Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 07 Dec 2016 [PDF]
• Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 07 Dec 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• DoD Update on Counter-ISIL Fight in Iraq: Mosul is Surrounded AFPS 07 Dec 2016 -- Iraqi forces have surrounded Mosul in Iraq, and progress is being made against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Raqqa, Syria, and in Sirte, Libya, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.
• AFCENT Tankers fuel the fight AFNS 07 Dec 2016 -- In the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Iraqi counteroffensive to liberate Mosul, no nation works alone. In the skies, pilots from 19 nations work tirelessly to dismantle, disrupt and ultimately destroy ISIL by striking infrastructure, roadways and other high-value targets.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Air Force releases candidate installations for next F-35A bases AFNS 07 Dec 2016 -- Air Force officials announced five installations as candidate bases for the next two Air National Guard F-35A locations.
• Air Force Agreement Allows Ionospheric Research to Continue AFNS 07 Dec 2016 -- Because of a recent Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), more than twenty-five years of science and atmospheric research will continue at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP).
• U.S., EU Agreement Enhances Military Logistical Efforts AFPS 07 Dec 2016 -- Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini yesterday signed the European Union Military Logistical Assistance Agreement, according to a U.S. State Department statement.
• Dunford: Service Member Efforts Over Past Year Have Made America Safer AFPS 07 Dec 2016 -- America is safer this year thanks to the sacrifices American service members and their families have made in the past year, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told personnel based here today.
• Media Availability with Secretary Carter enroute to Delhi, India DoD 07 Dec 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
• US, French Carrier Group Commanders Meet in Eastern Med NNS 07 Dec 2016 -- Leadership from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and French Charles de Gaulle Battle Group met while operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Dec. 6.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS John Finn NNS 07 Dec 2016 -- The Navy accepted delivery of future guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) from shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) on the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7.
• Chinese Navy Ships Visit San Diego NNS 07 Dec 2016 -- People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N)) ships, Jiangkai II-class frigates Yancheng (FFG 546) and Daqing (FFG 576), and Fuchi-class oiler Tai Hu (AOR 889), arrived in San Diego as part of a routine port visit, Dec. 6-9.
• Hulking Hurricanes: Seeking Greater Accuracy in Predicting Storm Strength NNS 07 Dec 2016 -- To better predict tropical cyclone intensity, scientists sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) recently worked with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to gather atmospheric data from storms that formed in the Atlantic Ocean in 2016.
• Carter Hall, 24th MEU Build Teamwork through ARG/MEUEX NNS 07 Dec 2016 -- Sailors aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are working together to complete training during an Amphibious Ready Group/MEU Exercise (ARG/MEUEX) in the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 2.
• Pentagon hides evidence revealing 125 bln USD in wasteful spending People's Daily 07 Dec 2016 -- The Pentagon has intentionally buried an internal report documenting the agency's 125 billion U.S. dollars worth of bureaucratic waste out of fears that the Congress might cut its budget, U.S. media revealed.
• Another US F/A-18 jet crashes off coast of Japan Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- A US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft has crashed off the coast of southern Japan and a search and rescue mission is underway to find its pilot, US military officials say.
• Pentagon's Futuristic Rotorcraft Program Facing Budget Woes Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- A new class of sophisticated US Army rotorcraft is already struggling to get off the ground due to funding issues, much to the dismay of officials who hope that more funds will free up under President-elect Donald Trump.
• US Force Level in Arctic Region 'Can Change Tomorrow' – Navy Staff Director Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- According to Navy Staff Director Vice Adm. James Foggo, the US could increase its military presence in the Arctic region if conditions there became a national priority.
• US Naval Patrols in Black Sea Can Be Increased - Vice Admiral Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- The length of time that US ships patrol the Black Sea could be extended from the current operating level of about four months, Navy staff director Vice Adm. James Foggo told Sputnik at the Defense Forum in Washington, DC on Wednesday.
