Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Security Council strongly condemns attack on Indian consulate in western Afghanistan UN News Centre 24 May 2014 -- The Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms the attack on the Indian consulate in the western Afghan province of Herat and called for those responsible of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to be brought to justice.
• Afghan army recaptures Yamgan district Iran Press TV 24 May 2014 -- Afghanistan's army has recaptured Yamgan District of the northeastern province of Badakhshan from Taliban militants.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on Thailand DoD 24 May 2014
• Coup Leads U.S. to Curtail Thai Military Engagements AFPS 24 May 2014 -- Following a coup by the Thai military, the United States has curtailed military-to-military engagement with the Kingdom of Thailand in accordance with U.S. law, Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a written statement today.
• U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command,/U.S. 4th Fleet holds Operational Naval Committee Conference with Colombian Navy NNS 24 May 2014 -- Delegates from the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet met with members of the Colombian Navy, May 20-21, during an Operational Naval Committee (ONC) conference.
• US cancels drill with Thailand over military coup Iran Press TV 24 May 2014 -- The United States has cancelled a joint military drill with Thailand in response to a coup that overthrew the Thai pro-American government on Thursday.
• Cancellation of U.S.-Thailand Engagements US Dept. of State 24 May 2014
• US surveillance drone arrives at Japanese air base for first time VoR 24 May 2014 -- A US surveillance drone arrived at an air base in northern Japan on Saturday for the first deployment of the spy aircraft in the country, the US Air Force said.
• Iran Ground Forces resume major drills in Isfahan Iran Press TV 24 May 2014 -- The Iranian Army's Ground Forces have 'successfully' completed the second phase of a major military exercise in the central province of Isfahan.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Ban expresses concern about military mobilization in Libyan capital UN News Centre 24 May 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed deep concern by recent developments in Libya and called on all parties and military leaders to abide by their moral and legal obligations to safeguard and protect civilians.
• French troops battle with Muslim fighters in CAR Iran Press TV 24 May 2014 -- Fierce battles have reportedly broken out between French forces operating in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Muslim fighters loyal to the Seleka group.
• Central African Republic: French forces clash with ex-rebels VoR 24 May 2014 -- French forces clashed with former members of the Central African Republic's Seleka rebellion on Saturday, a military spokesman said.
• Senior United Nations officials, Security Council condemn attack on Somali parliament UN News Centre 24 May 2014 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his special representative in Somalia, Nicholas Kay, as well as the Security Council, today condemned an attack by suicide bombers and gunmen on the Federal Parliament, in the capital Mogadishu, where legislators were in session.
• Failed mediation dispute in Darfur leaves peacekeeper dead, 3 injured - UN confirms UN News Centre 24 May 2014 -- Armed men in Sudan's western region today killed a Rwandan peacekeeper and injured three others resulting in condemnations from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and senior official Mohamed Ibn Chambas who is urging the Sudanese Government to bring those responsible to account.
• Somali Parliament Attack Kills at Least 18 VOA 24 May 2014 -- Al-Shabab militants stormed Somalia's parliament building Saturday in a bomb and gun attack that killed at least 18 people, including some of the attackers.

News Reports

• Media Turn In Mixed Performance As Ukraine Campaign Comes To An End RFE/RL 24 May 2014 -- Many in Ukraine and around the world have pinned their hopes for stabilizing the country on the outcome of the May 25 presidential election.
• Prime Minister Urges Voters To 'Defend Ukraine' RFE/RL 24 May 2014 -- Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is urging Ukrainians to vote in the country's May 25 presidential election to 'defend Ukraine.'
• Reporter's Notebook: Dnipropetrovsk Defies East Ukraine Stereotypes RFE/RL 24 May 2014
• Putin Warns Of Threat To Europe's Gas Supplies From 'Ukrainian Radicals' RFE/RL 24 May 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has told officials from leading energy companies that Russia is concerned about threats by 'Ukrainian radicals' to disrupt gas supplies to Europe.
