Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 16 Mar 2015 [PDF]
• Coalition Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 16 Mar 2015 -- U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Update: air strikes in Iraq UK MOD 16 Mar 2015 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.
• At Security Council, UN envoy cites renewed hope for Afghan peace process UN News 16 Mar 2015 -- The top United Nations envoy for Afghanistan today said there was renewed hope for the peace process as he briefed the Security Council, which extended the mandate of the UN mission in the country for another year.
• Remarks at a UN Open Debate on UNAMA U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 16 Mar 2015
• US to Scrap Afghanistan Drawdown Plan VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year's end, amid requests from military leaders to keep more troops there, U.S. officials said Monday.
• ISIL-linked commander killed in Afghanistan: Officials Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- A suspected ISIL-linked militant commander has been killed in an airstrike by Afghan military forces in the country's southern province of Helmand, officials say.
• Afghanistan: Talks with Taliban to Be Held Soon VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- A key Afghan minister insists that talks with the Taliban will happen very soon despite contradictory news reports and confusion on the issue.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 1/12 concludes battalion phase of Spartan Fury USMC News 16 Mar 2015 -- The battalion phase of Operation Spartan Fury 15.2 drew to a close for 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii, March 10, 2015.
• Military working dogs participate in C-IED Training USMC News 16 Mar 2015 -- Marines patrol the path led by military working dogs, trained to detect improvised explosive devices using scent bags that contain partial ingredients used in making IEDs.
• E-2D Hawkeye Maiden Deployment NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- The Tigertails of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 bring a new capability to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as their new aircraft replaces the aging E-2C Hawkeye.
• USS Albuquerque Strengthens Warfare Capabilities during Exercise Lungfish NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) partnered with the Australian navy in March to strengthen its warfare capabilities through an annual joint exercise, Lungfish 2015.
• U.S. 7th Fleet Displays its Regional Commitment at LIMA '15 NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- Sailors, aircraft and a ship from U.S. 7th Fleet arrived at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), March 15-16.
• USS Curtis Wilbur Maintains Readiness in AOR NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) completed sea trials March 5 after conducting a DDG midlife overhaul extended dry dock shipboard repair availability (EDSRA).
• USS Shiloh Wins Tactical Award NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) was named the 2014 Unit Tactics Award recipient for Commander, Carrier Strike Group 5, March 9.
• U.S., Korean Navies Complete 31st Annual Salvage Exercise -- SALVEX Korea 2015 NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea (ROK) navy diving and salvage experts wrapped up two weeks of advanced training during Salvage Exercise (SALVEX) Korea 2015, March 14.
• Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Enters U.S. 6th Fleet NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered 6th Fleet in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe March 16.
• ROK JCS learns LCS capabilities during visit to USS Fort Worth in Busan NNS 16 Mar 2015 -- Chairman of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Choi, Yoon-hee visited the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) March 16 during the ship's inaugural port visit to Busan.
• NATO ships visit Romanian port during Black Sea drills NATO 16 Mar 2015 -- NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNGM2) are continuing their scheduled deployment in the Black Sea. After a port visit in Varna, Bulgaria, on 7-8 March, the group is completing its port visit in Constanta, Romania.
• NATO and Moldova discuss ways to strengthen partnership NATO 16 Mar 2015 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Moldovan Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici to NATO on Monday (16 March 2015) for talks on strengthening the partnership between the Alliance and Chișinău. Calling Moldova "a valued NATO partner", the Secretary General underlined that "all NATO Allies support Moldova's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and respect its constitutional neutrality."
• NATO to Stay in Black Sea Despite Tensions With Russia - Former Commander Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- The NATO alliance will continue its operations in the Black Sea even though tensions with Russia may be heightened as a result of its activities, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told Sputnik.
• Russian Inspectors to Fly Over Germany, Netherlands Under Open Skies Treaty Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian inspectors will conduct an observation flight over Germany, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, on March 16-21 under the Treaty on Open Skies, head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov announced.