• Japanese Prime Minister Welcomes Carter to Tokyo AFPS 07 Dec 2016 -- The U.S.-Japan alliance has a strength that is unlike any other, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said yesterday during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
• Carter, Japanese Defense Minister Assure Enduring Security, Peacekeeping Alliance AFPS 07 Dec 2016 -- Seventy-five years since the attacks on Pearl Harbor that spurred U.S. involvement in World War II, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada met in Tokyo today to affirm an enduring alliance of peace, stability and security within the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
• Joint Press Conference by Secretary Carter and Japanese Defense Minister Inada in Tokyo, Japan DoD 07 Dec 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter; Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada
• Remarks by Secretary Carter and Japanese Defense Minister Inada in Tokyo, Japan DoD 07 Dec 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter; Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada
• NATO and the EU deepen ties as ministerial meeting wraps up NATO 07 Dec 2016 -- NATO foreign ministers concluded two days of meetings in Brussels on Wednesday (7 December 2016), during which they made progress on a number of key issues, including cooperation with the European Union. Allies approved a series of more than 40 measures to advance how the two organisations work together – including on countering hybrid threats, cyber defence, and making their common neighbourhood more stable and secure. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called the agreement "a milestone in our relations," adding that "neither organisation has the full range of tools" to address new challenges alone, "but working together we are a formidable force for good."
• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council with Resolute Support operational partner nations NATO 07 Dec 2016
• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers NATO 07 Dec 2016
• NATO calls for maintenance of sanctions on Russia Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- NATO has called for the maintenance of sanctions imposed on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, claiming that the move is necessary to force Moscow to demonstrate its commitment regarding a ceasefire agreement on Ukraine.
• NATO Chief Urges Continued Pressure On Russia Over Ukraine RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called for continued diplomatic pressure and sanctions on Russia until Moscow respects a February 2015 agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
• NATO Chief Urges Allies to Maintain Sanctions Against Russia VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- NATO's chief urged allies to maintain sanctions against Russia as foreign ministers wrapped up a two-day meeting in Brussels. The meeting also focused on European security and the upcoming Trump administration in the United States.
• Russia finalizing deal on Syria naval base: Lawmaker Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- The Russian government is about to finalize an agreement on the country's establishment of a permanent naval base in Syria, a senior lawmaker says.
• Royal Navy's 'Lusty' on Last Sail From British Port to Turkish Scrapyard Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- Royal Navy's former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, deployed to conflict zones including Bosnia, Iraq and Sierra Leone, has sailed out of its home port of Portsmouth, UK for the final time an is heading to Turkey to be decommissioned.
• Illustrious leaves Portsmouth to make way for Queen Elizabeth UK MOD 07 Dec 2016 -- The Royal Navy's former aircraft carrier Illustrious will leave Portsmouth today as HMS Queen Elizabeth nears her arrival into the city.
• China's naval fleet visits west coast of US People's Daily 07 Dec 2016 -- China's naval fleet arrived in San Diego, California on Dec. 6 for a four-day visit. It's the first time that Chinese naval vessels have docked at the port since the U.S. presidential election in November.
• Supreme Leader appoints new Basij commander IRNA 07 Dec 2016 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday appointed Brigadier General Gholamhossein Gharib Parvar as the new commander of Iran's Basij (volunteer forces).
• India Orders Locally Made Rocket Launchers, Despite Faulty Ammunition Issues Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- Despite complaints of faulty ammunition, India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) spent $490 million on 36 Pinaka Mark-1 multi-barrel rocket launchers, manufactured by the country's own Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• India Grounds 280 Crash-Prone Military Helicopters Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- Present holding of helicopters in Army Aviation Corps is 73 percent of the authorized strength. Grounding of light utility helicopters may further aggravate the problem in securing forward areas.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 12/7/2016 The White House 07 Dec 2016
• December 7, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Dec 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 07, 2016
• Swedish Volvo Aims at Lucrative Arms Deal in Middle East Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- Swedish manufacturing company Volvo and French weapons giant Nexter are headed for their first order for the VBCI infantry fighting vehicle in the Middle East. Qatar currently aims to buy 200 vehicles for $1.1bln; however the order may grow and become three times as large.

Other Conflicts

• 7 December 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 07 Dec 2016
• Yemeni forces kill 10 Saudi soldiers in retaliatory attacks Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Yemeni army and popular committees have intensified their retaliatory attacks against Saudi military positions, leaving 10 soldiers dead.
• Assad Says Syrian Government's Win in Aleppo Would Change Course of War Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- The victory of the Syrian government forces over militants in Aleppo will alter the course of the conflict in the country, Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Wednesday.
