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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Another Intra-Afghan Meeting with Taliban Unlikely Soon VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Afghan Taliban are "exhausted" with the failed efforts to organize an intra-Afghan conference in Doha, so another such conference seems unlikely in the near future, a source close to the Taliban told VOA on the condition of anonymity.
• Afghan Peace Talks Suspended Amid Conflict Over Delegates RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- Disputes over the size of delegations have roiled critical peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, with new talks in Qatar now suspended and Washington urging both sides to return to the table.
• Collapse of peace talks with Taliban leaves US reeling Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- The US special envoy for peace in Afghanistan is "disappointed" over the collapse of a peace talks even before they started between the Taliban and Afghan politicians in Qatar.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S.-Japan Joint Press Statement US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2019 -- "On April 19, 2019, the U.S.–Japan Security Consultative Committee convened in Washington, DC, with the participation of Secretary of State Pompeo, Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono, and Minister of Defense Iwaya. During the meeting, the Ministers affirmed their strong commitment to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific," a shared vision for a region in which all nations are sovereign, strong, and prosperous."
• U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee 2019 Fact Sheet US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2019 -- "Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, Foreign Minister Taro Kono, and Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya met in Washington, DC on April 19, 2019. Building upon their joint statement, the Ministers discussed the following shared priorities and initiatives through which the people of the United States and Japan will work together to strengthen the U.S.-Japan Alliance and build a free and open Indo-Pacific:"
• US, Japan to Expand Alliance Given Threats Posed by China, N Korea – Shanahan Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The United States and Japan will continue to expand their alliance based on a shared understanding of security threats to both nations in the region from China and North Korea, Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said during a press conference on Friday.
• Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan's Meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya DoD 19 Apr 2019
• Remarks By Acting Secretary Shanahan Prior to an Enhanced Honor Cordon Ceremony Welcoming Japan's Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya to the Pentagon DoD 19 Apr 2019 -- Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan
• Remarks By Acting Secretary Shanahan At An Enhanced Honor Cordon And Meeting Welcoming Japanese Minister Of Defense Iwaya To The Pentagon DoD 19 Apr 2019 -- Remarks By Acting Secretary Shanahan At An Enhanced Honor Cordon And Meeting Welcoming Japanese Minister Of Defense Iwaya To The Pentagon
• 25th anniversary of CARAT exercise kicks off with Sri Lanka NNS 19 Apr 2019 -- Commander, Task Force 73 announced the beginning of the 25th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations, April 19.
• SWRMC Delivers 3D Printed Parts to USS Lake Erie NNS 19 Apr 2019 -- Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) delivered an order of 3D printed parts to USS Lake Erie (CG 70) April 11.
• FDRMC Dive Locker Clears Fouling on USS Firebolt NNS 19 Apr 2019 -- Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center Detachment Bahrain divers recently provided emergent diver support to get the USS Firebolt (PC 10) back to full operational status to execute missions in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
• HSC-25 Rescues Two Fishermen from Sunken Watercraft NNS 19 Apr 2019 -- Guam-based "Island Knights" Sailors of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 rescued two local spear fishermen after their personal watercraft sank off the east coast of Guam.
• 30 NCR, III MEF Tighten Naval Engineering Relationship NNS 19 Apr 2019 -- The 30th Naval Construction Regiment (30NCR) and III Marine Expeditionary Forces (III MEF) established the Engineers Functional Working Group (EFWG) for the Indo-Pacific Theater, April 18.
• Vandenberg AFB aids during exercise Patriot Hook 2019 US Air Force 19 Apr 2019 -- Exercise Patriot Hook 2019, an annual joint-service exercise coordinated by the Air Force Reserve Command, took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base, April 10 through 15. The five day long exercise demonstrated the execution of civil relief operations that would typically occur following a natural disaster and provided realistic mission training for AFRC members and other service affiliates.
• China's 2nd peacekeeping helicopter unit in Sudan's Darfur finish equipment inspection Global Times 19 Apr 2019 -- China's second peacekeeping helicopter unit in Sudan's Darfur region has finished the third contingent-owned equipment inspection.