• Attack aircraft exercise launched in Siberia TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- Air Force manoeuvres to drill penetration of imaginary enemy's air defense by fighter attack aircraft have been launched in Siberia, the press service of the Eastern Military District reported on Monday.
• Russia's Western Military District, Northern Fleet on combat alert amid snap check TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered to put the Northern Fleet, certain units of airborne forces and the Western Military District on full combat alert from 8:00 a.m. Moscow time on Monday as part of snap checks, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has said at the National Defense Management Center.
• Russia kicks off massive Arctic drills amid Ukraine tensions Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Russia has launched massive military drills in various parts of the country amid tensions with the West over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
• Large-scale drills in Arctic to demonstrate Russia's military strength - experts TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- The ongoing surprise combat readiness check of Russia's army units deployed in the Arctic region is called to assess the efficiency of the recently established Sever (North) united strategic command and demonstrate Russia's strength to NATO countries, Russian military experts told TASS on Monday.
• Putin orders Russia's Northern Fleet on full alert for drills Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet and paratrooper units on full alert, state media report.
• Putin Orders Northern Fleet to Full Alert for Combat Readiness Drills Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to bring the country's Northern Fleet to full alert in a snap combat readiness exercise Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
• Russian Northern Fleet submarines move to Barents Sea for combat readiness check TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- The Kola flotilla of mine sweepers will support the deployment of nuclear submarines of Russia's Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea within the framework of a sudden combat readiness inspection launched on Monday, the Defense Ministry said in a report, received by TASS.
• Russia Starts Large-Scale Communications Drills in Nine Regions Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Units of Russia's signals troops began on Monday large-scale communications field exercises in nine regions of the Eastern Military District, the district's press service said.
• Signals troops exercises start across Russia's East TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- Manoeuvres of the Signal Corps were launched on Monday in all forces and formations of the Eastern Military District, involving about 3,000 troops and more than 500 units of automobile and special equipment, spokesman for the district Colonel Alexander Gordeyev said on Monday.
• Motorized Infantry Brigade in Russia's Kemerovo Region Gets 15 T-72B3 Tanks Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- A motorized infantry brigade in Russia's Kemerovo Region has received 15 modernized T-72B3 tanks, official representative of the Central Military District Col. Yaroslav Roschupkin announced.
• Motorised infantry brigade in Russia's Siberia receives 15 modernized tanks TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- A motorised infantry brigade not far from Novosibirsk received another consignment of upgraded T-72B3 tanks, official representative of the Central Military District Yaroslav Poschupkin told TASS on Monday.
• Russia Begins Air Force Tactical Drills in Siberia Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian fighter jets and ground support aircraft will practice penetration of 'enemy's' air defenses during a month-long exercise in Siberia, the Eastern Military District said Friday.
• Army tactical exercises with live firing launched in North Caucasus foothills TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- Army tactical exercises were launched on Monday in Russia's Southern Military District in the foothills of the North Caucasian mountains. The press service of the Southern Military District reported that manoeuvres outside Stavropol involve more than 500 troops of the motorized rifle brigade stationed in Chechnya. They drill countering airstrikes and neutralizing imaginary militants.
• Second Mistral-class helicopter carrier leaves port for sea trials in the Atlantic TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- The second Mistral-class helicopter carrier built for Russia, the Sevastopol, on Monday departed from the French port of Saint-Nazaire to undergo sea trials in the Atlantic near France's coast, according to the website of the international Automatic Identification System (AIS).
• Moscow concerned about growing number of NATO drills near Russian borders - diplomat TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- Growing number of NATO drills near Russian borders leads to destabilization of the situation in north-eastern Europe, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov said on Monday.
• EU warned against supplying lethal arms to Ukraine Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov has warned that supplying lethal weapons by European Union (EU) countries to Ukraine would threaten the security of all of Europe.
• Ukraine's NATO Membership Not a Priority - Poroshenko Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Ukraine has no immediate plans of joining NATO and will instead focus on implementing much-needed reforms, President Petro Poroshenko said.
