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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 21 Apr 2014 [PDF]
• US drone strikes kill about 50 in south Yemen Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- The death toll from three days of air strikes carried out by US drones in southern Yemen has reached almost 50, reports say.
• US drone strikes in Yemen kill 40 Al Qaeda militans VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- An 'unprecedented' US and Yemeni aerial campaign on the weekend in Yemen has killed more than 40 al-Qaeda militants in a bid to thwart attacks by the network's local affiliate, officials said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama to Begin Fifth Trip to Asia-Pacific Region AFPS 21 Apr 2014 -- President Barack Obama will begin his fifth visit to the Asia-Pacific region April 23 -- a six-day trip that includes stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines -- to underscore his administration's continued focus on the world's largest emerging region.
• Three challenges for the Obama administration's Asia pivot People's Daily 21 Apr 2014 -- To fulfill its commitments, to reassure its skeptical allies, and to address China properly.
• US 7th Fleet Weather Specialists Contribute to Pacific Humanitarian Assistance Efforts NNS 21 Apr 2014 -- U.S. 7th Fleet weather specialists, called aerographer's mates (AG), are providing critical support to 7th Fleet's MH370 search and rescue operations March and April 2014.
• Department of Defense Announces Winners of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards DoD 21 Apr 2014 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the winners of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. Each year, since 1962, the department has honored individuals, teams, and installations for their outstanding achievements in environmental performance.
• Media Availability with Secretary Hagel at the DoD Safe Helpline, Washington, DC DoD 21 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Remarks by Secretary Hagel to DoD Safe Help Line and Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Staff, Washington DC DoD 21 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Mobility matters for MALS-31 USMC News 21 Apr 2014 -- The low-lying swamps and mountainous jungles of Vietnam made providing aircraft maintenance for forward deployed aircraft and Marines a struggle in the 1950s and 1960s.
• USS Somerset Arrives in San Diego NNS 21 Apr 2014 -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego, April 21.
• US Marines, sailors to conduct training in Nigeria USMC News 21 Apr 2014 -- Approximately 20 Marines and sailors from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 will travel in April to Nigeria to conduct a theater security cooperation mission designed to improve the military capacity of our African partners and better enable them to prevent conflict and increase regional security.
• USS Taylor Finishes Repairs, Returns to Fleet NNS 21 Apr 2014 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), homeported in Mayport, Fla., successfully completed post-repair sea trials, April 21.
• U.S., Saudi troops build teamwork, friendship during mil-to-mil exercise Army News 21 Apr 2014 -- For the third time in five years, U.S. Forces conducted a joint exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of Friendship and Ironhawk three at the Tactical Training Center in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, April 1-16.
• Fifth generation Army tank cartridge reports loudly for duty Army News 21 Apr 2014 -- The U.S. Army fired the first of a new fifth-generation tank cartridge, the M829E4, from an Abrams tank at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Friday, as part of a series of critical trials preceding the cartridge's entry into the Army's inventory.
• Report Reveals Shocking Safety Failures at UK's Nuclear Weapons Facilities RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- An internal UK Ministry of Defense report has revealed there have been over 260 nuclear safety incidents at its naval facilities in western Scotland over the past five years.
• Report reveals shocking safety failures at UK's nuclear weapons facilities VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- An internal UK Ministry of Defense report has revealed there have been over 260 nuclear safety incidents at its naval facilities in western Scotland over the past five years. The report worryingly details a series of 'false alarms and system failuresa' related to the computer systems that monitor nuclear warheads. The document also states that a problem with a lightning protection system located at an explosives depot at the Faslane nuclear base remains unresolved.
• NATO's task is to drive wedge between Russia and its allies - deputy DM VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- Russia could not build an equal partnership and mutually advantageous cooperation with NATO, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
• Russia Returns 13 out of 70 Navy Ships in Crimea to Ukraine RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Russia has hauled back to Ukraine 13 out of 70 warships and support vessels of the country’s navy that were stationed in Crimea, a local official told RIA Novosti Monday.
• Russia, Belarus to Conduct Joint Aircraft and Air Defense Exercises RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- More than 150 representatives of the Russian Air Force and their colleagues from Belarus will meet this week to discuss joint exercises and test the integration of the countries’ air forces and air defense systems, a spokesman for the Russian military said Monday.
