Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Jan. 27 - Feb. 9, 2019 CENTCOM 13 Feb 2019 -- Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to target and pursue the enduring defeat of ISIS.
• Afghanistan Mourns Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, Mujahedin Leader Turned President RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- Afghanistan is mourning Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, the country's first president after Soviet forces withdrew 30 years ago following a war of occupation.
• Afghanistan Investigating Fired Electoral Officials RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- Afghan authorities say they have launched an investigation into allegations that two election commissions misused their authority during last year's general elections.
• Pakistan to Host Next Round of US-Taliban Peace Talks VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- American and Taliban officials are set to meet Monday in Pakistan for a new round of direct peace negotiations aimed at paving the way for a political settlement to the 17-year war in Afghanistan.
• US gives lift to French forces Army News 13 Feb 2019 -- It's almost midnight. A 23-year-old American Soldier navigates the red and white lights blinking down on the flight line. He approaches the plane's tailgate and makes a beeline to his French counterpart. She nods at his arrival and reaches for her clipboard.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army modernizing electronic warfare capabilities Army News 13 Feb 2019 -- Iron Soldiers with 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division teamed up with the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division to conduct training using new electronic warfare (EW) equipment and techniques at Fort Bliss, Texas, in December.
• Navy to Commission Littoral Combat Ship Tulsa DoD 13 Feb 2019 -- The Navy will commission its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Tulsa (LCS 16), during a 10 a.m. PST ceremony Saturday, Feb. 16, at Pier 30/32 in San Francisco.
• Future USS Cincinnati Completes Acceptance Trials NNS 13 Feb 2019 -- Future littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) successfully concluded acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico, Feb. 8, following a series of in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.
• USS Porter Departs Plymouth, England NNS 13 Feb 2019 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed Feb. 11 Plymouth, England following a port visit.
• US Navy's Nuclear Command Aircraft Damaged in Hangar Incident Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- On Thursday, the vertical stabilizer at the rear of the US Navy's nuclear command-and-control aircraft struck part of its hangar as it was being towed out and could require millions of dollars in repairs, according to a spokesperson for US Naval Air Forces.
• 35th Fighter Squadron launches into Cobra Gold 19 US Air Force 13 Feb 2019 -- The 35th Fighter Squadron departed on Feb. 6, and the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron departed on Feb. 7 to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold 19 in a historic redeployment to Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand.
• Remarks by Acting Secretary Shanahan with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg at the NATO Defense Ministerial, Brussels, Belgium DoD 13 Feb 2019 -- Acting Secretary Of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan; NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
• Shanahan Joins NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels to Discuss Alliance Deterrence DoD News 13 Feb 2019 -- Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan and his fellow NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels to assess the effectiveness of the alliance's deterrence of Russia, as well as other security challenges, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday.
• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers NATO 13 Feb 2019
• Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels NATO 13 Feb 2019
• Four Allies and one partner will create a regional Special Forces command NATO 13 Feb 2019 -- On Wednesday (13 February 2019), the Defence Ministers from Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish a Regional Special Operations Component Command (R-SOCC) in the margins of the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels.
• Stoltenberg: NATO Mulls Options In Post-INF World, Doesn't Want Arms Race With Russia RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said the alliance is studying a "wide range of options" to deal with alleged Russian violations of a major arms-control agreement, while U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused Moscow of wanting to "dominate" Europe.
• NATO to Respond if Russia Doesn't Fulfill Duties Under INF Treaty - Stoltenberg Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the bloc was getting prepared for a potential cessation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, but it didn't want a new arms race and did not plan to deploy new ground-based missiles in Europe.
• NATO Has No Plans to Deploy New Ground-Based Systems With Nukes in EU - Official Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- Russia issued a mirror-like response to the US decision to suspend the INF Treaty in order to officially exit it in 6 months later. However, Moscow assured that it would not deploy weapons violating the historic accord even if developed them until such US-made weapons appear in Europe and other regions.