• Pakistan to Buy Russian Mi-35 Helicopter Gunships - President to Sputnik Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Pakistan would like to expand military technical cooperation with Russia by purchasing Russian Mi-35 helicopter gunships, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain told Sputnik.
• India becomes world's largest arms importer in 2010-2014 - study TASS 16 Mar 2015 -- India, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan became the world's five major arms importers in 2010-2014, according to new data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday.
• March 16, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Mar 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 16, 2015
• China The World's No. 3 Arms Exporter After U.S., Russia RFE/RL 16 Mar 2015 -- China has surpassed Germany and France to become the third-largest arms exporter in the world after the United States and Russia.
• U.S. leads upward trend in global arms exports: research institute People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- The United States has taken a firm lead as the major arms exporter globally, according to a report released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Other Conflicts

• 16 March 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Mar 2015
• US, Germany Vow New Sanctions if Moscow Fails to Honor Ukraine Cease-Fire VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- The United States and Germany have vowed to continue punishing Russia with economic sanctions for its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and warned of new measures if Moscow fails to fully back a cease-fire it endorsed last month.
• Russia Celebrates Crimea Annexation Anniversary RFE/RL 16 Mar 2015 -- Russia has kicked off weeklong celebrations marking the anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea, while the European Union denounces a military buildup and a worsening human rights situation in the Black Sea peninsula.
• Russia Marks First Anniversary of Crimean Referendum Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Crimea refused to recognize the legitimacy of the government in Kiev that overthrew Russia-leaning President Viktor Yanukovych in early 2014, instead voting to cut ties with Ukraine and rejoin Russia in a plebiscite which found that over 96 percent of Crimean voters supported the motion.
• Ukraine to Consider Bill on Special Status Territories on Tuesday Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- The parliament of Ukraine will consider Tuesday a bill to grant special status to regions of eastern Ukraine controlled by self-proclaimed authorities, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Groysman said Monday.
• Ukrainian Prime Minister Demands Putting Troops on Full Combat Alert Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Arseny Yatsenyuk called on the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to put the armed forces on full combat alert, and to equip air-raid shelters.
• Iraq puts Tikrit operation on hold to allow civilians to leave Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Iraqi forces have temporarily put on hold their military operation to take back Tikrit from the Takfiri ISIL militants to allow civilians to leave the northern city.
• ISIL's al-Baghdadi: Prophet Muhammad Told Me to Leave Mosul Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- While the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militants continue to withdraw from the Sunni stronghold of Tirkit amid a losing battle against Iraqi government forces, the terrorist group's leader might be preparing to retreat from the province of Mosul.
• Saddam Hussein's Tomb Ruined As Iraqi Forces Fight ISIL to Retake Tikrit Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- The once lavish tomb of Iraq's executed leader, Saddam Hussein, has been turned into a pile of rubble as Iraqi security forces try to retake Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, still partially controlled by the Islamic State, in a bid to drive the radical Sunnis out of the country.
• Stranded Syrians at 'serious risk' of losing refugee status in Lebanon IRIN 16 Mar 2015 -- Hundreds of thousands of Syrians in Lebanon are at risk of losing their refugee status due to new visa rules, the United Nations has warned.
• Assad says Syria awaits US action to back up words on dialog Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has called on the US to translate into action its recent announcement on the necessity of negotiations with the government to end the crisis in Syria.
• State Department says US would never negotiate with Assad Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- The US State Department has said the United States would never negotiate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad despite John Kerry's statement about negotiations.
• Kerry: US Ready for 'Diplomatic' Solution in Syria VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- As the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said it is time to "reignite a diplomatic outcome" to a conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.
• Turkey enraged by US call for talks with Assad Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Turkey has slammed the United States for proposing open talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in order to end the crisis in the Arab country.
• Israeli PM Reverses Stance on Palestinian Statehood VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reversing an earlier stance on Palestinian statehood, says he will never support a Palestinian state if he is returned to office in Tuesday's elections.
