disputed islands Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- A senior Chinese official has strongly denounced the Philippine President Benigno Aquino for his 'outrageous' comments against China.
• China: US Remarks About Territorial Claims are Irresponsible VOA 07 Feb 2014 -- China says that remarks made earlier this week by a U.S. top official about its maritime disputes are groundless and irresponsible. East Asia envoy Daniel Russel had raised concerns about China's assertive stance with its neighbors and questioned the legality of China's territorial claims.
• South Sudan: UN extends relief to displaced outside Malakal base for first time UN News Centre 07 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations has extended its relief operations in the South Sudanese town of Malakal, scene of some of the fiercest fighting between Government and opposition forces, moving outside its base where it is sheltering 28,000 civilians to reach 10,000 others driven from their homes.
• After Violence, Hunger Kills Hundreds in South Sudan VOA 07 Feb 2014 -- A county commissioner in South Sudan's Jonglei state has called for urgent help from international aid agencies after he received reports that villagers are dying of starvation in parts of the county.
• UN agency warns thousands fleeing sectarian violence in Central African Republic UN News Centre 07 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations refugee agency warned today that the violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has sent thousands of people streaming into neighbouring countries, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced plans to open a preliminary investigation into alleged war crimes being committed amid the ongoing sectarian bloodshed.
• Why Sri Lankan children in north drop out IRIN 07 Feb 2014 -- Sri Lankan authorities have expressed concern over an increasing number of reports that children are dropping out of school in the conflict-affected north, where economic pressure and poor prospects are creating conditions that could have negative consequences for the future development of the region.

News Reports

• Ukraine: UN chief highlights need for dialogue, peaceful resolution of political crisis UN News Centre 07 Feb 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated the urgency of ending the political crisis in Ukraine through dialogue and the need to prevent further violence, as he met with the country's President ahead of the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
• Oleg Tyagnybok: neo-nazist, anti-Semite and one of the Maidan leaders Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- Out of all the extremist nationalists on the Maidan square, Oleg Tyagnybok is probably the most noticeable one. There are several reasons for that. First. He is the official leader of the legalized neo-Nazi party Svoboda (Freedom), which has a parliamentary faction in the Ukrainian parliament. Second, he is one of the "troika" or the Big Three of Maidan's leaders.
• Brussels, Kyiv, Moscow React To Leaked Nuland Phone Call RFE/RL 07 Feb 2014 -- The United States has apologized for the content of a leaked telephone call in which U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland apparently uses strong language to dismiss EU involvement in Ukraine and doubts opposition leader Vitali Klitschko's ability to occupy a senior government post.
• Yanukovych In Sochi To Meet Putin; U.S. Apologizes To EU Over Leaked Call RFE/RL 07 Feb 2014 -- The United States has apologized for the content of a leaked telephone call in which U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland apparently uses strong language to dismiss EU involvement in Ukraine and doubts opposition leader Vitali Klitschko's ability to occupy a senior government post.
• Nuland Denies U.S. Training Ukraine Militants, Suggests Aid Possible RFE/RL 07 Feb 2014 -- A senior U.S. diplomat has denied Russian claims that Ukrainian antigovernment militants are trained at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
• US Accuses Russia of Leaking Diplomat Conversation on Ukraine RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- Washington has accused Russia of being behind the leak of an intercepted telephone call between top US diplomats discussing the unfolding political crisis in Ukraine and using foul language to disparage the EU.
• Nuland Refuses to Comment on Alleged EU Statement VOA 07 Feb 2014 -- U.S. diplomat Victoria Nuland refused to comment Friday on the leak of an apparently bugged private phone conversation in which the speaker makes a disparaging remark about the European Union.
• US's Nuland apologizes for 'f..k EU' comment in conversation on Ukrainian opposition Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- Spokesperson for the US Department of State Jen Psaki has stated that Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland had apologized to her European counterparts for a rude statement in their address issued in the course of a conversation with the US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt.
• European Commission not to slap sanctions on Ukraine Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- The European Union's position on Ukraine is unchanged - no sanctions against the country or individual Ukrainian officials are up for discussion at the upcoming EU ministerial session, scheduled for February 10, according to the official spokeswoman for the European Commission Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen.
• Kim Jong Un's Letter to Participants in National Conference of Subworkteam Leaders in Agricultural Sector KCNA 07 Feb 2014 -- Supreme leader Kim Jong Un sent a letter 'Let Us Bring About Innovations in Agricultural Production under the Unfurled Banner of the Socialist Rural Theses' to the Participants in the National Conference of Subworkteam Leaders in the Agricultural Sector on Feb. 6, Juche 103 (2014).
• Meetings of Electorate Nominate Kim Jong Un as Candidate for Deputy to SPA KCNA 07 Feb 2014 -- Meetings of electorate took place at all constituencies across the country to nominate supreme leader Kim Jong Un as a candidate for deputy to the 13th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) of the DPRK.
• Russia Gives N. Korea Grain Supplies, Expects No Nuclear Test RIA Novosti 07 Feb 2014 -- Russia says it will provide North Korea with 50 tons of grain this year as humanitarian assistance.
• South Korea team arrives in North over reunions Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- A team of South Korean officials has arrived in the North in preparation for the planned reunion of separated families, a report says.
• Iran ready to address all IAEA concerns: official IRNA 07 Feb 2014 -- Iran is ready to answer all questions raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its peaceful nuclear activities, said the spokesman of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Behrouz Kamalvandi on Friday.
• Iran official rejects Sherman's 'worthless' remarks Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- A close aide to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has dismissed as "interventionist and worthless" remarks by a US negotiator about Iran's nuclear facilities.
• Iran slams latest US sanctions against companies, individuals Iran Press TV 07 Feb 2014 -- Iran has condemned the latest US sanctions against nearly three dozen companies and individuals for business with Iran in the run-up to the upcoming nuclear talks.
• China reports 314 confirmed H7N9 avian flu cases CNA 07 Feb 2014 -- The number of confirmed human cases of H7N9 avian influenza in China and Hong Kong has reached 314 since an outbreak on the mainland began last March, with 80 percent of the cases involving contact with poultry or wild birds, a Taiwanese health official said Friday, citing a report by Chinese health experts.
• EU Members Press For 'European Package' For Eastern Partners RFE/RL 07 Feb 2014 -- Thirteen European Union states have sketched out a prescription for the bloc's Eastern Partnership program that includes a 'European Package' to go beyond the current prize of association agreements for EU neighbors.
• Bosnia protests: more than 150 injured, presidential office on fire Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- More than 150 people were wounded in clashes between police and protestors in Bosnia on Friday as anger over the country's struggling economy boiled over. Hospitals in Sarajevo said over 100 people had been injured during clashes there, while there were reports of 50 people wounded in the central town of Zenica and another 11 in the northeastern city of Tuzla.
• Egyptian General al-Sisi to become presidential candidate? Voice of Russia 07 Feb 2014 -- Egyptian army said on Thursday that Kuwaiti newspaper misinterpreted remarks by Field Marshal Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in which he said that he would run for president.