• Russian Military to Develop Arms Based on New Physical Principles Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- Russian Military Innovation Technopolis Era will start work on the creation of arms based on new physical principles and of systems for detecting underwater objects, the office of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, who is in charge of the defense industry, told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan's Meeting With UK Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson DoD 13 Feb 2019
• Apache and Wildcat to touch down in Estonia as UK bolsters its commitment to NATO UK MOD 13 Feb 2019 -- Wildcat and Apache helicopters will be deployed to Estonia this year, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced at a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels.
• China launches peacekeeping exhibition at UN headquarters People's Daily 13 Feb 2019 -- A photo exhibition on China's peacekeeping efforts was launched at the UN headquarters in New York on Feb. 11, 2019. It is co-hosted by the Chinese military and the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations and will run until February 22. Some UN officials and permanent representatives to the UN totaling 200 attended the exhibition.
• Dassault Aviation Refuses to Comment on Rafale Jet Crash Reports in Egypt Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation's representatives refused to provide RIA with a comment on media reports about an alleged crash of the company's newest Rafale jet in Egypt.
• US commanders: North Korea unlikely to give up all nuclear weapons Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- The top US military commanders for Asia and South Korea have expressed doubt about North Korea's intention to completely denuclearize, citing an intelligence assessment.
• India to Purchase 21 Russian MiG-29 Jets to Improve Air Combat Strength - Report Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- A top-level Indian Air Force (IAF) team visited a Russian facility to check the MiG-29 fighter jets; later, it submitted a favourable report to IAF Headquarters, according to the news portal Print.
• Iran Navy: Indigenous sub to join fleet within days IRNA 13 Feb 2019 -- A domestically-developed submarine will join Iran's navy fleet in a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani within days, Commander of the Islamic Republic Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said on Wednesday.
• Fateh submarine to join Iran navy fleet with President attendance ISNA 13 Feb 2019 -- Fateh- class submarine will join Iran navy fleet in a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani in coming days, Commander of the Islamic Republic Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi announced on Wednesday.
• PM Abdul-Mahdi says no foreign bases will be accepted on Iraqi soil Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi had told the visiting US defense chief that his country will accept no foreign military bases on its soil, just as it will not take dictates from outsiders.
• Senators introduce resolution to block Saudi from developing nukes Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- US senators have introduced a resolution that would prevent Saudi Arabia from developing a nuclear weapon.
• U.S. Frowns On Armenia's Involvement In Russia-Backed Syria Mission RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- The United States has indicated it does not support Armenia's participation in a Russia-backed mission in war-ravaged Syria, where Yerevan has dispatched demining experts and other personnel.
• 'Firm and Steady Commitment': US Supplies Laser-Guided Rockets to Lebanese Army Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- Last year, Pentagon spokeswoman Rebecca Rebarich reiterated Washington's adherence to providing military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces amid what she described as challenges emanating from Daesh* and Iran.
• Europe Pools Defence Resources, Allocates Millions for Weapons Research Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- The programme "paves way for the first joint industrial projects under the EU budget". The announcement comes shortly after France and Germany signed a bilateral friendship treaty aimed at the creation of a European Army.
• Norwegian Lt General Alleges Russia Conducted 'Mock Air Raid' on Arctic Radar Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- There are no indications that relations between Russia and the West will improve in 2019, Norwegian Lieutenant General Morten Haga Lunde has suggested.
• Remarks at Bemowo Piskie Training Area US Dept. of State 13 Feb 2019 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Defense Industry

• Contracts for February 13, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 13 February 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Feb 2019
• House Backs Ending US Support for Saudis in Yemen War VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- The Democrat-controlled House rebuked President Donald Trump Wednesday and voted to cut off U.S. military assistance to the Saudi coalition fighting in Yemen.
• Jeremy Hunt to chair Yemen Quad meeting on next steps in peace process UK FCO 13 Feb 2019 -- The Foreign Secretary, with US Secretary of State Pompeo, will co-host a Quad meeting to discuss the Yemen crisis, in Warsaw later today.
• Rights Group: IS Could Be Hiding Gold in E. Syria VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- As Islamic State faces pressure in its final stronghold in Syria's Deir el-Zour province, the group could be hiding a mountain of gold it smuggled out of other Syrian provinces and neighboring Iraq, a rights group told VOA on Wednesday.
