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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Brave Rifles kick off mission in Iraq Army News 29 May 2018 -- The 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles" from Fort Hood, Texas, officially assumed the mission from the outgoing 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Patriots," 10th Mountain Division, from Fort Polk, Louisiana, during a ceremony held May 28, 2018.
• Financial sustainment of the Afghan security forces key to lasting security in Afghanistan NATO 29 May 2018 -- NATO Allies and partners are staying the course in their support to the financial sustainment of the Afghan security forces. At the yearly plenary meeting of the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund Board, held today (Tuesday, 29 May 2018) at NATO Headquarters, they reviewed – together with representatives of the donor community – the Trust Fund management arrangements and implementation.
• 'Nine civilians killed in Afghan special operation' Press TV 29 May 2018 -- Nine civilians have been killed in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar in what seems to have been a botched operation by Afghan special forces.
• Afghan MPs Demand Annulment of Deal Allowing US Troops to Stay Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- The agreement was signed in 2014 after the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani, permitting a portion of NATO's troops, mostly American, to remain in the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 401st Army Field Support Brigade issues first 'configured for combat' equipment set from APS-5 Army News 29 May 2018 -- The 401st Army Field Support Brigade issued the first combat configured equipment set from Army Prepositioned Stocks-5 to the 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division here, May 9-20.
• 101st Division's Red Knights hone air assault artillery capabilities with 'fight tonight' mentality Army News 29 May 2018 -- The Red Knights battalion platoon-level artillery external evaluation, or Tables 11-12, is a twice-a-year exercise that concludes Friday. The training advances the battalion's combat effectiveness and readiness.
• MP brigade sets stage for Saber Strike 18 Army News 29 May 2018 -- As Saber Strike 18 approaches, the 18th Military Police Brigade is preparing for its key roles during the multinational exercise.
• United States Settles Lawsuit Alleging That Contractor Falsely Overcharged the U.S. Navy for Ship Husbanding Services US Dept. of Justice 29 May 2018 -- Inchcape Shipping Services Holdings Limited and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, Inchcape) have agreed to pay $20,000,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly overbilling the U.S. Navy under contracts for ship husbanding services, the Department of Justice announced today. Inchcape is a marine services contractor headquartered in the United Kingdom.
• Despite China's Objections, US to Continue Freedom of Navigation Operations VOA 29 May 2018 -- The U.S. military will continue sailing ships near disputed islands in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis insisted Tuesday, despite Beijing's increased complaints about the operations.
• Davis-Monthan wraps up first Red Flag-Rescue exercise AFNS 29 May 2018 -- Personnel Recovery and Combat Air Force assets from around the country convened at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, for the first execution of Red Flag-Rescue May 5-19, 2018.
• USS Manchester Commissioned as Navy's Newest Surface Ship AFPS 29 May 2018 -- The littoral combat ship USS Manchester was commissioned as the Navy's newest surface combatant vessel during a ceremony here, May 26.
• Army Military Police, Engineers Prepare for Exercise Saber Strike 2018 AFPS 29 May 2018 -- Soldiers with the 18th Military Police Brigade and the 15th Engineer Battalion are here preparing to participate in Saber Strike 2018, a multinational exercise.
• Press briefing by Secretary Mattis enroute to PACOM DoD 29 May 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Ronald Reagan Strike Group Departs for Patrol NNS 29 May 2018 -- The forward-deployed Ronald Reagan Strike Group departed Yokosuka, Japan, May 29, for a regularly scheduled patrol to operate in the western Pacific Ocean.
• Normandy Hosts US Ambassador to Greece, Governor of South Aegean NNS 29 May 2018 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Greece and governor of the South Aegean Region during a reception held aboard, May 24.
• USS Normandy Arrives In Santorini NNS 29 May 2018 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) arrived in Santorini, Greece, for a scheduled port visit to strengthen U.S. and Hellenic relations as the two nations work in partnership to fortify security and stability in the region.
• USS Hue City Renders Emergency Medical Assistance at Sea NNS 29 May 2018 -- Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rendered emergency medical assistance to an injured fisherman off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, May 24.
• USS Harry S. Truman Departs Crete NNS 29 May 2018 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is back at sea following a four day port visit to Souda Bay, Crete, May 23-27.