• In Rare Admission, Israel Takes Responsibility for Attacks in Syria Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- A top Israeli foreign minister has admitted that Israel was involved in recent attacks in Syria, claiming that the attacks were part of a strategic effort against Hezbollah.
• Syrian Army Controls 70% of East Aleppo - Russian Defense Ministry Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Syrian government forces control 70 percent of east Aleppo prevously controlled by militants.
• Russia Accuses U.S. Of Canceling Talks, Vows To 'Eradicate' Syrian Rebels RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- Russia has accused the United States of canceling a meeting this week to discuss the fate of dwindling rebel forces in Syria's Aleppo, and declared that fighters who refuse to leave the city will be "eradicated."
• 2 Top IS Commanders Reportedly Flee Raqqa VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- The Islamic State group is seeing some defections in its leadership in Syria as two senior commanders have fled in recent days to territory held by rebels fighting the Syrian regime, local sources and a monitoring group said.
• Calls Increasing for Immediate Cease-fire in Aleppo VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- A coalition of nations, led by the United States, called for an immediate cease-fire in Aleppo and condemned Russia for interfering with attempts to bring humanitarian aid to those civilians trapped in the Syrian city.
• Aleppo win huge step toward ending Syria war: Assad Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says victory in the battle for the city of Aleppo will be "a huge step" in bringing the war in Syria to an end.
• Syrian army holds over two-thirds of eastern Aleppo: Map Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- A newly-released map shows that the Syrian army troops and their allies are in control of more than two-thirds of eastern Aleppo, which was entirely held by foreign-backed terrorists before the latest advances by the pro-government forces.
• Israel warplanes hit airbase near Damascus: Syria state TV Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Syria's state television says Israeli military aircraft have targeted an airbase near the capital Damascus.
• Syrian army soldiers take full control over Aleppo's Old City Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Syrian government forces have reportedly liberated the entire neighborhoods in Old City of Aleppo as part of a large-scale military operation to flush foreign-backed Takfiri militants out of the strategic northwestern city.
• Syria, Russia Reject Cease-Fire Offers, Vow To Retake Aleppo RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- Syrian and Russian leaders on December 7 rejected pleas from rebel forces and Western powers for a cease-fire and pressed their campaign to retake Aleppo, aiming for a victory they said would "change the course" of the six-year war.
• Syrian Army Said To Capture Aleppo Old City From Rebels RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- Syrian activists and state media say government forces and their allies have seized control of all areas of Aleppo's Old City that had been held by rebels, who are calling for a five-day humanitarian truce in the city.
• Heavy clashes in Mosul district as Iraqi troops advance against Daesh Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Fierce clashes have erupted in Mosul's al-Salam neighborhood, as Iraqi forces make gains against Daesh terrorists deep inside the northern city and advance closer to the Tigris River, which divides the city into eastern and western sides.
• Israeli parliament nudges land grab bill along Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- The Israeli lawmakers have approved a hugely-controversial bill legalizing some 4,000 settler units built on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, in the first of three readings needed to turn it into law.
• UN calls on Sri Lanka to investigate torture Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- The United Nations Committee against Torture has urged Sri Lanka to investigate documented allegations of rape and torture of detainees by security forces.
• UN prosecutors call for life sentence for Ratko Mladic Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Ratko Mladic, commonly known as the "Butcher of Bosnia" for his massive crimes against Bosnian Muslims in the Balkan wars of the 1990s, should be sentenced to life in prison, prosecutors have called on UN judges.
• India using indiscriminate force in Kashmir: Rights group Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- A rights group has accused Indian security forces of using indiscriminate force against protesters in Kashmir, saying the forces have been routinely blocking medical care for injured protesters in the restive region this year.
• Recent violence in Central African Republic spotlights subregion's volatility, Security Council told UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- Despite a peaceful and successful transition in the Central African Republic (CAR) earlier in 2016, the recent outbreak of violence there had demonstrated the extremely fragile situation in the country, the Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), told the Security Council today.
• UN launches $2.66 billion appeal for emergency assistance in Sahel region UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- The United Nations and its partner non-governmental organizations today launched an appeal for $2.66 billion to provide emergency assistance across eight countries in the Sahel region, where "millions of people still live in conditions of deplorable human suffering."