• India MoD Urges Russia to Boost Local Production of T-90MS Tanks Before Purchase Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- India's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a $1.93 billion procurement of 464 Russian-made T-90MS main battle tanks (MBTs), but the Ministry of Defence has additional conditions before signing the contract.
• Expectations mixed as Iraq, Saudi announce security deal Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Riyadh and Baghdad have agreed to promote their security and intelligence cooperation after several years of mutual distrust over Saudi Arabia's support for terrorists in Iraq.
• Turkish FM: S-400 Systems Acquired by Turkey Pose No Threat to F-35 Fighter Jets Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- Russia's S-400 air defence systems, acquired by Turkey, do not pose a threat to the US fifth-generation F-35 fighter aircraft, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
• Turkey Insists It Will Remain Part of F-35 Programme Despite US Threats Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The United States has repeatedly warned of possible sanctions against Turkey under the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), including halting the deliveries of F-35 fighter jets, if Ankara goes ahead with the purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia.

Defense Industry

• Contracts for April 19, 2019

Other Conflicts

• How Vietnam Quietly Built up 10 Islands in Asia's Most Disputed Sea VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Both China and Vietnam are building up tiny islets across Asia's most disputed sea, but while China receives international criticism Vietnam receives very little, and even gets some support because its pace of construction is slower and widely seen as defensive.
• Turkey 'De Facto' Established Safe Zone in Syria Up to Manbij - Ankara Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- A safe zone has been "de facto" established between Turkey and Syria right up to the city of Manbij in Syria, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Thursday.
• Libya's Sarraj accuses France of supporting Haftar's push to seize Tripoli Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Libya's government based in Tripoli has accused France of backing self-styled commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have launched an offensive to seize the capital.
• UN Security Council Calls for Urgent Resolution on Libya – German Envoy Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The UN Security Council members should immediately adopt the UK-drafted resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya, German Ambassador to the UN Christoph Heusgen who presides over the Security Council told reporters.
• Israeli tanks, aircraft target Hamas positions in Gaza Strip Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Israel has launched artillery and aerial attacks on positions belonging to the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Islamic Jihad urges Arab front against US 'deal of century' on Palestine Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad has demanded the formation of a unified Arab front to counter US President Donald Trump's controversial proposal for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, dubbed "the deal of the century."
• India Suspends Cross-border Trade in Kashmir VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- In yet another signal of the downward spiral in ties between archrivals India and Pakistan, New Delhi has suspended cross-border trade in the divided region of Kashmir, saying it is being misused to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency.
• India suspends cross-border trade in Kashmir Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- India's government has suspended trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, the de facto border that divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan, saying it has been "misused" for smuggling weapons and narcotics.
• Cameroonian Women Call on Government to Stop Anglophone Separatist Fighting VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Hundreds of Cameroonian women gathered in the capital this week to urge the government to stop the killings in the country's Anglophone separatist western regions. Weeks of violent clashes in those areas have left at least 70 people dead.

News Reports

• Mueller Report Confirms Intelligence Findings About Russian Meddling VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference is providing current and former U.S. intelligence officials with a sense of vindication, affirming many of the conclusions they drew following the 2016 election.
• Democrats Dispute Barr's Evaluation, Seek Mueller Testimony VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- The Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi say the conclusions drawn by U.S. Attorney General William Barr about special counsel Robert Mueller's report undercut the findings of the report itself.
• U.S. House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena For Full Mueller Report RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- U.S. House Judiciary Committee has issued a subpoena to obtain the full Russia investigation report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, saying that a redacted version "leaves most of Congress in the dark. "
• Moscow Falsely Claims Mueller 'Admitted' Having No Proof Of Russian Meddling RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry falsely claimed on April 19 that U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller "admitted" his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election did not find evidence of Russian meddling.
• Mueller Report Corroborates Russian Meddling, Signals Potential Legal Problems For Trump RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller corroborated U.S. intelligence conclusions of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and also documented President Donald Trump's efforts to undermine his inquiry, but Mueller concluded there was not sufficient evidence to prove Trump and his team committed a crime by colluding with Russia officials.
• Russia says Mueller report offers no proof of 'Russian meddling' Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Russia has dismissed the report by United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller about alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in the US, saying it offers no proof of such meddling.
