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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 25 Apr 2014 [PDF]

Defense Policy / Programs

• SecAF visits Altus AFB, discusses priorities, future AFNS 25 Apr 2014 -- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James visited here April 23, to get a firsthand look at the wing's mission, visit with Airmen and civic leaders, and learn the unique capabilities, key initiatives and attributes of Altus AFB.
• Media Availability with Secretary Hagel En Route Guatemala DoD 25 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Boxer ARG, 13th MEU Return from Deployment NNS 25 Apr 2014 -- More than 4,500 Sailors and Marines of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed an eight-month deployment April 25 when the ships arrived at Naval Base San Diego.
• 95th Fighter Squadron declares initial operational capability AFNS 25 Apr 2014 -- The 95th Fighter Squadron here took another step toward an increased ability to protect global airpower, unit officials said.
• DOD Announces Start of Civil Navigation Message Broadcasting DoD 25 Apr 201 4-- The Department of Defense announced that U.S. Air Force Space Command will begin broadcasting Civil Navigation (CNAV) messages on all operational GPS satellites capable of transmitting the L2C and L5 signals. L2C and L5 are the first of several new civil capabilities being added to GPS as part of the GPS modernization program announced in 1999. The L2C signal is designed to meet commercial needs and L5 meets safety-of-life transportation requirements.
• US troops land in Latvia amid tensions over Ukraine crisis Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Some 150 American troops arrived in Latvia on Friday as part of a bigger contingent of US forces sent to the Baltic states amid rising tensions between Russia and the West over the crisis in Ukraine.
• F-16s train alongside F-35s AFNS 25 Apr 2014 -- F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from Hill Air Force Base's 419th and 388th Fighter Wings took to the sky here April 24 for their first training missions alongside the F-35A Lightning II, the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft.
• Dyess AFB receives first C-130J simulator AFNS 25 Apr 2014 -- The 317th Airlift Group held a dedication ceremony for a new C-130J Super Hercules simulator here April 22, 2014.
• Hagel Urges Trilateral Work for Threat Assessment, Cybersecurity AFPS 25 Apr 2014 -- At the second North American Defense Ministerial, with his counterparts from Canada and Mexico, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged a quick start to trilateral work on continental threat assessment and cybersecurity, and closer work among the three nations on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• DoD Releases 2012 Annual Report on Suicide DoD 25 Apr 2014 -- Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) released its 2012 calendar year DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER), which details the number of suicide attempts and deaths for U.S. service members.
• ACU 5 Returns to Camp Pendleton NNS 25 Apr 2014 -- Family members and friends eagerly waited to catch a glimpse of their Sailors coming home on the incoming Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCAC), assigned to the Assault Craft Unit (ACU 5), during a homecoming ceremony, April 24.
• ACU 1 Personnel Return from Boxer ARG Deployment NNS 25 Apr 2014 -- A group of Sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit One (ACU 1) returned to their families on board Naval Base Coronado April 24 following an eight-month deployment as part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
• Ecuador Expels US Embassy Military Group RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Twenty US Defense Department employees serving in the US embassy in Ecuador have been ordered to leave the country by the end of the month, the Associated Press reported Friday.
• Restoring Mali's military pride UK MOD 25 Apr 2014 -- French General Bruno Guibert talks about the importance of the ongoing EU Training Mission in Mali and the progress being made there.
• Russia to Draft Black Sea Fleet Development Program by June RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed senior officials to work out a development plan for the country's Black Sea Fleet by June, the Kremlin's press service said Friday.
• Russian Arms Plan to Focus on Smart Weaponry – Official RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Russia's arms procurement program for 2016-2025 will focus on smart weaponry, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Friday.
• Apache helicopter crashes during training, injuring two CNA 25 Apr 2014 -- A recently delivered U.S.-made AH-64E Apache helicopter belonging to the Army crashed into a residential building in Taoyuan County Friday.
• Army says Apache co-pilot only injury in crash landing CNA 25 Apr 2014 -- The co-pilot of one of Taiwan's new AH-64E Apache helicopters was the only one injured when the attack helicopter crashed into a residential building in Taoyuan County Friday morning during flight training, the Army said.
• Apache helicopters grounded after crash CNA 25 Apr 2014 -- The Army grounded its fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters Friday, Lt. Gen. Wang Hsing-wei, deputy Army commander, said after one of the aircraft crashed into a residential building during training earlier in the day, injuring its co-pilot.
• Army probing cause of Apache helicopter crash CNA 25 Apr 2014 -- The Army is investigating what caused an Apache helicopter to crash into a residential building in Taoyuan County earlier Friday, and has not ruled out human error, weather conditions or mechanical failure, it said.
• Taiwan pilots hurt as Apache chopper crash-lands on building VoR 25 Apr 2014 -- Two Taiwanese pilots were injured on Friday when their Apache attack helicopter crash-landed on a building in northern Taiwan during a routine training mission, the military said, according to AFP.