• First ASW/SUW WTI Re-Blue Increases Surface Fleet Warfighting Capability, Readiness, Lethality NNS 29 May 2018 -- More than seventy Anti-Submarine/Surface Warfare (ASW/SUW) Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTI) participated in the first ASW/SUW WTI Re-Blue here, May 22-24. Re-Blue events are an investment in WTI career professional development and bring together WTIs of each type - ASW/SUW, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), or Amphibious Warfare (AMW) - to exchange lessons learned and doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) updates from the Fleet, and to build esprit de corps within the cadre.
• USS Reagan Aircraft Carrier Deploys Again After 'Material Issue' Delay Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- The US Navy's only "forward deployed" aircraft carrier, based in Yokosuka, Japan, is back to sailing on the high seas following a nearly two-week delay in its deployment schedule.
• NATO starts Montenegro air patrols NATO 29 May 2018 -- NATO Allies Italy and Greece will begin NATO air patrols over Montenegro on 5 June 2018. Montenegro joined NATO in June last year. As the country does not have its own fighter planes, it has asked Allies to help secure its airspace. NATO air policing missions protect the skies of those Allies that do not have their own air force. There are currently several of these air policing missions across Europe.
• Colombia to Refrain From Joining NATO Operations Despite Partner Status Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- Colombia will not participate in NATO military operations after becoming a partner of the alliance, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Tuesday.
• Russia refutes reports of intercepting Israeli jets over Lebanon Press TV 29 May 2018 -- Moscow has rejected an Israeli media report that a Russian jet intercepted the regime's warplanes over Lebanon, saying Russian aircraft conduct no mission in Lebanese skies.
• Chinese aircraft carrier forming all-weather combat capability with successful night takeoff and landing People's Daily 29 May 2018 -- China's first operational aircraft carrier, known as the Liaoning, recently completed its nighttime takeoff and landing mission, signaling that this carrier has initial all-weather capabilities, a key step toward the formation of practical capabilities for combat.
• China is Speeding Up Its Development of New Nuclear Armaments - Report Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- China has reportedly been conducting roughly five times more tests simulating nuclear explosions in recent years than the US, which recently announced a modernization program for its nuclear arsenal.
• India to Locally Build Infrared Tracking System for Su-30MKI Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- Over the last eight months, India's defense ministry has approved procurement of equipment valued at approx $6.5 billion of which $4.8 billion will be Made-in-India.
• Iran missile development project will never stop: Dy commander IRNA 29 May 2018 -- Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami said on Monday that nobody can take away missile project from Iran and "everybody who fears can take shelter."
• Military to test air raid text-alert system in upcoming drill CNA 29 May 2018 -- Taiwan's military will test a new air raid text-alert system at an annual air defense drill to be held next month, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced Tuesday.
• Defence Secretary praises troops about to embark on countering elephant and rhino poaching operation UK MOD 29 May 2018 -- Gavin Williamson has praised British Army personnel who are preparing to train park rangers in Malawi in techniques that will help them protect African elephants and for the first time, black rhinos from poachers.
• Syria Assumes Presidency of UN Disarmament Conference VOA 29 May 2018 -- The United States on Tuesday walked out of the Conference on Disarmament to protest Syria's assumption of the rotating presidency of the 65-member U.N. body.
• US confirms Polish request for $2bn military base to deter Russia Press TV 29 May 2018 -- The US State Department has confirmed reports about Poland's offer of up to $2 billion for a permanent US military base within its borders, which Warsaw says will act as a deterrent against Russia.
• Department Press Briefing - May 29, 2018 US Dept. of State 29 May 2018
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders The White House 29 May 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 11, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 29 May 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 29 May 2018
• Philippines ready for war with China over South China Sea islands Press TV 29 May 2018 -- The Philippines has announced that it is prepared to go to war with China if it crosses "red lines" and starts to claim natural resources in the disputed South China Sea.
• 1,000-plus Saudi forces killed in war on Yemen: Reports Press TV 29 May 2018 -- More than 1,000 Saudi troops have reportedly been killed since early 2015, when the Riyadh regime and a coalition of its allies unleashed a bloody war against Yemen.
• UN Concerned as Saudi-Led Coalition Advances Near Port in Yemen – Spokesman Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- The United Nations is concerned about the situation in Yemen's Hodeidah and is taking precautionary steps to address any further escalation as the Saudi-led coalition advances near the port city, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing.
