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News Reports

Current Operations

• Left Out: Afghanistan Watches Its Own Peace Process From The Sidelines RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- When the United States' special representative for Afghan reconciliation arrived in Kabul this week amid ongoing peace talks with the Taliban, the country's national-unity government was in disarray.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army 'Shark Tank' enabling quick prototyping of new systems Army News 03 Apr 2019 -- The Army Futures Command is working with industry to enable "quick prototyping" of new systems that will modernize the force, Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper told lawmakers Tuesday.
• U.S. Seeks Stronger Defense Relationship With Vietnam DoD News 03 Apr 2019 -- "Our defense relationship [with Vietnam] is strong and represents one of the strongest pillars in our multifaceted bilateral relationship," the assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs said today.
• Award to Korean Minister Highlights Strength of U.S.-South Korean Alliance DoD News 03 Apr 2019 -- The U.S.-South Korea alliance is strong, but defense officials will continue to work together to make it stronger yet, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at an awards ceremony here yesterday.
• Air Force Reserve expands hiring authority to recruit, maintain readiness US Air Force 03 Apr 2019 -- To meet the needs of America's national security requirements, the Air Force Reserve Command is expanding the direct hiring authority to recruit Air Reserve Technician maintenance personnel when and where they are needed.
• Defense of U.S. is Top Priority for Missile Defense, DOD Leader Says DoD News 03 Apr 2019 -- Potential adversaries are developing sophisticated ballistic and cruise missile systems, with increased speed, range, accuracy and lethality, a senior Pentagon official said today.
• Secretary General Touts NATO's Benefits at Joint Session of Congress DoD News 03 Apr 2019 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization not only is the longest-lived alliance in history, but also is the most successful, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a joint session of the U.S. Congress here today.
• NATO: good for Europe and good for America NATO 03 Apr 2019
• NATO Engages: the Alliance at 70 NATO 03 Apr 2019 -- On the eve of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Washington D.C., a "NATO Engages" conference took place on Wednesday (3 April 2019) to discuss "the Alliance at 70". Addressing the conference, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pointed to a "paradox": while questions are being asked about the strength of the transatlantic bond, Europe and North America are actually doing "more together than in many decades". Pointing to the "historic success" and enduring value of NATO, Mr. Stoltenberg also stressed the importance of Allied unity in addressing security challenges ranging from terrorism to a more assertive Russia.
• Trump keeps pressing NATO members on defense spending People's Daily 03 Apr 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Tuesday, during which he continued urging his European allies to increase military expenditure.
• In Speech To U.S. Congress, NATO Chief Criticizes Russia, Says Alliance Wants 'Effective Relations' RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- NATO's chief says the alliance faces threats from a "more assertive Russia," but also that the alliance is not seeking to isolate Moscow.
• NATO Chief Warns US Congress of 'More Assertive Russia' VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned the U.S. Congress Wednesday of the threat of a "more assertive Russia," saying that the West's key military alliance is not looking to start a new Cold War with Moscow but needs to deter its military aggression.
• Remarks by Vice President Pence at NATO Engages: The Alliance at 70 The White House 03 Apr 2019
• UK-led high-readiness force to deploy to the Baltic Sea UK MOD 03 Apr 2019 -- Nearly 2,000 UK Armed Forces personnel will deploy to the Baltic Sea for a series of multinational exercises in support of European security.
• PLA deploys new hand-thrown drone to boost reconnaissance capability Global Times 03 Apr 2019 -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has a new hand-thrown drone in its arsenal, and experts said the human-sized fixed-wing aircraft has enhanced imaging devices and will greatly boost basic combat units' reconnaissance capability.
• US expects Turkey to buy Patriot system instead of Russia's S-400: Pentagon Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- The United States expects Turkey will buy its Patriot missile systems instead of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, the Pentagon says.