• Low Turnout Expected in Restive East Ukraine VOA 24 May 2014 -- Ukraine election monitors say armed pro-Russian separatists are likely to prevent up to two-thirds of voters in eastern districts from choosing a new president Sunday, despite calls from Kyiv for a strong voter turnout.
• Donetsk, Lugansk People's Republics unite in Novorossiya VoR 24 May 2014 -- The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics have merged in one state.
• Armed clashes continue between self-defense and law enforcers outside Ukraine's Slavyansk VoR 24 May 2014 -- Armed clashes between pro-Russia gunmen of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been going on near the village of Semyonovka outside Slavyansk for three hours on Saturday, TASS reports.
• Kiev leaders may not want completely legitimate president - Putin VoR 24 May 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin argued on Saturday that Ukraine's president to be elected on Sunday might become a transitional figure or, on the contrary, concentrate maximum powers, and that either possibility would trigger more intensive political strife in the country. Vladimir Putin said he would 'treat with respect' the choice of the Ukrainian people in the country's May 25 early presidential elections.
• Putin: Russia Sanctions Counterproductive VOA 24 May 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that sanctions imposed on his country over its involvement in Ukraine were counterproductive and did not correspond to international law.
• Claims Russia wants to restore USSR a device in information war - Putin VoR 24 May 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said those who thought Russia was trying to restore an empire and the Soviet Union simply incorrect. 'That opinion is wrong, I don't think it's anything that corresponds with the truth but a tool in the information war,' Putin said at a meeting with international media bosses in St. Petersburg. 'People are trying to label us as such, that we're trying to restore the empire, the Soviet Union, to bring everybody under our influence. But this us totally inaccurate,' he said.
• Putin surprised by Japan joining sanctions against Russia, says Russia ready for talks over Kurils VoR 24 May 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not understand whether Japan was ready to continue over the disputed islands now the country had joined the sanctions against Russia.
• Thailand coup leader disbands Senate: Army Iran Press TV 24 May 2014 -- Thailand's military junta has disbanded the Senate and placed all law-making responsibility in the hands of the general who led the May 23 coup, the army says.
• Thai protesters stage anti-coup rally in Bangkok Iran Press TV 24 May 2014 -- Thai protesters have staged an anti-coup rally in the capital Bangkok as anger mounts over the military's overthrow of the caretaker government.
• Thai Coup Leaders Tighten Grip VOA 24 May 2014 -- The U.S. military has canceled training and readiness exercises with Thailand, as well as a visit to the Asian nation by U.S. Pacific Fleet commander originally scheduled for June, the Pentagon said Saturday.
• Thai coup leader dissolves Senate VoR 24 May 2014 -- Thailand's military junta has disbanded the country's Senate and placed all law-making in the hands of the army general who led this week's coup, the army said on Saturday.
• Xinjiang calls for terror suspects to surrender People's Daily 25 May 2014 -- Legal, procuratorate and public security authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region issued a joint statement on Saturday, calling for law-breakers who are involved in terrorist activities to surrender to get lenient punishments.
• Pakistani PM to Attend Indian PM Inauguration VOA 24 May 2014 -- Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has accepted India's invitation to attend the inauguration of prime minister-elect Narendra Modi on Monday. The unprecedented move has raised hope of improvement in the usually tense relations between the nuclear-armed rival nations.
• On Cusp of Egypt Vote, Ex-Army Chief Sissi Dominates VOA 24 May 2014 -- After more than three years of turmoil, Egyptian voters are expected to elect their overwhelmingly popular former army chief, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, as the next president, hoping he will bring stability and economic growth to the country.
• Malawi: UN chief urges calm, respect for tallying process after elections UN News Centre 24 May 2014 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all candidates, political parties, and state institutions in Malawi to remain calm and to support fully the Malawi Electoral Commission in completing its work.
• China's Cyber Espionage Case a Guide to Hacking VOA 24 May 2014 -- The alleged hacking of U.S. corporate computers by elements of China's military wasn't in and of itself all that unique.