• Russian Military Flights Pose No Threat to Japanese Security – Moscow RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Russian military flights near the border of Japan do not threaten the country’s security, Deputy Minister of Defense Anatoly Antonov told reporters Monday.
• PLA senior generals reaffirm support for Xi People's Daily 21 Apr 2014 -- BEIJING -- High-ranking People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers have again voiced support for President Xi Jinping's instruction to build a strong military, the second time this month they have voiced group approval.
• Iran Navy 29th fleet docks at Oman's Muscat Port Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- Iran's 29th naval fleet of war vessels has docked at the Omani port of Muscat to convey the message of peace to the sultanate.
• April 21, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Apr 2014
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Jay Carney, 4/21/14 The White House 21 Apr 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 21, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 21 April 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 Apr 2014
• Rebels killed hundreds of civilians in S Sudan: UN Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- The United Nations has accused rebels in South Sudan of killing hundreds of civilians in the oil-rich state of Unity last week.
• UN mission in South Sudan condemns ethnic killings in Bentiu UN News Centre 21 Apr 2014 -- Opposition forces in South Sudan killed "hundreds of South Sudanese and foreign civilians" after determining their ethnicity or nationality when they captured Bentiu last week, the United Nations confirmed today, calling for an immediate stop to the targeting of "innocent, unarmed" civilians.
• UN: Rebels Massacred 'Hundreds' of Civilians in South Sudan VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan says rebels killed "hundreds" of civilians in ethnically-motivated attacks when they captured the town of Bentiu last week.
• UN Accuses South Sudan Opposition Forces of Atrocities in Bentiu VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan on Monday accused opposition forces in Bentiu of carrying out targeted killings, including of children, and committing 'vengeful sexual violence' against women after they captured the town last week from government troops.
• UN cautions Syria against holding presidential election amidst ongoing 'tragedy’ UN News Centre 21 Apr 2014 -- Urging Syrian authorities to reconsider plans to conduct a presidential election in early June, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Joint UN-League of Arab States Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi today pledged to continue to seek and build on any opportunity to resolve the country’s three-year civil war.
• US Investigating Possible Chemical Attack in Syria VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- The United States says it has indications that toxic chemicals were released in a rebel area in Syria this month.
• Syria starts registration of presidential hopefuls Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- People's Assembly of Syria has called on candidates to register for the country's upcoming presidential elections.
• Syria to hold presidential elections on June 3 - parliament speaker VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- Syria is set to hold presidential elections on June 3, despite a raging civil war that has killed more than 150,000 people, the country's parliamentary speaker said on Monday.

News Reports

• FACT SHEET: U.S. Crisis Support Package for Ukraine The White House 21 Apr 2014
• Federalists Rally by Administration Building in Ukraine’s Donetsk RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Hundreds of pro-federalization activists were rallying Monday outside the regional administration building in Donetsk, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
• Slaviansk Shootout Only Beneficial for Ukrainian Extremists – Lavrov RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- A deadly militant attack on a checkpoint in Ukraine's Slaviansk on Easter Sunday is a crime that only benefitted those who seek to violate the Geneva agreement arrived at last Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference Monday.
• Russia Says Kiev Fails to Follow Through on Geneva Accords RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Authorities in Kiev continue to arrest activists in Ukraine's southeastern regions and violate the rights of journalists instead of implementing the amnesty agreed upon during a summit in Geneva last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• US Pics of Gunmen in East Ukraine Allege Involvement of Russian Troops RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- The US government unveiled photos of unidentified uniformed gunmen in eastern Ukraine on Sunday that it alleges suggest the involvement of Russian military and intelligence forces in regions where pro-federalization protests are raging, The New York Times reported.
• Kerry Urges Russia to Help Implement Ukraine Agreement VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Russia on Monday to meet Ukraine halfway in trying to implement an agreement to defuse the crisis in the former Soviet republic.
• Background Press Briefing on Vice President Biden's Trip to Ukraine The White House 21 Apr 2014
• Putin Signs Rehabilitation Act for Crimean Ethnic Minorities RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the rehabilitation of ethnic minorities who suffered during the repression of the Stalin era.
