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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Trump's Afghanistan Strategy Must Be Given Chance to Succeed - Speaker Ryan Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- US President Donald Trump's strategy for Afghanistan and the entire South Asia region must have a chance to succeed, Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan said during a visit to the war-torn country.
• Georgia Air National Guard to provide route clearance in wake of Hurricane Michael AFNS 12 Oct 2018 -- Airmen from the Georgia Air National Guard, 116th Air Control Wing, departed today to provide support to local authorities in Seminole County, Georgia after Hurricane Michael roared through the panhandle of Florida and Georgia.
• AMC provides support in aftermath of Hurricane Michael AFNS 12 Oct 2018 -- Air Mobility Command is prepared to support victims affected by Hurricane Michael, which hit landfall in parts of Florida, Georgia and Alabama on Oct. 10.
• Wisconsin, Ohio Guard troops head to Fla. for Michael relief Army News 12 Oct 2018 -- A team of 12 Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers are headed to Florida to conduct relief operations in support of civil authorities in response to Hurricane Michael.
• Virginia National Guard providing high water transport capabilities, helicopter rescue on standby Army News 12 Oct 2018 -- The Virginia National Guard has two medium tactical vehicles and four Soldiers providing high water transport capabilities today, in Danville, Virginia, after heavy rains caused widespread flooding in the area. A VNG aviation crew of four Soldiers and a team of three Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members are on standby Friday morning in Chesterfield County, and they can be in Danville in an hour if needed. The VNG aviators and Chesterfield rescue technicians form the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to provide rotary wing aviation rescue hoist capabilities that can conduct aerial rescue evacuation.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Shoup Visits Fiji to Promote Maritime Security NNS 12 Oct 2018 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) arrived in Suva, Fiji, as part of the ship's Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) deployment, Oct. 3.
• USS Shoup Conducts Fiji Port Visit as part of OMSI Deployment NNS 12 Oct 2018 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) will arrive in Suva as part of the ship's Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) deployment, Oct. 14.
• NCBC Gulfport provides support for NSA Panama City after Hurricane Michael NNS 12 Oct 2018 -- Personnel at Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Mississippi, have been doing their part to provide relief and support for Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City, Florida, in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.
• NAVFAC Southeast CERT Deploys To Panama City To Assess Damage Caused By Hurricane Michael NNS 12 Oct 2018 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast dispatched one military member and 11 civilian personnel to Naval Support Activity Panama City, Florida, from Naval Air Station Jacksonville Oct. 11, as part of a Contingency Engineering Response Team (CERT) after Hurricane Michael made landfall there.
• SSC Atlantic Tests, Evaluates Gunshot Detection Technology for DoD NNS 12 Oct 2018 -- A Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic team is performing an Office of the Under Secretary of Defense sponsored initiative centered on active shooter detection. The group is currently testing and examining a commercial-grade indoor gunshot detection system (IGDS) to determine feasibility and application across Department of Defense (DoD) facilities.
• Pentagon suspends all F-35 flights after crash People's Daily 12 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday it is suspending all F-35 fighter jet operations after an F-35B jet crashed last month.
• US warship Ronald Reagan joins fleet review off South Korea Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- US nuclear-powered warship USS Ronald Reagan has joined the South Korean naval fleet off for a once-in-a-decade international fleet review in waters off the southern island of Jeju.
• US Navy Approves Year-Long Test of First 3D Printed Part for Shipboard Use Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- A metal drain strainer has been approved as first metal part made with a 3D printer to be installed on a US Navy ship, the Naval Sea Systems Command announced in a press release on Thursday.
• NATO Secretary General visits USS Harry S. Truman, en route to Exercise Trident Juncture NATO 12 Oct 2018 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the North Sea on Friday (12 October 2018), together with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis Scaparrotti. The USS Truman is en route to participate in NATO's biggest exercise in years, Trident Juncture 2018, joining around sixty other ships from across the Alliance.
• NATO Maritime Operations: SECGEN, SACEUR Embark Truman NNS 12 Oct 2018 -- The NATO Secretary General (SECGEN) and the NATO Maritime Allied Commander joined the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Oct. 12 to meet with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Sailors and observe at-sea flight operations .
• Russian nuclear forces hold drills on Putin's order Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- Russia's strategic nuclear forces have staged major military drills in the country's territorial waters, practicing a wide range of nuclear attack and defense scenarios under President Vladimir Putin's direct order.
• Israel grounds F-35 stealth fighter jets over possible fault Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- Israel says it has grounded all of its F-35 stealth fighter jets after the aircraft's engine fuel tubes were suspected to be the cause of a September crash in the US in which the jet was completely destroyed.
• In US' Footsteps: Britain Grounds Entire F-35 Fighter Jet Fleet Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The most expensive weapons system around, the F-35 has been plagued by a flurry of problems which have sent the costs spiraling upward.
