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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 17 Sep2018 [PDF]
• Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIS Targets in Iraq, Syria AFPS 17 Sep 2018 -- Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to pursue the lasting defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in designated parts of Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Brave Rifles and Coalition Mortarmen Train Iraqi Troops Army News 17 Sep 2018 -- Mortarmen from Bandit Troop, 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, conducted training for Iraqi troops alongside mortar instructors from the Australian and New Zealand military, Sep. 1-12, 2018.
• 'Time for important decisions,' head of UN in Afghanistan tells Security Council UN News 17 Sep 2018 -- With parliamentary elections one month away and a major ministerial conference planned for November in Geneva, the United Nation's Special Representative for Afghanistan briefed the Security Council on Monday, noting that "preparations are on track" but that many challenges lie ahead, including increased security concerns.
• US Army Soldiers continue hurricane response operations in North and South Carolina Army News 17 Sep 2018 -- High-water vehicles, helicopters, swift boats and service members leap into action to assist those affected by the flooding from Hurricane Florence. The Total Army Force -- U.S. Army, the U.S. Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve -- are actively supporting FEMA, local municipalities, and citizens, as creeks and rivers rise above flood stage, threatening homes and communities.
• Defenders prepare to support Hurricane Florence relief efforts Army News 17 Sep 2018 -- Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command prepared to respond to the devastation from Hurricane Florence as the storm made landfall in the Carolinas Friday.
• National Guard answers call for Hurricane Florence AFNS 17 Sep 2018 -- National Guard members have flowed in from at least 28 states to help North and South Carolina units support civil authorities following Hurricane Florence.
• National Guard Answers the Call for Hurricane Florence AFPS 17 Sep 2018 -- National Guard members have flowed in from at least 28 states to help North and South Carolina units support civil authorities following Hurricane Florence.
• NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Supports Movement of Ships and Aircraft in Response to Florence Threat NNS 17 Sep 2018 -- Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Norfolk provided logistics support for ship and aircraft movements, along with supporting shore facilities preparing for Hurricane Florence, beginning September 10 and continuing throughout the week.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army materiel enterprise, industrial base surge to rebuild 'golden HETs' Army News 17 Sep 2018 -- The first two newly rebuilt Heavy Equipment Transport trucks equipped with C-kit belly-plate armor, or "golden HETs," arrived at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait, Sept. 11.
• Preparing for future battlefields: The Next Generation Combat Vehicle Army News 17 Sep 2018 -- While our current combat fleet is composed of very capable vehicles, these vehicles have been in the inventory for decades and their ability to overmatch peer capabilities in close combat is starting to wane. As the Army prepares for future combat operations, it needs new platforms, with future growth margins, to maintain our ability to dominate the battlefield.
• Air Force: Launching Space Force Will Cost $13 Billion Over 5 Years VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- The military's new Space Force, if approved by Congress, will initially consist of 13,000 personnel and cost nearly $13 billion over five years, according to a U.S. Air Force memo obtained on Monday by VOA.
• SecAF Wilson provides Air Force update AFNS 17 Sep 2018 -- Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson presented an update of the state of the Air Force Sept. 17, during the 2018 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor.
• The Air Force We Need: 386 operational squadrons AFNS 17 Sep 2018 -- Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced the results of an in-depth analysis aimed at outlining what the Air Force needs to implement the National Defense Strategy while speaking at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference Sept. 17.
• Joint U.S. Forces Team for Exercise Valiant Shield 2018 NNS 17 Sep 2018 -- U.S. military forces from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command are scheduled to participate in exercise Valiant Shield (VS) 2018, Sept. 16-23, around the Marianas Island Range Complex as well as on Guam.
• Jason Dunham Provides Defense for Theater Amphibious Combat Rehearsal 18 NNS 17 Sep 2018 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) participated in the Theater Amphibious Combat Rehearsal (TACR) 18 with multiple U.S. Navy and Marine Corps counterpart forces in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 14.
