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Current Operations

Defense Policy / Programs

• USNS Spearhead Departs U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Operations After Completing Series of Africa Partnership Station Engagements NNS 03 May 2014 -- The U.S. Navy's first-in-class joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) left the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, May 2, after more than three months of operating in the European and African theaters.
• US cites Ukraine, calls on NATO allies to boost military spending Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has called on Washington's NATO allies to increase their military spending, citing the recent crisis in Ukraine to highlight the issue.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syrian army retakes parts of town near Damascus Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- The Syrian army has managed to recapture parts of a key town east of the capital Damascus as government forces continue to make more gains in the fight against Takfiri terrorists.
• UK to resume aid to Syria militants Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- Britain says it plans to resume delivering aid to foreign-backed militants operating against the government in Syria.
• Kerry Subpoened to Testify on Benghazi Attacks VOA 02 May 2014 -- The Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, says the chamber will vote to create a new select committee to investigate the September 11, 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans. The announcement Friday came just hours after a House committee investigating the attack issued a subpoena to Secretary of State John Kerry to testify.
• In Bangui, UN peacekeeping chief discusses roll-out of Central African Republic mission UN News Centre 03 May 2014 -- The head of United Nations peacekeeping operations continued today his visit to the Central African Republic (CAR), where he met a range of stakeholders and pledged that "no effort will be spared" towards full deployment of a newly mandated 12,000-strong UN mission to help stabilize the crisis-riven country.
• Somalia: Security Council condemns latest terrorist bombing in Mogadishu UN News Centre 03 May 2014 -- The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the latest terrorist bomb attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu, for which the Islamic insurgent group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility and which has caused numerous deaths and injuries.
• Kerry Holds Security Talks in DRC VOA 03 May 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he will meet with President Joseph Kabila.

