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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 03 Jan 2018 [PDF]
• Pakistan Extends Afghan Refugees' Stay for a Month VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- Pakistan has extended for one month the stay of about 1.4 million Afghan refugees who lost their legal residency status on Dec. 31, 2017.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Announces Defense Enterprise Science Initiative to Support University-Industry Basic Research DoD 03 Jan 2018 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) announced an award competition for the Defense Enterprise Science Initiative (DESI), a new pilot program that supports university-industry collaboration on use-inspired basic research.
• USS Frank Cable Arrives Hawaii NNS 03 Jan 2018 -- The submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 2.
• USS Wasp (LHD 1) Arrives in Pearl Harbor for Port Visit NNS 03 Jan 2018 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a final port call en route to her new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, Dec. 28.
• USS Carney Brings in New Year in Brindisi Italy NNS 03 Jan 2018 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) arrived in Brindisi, Italy, Dec. 30 for a scheduled port visit, giving the crew a chance to bring in the New Year and celebrate the U.S.-Italy relations as the two nations work together for a stable and secure Europe.
• USS Carney Departs Brindisi, Italy NNS 03 Jan 2018 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) departed Brindisi, Italy, Jan. 2, 2017, after a scheduled port visit.
• US State Department: World Military Spending Increased by 46 Percent in Decade Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- The US Department of State said in a report released on Tuesday that the number of world military expenditures in the last decade has risen by about 46 percent.
• Norway suspends arms exports to UAE over Yemen War Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- Norway has suspended arms exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over concerns that the weapons could be used in the deadly Saudi-led military campaign against Yemen, in which Abu Dhabi has played an active role.
• Norway Suspends Licenses for Exporting Arms to UAE – Foreign Ministry Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- Norway has decided to suspend all valid licenses for exports of weapons and ammunition to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to its involvement in the armed conflict in Yemen, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday.
• Next-generation military field rations, meals unveiled CNA 03 Jan 2018 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) unveiled on Wednesday a new generation of ready-to-eat meals and field rations backed by a much bigger budget that it hopes will reflect its commitment to treating military rank and file better.
• India to buy $260mn worth of Israeli missiles, Russian bombs Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- The Indian Defense Ministry has authorized major arms deals with Israel and Russia, as the country steps up efforts to modernize its military amid territorial disputes with neighbors China and Pakistan.
• India Relies on Domestic Private Firms for $1.5 Bln Ambitious CIWS Project Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- The requirement is for 61 close-in weapons system (CIWS) with four 3.5 kilometer guns capable of firing 200 rounds of ammunition per minute. The proposed system is basically an integrated system with radars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sensors and target lights.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 03, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 3 January 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Jan 2018
• Yemeni army, allies killed nearly 400 Saudi soldiers, 894 mercenaries in 2017: Report Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- Yemeni army soldiers, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Committees, killed nearly 400 Saudi soldiers and hundreds of Saudi-backed militiamen loyal to Yemen's resigned president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, last year in retaliation for the Riyadh regime's deadly military campaign against the crisis-hit country.
• Russia confirms copter crash in Syria, cites technical fault Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- Russia has confirmed that a Russian military helicopter earlier crashed in northwestern Syria, killing two pilots and injuring a technician.
• Syrian Army Liberates Six Settlements in Hama Province - Source Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- Syrian government forces have liberated six settlements from militants of the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as Nusra Front) terrorist group, outlawed in Russia, in Hama province, a Syrian military source told Sputnik.
• UN aid wing sounds alarm on behalf of civilians caught up in rising violence in northern Syria UN News 03 Jan 2018 -- The United Nations humanitarian wing and its partners in Syria on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the protection and wellbeing of tens of thousands of civilians in north-eastern Hama and southern Idlib governorates, following increased hostilities, which have reportedly resulted in scores of deaths and injuries and displacement in the area.
• Palestinians won't be blackmailed by US threat to cut aid: PLO official Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has voiced anger at a threat by US President Donald Trump to cut off aid to the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, saying the nation "will not be blackmailed."
• Trump threatens to withhold financial aid to Palestinians Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold future aid payments to the Palestinian Authority (PA), saying the body is no longer willing to engage in peace talks with Israel.
• Palestinians 'Will Not Be Blackmailed' by Trump VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- A senior Palestinian official said Wednesday the Palestinians "will not be blackmailed" by U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to cut aid funding.
• Trump Threatens to Cut Off Aid to Palestine Unless Peace Negotiations Resume Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- US President Donald Trump wrote a pair of tweets on Tuesday where he questioned why the US was continuing to give "massive" amounts of money in aid payments to Palestine if they were "no longer willing to talk peace" with Israel.
• Disease Outbreaks Plague Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- At Balukhali refugee camp in Bangladesh, unclean water, cramped living quarters and squalid conditions create a prime environment for outbreaks of preventable diseases among the estimated 650,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled strife in neighboring Myanmar.
• War across Taiwan Strait unlikely in 2018: U.S. scholars CNA 03 Jan 2018 -- Several U.S. scholars believe China's recent military and cyber actions constitute a threat to regional security, but they do not believe it likely that the situation will escalate into war in 2018.

News Reports

• McMaster Says U.S. Must Reveal 'Insidious' Russian Meddling To Prevent Further Attacks RFE/RL 03 Jan 2018 -- Top White House adviser H.R. McMaster says one of the most important tasks in defending U.S. national security is to reveal Russia's "insidious" interference in elections worldwide to prevent Moscow from meddling again in the democratic process.