• Democrats issue legal demand to full Mueller report while some push for Trump's impeachment Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Congressional Democrats have taken a legal step to see all of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's evidence from his inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, with some members pushing for the impeachment of President Donald Trump just 18 months before the 2020 presidential election.
• US to Talk of Election Meddling With Russia Amid Mueller Report Release – Pompeo Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The United States will raise the issue of election interference with Russian officials following the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report that concluded Moscow meddled in the 2016 US presidential election, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a press conference.
• White House Calls on Americans to 'Move On' After Release of Mueller Report Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- Americans should move on after the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report, which did not find that President Donald Trump and his 2016 campaign team colluded with Russia, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in an interview on Friday.
• US House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena for Full Mueller Report by 1 May Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The US House Judiciary Committee on Friday issued a subpoena to the Department of Justice for the entire unredacted report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Trump-Russian collusion and meddling in the 2016 presidential election, Chairman Jarrold Nadler said in a statement.
• 'Nothing Attracts Attention' in Released Mueller Report - Moscow Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The redacted version of the Mueller Report, published yesterday by the United States, contains no essential information and no proof of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US elections, Russian Foreign Ministry Department of North America (DNA) Director Georgy Borisenko said Friday.
• Sudan's Protest Leaders to Announce Civilian Council VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Leaders of Sudan's ongoing protest have stepped up pressure on the transitional military council that this month replaced ousted President Omar al-Bashir. The protesters have announced plans to form their own civilian council to persuade Sudan's military to give up power.
• Sudan protesters hold biggest sit-in since Bashir's ouster Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- A week after the fall of Sudan's long-time President Omar al-Bashir, a huge crowd has converged in the streets of the capital, demanding the country's transitional military council hand over power to civilians.
• US Calls on Countries Worldwide to Block Russia's Planes Heading For Venezuela Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- The arrival of Russian military planes in Venezuela in March 2019 spurred harsh criticism from the US, who has accused Moscow of destabilising the situation in the Latin American state, currently engulfed in a political crisis. Russia, for its part, has recalled that its planes arrived under a bilateral agreement with Caracas.
• Turkey detains, investigates UAE operatives over Khashoggi murder Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Turkey has arrested two alleged intelligence operatives who confessed to spying on Arab nationals on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, a senior Turkish official says.
• Turkey Arrests Two People on Suspicion of Spying For UAE - Reports Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- Reuters, citing an unnamed Turkish official, reported on Friday that the country's authorities had detained two people as part of an investigation by the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office.
• CIA shifts to focus more on Russia and Iran: Gina Haspel Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- CIA Director Gina Haspel has said that the US Central Intelligence Agency has shifted resources to better deal with rivals such as Russia and Iran.
• Kim Jong-un Says Ready to Cooperate With Russia for Peace on Korean Peninsula Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- North Korea's chairman Kim Jong-un has expressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin his readiness to cooperate in order to reach peace on the Korean Peninsula and to develop relations between the two states.
• US measure promotes armed forces' unity: Commander IRNA 19 Apr 2019 -- US measure to list Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity promoted the unity among Iran's armed forces, a senior Iranian Army commander said.
• Iranian Security Service Discloses CIA, MI6 Espionage Networks - Reports Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- Since the arrival of the Trump administration, Washington has been taking a harsh approach towards Iran in its foreign policy. The US notably withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal on 8 May 2018 and imposed hefty sanctions against Tehran's oil, banking and shipping sectors in November of the same year.
• Intel minister: Iran identified 290 CIA spies, made arrests Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Iran has identified 290 CIA agents across different countries, forcing the US to form a special committee to reassess its cloak-and-dagger operations, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi says.
• Iran intelligence forces expose 290 CIA spies IRNA 19 Apr 2019 -- Iranian Intelligence Minister said that some 290 spies affiliated with US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have been discovered by the country's Iran intelligence forces in various countries.
• China Refutes Claims Belt and Road Plan Aims to Drive Nations Into Debt Trap Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi refuted on Friday allegations voiced by some Western countries labelling China's Belt and Road Initiative as a debt trap and noted that the project was beneficial for all participating countries.
• China's Political System Helps Advance Its Artificial Intelligence VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Recent technological advances demonstrated by China have started an intense debate on whether it is set to take a lead in the field of artificial intelligence, or AI, which has extensive business and military applications.