News Reports

• EU Urges Independent Probe into Tragic Deaths in Ukraine's Odessa RIA Novosti 03 May 2014 -- The EU said Saturday it is "deeply saddened" by violence in Ukraine's Odessa and called for an independent investigation into the tragic deaths.
• Kerry to Russia: Stop Supporting Ukraine Separatists VOA 03 May 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is strongly condemning the continuing violence in Ukraine, and he says Russia will face tougher economic sanctions if it does not stop trying to interfere with elections called by the Kyiv government. Kerry is on a trip through Africa; he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Saturday about the situation in Ukraine.
• Ukraine Anti-Terror Chief: This Is War VOA 03 May 2014 -- Ukraine expanded its military offensive Saturday against pro-Russia separatists in the country's chaotic east, where European observers who had been held hostage by militants now have been freed. And there is mourning in Odessa, in southern Ukraine, where more than 42 people died Friday during clashes between the two sides.
• EU Urges Russia, Ukraine to Settle Energy Dispute VOA 03 May 2014 -- Russia's confrontation with the West over the growing unrest in eastern Ukraine could lead to another energy crisis in the European countries that are dependent on Russian energy. Europe gets about one-third of its gas supplies from Russia, and about half of it is dispatched through Ukraine. Europeans are increasingly looking into alternative sources of energy to reduce their reliance on Russia. Meanwhile, the EU is mediating a deal between Russia and Ukraine that would secure a steady gas supply for next winter.
• Shooting heard near Ukraine's Slavyansk, residents prepare for storming VoR 03 May 2014 -- The relative calm in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk has been broken by shots on the outskirts of the city, and residents are preparing for the storming by the Ukrainian army, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Saturday.
• Events in Ukraine prove Russia's position on Crimea right – Putin's spokesperson VoR 03 May 2014 -- The latest events in Ukraine prove that Russia's position on Crimea was the only correct one, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, May 3. 'We understand how justified and correct the actions taken by President Putin, Russia and the people of Crimea were,' he said. 'If Putin had not assumed a firm position and the people of Crimea had not voted for reunification with Russia, the bloodshed similar to that in the southeast of Ukraine could be happening now in Crimea,' he said, TASS reports.
• People in Ukraine's Odessa died instantly, poisoned by unknown substance - report VoR 03 May 2014 -- During the fire at Odessa's Trade Unions House people died instantly, having been poisoned by an unidentified substance, the UNIAN news agency reported on Saturday.
• Moscow expresses concerns about reports on preparations by Ukrainian troops to storm Slavyansk VoR 03 May 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier had a phone conversation on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry has reported. Lavrov expressed concerns about the reports 'on the preparation by the Ukrainian army with support from Right Sector to storm some cities in the southeastern regions of Ukraine, including the city of Slavyansk,' the report says.
• UN Secretary General welcomes release of OSCE military observers in Slavyansk VoR 03 May 2014 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hails the release of the OSCE military inspectors and the Ukrainian employees accompanying them, who were abducted on April 25. He expressed appreciation to everyone who helped ensure their safe release, including Russia, an official representative of the UN secretary-general said in a statement released on Saturday.
• Odessa residents block regional police building, demand punishment of those responsible for deaths VoR 03 May 2014 -- Some 150 residents in Odessa, a southern Ukrainian city blocked the regional police building to protest against police inaction during the clashes provoked by ultranationalist Right Sector militants and so-called 'Maidan self-defense' force, which resulted in the death of 46 people.
• 172 detained for participation in mass riots in Odessa, some already released - Ukrainian Interior Ministry VoR 03 May 2014 -- A total of 172 people were detained following mass riots in Odessa, and some of these people have already been released, the public relations department of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Main Department for the Odessa region has reported, citing Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar.
• People's governor of Ukraine's Lugansk declares state of emergency, orders full mobilization VoR 03 May 2014 -- People's Governor of the Lugansk region Valery Bolotov has declared a state of emergency and called for complete mobilization in the region, a pro-federalization activist told RIA Novosti Saturday.
• Right Sector attacks pro-federalization activists near Slavyansk - self-defense forces VoR 03 May 2014 -- Active clashes are taking place near the Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, a self-defense forces representative, who introduced himself as Vladislav, told journalists.
• Kramatorsk: some reportedly killed in fight between federalization supporters and Ukrainian security forces VoR 03 May 2014 -- A fight is under way between federalization supporters and Ukrainian security forces in Kramatorsk, reports about fatalities are being checked, the Donbas self-defense headquarters told Interfax. 'The security operation in Kramatorsk has resumed, snipers controled by the Kiev government have occupied multi-storey buildings and are firing from there. In addition, there is fighting on the town streets, involving the use of various weapons,' the source said. Some people have been killed in the clashes, he said.
• China urges political solution to Ukraine crisis 'through dialogue not confrontation' People's Daily 03 May 2014 -- China on Friday urged all parties concerned to seek a political solution to the deteriorating Ukraine crisis 'through dialogue not confrontation.'
• 15 Killed in Slavyansk clashes: Ukraine Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- Fifteen people have been killed during clashes between radicals and pro-Russians in the eastern city of Slavyansk, a representative of the city's self-defense forces says.
• Russia urges US to press Ukraine over operations Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has urged the Unites States to use its influence to make Ukraine's interim government immediately stop military operations in the country's southeastern part.
• Kiev retakes Kramatorsk security service headquarters Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- The Ukrainian interim government says its forces have retaken the security service headquarters in the eastern city of Kramatorsk.
• OSCE observers held in east Ukraine released: Russia envoy Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held in eastern Ukraine have been released, Russia's special envoy to the region says.
• Kerry, Lavrov Discuss Ukraine Crisis As Offensive Continues RFE/RL 03 May 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, have spoken by telephone about the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
• Ukraine: Ban welcomes release of abducted military observers, urges calm as violence spreads to Odessa UN News Centre 03 May 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the release earlier today of European military monitors and accompanying Ukrainian staff abducted a week ago in the country's crisis-torn eastern region, even as he expressed sadness at the loss of life amid fresh violence in the port city of Odessa.
• Night battle for Kramatorsk over, sides counting losses VoR 03 May 2014 -- The evening battle for Kramatorsk in Ukraine's southeast has ended, leaving one defender of the city dead and nine others wounded, RIA Novosti reports. According to the agency's source, the Ukrainian army column was unable to enter the city.
• Salehi: Arak reactor to be re-designed to produce less plutonium IRNA 03 May 2014 -- Head of the National Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said that Arak nuclear reactor would be re-designed to produce lesser plutonium.
• Iran will not convert Arak heavy water reactor: AEOI chief Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says Arak nuclear facility will remain a heavy water reactor, but will be redesigned to produce less plutonium.
• US seeks immunity for surveillance firms Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- The US government is seeking to offer legal immunity for those telecommunications firms that provide costumers' data, a new report says.
• MERS kills two more people in Saudi Arabia Iran Press TV 03 May 2014 -- Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry announces two new deaths from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), bringing the death toll to 111.