• PLA navy holds 1st multinational drill People's Daily 25 Apr 2014 -- China and seven foreign countries on Wednesday held a multinational maritime exercise marking the 65th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army navy (PLA navy) in East China's port city of Qingdao.
• Press Gaggle by Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes Aboard Air Force One En Route Seoul, Republic of Korea The White House 25 Apr 2014
• Press Conference with President Obama and President Park of the Republic of Korea The White House 25 Apr 2014
• Background Briefing aboard Air Force One en route Seoul, Republic of Korea The White House 25 Apr 2014
• April 25, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 25 Apr 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 25, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 25 April 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 25 Apr 2014
• Conflict-related sexual violence 'destructive as any bomb or bullet,' Security Council told UN News Centre 25 Apr 2014 -- Despite the current unprecedented political will to eliminate sexual violence in conflict, hold perpetrators to account and support victims, the reality is that raping a woman, child or man is still a largely "cost-free" crime, United Nations officials warned today, appealing to all States to strengthen their cooperation to end impunity and protect the vulnerable.
• Syria militants suffers heavy losses across Aleppo Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Syrian army forces have managed to kill a number of foreign-backed militants in operations across the northern province of Aleppo, Syrian national media report.
• Syria army retakes parts of town in Hama suburbs Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Syrian forces have managed to retake control of parts of a town in Syria's west-central Hama Province as the army continues to make more gains in the fight against Takfiri militants.
• US heavy weapons in hands of Syria militants: Report Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- New evidence suggests that the United States may be secretly giving American-made "heavy weapons" to militant groups fighting against the Syrian government, according to a new report.
• Russia Dismisses Claims of Syrian Army Poison Gas Attack RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Russia has reliable information that accusations the Syrian army recently used poison gas are false, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
• Information confirming Damascus using chemical gas is false – Russian Foreign Ministry VoR 25 Apr 2014 -- Moscow has reliable information rendering confirmation of Damascus allegedly using poisonous gas as false, Russia Foreign Ministry states, RIA reports. Accusations that the Syrian Army allegedly used poisonous chemical gases continue to be fabricated. According to reliable information, the Russian side has, such allegations are false, the Ministry said.
• South Sudan children in the firing line IRIN 25 Apr 2014 -- The conflict in South Sudan is taking a heavy toll on children who are being killed or injured in attacks and recruited into armed groups. They are also witnessing traumatic events and missing out on school. For the youngest malnutrition is an ever-present threat.
• Iraqi Elections Coming Amid Surge of Violence VOA 25 Apr 2014 -- On April 30, Iraq will hold its first national election since U.S. military forces withdrew from the country in 2011. The voting will take place amid a surge of bloody violence and sectarian strife that has claimed thousands of lives.

News Reports

• Ukraine Says Separatists Seize OSCE Verification Team RFE/RL 25 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine's Interior Ministry says armed pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slovyansk have seized a group of international representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
• Ukraine: Ban urges diplomatic solution to crisis; International Criminal Court opens probe UN News Centre 25 Apr 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, warning that the situation could "spin out of control quickly," while the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that is opening a preliminary probe into alleged crimes of humanity committed in the country.
• US Condemns Abduction of OSCE Team in Ukraine VOA 25 Apr 2014 -- The U.S. State Department is condemning the reported abduction of an international observer team and its Ukrainian escorts by armed gunmen in the town of Slovyansk.
• Ukraine Pro-Russian Separatists Say They've Detained International Observers VOA 25 Apr 2014 -- Pro-Russian separatists say they've detained a group of international observers after finding a Ukrainian spy traveling with them.
• Ukraine Anti-Terrorist Unit Faces Frustrations in Restoring Order VOA 25 Apr 2014 -- For the commander of Ukrainian anti-terrorist units dispatched to this town in the country's restive east, the challenge facing her is rapidly becoming frustrating. She is expected to restore order to the town without engaging Moscow-backed pro-Russian militants – an action that could provoke Russia to follow through on threats to intervene to protect separatists.
• Ukrainian Right Sector urges Kiev to arm citizens VoR 25 Apr 2014 -- Dmitry Yarosh, the leader of the far-right Right Sector party, urged the new Kiev authorities to begin immediate mass armament of Ukrainian citizens.
• Hagel Waits to Hear From Russian Counterparts AFPS 25 Apr 2014 -- Defense Department officials are still waiting to hear back from their Russian counterparts after reaching out to them via phone yesterday to discuss tensions in Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said today.
• Ukraine PM accuses Russia of seeking WWIII Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of seeking to trigger a "Third World War."
• Ukraine says ready to fight Russia Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine acting foreign minister says Kiev is ready to fight Russian troops if Moscow deploys forces to the country.
• Kiev launches 2nd phase of military op in east Ukraine Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine has launched the second phase of an operation to drive out pro-Russia activists from the country's eastern cities.