• SDF: IS Using Smoke, Suicide Attacks to Slow Advance on Last Syrian Stronghold VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- Islamic State fighters are resorting to producing acrid smoke and leveling suicide attacks to hamper the advances of the U.S.-backed forces on their last stronghold in eastern Syria, eyewitnesses and sources on the ground tell VOA.
• Russia to supports Syria action at Security Council against US-led airstrikes Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country will throw its weight behind Syria's action in the United Nations Security Council against the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, demanding an end to the aerial assaults against civilian facilities.
• Iraq: Security Council told 'despair' has 'given way to hope' but road to stability 'long and far from easy' UN News 13 Feb 2019 -- Despite some positive developments following years of brutal conflict, Iraq is gripped by political stalemate and a continued humanitarian crisis that is hampering the stabilization of the country, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in the country, (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told the Security Council on Wednesday.
• UN Official Says Peace Negotiations For Ukraine Have 'Lost Momentum' RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- A top UN official said the negotiations aimed at implementing the 2015 Minsk accords and ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine have lost momentum.
• The Ministerial To Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East US Dept. of State 13 Feb 2019 -- Fact Sheet
• Poland Hosts Middle East Summit Spearheaded By United States RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- A major U.S.-organized Middle East conference is under way in Poland, a NATO member that has tightened cooperation with Washington as a counterweight to Russia's influence in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Palestine's Hamas, Fatah movements denounce US 'deal of century' for Middle East Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Two major Palestinian rival groups, the West Bank-based Fatah party and the Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement, have expressed their strong opposition to US President Donald Trump's "deal of the century" on the so-called Middle East peace process.
• Abbas to King Salman: US 'deal of century' anti-Palestine conspiracy Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- In Riyadh, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has warned Saudi rulers about the nature of a so-called peace plan in the works at the White House on the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing the yet-to-be unveiled proposal as a plot against the Palestinian nation.
• Alleged Torture Case Renews Focus on Russian Military Contractors in Central Africa VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- When a crowd in Bambari, in the Central African Republic, accused Mahamat Nour Mamadou of belonging to a militia group tied to the country's previous regime, the consequences were swift and harsh.
• Thousands of Displaced South Sudanese 'Suffering' Without Food, Water VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- Officials in South Sudan's Yei River State say thousands of people who fled their homes during fighting over the past two weeks are without food or clean water.

News Reports

• Joint Statement by President Donald J. Trump and President Ivan Duque Marquez on the Crisis in Venezuela The White House 13 Feb 2019
• Remarks by President Trump and President Duque of Colombia Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 13 Feb 2019
• Trump, Colombia's Duque Discuss Efforts to Oust Venezuela's Maduro VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, met Wednesday in Washington, their talks focused on efforts to push Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro from power.
• Bulgaria blocks transfers worth millions of euros from Venezuela oil firm Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Bulgarian authorities say they have blocked money transfers out of a number of bank accounts that have received millions of euros from the Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company, PDVSA, as the sanctions-hit South American country is struggling with an unprecedented political crisis.
• Syria reiterates support for Maduro, rejects US interference in Venezuela Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari has reiterated his country's support for Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, condemning US interference in the affairs of the Latin American country.
• Russia Warns United States Against Intervening In Venezuela RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- Russia's foreign minister has warned the United States against interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs.
• Maduro Warns Against 'Robbing Venezuela of Gold' Amid Bank of England Dispute Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- US Waging a 'Political War' Against Venezuela
• Trump 'Looking for Land Mines' in Proposed Border Wall Deal VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has made no decision on whether to sign proposed bipartisan legislation for limited new barrier construction along the U.S.-Mexico border in order to avert another partial government shutdown Friday over the dispute.
• Former U.S. Counterintelligence Agent Charged With Espionage on Behalf of Iran; Four Iranians Charged With a Cyber Campaign Targeting Her Former Colleagues US Dept. of Justice 13 Feb 2019 -- Monica Elfriede Witt, 39, a former U.S. service member and counterintelligence agent, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia for conspiracy to deliver and delivering national defense information to representatives of the Iranian government. Witt, who defected to Iran in 2013, is alleged to have assisted Iranian intelligence services in targeting her former fellow agents in the U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC). Witt is also alleged to have disclosed the code name and classified mission of a U.S. Department of Defense Special Access Program.
• Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers Delivers Remarks on the Unsealing of United States v. Monica Witt, et al. US Dept. of Justice 13 Feb 2019
• US Air Force agent charged with espionage after allegedly defecting to Iran Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- A US Air Force intelligence specialist has been charged with espionage for allegedly defecting to Iran and revealing sensitive information to Iranian authorities, the Unites States claims.
• U.S. Accuses Former Air Force Officer Of Spying For Iran RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- The U.S. Justice Department has indicted a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer for aiding Iran in what Washington says was a cyberespionage operation targeting U.S. intelligence officers.
• Treasury Sanctions Iranian Organizations and Individuals Supporting Intelligence and Cyber Targeting of U.S. Persons US Treasury 13 Feb 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated an Iran-based entity that organizes international conferences that supported the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force's (IRGC-QF's) efforts to recruit and collect intelligence from foreign attendees, including U.S. persons, and four associated individuals.
• US Charges Former Air Force Intel Officer With Spying for Iran VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- A former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence officer who defected to Iran nearly six years ago has been charged with revealing classified military information to the Iranian government and helping Iran target her former co-workers, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
• Treasury Sanctions Iranian Organizations and Individuals Supporting Intelligence and Cyber Targeting of U.S. Persons US Treasury 13 Feb 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated an Iran-based entity that organizes international conferences that supported the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force's (IRGC-QF's) efforts to recruit and collect intelligence from foreign attendees, including U.S. persons, and four associated individuals.
• Moscow Calls for Peaceful Settlement of DPRK Nuclear Issue - Foreign Ministry Sputnik 13 Feb 2019 -- Russia reiterates its calls for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear crisis as well as other issues troubling the Korean peninsula, Director of Russian Foreign Ministry's First Asian Department Georgiy Zinoviev said on Tuesday.
• Statement on ICJ Preliminary Judgment in the Certain Iranian Assets Case US Dept. of State 13 Feb 2019 -- "Today the International Court of Justice has made a preliminary ruling in Certain Iranian Assets, rejecting many of Iran's baseless claims and significantly narrowing what remains. This is a significant victory for the United States."
• Top UN court rules it has jurisdiction to hear Iranian claim against US over frozen assets UN News 13 Feb 2019 -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Wednesday that is has the jurisdiction to hear part of a case brought by Iran against the United States, aimed at unfreezing close to $2 billion in Iranian assets being held there.
• ICJ rules Iran's legal bid to recover $2bn frozen in US can proceed Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Iran can proceed with a legal action to recover billions of dollars in frozen assets that the United States says must be paid to purported American survivors and relatives of victims of attacks spuriously blamed on the Islamic Republic.
• UN High Court Rejects U.S. Claim To Throw Out Iranian Suit For Frozen Assets RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has affirmed its jurisdiction to hear a case brought by Iran to recover billions of dollars in assets that are frozen in the United States.
• Iran-based Entities and Individuals Sanctioned Under E.O. 13606 and 13224 US Dept. of State 13 Feb 2019 -- "Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated an Iran-based entity, as well as four associated individuals, that organize international conferences in support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force's (IRGC-QF's) efforts to recruit and collect intelligence from foreign attendees, including U.S. persons."
• Iran Vows Revenge for Terror Attack on IRGC VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- Iran has vowed to retaliate against the perpetrators of Wednesday's terror attack on a military convoy that killed at least 27 border soldiers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and wounded many others.
• Zarif says 'no coincidence' terrorists strike as anti-Iran summit begins Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says it is not coincidental that terrorists have attacked the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on the same day that an anti-Iran summit organized by the United States kicks off in Poland.
• Terrorists attack IRGC bus; Iran vows revenge Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- A number of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces have been killed in a terrorist attack in southeastern Iran.
• Militants Kill At Least 27 Revolutionary Guards In Iran RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- At least 27 members of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have been killed in a suicide attack in the southeast of the country, Iranian news agencies report.