• China invites world scientists to explore asteroid, comet together Global Times 19 Apr 2019 -- China on Thursday unveiled its plan to explore an asteroid and a comet, inviting scientists around the world to participate in the program.
• China opens Chang'e-6 mission for international payloads People's Daily 19 Apr 2019 -- China announced the cooperation plan for its future Chang'e-6 mission, offering to carry a total of 20 kg of solicited payloads, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Thursday.
• 'It Wasn't A Debate': Six Takeaways From The Poroshenko-Zelenskiy Stadium Showdown RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- With rock music blaring and their posses by their sides, the two men strutted onto the stage, pumped their fists in the air, and sized each other up in front of some 22,000 rowdy onlookers inside Kyiv's Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
• Ukraine's Presidential Contenders Clash In Raucous Stadium Debate RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- Ukraine's two leading presidential contenders clashed in an epic stadium debate before tens of thousands of cheering supporters, hammering one another on everything from the economy and rampant corruption to the festering war against Russia-backed separatists in the country's east.
• Ukrainian Presidential Candidates Hold Debate Prior to Runoff Sputnik 19 Apr 2019 -- Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday he was a judgment against current head of state Petro Poroshenko.
• Ukraine Readying for Sunday's Presidential Election VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Last minute preparations are underway for voters in the Eastern European country of Ukraine to select their next president on Sunday.
• Lukashenka Calls Belarus's Next Presidential Election For 2020 RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has announced that the country's next presidential election will be held in 2020, but the parliamentary elections will be held in 2019.
• UK condemns US move to sue foreign companies over Cuba sanctions Press TV 19 Apr 2019 -- Britain has condemned the new attempt by the administration of US President Donald Trump to require foreign companies to abide by American sanctions on Cuba that have been rejected by the UK and other European countries.
• Pakistan Premier Shuffles Cabinet After Finance Minister Quits Amid Financial Crisis RFE/RL 19 Apr 2019 -- Pakistan's prime minister has reshuffled his cabinet after Finance Minister Asad Umar resigned amid criticism of the government's handling of a mounting financial crisis.
• Fifth Defendant Pleads Guilty to Laundering Millions of Dollars of Hard Narcotics Proceeds for Sinaloa Cartel US Dept. of Justice 19 Apr 2019 -- A Culiacan, Mexico man pleaded guilty to international money laundering in connection with his operation of a currency exchange house that received the proceeds of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin smuggled into the United States by the Sinaloa Cartel, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer Jr. of the Southern District of California.
• Pollsters: Britain's Governing Conservatives Heading For Electoral Wipe-Out VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Britain's governing Conservative Party faces an historic loss in next month's European Parliament elections, warn party insiders and pollsters, as a result of its handling of Brexit and the delay of the country's departure from the European Union.
• Voting Begins on Egyptian Constitutional Amendments VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- Expatriate Egyptians began voting Friday on constitutional changes that could allow Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to stay in office until 2030.
• Uganda's Supreme Court Upholds Lifetime Term for Museveni VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- President Yoweri Museveni has been given a green light to contest Uganda's presidency in 2021, even after the age of 75.
• Malawi's Elections Get EU Observers, Biometric Voting System VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- The European Union has launched an observation mission for Malawi's presidential elections next month. But some political analysts question the impact of foreign election observers will have on the poll.
• More than 3,400 classrooms damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, says UN Children's Fund UN News 19 Apr 2019 -- More than 305,000 children in Mozambique are losing out on lessons at school since the devastating floods caused by Cyclone Idai, which struck southeast Africa just over a month ago.
• UN: Cyclone Survivors in Mozambique Need Urgent Humanitarian Aid VOA 19 Apr 2019 -- The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) says it plans to scale up its emergency food and nutritional operation in Mozambique to reach 1.7 million people in four provinces hardest-hit by the recent Cyclone Idai.
• UN condemns attack on Ebola treatment centre in DR Congo which left doctor dead, two others injured UN News 19 Apr 2019 -- The UN has condemned an attack on an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday, which led to the death of a doctor working for the World Health Organization (WHO), and injured two others.