• 'Dangerous funding gap' may lead to more cuts in food rations for refugees in Kenya - UN UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- Forced to make a new round of cuts in food rations for refugees in Kenya, the World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed urgently for nearly $14 million to feed the 434,000 refugees living in Kenya's Dadaab and Kakuma camps and in the new Kalobeyei settlement.
• Forces Retake Somali Town Held by Pro-Islamic State Fighters VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Forces in Somalia's Puntland region have retaken Qandala, the only town in the country that was controlled by fighters allied with Islamic State.
• AU Official Calls for Accountability in S. Sudan Sexual Violence VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Despite widespread cases of gang rape and rape being committed across South Sudan by government forces, rebel forces and unidentified armed groups, not one individual has been arrested or sentenced to prison, South Sudan in Focus reported this week.

News Reports

• US House Considers Breaking Civilian-Military Precedent VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- The incoming Trump administration faced its first test on Capitol Hill Wednesday, as House Republicans, trying to speed up the nomination of the president-elect's pick for secretary of defense, called a government funding bill into question just hours before it was to expire.
• Trump's Non-interventionism Could Split Republicans VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Donald Trump's stated non-interventionism irks hawks on Capitol Hill and could split Republican lawmakers when the president-elect becomes America's commander in chief next month.
• Trump Shrugs Off Allegations Of Russian Meddling In U.S. Election RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has shrugged off allegations that Russia meddled in the election that handed him the White House, saying other states or individuals could have been behind cyberattacks against U.S. targets including the campaign of his opponent, Hillary Clinton.
• Who is General John Kelly? VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security, retired Marine General John Kelly, is one of the U.S. military's longest-serving commanders and the most senior officer since 9/11 to lose a child in combat.
• Trump Taps Branstad to Manage Complex Relations With China VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- In the black-and-white photo from 1985, Chinese President Xi Jinping, then a young official from China's northern Hebei province, stood next to Terry Branstad, who was serving his first term as governor of Iowa. The photo was taken during Xi's first visit to the Unites States during a sister-state exchange program.
• Trump Taps Iowa Governor Branstad as Next US Ambassador to China VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has been nominated to be the next United States ambassador to China.
• Draft Law Expands Chinese Police Discretion on Gun Use VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Proposed changes to China's policing law would grant officers greater discretionary power to use firearms in cases involving public and national security, a step that some activists contend could diminish human rights protections.
• China Bolsters Capital Controls Ahead of Trump Presidency VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Nearly two years after encouraging Chinese companies to go on an acquisitions spree overseas, stirring global markets, Beijing is asking them now to pull back. For the first time, China is also tightening its scrutiny of bogus overseas fund transfers of its currency, the yuan, or RMB, to clamp down on what it calls "irrational" investments.
• US to let in Taiwan president, rejecting China's request to block visit Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- The United States government has turned down China's request to block Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's planned stopover on US soil in the coming weeks, further fueling tensions caused by President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Tsai.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, December 7, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 07 Dec 2016
• Russia Vows Retaliation If U.S. Restricts Its Diplomats' Movements RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry has threatened to retaliate against U.S. diplomats if Washington enacts legislation restricting the movements of Russian diplomats in the United States.
• Kremlin: Glencore, Qatari Fund Buy Minority Rosneft Stake RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- The Kremlin says Russia has finalized an agreement to privatize 19.5 percent of state-owned oil company Rosneft in a deal worth around $11 billion with a consortium of Swiss commodities giant Glencore and the Qatari sovereign wealth fund.
• United States and Cuba Hold Fifth Bilateral Commission Meeting in Havana, Cuba US Dept. of State 07 Dec 2016 -- The United States and Cuba held the fifth Bilateral Commission meeting in Havana, Cuba on Wednesday, December 7.
• New UN report urges action to end 'unimaginable suffering' for separated families on Korean peninsula UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- A new report from the United Nations human rights wing calls attention to more than 60 years of separation between families on the Korean peninsula, and urges action in order to alleviate the suffering of families.
• Woman behind South Korea political scandal rejects order to testify Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- The woman at the center of a massive political scandal in South Korea has rejected an order to appear before a parliamentary committee to testify in the case.
• Key Figure in South Korea Scandal Refuses to Testify VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- The woman at the heart of a multi-million dollar South Korean corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye has frustrated lawmakers by refusing to testify before parliament.