• UCT 2 Conducts Underwater Demolition to Improve Port Access NNS 17 Sep 2018 -- Sailors from the U.S. Navy's Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 conducted an underwater demolition blast to remove a hazard to navigation at the Chuuk Main Cargo Wharf, in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Sept. 9.
• U.S. Troops Participate in Exercise Northern Challenge 2018 NNS 17 Sep 2018 -- U.S. Armed Forces are participating in the annual Iceland-led exercise Northern Challenge 2018 in Keflavik, Iceland, starting Sept. 17, 2018.
• The Way of the Future: 3-D Printing NNS 17 Sep 2018 -- On August 24, 2018, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) faced a problem that didn't have a quick solution: A bolt from a hangar bay door roller assembly was stressed to the point of breaking, rendering the door unable to perform its basic task of opening and closing. In order for Chung-Hoon to get this one bolt, they would need to order a whole new roller assembly, which would take time Chung-Hoon didn't have.
• US Navy Wants to Replace Cruisers With Big, Multirole Boats Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- As the US Navy begins to think about what will replace its aging Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers, the vision taking shape doesn't look like a cruiser.
• Upping the Ante: NATO Warships Moving Closer to Syrian Coast – Reports Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- NATO is building up its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean as the United States, Britain and France prepare to carry out new strikes against Syria under the pretext of an unlikely Syrian government chemical weapons attack in Idlib province.
• NATO warships moving closer to Syria shores amid looming US airstrikes: Report Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is reportedly beefing up its naval presence in the eastern sector of the Mediterranean Sea amid indications that the United States and its allies would use a staged chemical attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib to launch airstrikes on government forces.
• Mattis Praises Macedonia as 'Stabilizing Force' AFPS 17 Sep 2018 -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis praised Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today, saying the country is a "stabilizing force" in the Balkans.
• Remarks by Secretary Mattis in Skopje, Macedonia DoD 17 Sep 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Mattis Warns Against Russian 'Influence Campaigns' Ahead Of Macedonia Name Referendum RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Macedonia on September 17 with a warning that Russia was attempting to use its money and influence to build opposition to the upcoming referendum on changing the former Yugoslav republic's name.
• Egypt - 120MM Tank Rounds DSCA 17 Sep 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt of forty-six thousand (46,000) M831A1 and M865 rounds and ten thousand (10,000) APFSDS-T rounds for an estimated cost of $99 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Navy's carrier-borne jet force takes off to hit a higher level People's Daily 17 Sep 2018 -- The unit is rapidly approaching full strength as more pilots pass rigorous tests to fly the J-15 fighter in all conditions. Zhao Lei reports.
• 3rd sea trial expected soon for China's aircraft carrier People's Daily 17 Sep 2018 -- China's first domestically made aircraft carrier Type 001A is expected to undergo a third sea trial after military exercises were announced in seas near the city of Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province.
• Dead End for Spike-MR Deal: India Tests Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- The successful tests of the man-portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM), developed by state-run DRDO, come less than a year after the Indian government scrapped a $500 million deal for the Israeli Spike-MR.
• Al-Abadi orders troops deployment along border with Turkey IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- The National Security Council of Iraq in a session presided over by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi approved deployment of border guards along borders with Turkey.
• Japanese submarine conducts first naval exercises in South China Sea Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- A Japanese submarine has for the first time joined a naval drill in the South China Sea, in a move likely to anger Beijing which claims most of the disputed waters.
• Japanese Submarine Taking Part in S China Drills for 1st Time - Defense Ministry Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- A submarine from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is engaged in the drills in the South China Sea for the first time, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 17, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 17 September 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 Sep 2018
• In a complex world, 'we need to take the right road': outgoing General Assembly President UN News 17 Sep 2018 -- The outgoing UN General Assembly President, Miroslav Lajčák, called on the global community on Monday to remain steadfast in support of multilateralism, reiterating that it is the only way to address the complex and growing challenges facing the world.
• New Saudi airstrikes kill 11 civilians in Yemen's Hudaydah, Bayda provinces Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- At least eleven civilians have been killed when Saudi warplanes conducted a series of aerial attacks against residential areas across Yemen as the Riyadh regime continues with its atrocious bombardment campaign against its impoverished neighbor.