• Russia in Difficult Spot Amid Calls to Intervene in Ukraine – Lavrov RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Calls by local leaders for Moscow to intervene in the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine have put Russia in a very difficult position, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• Putin Signs Law to Ease Russian Citizenship for Former USSR Residents RIA Novosti 21 Apr 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that would relax requirements for obtaining Russian citizenship for those who are fluent in Russian and live or have lived in the Soviet Union or the Russian Empire within the present borders of the Russian Federation.
• Biden in Kyiv for Talks With Ukraine Leaders VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is in Ukraine for talks with the acting president and prime minister as the situation in the country's east remains tense despite a deal reached last week in Geneva aimed at easing the crisis.
• Ukraine Economy Battered by Political Turmoil VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- Squeezed by the current political unrest, Ukraine's economy is deteriorating rapidly and Ukrainians are bracing for more hardship as the country's new leaders fear a backlash over the introduction of austerity measures.
• Ukraine's National Guard nothing but 'soap bubble' – Berkut veteran VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine's former Berkut riot policemen have reacted skeptically to the authorities' invitation to return service two months after Berkut was officially dissolved by acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. 'They are now creating the National Guard and some other unclear units manned by children and the elderly, absolutely untrained. It's nothing but a 'soap bubble',' Vladimir Krashevsky, head of the Berkut Veterans' Association, told reporters.
• Biden arrives in Kiev amid tensions Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- US Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Kiev to highlight Washington's support for Ukraine amid growing tensions with Russia.
• Ukraine grossly violating Geneva deal: Russia FM Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- Russia has accused Ukraine of violating the Geneva deal signed recently in an attempt to ease tensions in the crisis-hit Eastern European country.
• U.S. Vice President Biden Starts Visit To Ukraine RFE/RL 21 Apr 2014 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Kyiv to start a visit in which he is expected to hold talks with the Ukrainian leadership.
• Russia eases citizenship rules for ex-Soviet residents Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin has signed a law making it easier for Russian-speaking residents of former Soviet states to acquire Russian citizenship.
• Spokesman for DPRK FM Lays Bare Reactionary, Dangerous Nature of Obama's Asian Junket KCNA 21 Apr 2014 -- The spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued the following statement on Monday:
• Kim Jong Un Visits Songdowon International Children's Camp KCNA 21 Apr 2014 -- Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, visited the Songdowon International Children's Camp where its remodeling project is near completion.
• South Korea: North Believed to be Preparing for 4th Nuclear Test VOA 21 Apr 2014 -- Speculation is growing that North Korea is planning to conduct an underground nuclear test to coincide with President Obama's visit to the peninsula this week.
• Iran confirms nuclear agency reshuffle to give way for P5+1 talks VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- President Hassan Rouhani's government confirmed rumors on Monday it had reshuffled the leadership of Iran’s atomic agency to sideline nuclear experts opposed to talks on its atomic program with the West.
• Israel attempts to deceive world on Iran: AEOI Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has rejected as baseless a report by an Israeli website about Iran's Parchin military site, saying the new claim is merely aimed at "deceiving the world."
• Iran determined to continue nuclear talks - Iran's official VoR 21 Apr 2014 -- The negotiations on the Iranian nuclear dossier are entering the phase of preparation for a comprehensive agreement on the problem solution, rapporteur of Iran parliament's Commission on National Security and Foreign Affairs Hossein Naqavi Hosseini was quoted by the IRNA news agency on Monday.
• Army Commander: G 5+1 should be committed to its obligations IRNA 21 Apr 2014 -- An Army commander said that if Group 5+1 is not committed to its obligations, Iran has no insistence on continuation of nuclear talks and will access other nuclear products in a short period of time.
• Iran builds space suit for suborbital missions IRNA 21 Apr 2014 -- A group of Iranian researchers have designed and built a laboratory space suit for suborbital missions.
• Drive to eliminate arms race in outer space People's Daily 21 Apr 2014 -- China published its first space status report on Thursday April 17, elaborating the current situation and future trends in its international space activities.
• 12 new cases of MERS infections found in UAE Iran Press TV 21 Apr 2014 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) says that 12 new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections have been found in the Persian Gulf country.