Defense Industry

• Contracts for April 3, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 3 April 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Apr 2019
• Landmine Removal Crucial in Post-IS Syria VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- Nearly two weeks after U.S.-backed forces declared victory over the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria, local and international groups are rushing to begin a mine clearance campaign in areas freed from the terror group in eastern Syria.
• Iraqi military planes drop $25-million reward leaflets for Daesh head Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- Iraqi military aircraft have dropped leaflets over desert areas in the country's western province of Anbar, offering a reward of millions of dollars for intelligence that would lead to the capture of the leader of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, Ibrahim al-Samarrai aka Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
• Poll: Majority Of Russians Support Crimea Annexation, But Worry About Economic Effects RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- A new poll shows that a majority of Russians still support the Kremlin's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, but far fewer back any similar move toward the parts of the war-torn eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk held by Russia-backed separatists.
• UN Court Denies Last-Ditch Appeal By Former Bosnian Serb Leader Karadzic RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- A UN war crimes court in The Hague has denied a last-ditch appeal by former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and said its ruling was final, likely closing the books on the decades-old case stemming from the 1990s Bosnian civil war.
• UN chief pays tribute to Egypt's role in avoiding 'dramatic' escalation in conflict across the Gaza-Israel border UN News 03 Apr 2019 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has paid tribute to the role played by Egypt in helping to avoid a "dramatic" escalation of violence in Gaza over recent months, as tensions grew over Palestinian protests at the border, Hamas rocket attacks, and reprisal airstrikes by Israel.