• Saudi Coalition, Yemen Government Forces Advance on Houthi-Held Port VOA 29 May 2018 -- Saudi-led coalition forces are claiming to have advanced to within fewer than 20 kilometers from Yemen's Houthi-held port city of Hodeida, where Saudi forces claim Iran has been supplying the Houthis with weapons.
• Erdogan, Putin stress Syria's territorial integrity, importance of Astana talks Press TV 29 May 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have underlined the importance of Syria's sovereignty and achievements gained in the Astana peace negotiations for a political solution in war-torn Syria.
• UN Investigating Attacks On Syrian Hospitals After Locations Shared With Russia RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- The United Nations is investigating attacks on hospitals and clinics in Syria carried out after their locations were disclosed to Russia, the UN aid chief says.
• SDF and Iraqi Forces Advance to Daesh-Controlled Area on Syrian-Iraqi Border Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- Units of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are heading toward Syria's border area of Dashishah, which is controlled by the Daesh terrorist group, with the support of the Iraqi Armed Forces, a spokeswoman of SDF's Al-Jazeera Storm campaign Leilwa Abdullah told Sputnik on Tuesday.
• UN aid chief highlights 2 million Syrians in greatest need UN News 29 May 2018 -- Less than 20 per cent of the "desperate" civilians living in Syria's hard-to-reach areas have got the humanitarian aid they need so far this year, a senior United Nations official warned on Tuesday, calling for the Security Council to help ease their plight.
• Armenia calls for peaceful resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict IRNA 29 May 2018 -- Armenian Prime Minister said on Tuesday that resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through peaceful means is at the interest of all countries and the region.
• UN calls for 'new political energy' to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine UN News 29 May 2018 -- The United Nations top political affairs official on Tuesday stressed the need to breathe life back into ongoing efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, now in its fifth year, which has killed and injured thousands of civilians, plunging the country into a humanitarian crisis.
• Georgia Severs Relations With Syria For Recognizing Abkhazia, South Ossetia RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- Georgia says it will sever diplomatic relations with Syria over its decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.
• EU Slams Syria's Recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia as Int'l Law's Violation Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- The European Union views the decision of Syria to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as a violation of international law, spokeswoman for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Maja Kocijancic said in a statement.
• Syria Recognizes Independence of Abkhazia, S Ossetia Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- Syria has recognized the independence of Abkhazia and decided to establish diplomatic relations with the republic, Abkhazia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
• In Mali, Guterres honours dedication and sacrifice of UN peacekeepers UN News 29 May 2018 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Mali on Tuesday, to honour the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers around the world, and mark the official International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
• Israeli Jets Strike Gaza Strip After Shelling VOA 29 May 2018 -- The strikes came hours after the Israel Defense Forces said militants in Gaza fired at least 25 mortar shells toward several sites in southern Israel.

News Reports

• US: Religious Freedom 'Under Assault' Across Globe VOA 29 May 2018 -- The U.S. declared Tuesday that religious freedom is "under assault" across the globe.
• Release of the 2017 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom US Dept. of State 29 May 2018 -- Remarks by Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State
• Briefing on the Release of the 2017 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom US Dept. of State 29 May 2018 -- Special Briefing by Sam Brownback, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
• Russian Journalist, Kremlin Critic Who Fled To Ukraine Shot Dead In Kyiv RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- Police in Kyiv say Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, who fled his country to escape what he called "political harassment," has been shot dead in a killing that Ukraine's prime minister blamed on Moscow.
• DPRK urges U.S. to stop joint military drills with S. Korea People's Daily 29 May 2018 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday urged the United States to stop its large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea to create a favorable atmosphere for dialogue.
• Trump confirms senior North Korean official en route to US Press TV 29 May 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has confirmed that a senior North Korean official is en route to New York as part of preparations for the June 12 summit between him and Kim Jong-un.
• North Korea testing diplomatic waters with US Press TV 29 May 2018 -- North Korea is involved in a rare active diplomacy with the United States apparently to explore whether a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump can proceed.
• North Korea must scrap nukes, reiterate US, Japan Press TV 29 May 2018 -- The United States and Japan have reiterated their stance towards nuclear weapons in possession of North Korea asserting that they should be scrapped.
• North Korean Vice Chairman Kim Yong Chol Heading to New York - Trump Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North Korean ruling Workers' Party, arrived in Beijing on his way to the United States, where he will negotiate the possible summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
• Pompeo to Meet with Top N. Korean Official in NY VOA 29 May 2018 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet later this week with a North Korean four-star general in New York for talks related to a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader, according to the White House.
