18 October 2014 Military News

Taliban Accuse US Forces of Involvement in Arrest of Key Haqqani Leaders VOA 18 Oct 2014 -- The Taliban has accused American forces of being behind this month's arrest of the youngest son of the founder of the feared Haqqani Network, rejecting Kabul's assertions he was apprehended inside Afghanistan along with another suspected key militant commander.

Top-secret US military plane returns to Earth after two years Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2014 -- A top-secret unmanned US space plane has landed at an Air Force base in Southern California after a two-year classified mission circling the Earth.
Dragon 'fires up' for flight AFNS 18 Oct 2014 -- The Air Force and NATO are undergoing a cooperative development effort to upgrade the avionics and cockpit displays of AWACS aircraft belonging to the 552nd Air Control Wing here and the NATO E-3 Sentrys from Geilenkirchen, Germany.

Iraqi parliament approves defense, interior ministers Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2014 -- The Iraqi parliament has approved Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's nominees for the vacant cabinet posts, including two critical security positions.
Iraqi PM Wins Parliamentary Backing For Defense, Interior Posts RFE/RL 18 Oct 2014 -- Iraq's parliament has approved new defense and interior ministers, filling the last open positions in the new government after weeks of delay.
Iraq Completes Unity Government, Appoints Defense, Interior Minister: Reports RIA Novosti 18 Oct 2014 -- The Iraqi government has approved a new defense and interior minister, completing a unity government, seen as a necessary step in fighting Islamic State (IS) militants, the BBC reported Saturday.
Iraqi Lawmakers Elect Two Security Ministers VOA 18 Oct 2014 -- Iraqi lawmakers approved the critical security posts of defense minister and interior minister in Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government, amid the fight against the Islamic State group.

Iran repeats readiness to equip Lebanon army Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2014 -- The Iranian defense minister has reaffirmed the Islamic Republic's readiness to offer military aid to the Lebanese army in its fight against terrorism.

Kobani Kurds foil ISIL attempt to cut off border with Turkey Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2014 -- Kurdish fighters battling the Takfiri ISIL militants in the Syrian town of Kobani have managed to thwart a new attempt by the terrorists to cut off the border with neighboring Turkey.
Lebanon blocks Syrian refugees from entering: UNHCR Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2014 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says Lebanon has sharply cut the influx of Syrian refugees fleeing foreign-sponsored militancy in their homeland by refusing to let them in.

Donetsk Authorities Plan to Nationalize Mines, Distilleries RIA Novosti 18 Oct 2014 -- The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) plan to nationalize distilleries, DPR Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko said Saturday.
Donetsk People's Republic Likely to Remain Formally Unrecognized: DPR Prime Minister RIA Novosti 18 Oct 2014 -- The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) is unlikely to be recognized by the international community, DPR Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko said Saturday.

China, Vietnam agree to curb maritime dispute People's Daily 18 Oct 2014 -- China and Vietnam reached consensus on developing bilateral military relations on Friday, pledging to properly handle their maritime disputes.
16 killed in fresh clashes between Houthis, militants in Yemen Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2014 -- Over a dozen people have been killed in southern Yemen as renewed heavy clashes flare up between fighters from the Shia Houthi Ansarullah movement and al-Qaeda-linked militants.
DR Congo: UN envoy calls for decisive joint military action to neutralize rebels UN News Centre 18 Oct 2014 -- In the wake of an overnight attack by suspected Ugandan-based rebels near the eastern Democratic Repulic of the Congo town Beni – the second deadly assault in 48 hours – the United Nations envoy in the country is calling for 'decisive joint military actions' by the Congolese army and UN peacekeeping troops to end the group's reign of terror.

'ISIL must be defeated', declares Security Council, urging 'common effort' to halt militants' offensive UN News Centre 18 Oct 2014 -- The Security Council has urged the world to step up measures to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after the terrorist group carried out a spate of brutal attacks in Baghdad and Anbar over the past few days, calling for "a common effort" among governments and institutions to "stamp out" the violence and intolerance ISIL espouses.

German Hostages Released in Southern Philippines VOA 18 Oct 2014 -- Two Germans who were held for six months in the southern Philippines by suspected members of a notorious group formerly tied to al-Qaida were released late Friday. The military is stepping up operations against Abu Sayyaf, but a ransom payment was key.

Ebola: UN to consult West African governments on coordinating global crisis response UN News Centre 18 Oct 2014 -- The United Nations concluded today a meeting on strengthening the international community's support to efforts by the Governments of countries at the forefront of efforts to turn back the unfolding Ebola outbreak in West Africa, on tackling the crisis.
Obama: Do Not Give in to Ebola 'Hysteria' VOA 18 Oct 2014 -- President Barack Obama has urged Americans not to give in to Ebola 'hysteria or fear,' urging people to keep the situation in perspective.

China's HK police arrests 26 in Mong kok clashes People's Daily 18 Oct 2014 -- China's Hong Kong police said Saturday morning that 26 people were arrested and at least 15 police officers injured after a night of clashes between police and thousands of protesters for control of Mong Kok.
Hong Kong's Government, Students to Begin Talks Tuesday VOA 18 Oct 2014 -- Hong Kong's government says it will likely begin talks with student demonstrators on Tuesday, after nights of clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters who have paralyzed parts of the territory.

Polish Investigators Find List of People Russian Intelligence Planned to Recruit: Reports RIA Novosti 18 Oct 2014 -- Investigators have found a list of individuals the GRU, Russian Main Intelligence Directorate, planned to recruit while searching the apartment of the lawyer accused of spying for Russia in Poland, Polish television channel TVN24 reported Saturday.

Approaching Comet Threatens Martian Probes, NASA Prepares Evacuation of Space Fleet RIA Novosti 18 Oct 2014 -- An icy, rocky visitor from outer space is rapidly approaching our neighboring planet Mars, and while the Red Planet isn't in any danger, the stream of debris and gas that is trailing the comet may pose a threat to the fleet of Terran spacecraft in orbit.

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