• Armed Forces Minister bolsters UK-Italy defence partnership UK MOD 12 Oct 2018 -- Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster bolstered the strong defence relationship between the UK and Italy on a visit to Rome.
• Iran powerful than ever: IRGC commander IRNA 12 Oct 2018 -- Iran is powerful than ever before the US President Donald Trump stepped into power, top commander of Iranian Revolution Guard Corps said on Friday.
• Iran to counter threats to its security beyond its borders: IRGC Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran will give a crushing response to any threat to its security even if it requires extraterritorial operations.
• Iran's IRGC Vow 'Crushing Response' to Threats Beyond State Borders Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- Iran would need "less than 12 minutes" to take control of the Middle East, an Iranian top military commander has warned.
• U.S. moves toward normal military sales to Taiwan: official CNA 12 Oct 2018 -- Randall Schriver, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, said Thursday that the United States is moving toward a "more normal foreign military sales relationship" with Taiwan.
• Belgian F-16 Incident May Be Caused by Accidental Firing From Jet - Reports Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- A fire at an airbase in Belgium, which resulted in the destruction of an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet, might have been caused by a personnel member who had opened fire from a fighter, located at the same maintenance area, by mistake, local media reported.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 12, 2018
• Tests of Russian Upgraded Military Helicopter to Be Completed by Year's End Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The preliminary tests of the Russian modernized Mi-26T2V heavy military transport helicopter are expected to be completed by the end of the year, after which official tests will begin, the Russian Helicopters manufacturing company told Sputnik.

Other Conflicts

• 12 October 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Oct 2018
• Japan Dials Up Pressure on China Over Southeast Asian Sea VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- Warfare exercises in the disputed South China Sea over the past two months reveal a sustained, long-term escalation of Japanese activity in a region where Tokyo has strategic interests that include keeping Beijing in check.
• Russia says Iran's presence in Syria none of Israel's business Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- A senior Russian official has dismissed the Israeli regime's demand that Iran be forced out of Syria, saying that the issue is none of Tel Aviv's business as it is Syria's sovereign right to authorize Iranian forces on its soil.
• Erdogan threatens new incursion into northern Syria Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Turkey could soon launch a new incursion across the border into northern Syria.
• Iraqi Army Strengthens Control of Country's Border With Syria - Statement Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The Iraqi army has strengthened control of the country's border with Syria to prevent infiltration attempts by terrorists, the Iraqi security forces said on Thursday.
• UN welcomes 'milestone' release of 833 Nigerian children from anti-Boko Haram force UN News 12 Oct 2018 -- The United Nations welcomed on Friday as an "important milestone" the release in Nigeria of 833 children by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF); a group formed in 2013 to protect communities and support the country's security forces against Boko Haram extremists.
• Bosnian Muslim Wartime Commander, 16 Others Charged With War Crimes RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- Bosnian Muslim wartime commander Atif Dudakovic and 16 members of his unit were charged on October 11 with carrying out atrocities against Serbs in western Bosnia during the 1992-95 war.
• Hezbollah Leader Responds to Israeli Accusations of Building 'Missile Factory' Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of building a missile factory and hiding it in the civilian infrastructure of Beirut's international airport. Netanyahu showed an aerial image of the alleged factory site during his speech at the UN General Assembly.
• Human Rights Concerns Persist in Eritrea, Months After Peace Deals VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- In signing a historic peace deal with Ethiopia and cooperation agreements with Djibouti and Somalia earlier this year, long-isolated Eritrea gained fresh opportunities to re-emerge on the world stage.

News Reports

• Russia warns 'red line' crossed after Ukraine church split Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- The head of global Orthodox Christianity has recognized Ukrainian churches as independent from the Russian Orthodox Church, sparking cheers in Kiev amid criticisms that Moscow had been trying to promote political influence through its churches.
• Prayers Answered: Ukrainians Greet Church Split With Open Arms, Despite Moscow's Warnings RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- "The Lord has seen the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their independence. He has heard our prayers."
• Amid Church Rift, Kremlin Vows To 'Protect Interests' Of Faithful In Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- The Kremlin has issued a fresh warning following a key step in Kyiv's quest for an independent church that is recognized by the Orthodox Christian leadership, saying Russia will protect the interests of the faithful in Ukraine if the historic split leads to illegal action or violence.
• Putin Discusses Orthodox Church Crisis in Ukraine with Russian Security Council Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- Ukrainian authorities and two rival churches have agreed to work together to avert religious strife after the leader of the Eastern Orthodoxy recognized Kiev's religious independence.
• OFAC Extends Expiration Date of General Licenses Related to EN+ and RUSAL US Treasury 12 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today extended further the expiration date of certain general licenses related to EN+ Group plc (EN+) and United Company RUSAL PLC (RUSAL).
• UK Refuses to Comment on Reports About Increased Intel Exchange on Russia, China Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) on Friday refused to comment to Sputnik on reports that the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which London is a member of, has been exchanging classified information on China's foreign activities with like-minded states since the beginning of the year.