• North Korea leader orders hotline with South reopened Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un has given an order to reopen a cross-border telephone hotline with South Korea, as Pyongyang and Seoul make overtures to one another.
• Haley warns of 'tougher measures' if North Korea stages new missile test Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley says North Korea is possibly preparing for a new missile test, warning of "tougher measures" against the South Asian country.
• Trump boasts of bigger 'nuclear button' than Kim Jong-un's Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has made a sharp retort to the North Korean leader's recent threat that he had a nuclear button on his desk, saying his nuclear button "is a much bigger & more powerful one than his."
• Trump Says U.S. 'Nuclear Button' Much Bigger Than North Korea's RFE/RL 03 Jan 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has responded to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's boast that he has a "nuclear button" on his desk by warning that the United States has a "bigger and more powerful" nuclear trigger.
• Pyongyang, Seoul Hold Phone Call Via Reopened Hotline – S Korean Official Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- The North and South Korean liaison officers have held a phone conversation via the reopened communication channel in Panmunjom, the shared border village, South Korea's Unification Ministry official said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
• Kim Jong-un Gives Order to Open Border Hotline Between Two Koreas Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the reopening of a contact channel between Pyongyang and Seoul to discuss issues related to the upcoming Olympic games in Pyeongchang, Ri Son Gwon, the head of North Korea's agency handling inter-Korean affairs, said as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
• UN officials welcome reopening of communications between two Koreas UN News 03 Jan 2018 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the reopening of the communication channel between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea, his deputy spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Sharp Reactions in Congress to Trump Tweet on North Korea VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tweet warning North Korea's leader that he has a "Nuclear Button" that is "much bigger & more powerful" than Kim Jong Un's set off a series of sharp reactions Wednesday on Capitol Hill as the Senate gaveled in for its first day of business in 2018.
• US-North Korea Nuclear Button Explainer VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday in response to North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un that his nuclear button is "bigger" and "more powerful" than Kim's.
• Rouhani in a phone call with French counterpart: ISNA 03 Jan 2018 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described bilateral, regional and international cooperation and relations between Iran and France as contributing to development of peace, stability and security in the region and stressed the need to further deepen Tehran-Paris ties.
• Iranians hold nationwide rallies to denounce riots, back Islamic establishment Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- Iranians from all walks of life have taken to the streets of several cities to renew their allegiance to the Islamic establishment and condemn the recent wave of deadly violence in some areas.
• Enemies target Iran due to its resistance, support for oppressed: IRGC chief Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says enemies have been struggling to pose cultural and economic threats to the Islamic Republic, which has stood up to their hegemonic moves.
• Pro-Government Supporters Take To Iran's Streets In Wake Of Antigovernment Protests RFE/RL 03 Jan 2018 -- Tens of thousands of Iranians have rallied in support of the government in several cities following several days of protests and deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces that have left at least 22 dead.
• U.S. Says New Iran Sanctions Being Considered; Trump Offers 'Support' At 'Appropriate Time' RFE/RL 03 Jan 2018 -- A senior U.S. administration official says the United States is considering imposing new sanctions on Iran over its crackdown on antigovernment protests, which have led to clashes between demonstrators and security forces and left at least 22 people dead.
• The Hard-Liner Tehran Blames For Igniting Iran's Protest Anger RFE/RL 03 Jan 2018 -- Once he decided to publicly address the antiestablishment unrest that's been roiling Iran since late last month, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on January 2 blamed foreign "enemies."
• Hundreds of Iranians Take Part in Demonstrations Against Violence - Reports Sputnik 03 Jan 2018 -- Several hundred people on Wednesday took to the streets of a number of Iranian cities to protest against outbreaks of violence during anti-government demonstrations that hit the country, local media reported.
• Amid wave of protests in Iran, UN rights chief urges impartial probe into all acts of violence UN News 03 Jan 2018 -- The top United Nations human rights official on Wednesday urged the Iranian authorities to handle the protests that have taken place around the country "with great care" so as not to further inflame violence and unrest.
• Trump Vows New Support for Iranian People VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump promised new support for the Iranian people Wednesday, even as Iran's state media reported that tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators staged rallies across the country after days of anti-government protests.
• VP Pence Vows US Solidarity With Iranian Protesters VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has vowed the United States will stand with Iranian anti-government protesters for the long haul, and he said President Donald Trump stands ready to back the uprising with more than just words.
• One Difference Between 2009 vs 2018 Iran Protests? 48 Million Smartphones VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- In 2009, the world watched as Iranians marching in the streets turned to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to organize and share information.
• How Iran Protests Play into Middle East Power Struggles VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- "Part of me is feeling hope," said Arash Azizi, a New York University researcher, far from his home in Iran. "We see the rising up of the downtrodden."
• Turkish Banker Convicted of Laundering Iran-Turkey Deals Through US Banks VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- A Turkish banker has been convicted in a U.S. court for participating in a billion-dollar plot to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran.
• Russia's oil production highest since 1999 Press TV 03 Jan 2018 -- New figures show Russia's oil production in 2017 increased to the highest level in the past 30 years to reach an average of 10.9 million barrels per day.
• Saakashvili Says Russia's FSB Involved In Fabricating Evidence Against Him For Kyiv Trial RFE/RL 03 Jan 2018 -- Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of Ukraine's Movement of New Forces party and the former president of Georgia, has accused Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) of involvement in the fabrication of evidence used against him at a trial in Kyiv.
• Zimbabwe Minister Says No Electoral Reforms Needed VOA 03 Jan 2018 -- Zimbabwe's new justice minister is rejecting calls for major electoral reforms ahead of nationwide polls expected later this year.