• Yemeni drone strikes Saudi-led command center in Hudaydah Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Yemeni army soldiers, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have reportedly carried out an aerial attack against an important military target in the country's western coastal province of Hudaydah in retaliation for the Saudi-led devastating military aggression against their impoverished homeland.
• Erdogan, Putin Strike Deal on Idlib Demilitarized Zone VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin say they have reached an agreement that averts a looming military offensive on the Syrian rebel-held Idlib enclave.
• Russia, Turkey agree to create buffer zone in Syria's Idlib Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- The leaders of Turkey and Russia say they have agreed to create a demilitarized buffer zone to separate Syrian government troops from Takfiri militant groups in the northwestern province of Idlib, as Ankara seeks to prevent a full-scale operation by the Damascus government against thousands of terrorists in the militant-held region.
• Turkey to Cooperate With Russia on Eliminating Terrorists in Idlib - Erdogan Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- Turkey is ready to cooperate with Russia on the fight against terrorist groups in the Syrian northwestern province of Idlib, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said ahead of his upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Russia, Turkey Agree To Create Buffer Zone In Syria's Idlib RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- The presidents of Russia and Turkey have agreed to create a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria's Idlib region to separate government and rebel forces.
• Syrian Government Vows to 'Liberate' Idlib from 'Terrorists' VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- Syria appears to be rejecting urgent calls to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in its northern Idlib enclave, the country's last rebel-held area. Despite appeals by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria, the government says it is determined to do whatever it takes to root out "terrorists."
• Heavy losses inflicted on terrorists in Hama, Idleb IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- Syrian army units targeted with artillery fires hideouts and positions of snipers of the terrorist groups in the village of Tal Othman and its surroundings in the northern countryside of Hama Province, killing or injuring many of the terrorists.
• Syria says its air defense shoots down missiles coming from sea, targeting Latakia Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Syria says its air defense system has shot down several missiles fired from the sea, targeting state technical industry institutions in Latakia on Monday night.
• Missiles Fired on Syrian Army Infrastructure in Latakia - Syrian TV Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- A technical manufacturing facility of the Syrian Army was one of the targets of a missile attack on the coastal city of Latakia Monday evening. One Syrian security source told Sputnik News many of the missiles were repelled by the country's air defense system.
• Turkey sends large batch of reinforcements to military post in Syria's Idlib Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Turkey's military has reportedly deployed its most significant batch of reinforcements to Syria's northwestern province of Idlib in weeks, as Ankara strives to prevent a full-scale offensive by the Syrian government against thousands of terrorists in the militant-held region.
• Russia's fresh 'proof' shows Kiev missile downed MH17 flight Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Russia's Defense Ministry has released fresh information showing that the missile which shot down a Malaysia Airlines flight over the conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine in 2014 was fired by Kiev forces, refuting evidence by an investigation group that pointed the finger of blame at the Kremlin.
• In New Claim, Moscow Says MH17 Missile Came From Ukraine; Kyiv Cries 'Fake' RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- The Russian military has made a new claim about the downing of a passenger jet over the war zone in eastern Ukraine in 2014, asserting that the missile that brought Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 down was sent to Soviet Ukraine after it was made in 1986 and never returned to Russia.
• Russian Military Reveals Evidence Proving Ukraine's Involvement in MH17 Crash Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- New details have emerged about the tragic fate of the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 that crashed in eastern Ukraine in July 2014.
• Senior UN official calls on Israel to stop demolition of Palestinian village in the West Bank UN News 17 Sep 2018 -- The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, expressed concern on Monday "at the intention of the Israeli authorities to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan Al-Ahmar/Abu Al-Helu" in the West Bank, where 181 Palestinians currently live, more than half of whom are children.
• Israeli announces plan to expand settlement in occupied West Bank Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Israeli authorities have announced that they plan to expand a settlement in the southern occupied West Bank as the Tel Aviv regime presses ahead with its land expropriation policies in the occupied territories irrespective of great international outcry.