• Iran condemns Warsaw meeting IRNA 13 Feb 2019 -- Iran has condemned a Middle East meeting, that is set to be held in Poland, as a US effort to hijack the forum and criticize Iran and pursue in own malicious intentions.
• On Sidelines Of Mideast Gathering, Giuliani Calls For 'Overthrow' Of Iran Regime RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- Rudy Giuliani, a personal lawyer of U.S. President Donald Trump, has said he favors the "overthrow" of Iran's theocratic regime.
• Foreign Ministry dismisses Bolton's "delusions" about Iran ISNA 13 Feb 2019 -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has dismissed the latest "delusive" anti-Iran remarks by US National Security Advisor, John Bolton, saying he is seeking to justify his previous wrong analyses, instead of understanding the culture of the great nation of Iran.
• Iran to stand firm in face of US economic, psychological war: Rouhani Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- President Hassan Rouhani says the Iranian nation will stand firm in the face of an "economic" and "psychological" war being waged by the United States against the Islamic Republic.
• Supreme Leader's important, strategic statement to Iranian nation ISNA 13 Feb 2019 -- On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei issued an important and strategic statement.
• Leader: Iran must not back down from revolutionary ideals Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a detailed statement dubbed "The Second Phase of Islamic Revolution" on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 uprising that toppled the US-backed Pahlavi regime.
• Turkish-Chinese Tensions Escalate Over Uighurs VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- China has issued a travel warning to its residents visiting Turkey, in a move seen as targeting Turkey's large tourism industry. The advisory is the latest escalation in bilateral tensions after Hami Aksoy, a spokesman for the Turkish foreign ministry, condemned China's treatment of its Uighur minority.
• Saudi Crown Prince to Announce $20B Investment Projects in Pakistan VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is set to make his first state visit to Pakistan on Saturday, where he is expected to announce investment projects worth up to $20 billion, a senior official told VOA.
• Mexican drug cartel found guilty in US court, faces life in jail Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Mexico's most notorious drug lord, has been found guilty in a US court and is to face a life sentence over charges of smuggling tons of drugs to the United States.
• Mars Rover's Mission Finally Over, NASA Says VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- "I declare the Opportunity mission is complete," NASA official Thomas Zurbuchen said Wednesday of the U.S. Mars rover mission that outlasted its projected life span by more than 14 years.
• MAC seeks to tighten rules on visits to China by former civil servants CNA 13 Feb 2019 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Wednesday that it is seeking to prohibit high ranking military officers and political appointees from participating in political activities in China for a period of 15 years after retirement.
• Turkey arrests 729 over ties to US-based cleric Gulen Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the arrest of 1,112 people, and arrested over 700 of them, over their suspected links to the network of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating an attempted coup in 2016.
• UK's May rules out parliament should accept her Brexit deal or face delay Press TV 13 Feb 2019 -- British Prime Minister Theresa May has played down rumors that her government would give into a long delay for UK's withdrawal from the European Union if a draft Brexit deal is not accepted in the parliament.
• Romanian Government Urges EU Not To Appoint Former Anti-Corruption Chief RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- Romania's justice minister has raised eyebrows in the European Union by sending his EU counterparts a letter arguing against the appointment of the country's former anti-corruption chief as EU prosecutor.
• Former Armenian President Kocharian Charged With Bribe-Taking RFE/RL 13 Feb 2019 -- Armenian investigators have filed a new bribe-taking charge against former President Robert Kocharian, who was previously charged with violating the country's constitutional system.
• Haiti Protesters March to Presidential Palace VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- Hundreds of protesters marched to the National Palace in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, Wednesday to send a message to President Jovenel Moise: It's time to leave.
• Thai Political Party Facing Dissolution VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- Thailand's election commission is calling for the dissolution of the political party that nominated a member of the royal family as its candidate for prime minister.
• Somalia Readies for Oil Exploration, Still Working on Petroleum Law VOA 13 Feb 2019 -- The Somali government says it will award exploration licenses to foreign oil companies later this year, despite calls from the opposition to wait until laws and regulations governing the oil sector are in place.