News Reports

• US House panel subpoenas Trump aides, Mueller probe Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- A US House panel has voted to authorize subpoenas both for the so-called Russia probe as well as for President Donald Trump's aides.
• U.S. House Panel Votes To Subpoena Full Mueller Report, Additional Evidence RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- The Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee has approved subpoenas to get the full, unedited report and other evidence related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
• 'In Guaido prosecution, Venezuela sitting on the fence' Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- The Venezuelan government faces the dilemma of prosecuting opposition leader Juan Guaido, who "essentially" serves as a symbol of US power in the Latin American country, says a commentator.
• Venezuela's Guaido stripped of immunity, cleared for prosecution Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- Venezuela's opposition figure Juan Guaido has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity, in a move that paves the way for the government to arrest and prosecute him for declaring himself "interim president" of the country even though an elected government is in place.
• Venezuela's Opposition Leader Stripped Of Immunity, Could Face Prosecution RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- Lawmakers loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have lifted opposition leader Juan Guaido's immunity and authorized his criminal prosecution by the Supreme Court.
• US Senate Drafts Plan to Help Restore Democracy to Venezuela VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- The U.S. Senate has drafted a plan aimed at helping bring back democracy to Venezuela through economic aid and pushing U.S. allies to impose sanctions on the Maduro regime.
• Ingush Activists Under Pressure After Protests Over Chechnya Border Deal RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- Police and security forces in Russia's North Caucasus region of Ingushetia have searched homes of five activists days after mass rallies against a controversial border deal with neighboring Chechnya.
• Blast At Russian Military Academy Investigated As Attempted Murder RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- An explosion at a military academy in St. Petersburg that injured four students is being investigated as an attempted murder.
• U.S. Vice President Warns Turkey, Germany Over Dealings With Russia RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has warned Turkey and Germany about their dealings with Russia, telling Ankara it is "reckless" and warning Berlin it risks becoming a "captive" of Moscow.
• Lithuania Sentences Russian-Born Sailor To Seven Years For Spying For Moscow RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- A Lithuanian court has sentenced a Russian-born sailor to seven years in prison on charges of spying for Moscow, the latest in a series of espionage-related cases between the two neighboring countries.
• Seoul impounds South Korean ship for violation of sanctions on North: Report Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- Seoul has reportedly impounded a South Korean vessel for the first time on the suspicion that it violated United Nations economic sanctions on North Korea.
• Iran: EU trio seeking to appease Trump rather than defy US 'economic terrorism' Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- The Iranian foreign minister has hit out at the three European powers for failing to counter the US "economic terrorism" against Tehran, saying they are instead turning the spotlight on the Islamic Republic's missile program to appease Washington.
• Iranian Officials Criticized As Severe Flooding Wreaks Havoc RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- Heavy flooding in western and southwestern Iran that has killed dozens of people and forced thousands from their homes in recent weeks has resulted in strong criticism of the government's relief response to the crisis.
• IAEA chief Amano reaffirms Iran's compliance with nuclear deal Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reaffirmed Iran's compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Hong Kong launches new extradition laws with mainland China Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- Hong Kong has introduced to the parliament new extradition laws under which people wanted in mainland China would be sent there for trial, despite protests against the move.
• U.S. confirms active military personnel posted at AIT since 2005 CNA 03 Apr 2019 -- The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on Wednesday confirmed for the first time that active U.S. military personnel have been posted at its Taipei office since 2005, and those deployments will continue after it relocates to its new office in Neihu on May 6.
• U.S. warns China against use of force against Taiwan CNA 03 Apr 2019 -- The United States on Tuesday warned China against the use of force against Taiwan after Beijing had two of its fighter jets cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, an action Taiwan blasted as "provocative."
• Taiwan 'unlikely' to be invited to World Health Assembly: MOFA CNA 03 Apr 2019 -- Taiwan is "unlikely" to be invited to the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in May due to China's obstruction, but it will continue to do its best to rally international support, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said Wednesday.
• China's Jets that Crossed into Taiwan Airspace: Not a First; Maybe not the Last VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- Two Chinese fighter planes that crossed into the airspace of political rival Taiwan this week extended a series of breaches over the past two decades and herald more, further straining already tense relations, defense analysts say.
• First satellite images of Saudi nuclear plant show completion Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- New satellite images show that Saudi Arabia has almost completed the building of its first nuclear reactor, according to a report by Bloomberg written based on the images by Google Earth.
• Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to Terrorists US Dept. of Justice 03 Apr 2019 -- Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, 44, of St. Louis County, Missouri, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and one count of providing material support to terrorists.
• Istanbul's Opposition Mayoral Candidate Demands to be Declared Election Winner VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- Istanbul's opposition mayoral candidate urged Turkey's elections board Wednesday to confirm his narrow victory after it launched a partial recount of votes in eight of the city's 39 districts.
• EU rejects further delay to Brexit, US advises clean break Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- The European Union has told Britain that another short delay to the deadline imposed on the country for leaving the bloc would not be possible as US authorities keep recommending a clean break on April 12 that would help spur trade talks between London and Washington.
• UK Ambassador: Don't Mistake Brexit Uncertainty for Weakness VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- As the British parliament ties itself in knots over how to exit from the European Union, that nation's senior diplomat in Washington is cautioning U.S. opinion leaders not to mistake the debates in London for signs of weakness – either in the economic or security domain.
• Ukrainian Diaspora Voters Show Starkly Different Political Preferences for Kyiv VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- LONDON - Ukrainians who live abroad strongly prefer sitting President Petro Poroshenko to other candidates in last weekend's first-round presidential election, contradicting the choice of voters who reside within the eastern European nation.
• Malaysia's ex-PM pleads not guilty as graft trial begins Press TV 03 Apr 2019 -- Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him at the first main hearing in a trial over an economic scandal that brought down his government last year.
• EU Warns Romania Over Rule-Of-Law Failures, Urges Reform RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- A top European Commission official has warned Romania over problems with its judicial system and adherence to the rule of law while making clear that Brussels will act swiftly if Bucharest does not take real action toward reform.
• Kyrgyz President's Brother Quits Atambaev's Party Amid Split RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- Asylbek Jeenbekov, a Kyrgyz lawmaker and brother of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, has quit the Social Democratic Party (SDPK) chaired by former President Almazbek Atambaev.
• ILO Cites Dramatic Drop in Uzbek Use of Forced Labor VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- The International Labor Organization is reporting a dramatic 48 percent reduction last year in the use of forced and child labor in Uzbekistan, which for decades has been listed among the world's worst offenders.
• UN chief commends Algerians for 'mature and calm' demonstrations for change, leading up to presidential resignation UN News 03 Apr 2019 -- In the wake of the resignation in Algeria of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the UN Secretary-General on Wednesday saluted "the mature and calm nature" of protests involving hundreds of thousands of citizens who took to the streets peacefully in recent weeks, to express "their desire for change."
• Haiti stands 'at the crossroads' between peacekeeping, development – Bachelet urges strengthened 'human rights protection' UN News 03 Apr 2019 -- With the end of the UN's peacekeeping presence in Haiti in sight, the UN's human rights chief told the Security Council on Wednesday that the country now stands "at the crossroads between peacekeeping and development", urging all concerned parties to continue building on progress made, or "risk losing it" altogether.
• Mozambique's Cyclone Survivors Face Rising Threat of Cholera VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- Mozambique health officials are in a rush to stop the spread of the cholera, which has claimed the lives of at least two people in the port city of Beira and made more than 1,000 others ill.
• Solomon Islands Head to Polls VOA 03 Apr 2019 -- Solomon Islanders are heading to the polls Wednesday surrounded by tight security amid fears of electoral interference. The Melanesian archipelago was part of an 'arc of insecurity' around northeastern Australia following ethnic violence, rampant crime and failing government in the early 2000s.