• Leaders of Ethiopia, Eritrea sign peace accord amid warming relations Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea have signed a peace agreement amid warming relations between the two formerly warring African neighbors.
• Human Rights Council hears plea to protect victims of 'brutal' sexual violence in South Sudan UN News 17 Sep 2018 -- The plight of South Sudan's women and girls "should no longer be ignored", UN investigators told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, citing the disturbing testimonies of sexual abuse victims who have been treated by soldiers and militias as the "spoils" of the more than five-year conflict.
• S. Sudan President Kiir Phones Machar in Bid to End Fighting VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir says he called rebel leader Riek Machar to urge him to pull back his troops after reports of fighting in parts of Yei River state.
• Top UN official in Nigeria condemns killing of abducted aid worker; calls for immediate release of two others UN News 17 Sep 2018 -- The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, condemned on Monday the killing of an aid worker who had been held captive by a non-state armed group in north-east Nigeria since March.
• UN: Widespread Violations in Burundi May Amount to Crimes Against Humanity VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi accused the country of persistent and widespread violations of human rights, some of which it says constitute crimes against humanity.

News Reports

• 'Unprecedented Audacity': A 'Magic' Comeback For Kremlin's Candidate In Disputed Gubernatorial Ballot RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- Less than a week before the gubernatorial runoff in Russia's Far East Primorsky Krai, President Vladimir Putin met with the Kremlin-backed candidate, who had failed to secure the required majority to defeat his Communist Party runner-up outright in the first round.
• Communists Cry Foul Over Opponent's Sudden Surge In Russian Runoff Vote RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- Supporters of Russia's Communist Party are protesting after the ruling United Russia party's candidate suddenly surged ahead in the final stages of the vote count in a runoff election for governor of the Primorye region.
• Russian Activist Verzilov Doing 'Better' After Possible Poisoning RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- Russian activist Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot and the dissident art troupe Voina, is doing better since he arrived in Berlin for treatment following a suspected poisoning, friends say.
• Yemen busts espionage network affiliated to UAE IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- The Interior Ministry of the national salvation government of Yemen announced Sunday night that it had busted a espionage network linked to the intelligence service of the United Arab Emirates.
• Stop spying, sabotage activities against mainland: China to Taiwan Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Beijing says Taiwan has "significantly increased" its spying activities against mainland China, calling on the self-ruled island to swiftly stop such "infiltration" and "sabotage" attempts.
• Taiwan rebuts Chinese allegations of espionage as fake news CNA 17 Sep 2018 -- The Presidential Office hit back Monday at Beijing over Chinese media accusations that Taiwanese intelligence agents have been recruiting Chinese students studying in Taiwan to spy for China, saying the reports are misinformation aimed at undermining relations across the Taiwan Strait.
• Switzerland Demands Russia 'End Illegal Activities' After Two Suspected Spy Cases RFE/RL 17 Sep 2018 -- A diplomatic war of words between Switzerland and Russia has intensified, with the Swiss demanding that Moscow cease spying activities on its territory after two suspected espionage cases came to light in recent days.
• Russia Calls Swiss Accusations Regarding Security Service Activity Absurd Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Monday that he wanted to discuss the matter regarding two Russian nationals suspected of spying on the Spiez laboratory near Bern at his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov next week, the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported on Monday.
• Bern Curtails Russian Diplomats, Alleges Wrongdoing - Swiss Foreign Ministry Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- Switzerland has tightened the procedure for accrediting Russian diplomats, due to suspicions of illegal activity, the Swiss Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.
• WikiLeaks Denies Reports About Assange's Attempts to Get Russian Visa Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- The WikiLeaks founder was accused of rape and molestation days ahead of the bombshell revelation of US diplomatic cables. He claims that the charges are false and invented only to arrest him so he can be deported to the US, which seeks his capture over the major leak.
• Signs that North Korea is 'maintaining nuclear weapons programme' - UN political affairs chief UN News 17 Sep 2018 -- There are signs that North Korea (formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK), is "still maintaining and developing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes", Rosemary di Carlo, United Nations political affairs chief, told the Security Council on Monday.
