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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Afghan Vote Counting Under Way In Presidential Poll RFE/RL 05 Apr 2014 -- Ballot boxes from Afghanistan's 34 provinces are being transferred to the capital Kabul for final counting in the wake of the country's presidential election on April 5.
• Hagel Commends Afghans, ISAF for Presidential Election AFPS 05 Apr 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued a statement praising the millions of Afghans who voted today for their next president.
• Statement by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Afghan Elections DoD 05 Apr 2014
• Relief Follows Afghanistan's Mostly Peaceful Landmark Vote VOA 05 Apr 2014 -- Relief followed Afghanistan's historic presidential election Saturday, which was marked by high voter turnout and attacks by Taliban militants that were fewer than feared.
• Karzai, Western Leaders Praise Historic Afghan Presidential Election RFE/RL 05 Apr 2014 -- Outgoing President Hamid Karzai and Western leaders have praised Afghans for embracing democracy following a largely peaceful first round of voting for president and local offices that featured a high voter turnout.
• Turnout High, Ballot Papers Low In Afghan Election RFE/RL 05 Apr 2014 -- Afghan voters braved heavy rains, long lines, and the threat of Taliban attacks to cast ballots in what appears unprecedented numbers in the April 5 presidential election.
• UN envoy congratulates Afghan voters for taking part in 'historic' elections UN News Centre 05 Apr 2014 -- As voters across Afghanistan braved inclement weather and security threats to cast their ballots in Saturday's presidential and provincial council elections, the top United Nations official there congratulated them for participating in this "historic moment" for the country.
• Chairman, ISAF Chief Salute Afghans for Securing Elections AFPS 05 Apr 2014 -- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, and Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the commander of the International Security Assistance Force, congratulated the people of Afghanistan on their historic election today, and also saluted the Afghan security forces for their efforts to make the elections happen.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe DoD 05 Apr 2014
• Media Availability with Secretary Hagel En Route to Japan DoD 05 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Remarks by Secretary Hagel at a Troop Event at Yokota Air Base, Japan DoD 05 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Hagel: U.S.-Japan Partnership Critical to Regional Security AFPS 05 Apr 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel landed in Japan today as part of his fourth official trip to the Asia-Pacific region to reassure the nation's leaders that the U.S.-Japan relationship is one of America's strongest partnerships, friendships and treaty relationships.
• Hagel Discusses U.S.-Japan Defense Relations in Interview AFPS 05 Apr 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed the defense relationship between the United States and Japan, the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, U.S. and partner-nation efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, and other issues during his question-and-answer interview with The Nikkei newspaper.
• Hagel: US committed to protecting Japan Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the United States is strongly committed to protecting Japan's security amid territorial disputes with neighbors.
• Purpose of S. Korea's Delayed Opening to Public of Missile Test-fire Laid Bare KCNA 05 Apr 2014 -- The south Korean puppet forces conducted a ballistic missile test-fire in secrecy at the Anhung firing range in Thaean, South Chungchong Province on Mar. 23 and opened it to public more than ten days later.
• US, ROK Forces Wrap Up Exercise Ssang Yong 2014 NNS 05 Apr 2014 -- Sailors and Marines from Expeditionary Strike Group Seven (ESG 7) and the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3d MEB), along with their counterparts from the Republic of Korea (ROK), wrapped up exercise Ssang Yong 2014, April 5.
• USS Coronado Commissioned in Namesake City NNS 05 Apr 2014 -- More than 4,000 guests watched as the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) joined the Navy's surface fleet during a commissioning ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif., April 5.
• Test Pilot School team proves how 'a dummy' can save money AFNS 05 Apr 2014 -- In an Air Force setting that is locked on being financially-conscious and proactive under the current financial challenges, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, at the request of the 418th Flight Test Squadron here, is working with the squadron through the implementation of the school's Test Management Project, or TMP, to come up with a more cost-effective way of conducting dummy drop parachute testing for the Air Force.
• Robocopter: New Technology Brings New Capabilities to the Marine Corps NNS 05 Apr 2014 -- Autonomy options for the Marines have taken a major step forward, as officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today two successful helicopter flight demonstrations with unmanned flight capability at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., part of the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) program.
• US 375-pound military drone crashes near elementary school in Pennsylvania VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- Military officials say an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, crashed near a central Pennsylvania school and a hotel. Mass media identified the 375-pound drone as a RQ-7 Shadow, operated by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. A military official called Wednesday afternoon's incident a hard landing, but the drone was apparently run over by a car.
• Japan ready to shoot down North Korean missiles Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- Japan has ordered a warship in the Sea of Japan to shoot down any ballistic missiles that may be launched by North Korea in the coming weeks, official sources say.
• Japan orders to shoot down any new N Korea ballistic missile launches VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- Japan has ordered a destroyer in the Sea of Japan to strike any ballistic missiles that may be launched by North Koreain the coming weeks after Pyongyang fired a Rodong medium-range missile over the sea, a government source said on Saturday.