• Myanmar military convoy ambushed by Kokang ethnic army People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- A Myanmar military convoy has been ambushed by the Kokang ethnic army near Lonhtan, Laukkai in the northeastern Shan state over the weekend, the ruling party's Union Daily reported Monday.
• Philippine Forces Arrest Six Terrorists, Including Prominent Leader Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- The former BIFF vice-chairman, Mohamad Ali Tambak, is suspected of taking part in the killing of 44 servicemen of the Philippine Special Action Force carried out on January 25.
• Cameroon: CAR Refugee Numbers Down But Not Fear VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- The number of Central Africans fleeing to neighboring Cameroon has fallen drastically - an indication that violence may be subsiding in the Central African Republic (CAR). But many of the refugees in Cameroon are reluctant to return home out of fear of poverty, hunger and having to rebuild their lives with an uncertain future.
• Nigerian Military Says It Retook Key Town VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- Nigeria's military says it has recaptured the key town of Bama in the country's northeast from Islamic militants who have controlled it since September.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 3/16/2015 The White House 16 Mar 2015

News Reports

• Russia's Putin Reappears, Laughs Off Health Rumors VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has reappeared in public following a 10-day absence, laughed off suggestions he had been forced to lie low because of poor health, saying on Monday that life would be "boring without gossip."
• Russian president attends public meeting, proves health rumors wrong Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin has proved wrong the rumors about his deteriorating health as he meets with his Kyrgyz counterpart.
• Putin Reappears In Public, Jokes About Health Rumors RFE/RL 16 Mar 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has appeared in public for the first time since March 5. Putin met with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev on March 16 at the Constantine Palace outside St. Petersburg.
• Senior Administration Officials on P5+1 Talks With Iran US Dept. of State 16 Mar 2015
• US, Iran Envoys Hold Talks in Lausanne as Deadline Looms VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry began a new round of talks with his Iranian counterpart Monday in the Swiss city of Lausanne as an end-of-March deadline loomed to reach agreement on curbing Iran's nuclear program.
• Salehi satisfied with Iran-US talks in Lausanne, Switzerland IRNA 16 Mar 2015 -- Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi on Monday described the negotiations between the Iranian and the US delegations as straight-onward.
• Many technical differences have been solved: Kerry IRNA 16 Mar 2015 -- The US Secretary of State has said many technical differences over Iran's nuclear program have been solved.
• Araqchi optimistic about clinching nuclear deal IRNA 16 Mar 2015 -- Senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team Seyed Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that today's talks between Iran and the US in Lausanne were ' totally satisfactory' and expressed optimistic about reaching a final deal.
• Iranian lawmakers set conditions for N. deal with West ISNA 16 Mar 2015 -- 260 Iranian lawmakers issued a statement setting conditions for a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
• Iran sanctions must be scrapped all at once: MPs Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Iranian lawmakers have overwhelmingly demanded the removal of all sanctions against the country as a prerequisite for the implementation of any comprehensive nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1.
• Zarif, Kerry end first round of nuclear talks in Lausanne Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Iran and the United States have wrapped up the first round of the sensitive talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne in an attempt to narrow gaps on the outstanding issues pertaining to Tehran's nuclear program.
• Iran's Foreign Minister Says Gaps Remain In Nuclear Talks RFE/RL 16 Mar 2015 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif says gaps remain in the talks with the United States and other major powers aimed at securing a lasting deal on Tehran's nuclear program.
• Iran to give deadly response to any aggression, says Cmdr. ISNA 16 Mar 2015 -- Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan warned that Iran would give a more crushing and deadly response to any attack.
• Iran's Nuclear Deal to Cause Instability in Middle East - Saudi Prince Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- Saudi Arabia opposes Iran's nuclear talks with six world powers, as the process carries the risk of nuclear technology proliferation in the Middle East, the BBC reported Monday, citing a senior Saudi prince.
• Iran Nuclear Negotiations in 'Crunch Time' as Deadline Nears VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- Iran nuclear negotiations are in 'crunch time' as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met again Monday in Switzerland in the long-running negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program.