• Ukraine army helicopter exploded at Kramatorsk airfield Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- A Ukrainian military helicopter has exploded at an airfield near the eastern city of Kramatorsk after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, Ukraine's Defense Ministry says.
• Lavrov: Kiev's operation in east 'bloody crime' Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has slammed Kiev's security operation in eastern Ukraine, calling it a "bloody crime."
• Ukraine's PM Says Russia Aims At Starting World War III RFE/RL 25 Apr 2014 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk has accused Moscow of seeking to start World War III with its 'aggressive' actions in Ukraine.
• Ukraine's Invisible Election RFE/RL 25 Apr 2014 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said this week that Ukraine's presidential election may be the most important in the country's history.
• Putin Condemns Kiev's Use of Force Against Civilians RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Kiev authorities' attempts to use their army against civilians in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Kremlin said Friday.
• Russian Defense Ministry Ready to Discuss Ukraine With Pentagon RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is prepared to discuss the crisis in Ukraine with the Pentagon, although it has not received a request for such talks, Gen. Maj. Igor Konashenkov said Friday.
• Ukrainian Army Begins Siege of Slaviansk RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- The second phase of a special operation launched by Ukrainian troops against federalist protesters has begun, with the goal of completely encircling the protest stronghold of Slaviansk, the acting head of Ukraine's presidential administration said Friday.
• Gunfight Erupts at Kramatorsk Airfield in Eastern Ukraine RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Armed clashes are underway at the eastern Ukrainian Kramatorsk airfield, with shots being heard in the area, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Friday.
• Russia Will Act Solidly to De-Escalate Ukraine Crisis – Lavrov RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Russia will act solidly to de-escalate the Ukrainian conflict on the basis of the agreement reached last week in Geneva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
• Moscow Urges Kiev to Implement Geneva Agreement RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Ukrainian authorities claim to be strictly implementing the agreement reached in Geneva on April 17, while in fact they are choosing to ignore it, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
• U.S. Senators Push For Sanctions On Russia's Gazprom RFE/RL 25 Apr 2014 -- Senior U.S. lawmakers are stepping up pressure on the Obama administration to slap sanctions on state-owned Russian energy giant Gazprom over Moscow's role the Ukraine crisis, a move that could inflict economic pain beyond Russia's borders.
• Obama, European Leaders to Discuss New Sanctions Against Russia RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- US President Barack Obama has announced he will talk with key European leaders on Friday evening about new sanctions against Russia.
• Lavrov Blasts Kerry for Calling RT News Network 'Propaganda Bullhorn' RIA Novosti 25 Apr 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed as unacceptable US Secretary of State John Kerry's claim the RT news channel, which provides an alternative stance on world events, is a "propaganda bullhorn."
• American nuclear fuel in Ukraine risks provoking second Chernobyl - scientists VoR 25 Apr 2014 -- The use of US-made fuel in nuclear power plants in Ukraine may lead to emergencies comparable in scale to the Chernobyl disaster, a group of veteran atomic scientists announced Friday.
• Ban marks Chernobyl anniversary with call for greater support for recovery efforts UN News Centre 25 Apr 2014 -- "This is an opportunity to pay tribute to the emergency workers who responded, remember the more than 330,000 people who were evacuated from contaminated regions, and stand in solidarity with the millions who still live in the affected areas in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine," said a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
• KCNA Report on Putting American in Custody KCNA 25 Apr 2014 -- A relevant organ of the DPRK put in custody American Miller Matthew Todd, 24, on April 10 for his rash behavior in the course of going through formalities for entry into the DPRK to tour it.
• Papers Mark Anniversary of KPA KCNA 25 Apr 2014 -- Today is the 82nd anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army founded by President Kim Il Sung.
• S. Korea's Drone Case Is Replica of 'Cheonan Case': Rodong Sinmun KCNA 25 Apr 2014 -- It is an inveterate bad habit of the south Korean authorities to cook up a conspiratorial case and escalate confrontation with the DPRK by linking it to the DPRK whenever they are driven into the tight corner, says Rodong Sinmun Friday in an article.
• Obama: Time for more sanctions against North Korea Iran Press TV 25 Apr 2014 -- US President Barack Obama has threatened North Korea with more sanctions, saying Pyongyang will get "nothing except further isolation" if it conducts another nuclear test.
• Obama Warns N. Korea About Nuclear Test VOA 25 Apr 2014 -- President Barack Obama is in South Korea on the second leg of an Asian tour, where he gave a warning to North Korea against conducting a fourth nuclear test.
• North Korea poses a threat to US, risks greater isolation – Obama VoR 25 Apr 2014 -- North Korea poses a direct threat to the United States, US President Barack Obama said after talks with his South Korean counterpart Park Geun Hye in Seoul where he is on a two-day official visit, the Yonhap news agency reports.