• Iran, Pakistan to hold joint naval drills in Hormuz Strait Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- A Pakistani fleet of warships has docked at the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas to hold a joint naval drill with Iran in the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, a senior Iranian commander says.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Militants fire mortar shells at Syrian capital Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- Foreign-backed militants in Syria have fired mortar shells at several areas in the capital, Damascus, with one landing near the Russian Embassy, reports say.
• Al-Qaida Chief Calls for End to Rebel Infighting in Syria VOA 05 Apr 2014 -- Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri is calling on Islamist rebels in Syria to end the infighting that killed his chief representative in the civil war-torn country.
• Coast guard to increase patrols against illegal Chinese scavenging CNA 05 Apr 2014 -- Taiwan's coast guard is planning to step up patrols in artificial reef sites following reports of Chinese vessels damaging ecological areas by scavenging wreckage from Taiwanese waters, the Council of Agriculture said Saturday.
• UN claims over C. Africa killings defamatory: Chad Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- Chad has strongly slammed the United Nations for holding its troops responsible for the unprovoked killing of civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR).
• UN chief visits CAR, warns against genocide Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the leaders of the Central African Republic (CAR) to prevent a new genocide in the continent similar to the one in Rwanda 20 years ago.
• UN chief uses Central African Republic visit to spotlight ongoing crisis, urge end to violence UN News Centre 05 Apr 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) on Saturday to focus the world's attention on a crisis that has been marked by widespread atrocities and suffering, and to call on the country's citizens to heed the lessons of neighbouring Rwanda and stop the violence.
• Army, Boko Haram Working Together in Parts of Nigeria? VOA 05 Apr 2014 -- A Nigerian soldier says he has witnessed incidents that suggest some Nigerian military commanders are working with Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group blamed for thousands of deaths since 2009.
• Israel's chief negotiator calls for direct talks with Palestinians VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- Israel's chief negotiator called on Saturday for direct talks with the Palestinians, as attempts continue to prevent the collapse of peace negotiations. Tzipi Livni's remarks came on the eve of a three-way meeting with her Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erakat and US envoy Martin Indyk, officials close to the talks said. Indyk met the two separately Friday.

News Reports

• Ukraine Arrests 15 In Alleged Eastern Overthrow Plot RFE/RL 05 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine says it has detained 15 people on suspicion of plotting to overthrow authorities in a mostly Russian-speaking eastern region.
• Crimea's Russia integration to continue: Official Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- The process of Crimea's integration into Russia will continue as scheduled, the chairman of Crimea's State Council (parliament) says.
• Ukraine To Sue Russia Over Gas Price Hike RFE/RL 05 Apr 2014 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of 'economic aggression' and threatened to sue Russia over recent price hikes for natural-gas supplies.
• Analysis: Putin's Next Move VOA 05 Apr 2014 -- With Russian troops amassed on the Ukraine border, some observers are worrying about what is being called a "post-Crimea crisis."
• N Korea draws 'red line' against US ambition for 'regime change' in Pyongyang VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is blaming the United States for heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea said it was drawing a 'red line,' warning Washington not to cross it in its bid for 'regime change' in Pyongyang.
• Boeing gets US license to sell plane parts to Iran IRNA 05 Apr 2014 -- A Boeing spokesman said that the aerospace giant has been granted permission by the US Treasury Department to sell plane parts to Iran following the nuclear deal between Tehran and six major world powers.
• US expects drafting of Iran final nuclear deal to begin in May ISNA 05 Apr 2014 -- The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany and Iran are on pace to start drafting the text of a comprehensive Iran nuclear accord in May, with the aim of a reaching a final agreement by the July 20th expiration of the six month interim deal, a senior US official said ahead of the third round of final deal talks in Vienna next week.
• Iran-Sextet nuclear talks beneficial: Negotiator Iran Press TV 05 Apr 2014 -- The head of Iran's negotiating team involved in expert-level talks with six major world powers has described the latest round of nuclear negotiations as "beneficial."
• Boeing, GE to export aircraft parts to Iran first time since 1970s VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- The American multinational corporation Boeing Co that is the world's biggest airplane maker and engine maker General Electric Co said on Friday that their companies had received licenses from the US Treasury Department to export certain spare parts for commercial aircraft to Iran under a temporary sanctions relief deal that began in January. Iran could require between 250 and 400 jets if sanctions are lifted completely.
• NSA investigation committee begins its work in Germany VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- Germany has officially started hearings on NSA spying case. A special investigation committee began its work today and instantly couldn't agree on the role of Edward Snowden in this process. Deutsche Welle has published an article disclosing the details of the first day of the investigation committee work. Clemens Binninger, who is the leader of the project claims that any attempts to reach the US side were left unsuccessful. The German government has also sent a question catalogue to the US officials, which was left unanswered as well.
• Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against Obama administration over drone-strike killings of US citizens VoR 05 Apr 2014 -- A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit against Obama administration officials for the 2011 drone-strike killings of three US citizens in Yemen, including an al-Qaeda cleric.
• Thailand Government Backers Rally for Show of Support VOA 05 Apr 2014 -- Supporters of Thailand's caretaker prime minister have begun a three-day rally on the outskirts of the capital. The turnout will be a key indicator of the level of popular support for the beleaguered government, which has been the target of demonstrations for months.