Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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Current Operations

Defense Policy / Programs

• George H.W. Bush Successfully Completes 3M Inspection NNS 17 May 2014 -- The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) successfully completed its Maintenance and Material Management Inspection (3MI) while on deployment in the Arabian Sea, May 16.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 5/16/14 The White House 17 May 2014

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syria: Ban warns against targeting civilians after armed groups cut water supplies in Aleppo UN News Centre 17 May 2014 -- Following reports that armed groups cut water supplies in Syria's flashpoint town of Aleppo, leaving at least 2.5 million people with no access to safe water for drinking and sanitation for days, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned that such deliberate targeting of civilians is a "clear breach" of international law.
• In Paris, Calls for Unified Strike on Boko Haram VOA 17 May 2014 -- French President Francois Hollande says the Nigeria-based Boko Haram militant group has become a threat to all of West and Central Africa and a 'comprehensive plan' must be established to fight it.
• Briefing From Paris, France US Dept. of State 17 May 2014
• UNICEF demands action to save children of South Sudan from 'living nightmare' UN News Centre 17 May 2014 -- With malnutrition and conflict stalking the youngest and most vulnerable citizens of South Sudan, the United Nations warned today that hundreds of thousands of children in the country's most crisis-torn areas are at imminent risk of death and disease, including the threat of cholera.
• Ahead of Guinea-Bissau polls, UN chief urges high turnout, peaceful vote UN News Centre 17 May 2014 -- On the eve of run-off presidential elections in Guinea-Bissau, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged voters to show the same sense of civic duty exhibited during the first round of the polls "by turning out in large numbers and in a peaceful manner."
• Somalia: UN deploys first-ever special force to protect staff in Mogadishu UN News Centre 17 May 2014 -- A special United Nations defensive military force recommended by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to protect UN staff and facilities in Mogadishu, was deployed today to shore up the world body's operations in long-troubled Somalia.
• Beijing Evacuates Chinese from Vietnam VOA 17 May 2014 -- China says it has evacuated more than 3,000 nationals from Vietnam following deadly rioting triggered by rising tensions over rival maritime claims in the South China Sea.
• Colombia: Ban welcomes deal between Government, FARC to address illicit drugs UN News Centre 17 May 2014 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has today welcomed the agreement reached between Colombia's Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) on dealing with illicit drugs in the country.

News Reports

• Ukraine Holds Second Round Of 'National Dialogue' With Separatist Leaders Absent RFE/RL 17 May 2014 -- Ukraine's government has held a second round of 'national unity' talks aimed at de-escalating the crisis in the country's southeast.
• Gray Zone: Mariupol Sinks Into Power Vacuum RFE/RL 17 May 2014 -- A week after the southeastern port city of Mariupol saw some of the worst violence of the Ukraine crisis so far, an uneasy calm has fallen over the city.
• At Ukraine Peace Talks, Eastern Leaders Assail Central Government VOA 17 May 2014 -- Lawmakers and officials from eastern Ukraine on Saturday strongly criticized the fledging central government, accusing it of ignoring legitimate grievances in areas of the regions controlled by pro-Russian militias fighting for independence.
• FBI Wary Of Possible Russian Spies Lurking In U.S. Tech Sector RFE/RL 17 May 2014 -- During the heady days of the U.S. 'reset' policy with Russia, the high-tech sector emerged as a potential centerpiece for bilateral commercial and scientific cooperation, underscored by Internet-savvy Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's 2010 visit to Silicon Valley.
• Defense Chief, Lao Officials Die in Crash VOA 17 May 2014 -- The Lao defense minister was among more than a dozen people reported killed early Saturday when a military aircraft crashed in the northern part of the country. Analysts now see a major reshuffle within the governing Communist party.