• US: Russia 'Cheating' on North Korea Sanctions Implementation VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Russia of "cheating" on international sanctions against North Korea, saying Moscow is undermining U.S. efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.
• Moon, Kim Prepare for 3rd Inter-Korean Summit VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in travels to Pyongyang Tuesday with a delegation numbering nearly 200, including leaders from some of the country's largest companies, for his third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
• Leaders of S.Korea, DPRK to sit face to face at least twice during summit: Blue House People's Daily 17 Sep 2018 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un would sit face to face at least twice during their third summit in Pyongyang scheduled to last for three days from Tuesday, the presidential Blue House of South Korea said Monday.
• US envoy to UN accuses Russia of 'cheating' on North Korea sanctions Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has accused Russia of "cheating" on UN sanctions on North Korea and said Washington has "evidence of consistent and wide-ranging violations" by Moscow.
• Russia Denies US Accusations of Violating North Korea Sanctions - UN Ambassador Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- Russia refutes the claims made by the United States that Moscow has breached the sanctions regime against North Korea, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday.
• Denuclearization to Become Key Issue at Moon-Kim Summit - Seoul Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will become a central theme of the bilateral negotiations between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in on Tuesday and Wednesday, Im Jong-seok, the chief of staff of the South Korean President, said on Monday.
• Russia: IAEA reports shows Iran's full compliance with JCPOA IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- Russia's representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov says the recent report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicated Iran's full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• Iran nuclear chief: Fate of JCPOA, one of most important global concerns IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi said on Monday that the fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – known as Iran nuclear deal – is one of the most important global concerns.
• Amano: Iran implementing JCPOA commitments IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- Tehran is complying with its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano said.
• US threatens countries cooperating with Iran IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once again made anti-Iran comments on Monday morning, threatening countries which keep economic relations and cooperation with Tehran.
• Tehran urges Europe to try more to keep Iran nuclear deal IRNA 17 Sep 2018 -- Iran is constantly in touch with Europe and is looking for some mechanisms which help Iran-Europe continue their economic relations, said the spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his weekly press conference on Monday.
• Seoul says still discussing Iran waivers with US Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- South Korea says it is still negotiating with the US to obtain waivers from sanctions that ban purchases of oil from Iran.
• US pullout from nuclear deal jeopardizes regional, global security: Iran Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi says the United States' withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic will have serious negative effects on the regional and international peace and security.
• Iran complying with nuclear deal commitments: IAEA's Amano Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano has reaffirmed that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear agreement reached between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015.
• Russia says Iran sanctions 'unproductive', warns of impacts Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Russia has described emerging US sanctions against Iran as 'unproductive' with the country's top energy official warning that there would be consequences for the world should Iran's oil supplies to global markets are halted due to the sanctions.
• Iran 'has received new trade proposals from Europe' Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Iran has received new proposals from Europe that would potentially meet its demand for practical guarantees for continued trade and keep Iran in a nuclear deal with five world powers, says the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, amid attempts by the United States to derail that agreement.
• Turkey to create joint bank with Iran to help trade in local currencies Press TV 17 Sep 2018 -- Turkey is reportedly looking into a plan to establish a join bank with Iran to help both countries trade in local currencies as US pressures to restrict their access to the dollar are already mounting.
• China's radio telescope 'FAST' to be put into use in 2019 People's Daily 17 Sep 2018 -- China's 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope or FAST is expected to be put into use for Chinese astronomers next year, announced Chinese astronomer Li Di from Chinese Academy of Science on Saturday.
• UK, India Space Agencies Launch Twin Satellites Into Orbit, Collaborate Efforts Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- A joint venture between British, Australian, and Indian governments sent two state-of-the-art satellites into orbit on Sunday. Indian and British experts have hailed the project as the first of its kind and will help the British space industry achieve new ground on future programs.
• Moscow Regrets Ukraine's Termination Treaty of Friendship With Russia Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has executed a decision endorsed by his National Security and Defense Council to scrap the Russian–Ukrainian friendship treaty, his administration's press service said in a statement.