• ICJ last session on Iran complaint against US wraps up IRNA 12 Oct 2018 -- The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ended hearing the US lawyers' defense against the lawsuit filed against the country by Iran.
• Japan asks US to ensure sanctions don't hurt Iran trade Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso has pressed his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin to ensure Japanese firms are not hurt by Washington's sanctions on Iran, Kyodo news agency reported Friday.
• Official Source Welcomes Turkish Presidency Declaration, in Response to KSA Request, to Form Bilateral Experts' Joint Action Team, to Disclose Merits of Citizen J. Khashoggi's Disappearance SPA 12 Oct 2018 -- A Saudi official source welcomed here tonight, a declaration made by the fraternal Turkish Republic President Office, in Response to a Saudi Request to form up a bilateral expert-level Joint Action Team, to disclose the merits of the Saudi national Jamal bin Ahmed Hamza Khashoggi's disappearance, in the city of Istanbul, Turkey.
• American senators: US-Saudi relationship 'on the line' Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- US Senators have warned President Donald Trump that ramping up pressure on the Saudi royal family over the disappearance of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi could endanger relations between Washington and Riyadh.
• Turkish officials have evidence proving Khashoggi was assassinated: Report Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- Turkish officials have shared contents of video and audio recordings that reportedly contain evidence supporting claims that a Washington Post contributor was murdered by the Saudi government with the Trump administration.
• Saudi royals 'disappear' after asking about Khashoggi Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- At least five Saudi royals have reportedly disappeared after they attempted to voice dissatisfaction with the disappearance of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi who recently vanished upon entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
• Turkey Claims it Possesses Video Proving Jamal Khashoggi Was Killed - Report Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The Turkish government has informed US officials it has audio and video recordings proving that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, according to a report by The Washington Post.
• Saudis Face Business Backlash After Journalist Disappears VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday that he would still attend a large investment conference in Saudi Arabia this month, in the face of growing evidence that a Saudi journalist was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
• IMF Sending Team To Pakistan To Discuss Emergency Loan Package RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said she is sending a team to Pakistan in the coming weeks after the government requested emergency bailout loans.
• IMF: Pakistan Submits Request for Emergency Lending VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Pakistan has formally requested financial assistance from the lender to help address the country's economic challenges.
• UN Worker Among Sharp Increase in DRC's Ebola Caseload VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- A U.N. employee in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for Ebola, the first such incident during the current outbreak, according to the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission.
• Insecurity Undermining Ebola Control Efforts in DRC VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- The World Health Organization said that insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu Province is undermining Ebola control efforts. The WHO reports the number of Ebola cases has reached 200, including 125 deaths, and said the virus could spread into Uganda and Rwanda.
• Soyuz Mishap A Reminder There's No Alternative To Russia's Manned Space Vehicles -- For Now RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- Russia's space program was already having a bad year. A suspicious hole discovered on a Russian vessel docked at the International Space Station (ISS) in August prompted speculation about a manufacturing defect or deliberate sabotage. That later gave way to veiled suggestions of politically motivated space skullduggery.
• Russia Suspends Space Launches After Failure, But Still Hopes For December Mission RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- Russia's space agency says that it has suspended all Soyuz launches pending an investigation into the problem that forced a harrowing emergency landing, but the head of its manned program said Moscow still hopes to send a crew to the International Space Station (ISS) in December.
• Turkish court allows US pastor Brunson to go free Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- A Turkish court has ordered the release of an American evangelical Christian pastor whose imprisonment sparked a row between Ankara and Washington.
• Turkish Court Rules To Release U.S. Pastor, Lift Travel Ban RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- A Turkish court has ruled to release American evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest despite sentencing him to three years in prison on terrorism-related charges.
• Turkish Court Frees US Pastor Brunson After Two-Year Detention Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The court case of American evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran Resurrection Church in Turkey for two decades, is over. The pastor has been accused of supporting terrorist groups during a 2016 coup attempt.
• Brunson Released from Prison, Ending US-Turkey Feud VOA 12 Oct 2018 -- A Turkish court on Friday freed American Pastor Andrew Brunson, ending a bitter diplomatic dispute between Washington and Ankara. Brunson was facing 35 years in jail if he had been convicted on terrorism and espionage charges, allegations Washington called baseless.
• 'White House Wants to Kill Me': Maduro Accuses US of Assassination Plot Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro argued on Thursday that the United States had allegedly instructed Colombia to organize his assassination.
• Maduro: White House ordered Colombia to kill me Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said the Trump administration is seeking to assassinate him, as relations strain between the two nations.
• Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Steps Down, Ambassador To Seoul Seeks Asylum Abroad RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- Kyrgyzstan's longtime foreign minister has left his post amid a standoff with the Central Asian nation's ambassador to South Korea, who was dismissed after alleging corruption in the Foreign Ministry and says he is seeking asylum abroad.