• CIA Chief: Terrorism Morphing Into Different Threats AFPS 16 Mar 2015 -- Terrorism is morphing into different types of threats, including cyberattacks that can impact nations across the globe, the director of central intelligence said in New York last week.
• Iran Scrapped from US Terrorism Threat List, Praised For Fighting ISIL Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- The report on Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Communities was recently made public, with Iran and Hezbollah scrapped from the terrorism list. The change is particularly significant as both Iran and Hezbollah have been featured in the section in previous years. In 2014, both were listed as terrorist threats within the context of the Syrian civil war in addition to direct threats they pose to the US and its allies.
• PLA anti-corruption campaign shows determination to combat issue People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- China's fight against military corruption has been brought into sharp focus nationwide. The probes into 14 senior military officers suspected of corruption, including Guo Zhenggang, deputy political commissar of the Zhejiang Military Area Command, demonstrated not only the significant achievements of the anti-graft campaign in the PLA, but also the fact that this battle against graft will continue.
• Nation 'well-armed' to keep growth on track People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday that China has many weapons to fight difficulties in its economy and will be able to maintain its growth momentum. He did not say specifically how China will achieve its annual GDP growth target, but said he will not allow the slowdown to continue from last year and derail the plan for increases in employment and incomes.
• 'Four Comprehensives' a road to prosperity People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- Top leader Xi Jinping's strategy for governing China and charting its development is known as the 'Four Comprehensives', which comprise comprehensively building an overall moderately well-off society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively governing the country in accordance with the law, and comprehensively supervising the Communist Party of China.
• Xu Caihou received adequate medical care: military procuratorate People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- China's military procuratorate on Monday said Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), received adequate medical attention before his death from bladder cancer on Sunday.
• China concludes annual parliamentary session, promoting rule of law People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliamentary body, concluded its annual session Sunday morning.
• Xu Caihou dies of bladder cancer People's Daily 16 Mar 2015 -- Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, died of bladder cancer on Sunday.
• Maduro Gets Special Powers Amid US Sanctions Against Venezuela Sputnik 16 Mar 2015 -- According to the approved legislation, Venezuela's president has a right to legislate by decrees in order to safeguard sovereignty, territorial intergrity and 'protect people from foreign interference and actions of warmongers.'
• Eritrea: UN-mandated inquiry finds 'very clear patterns' of human rights abuses UN News 16 Mar 2015 -- A four-month United Nations investigation into the human rights situation in Eritrea has found "very clear patterns" of violations and abuses, according to a report delivered today at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.
• UN Investigators: 'No Rule of Law' in Eritrea VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- A United Nations panel investigating Eritrea says it has found 'very clear patterns' of human rights violations and a total absence of the rule of law in the country.
• Israeli Poll Seen as Referendum on Netanyahu VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- Israelis are preparing to go to the polls Tuesday to elect a new parliament. No party is expected to win more than one-fourth of the seats. As a result, the focus is on whether right-wing groups or left-wing parties can win enough votes to form the next coalition government.
• 'Let's finish the job' : UN Ebola envoy IRIN 16 Mar 2015 -- At the height of the Ebola outbreak in September, the United Nations appointed public health expert Dr. David Nabarro as its Special Envoy on Ebola. He was tasked with working with local and international partners and governments to better coordinate and implement Ebola response measures. Six months into his term, Nabarro spoke to IRIN from New York about ongoing challenges and lessons learned.
• UN Report: Yemen's Saleh Took Billions VOA 16 Mar 2015 -- Recent revelations by a United Nations panel that former Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh allegedly took as much as $60 billion through corruption during his many years in power has left analysts wondering how that is possible.
• As UN steps up aid efforts, Ban promises 'necessary action' to assist cyclone-hit Vanuatu UN News 16 Mar 2015 -- With United Nations relief agencies stepping up their response in Vanuatu after the country was hit by Cyclone Pam, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the event "tragically underscored" the importance of global efforts on disaster risk reduction.
• The Trolls Who Came In From The Cold RFE/RL 16 Mar 2015