• Iran writes official protest letter to UN chief on US ISA violation IRNA 07 Dec 2016 -- Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN Gholamali Khoshroo in a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced Iran's official protest to the recent extension of Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) by the US Congress and Senate.
• Qasemi: PGCC should avoid interference in Iran's domestic affairs IRNA 07 Dec 2016 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi on Wednesday urged the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council to avoid repetition of unfounded charges against Iran and interference in Iranian domestic affairs and not to fan flames of sectarian and religious divide.
• Zarif says nuclear weapons insecure world ISNA 07 Dec 2016 -- Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said all crises and challenges all around the world could be resolved through talks and negotiations.
• UK PM's anti-Iran remarks meant to 'please' Persian Gulf Arab leaders Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Iran has censured the recent comments made by British Prime Minister Theresa May against the Islamic Republic, saying the countries that are fueling violence in the region can not accuse Tehran of meddling in other states' affairs.
• Supervisory board approves measures against US anti-Iran bill Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- A supervisory committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of Iran's nuclear agreement has ratified measures in response to a recent US Senate vote on a piece of anti-Iran legislation, denouncing the move as a breach of the accord.
• Trump can walk away from Iran nuclear deal: US State Department Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- The US State Department has said that President-elect Donald Trump will have the power to revoke the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.
• Shell, Defying Trump, Signs Deal To Explore Oil Development In Iran RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- Iran and Shell signed a deal on December 7 to explore developing three of Iran's biggest oil and gas fields, undeterred by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's vow to undo last year's nuclear arms deal that enabled Western companies to resume business with Iran.
• Turkey urges extradition of soldiers seeking asylum in Greece Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Turkey has demanded the immediate extradition of all the Turkish soldiers who sought asylum in Greece following the July 15 failed coup.
• Ukrainian President Rejects Fugitive Lawmaker's Corruption Accusations, But Shock Waves Extend Abroad RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- More than two years after his election to the Ukrainian parliament on a wave of popular anger over political and economic rot in the corridors of power, Oleksandr Onyshchenko, by his own account, got his hands plenty dirty.
• Armenia's Former Flagship Enterprise Declared Bankrupt RFE/RL 07 Dec 2016 -- An Armenian court last week declared the state-owned Nairit synthetic rubber plant bankrupt in response to a request by the national power utility Electricity Networks of Armenia, which is owed some 1.24 billion drams ($2.6 million) in unpaid electricity bills by Nairit's management.
• India Launches Third Resource Monitoring Satellite for Commercial Use Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- India has launched a third satellite for the same series to offer improved services to its customers for remote sensing data.
• Ban urges peaceful resolution of impasse in DR Congo UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- Welcoming the announcement of the continuation of the mediation led by the Conférence épiscopale des églises du Congo (Catholic Church - CENCO) to achieve a more inclusive consensus on the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all political actors in the country to recommit themselves to this dialogue.
• US Envoy Hopes for Last-minute Political Deal in DRC VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- December 19 marks the end of President Joseph Kabila's second five-year term in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and many in the country are nervous as the date approaches.
• UN aid agencies ramp up response amid the worst southern African drought in decades UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- Following the worst El Niño-induced drought in decades in southern Africa, United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners today launched a revised Action Plan to outlining their response to the needs of an estimated 13.8 million people as the region enters the peak of the lean season with largely depleted food stocks due to poor and failed harvests.
• Recent gains made in Haiti cholera fight shows additional resources can ensure 'cholera will go' - UN Adviser UN News 07 Dec 2016 -- A senior United Nations official has stressed that that recent successes in the fight against cholera in Haiti demonstrate that when the UN and Haitian authorities receive the necessary funds, real progress can be made, and that eventually, "cholera will go."
• Iran Tops Agenda at Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- Arab Gulf countries wrapped up a two-day summit in Bahrain's capital, Manama, Wednesday, after discussing major regional concerns that included Iran, Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
• Kenya NGO Releases Extrajudicial Killings Report VOA 07 Dec 2016 -- A nongovernmental organization is accusing Kenyan security forces of making dozens of people disappear since 2012. Its report focuses on Kenya's coastal communities, where there is a large Muslim population.
• Bangladesh court upholds death sentence for militant leader, two followers Press TV 07 Dec 2016 -- Bangladesh's top court has upheld the death penalty handed down to a militant leader and two of his followers for a grenade attack on the UK's former envoy to the country.