• India, Top Iranian Oil Importer, Says Will Not Heed U.S. Sanctions RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- India will keep trading with Iran and Venezuela despite the threat of penalties for violating U.S. sanctions recently announced against the two countries, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has said.
• China surprised by Washington's new trade statement Press TV 29 May 2018 -- China has expressed surprise at a new statement from the United States indicating that Washington will go on with imposing trade restrictions on China despite a general consensus reached between the two countries earlier this month.
• China welcomes all UN member states to jointly utilize its space station People's Daily 29 May 2018 -- China announced Monday that all member states of the United Nations are welcome to cooperate with China to jointly utilize its future China Space Station (CSS).
• Five satellite navigation industrial clusters formed in China People's Daily 29 May 2018 -- Five satellite navigation industrial clusters have been formed in China, although there is a bubble risk in some of the industrial parks, experts said on Monday.
• Doctors At First Doubted Skripals Would Survive Nerve-Agent Poisoning RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- A hospital consultant who treated former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, for exposure to a military-grade nerve agent did not at first think the two would survive, he said in an interview with BBC's Newsnight.
• Ex-Spymaster Claims Pakistani Gov't Handed Bin Laden Over to US, Gets Travel Ban Sputnik 29 May 2018 -- Bin Laden, one of the world's most wanted terrorists, was killed during an elaborate operation in 2011 that provoked widespread resentment in Pakistan. Islamabad has claimed it didn't know about the operation due to an intelligence failure, while the Pakistani army has called the operation a "misadventure."
• Political rivals seek roadmap for lawless Libya Press TV 29 May 2018 -- Libya's rival leaders have met in the French capital, Paris, to agree on a political roadmap in an effort to bring order to chaos gripping the North African country.
• Is Libya Ready for Elections? VOA 29 May 2018 -- Rival Libyan leaders and diplomats from more than 20 countries meeting Tuesday in Paris agreed in principle the strife-torn North African state should hold elections later this year.
• Suspected terrorist attack kills 4 in Belgium Press TV 29 May 2018 -- A suspected terrorist attack in the Belgian city of Liege has left a total of four people dead, including the attacker.
• 'Radicalized' Gunman in Belgium Kills Three In 'Terrorist' Shooting RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- A gunman shot dead two police officers and a bystander in the Belgian city of Liege during what officials say was a terrorist attack by a radicalized "lone wolf" just out of prison.
• International Hacker-For-Hire Who Conspired With and Aided Russian FSB Officers Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison US Dept. of Justice 29 May 2018 -- Karim Baratov, aka Kay, aka Karim Taloverov, aka Karim Akehmet Tokbergenov, 23, was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay a fine, which encompasses all of his remaining assets.
• United States Citizen Sentenced to 35 Years for Providing Material Support to Al-Shabaab US Dept. of Justice 29 May 2018 -- Maalik Alim Jones, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support to al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization based in Somalia, conspiring to receive military training from al-Shabaab, and carrying and using an AK-47 machinegun, rocket-propelled grenades, and other destructive devices in furtherance of his support for al-Shabaab.
• Ebola Vaccination Campaign Launches in DR Congo VOA 29 May 2018 -- Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo began a vaccination drive to control an Ebola outbreak that has infected more than 50 people and killed as many as 25. But as aid workers and health experts say this vaccination drive is a careful, methodical process in which trust is a key element.
• Azerbaijan's Aliyev Hails Pipeline As Creating 'New European Energy Map' RFE/RL 29 May 2018 -- Azerbaijan has inaugurated the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project aimed at transporting natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe, bypassing Russia.
• UN releases $2.7 million to help cyclone-hit 'Somaliland'; urges focus on longterm rebuilding UN News 29 May 2018 -- Following a visit to a cyclone-hit community in 'Somaliland', the United Nations has released close to $3 million to help people affected by an unprecedented storm which delivered a full year's worth of rain in just a few days, compounding damage caused by recent severe flooding.
• Reports: Chinese Interference in Australia is Widespread VOA 29 May 2018 -- A top-secret report has raised concerns that China has attempted to influence Australia's political parties for the past decade. An investigation into the scale of foreign interference in Australia was ordered by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2016, leading to new proposed legislation which would ban foreign donations to political candidates.