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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Kabul To Ban Motorcycles In Bid To Improve Security RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- Afghan authorities say they will ban motorcycles and scooters in the capital, Kabul, for an unspecified period of time in an effort to improve security.
• U.S. Envoy Meets Taliban In Doha After Start Of Prisoner Swaps RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has met in Qatar with senior Taliban representatives to discuss what the U.S. State Department described as "current challenges" in implementing a peace deal signed in February by the United States and the Taliban.
• US, Taliban meet over prisoner release dispute: Militant group Press TV 14 Apr 2020 -- The Afghan Taliban militant group has reportedly held talks with US officials in the Qatari capital, Doha, to discuss a prisoner release dispute.
• Senior US Officials Meet Taliban to Forward Peace Talks VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- Senior U.S. officials met with the Taliban in Qatar Monday to discuss possible violations of a deal the two sides signed February 29, among other issues, according to a Taliban spokesman.
• Marines Conducting Security Help Save Patients Bound for USNS Comfort NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- U.S. Marine Sgt. Austin Loppe had just started his shift providing security for Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) on April 7 when he got an urgent call over the radio shortly before midnight.
• Army Reservists Double Comfort's Pharmacy Capacity NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- Pharmacists from the U.S. Army Reserve joined the medical team aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) nearly doubling the pharmaceutical support available to the people of New York City and local health officials in response to the nation's COVID-19 outbreak, April 13.
• Dozens of USNS Mercy Personnel Quarantined Following COVID-19 Outbreak Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- The US Naval Ship Mercy (USNS Mercy) is continuing to accept patients without the COVID-19 novel coronavirus on the West Coast, despite the fact that seven medical personnel had to be removed from the ship after testing positive for the contagious disease.
• Kentucky Guard supports first state drive-thru testing site Army News 14 Apr 2020 -- The Kentucky Army National Guard began supporting local agencies at Kentucky's first COVID-19 drive-thru test site at the Franklin County Fairgrounds April 13.
• DOD Medical Providers Deployed to New York City Discuss Ongoing COVID-19 Operations DoD 14 Apr 2020 -- Air Force Colonel Jennifer R. Ratcliff, Commander, 927th Aerospace Medical Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Army Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Curtis, Chief Nurse Officer, 9th Field Hospital; Navy Captain Joseph J. Kochan, Executive Officer, Operational Health Support Unit, Portsmouth, Virginia; Air Force Captain Thomas Barger, Public Affairs Officer
• Humanitarian Response Program Offers Expertise For COVID-19 Response NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- The U.S. Naval War College's Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Program has jumped into action to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Mobile Hospitals Help Fight Coronavirus in Africa VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- As Africa braces for the next wave of the global coronavirus pandemic, three U.S.-donated mobile hospitals with medics trained by U.S. forces are helping Ghana, Senegal and Uganda respond to local outbreaks.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 14 Apr 2020
• Illinois Air Guard C-130s join the fight against COVID-19 US Air Force 14 Apr 2020 -- What could have been a three-day trek across 2,150 miles of interstate highway was shortened to overnight delivery by Air National Guard C-130H Hercules joining Illinois' fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Quarantine Cruise: US Aircraft Carrier Truman to Remain at Sea, Away From COVID-19 Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- After crew on four aircraft carriers came down with COVID-19, the US Navy has decided to keep the USS Harry Truman on deployment in a bid to protect its crew from the pandemic and ensure the warship would be available to respond if a crisis were to arise.
• Defense Production Act Contract to Provide 39 Million Masks DoD News 14 Apr 2020 -- A Defense Department contract under the Defense Production Act will provide more than 39 million N95 respirator masks over the next 90 days to help in the fight against the coronavirus, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said.
• Military Doctors, Nurse Discuss COVID-19 Crisis in New York DoD News 14 Apr 2020 -- Military doctors and nurses are fanning out across New York hospitals to offer relief to their overworked civilian counterparts as the COVID-19 pandemic hits the city hard.
• AFRICOM'S PARTNERSHIP ENDURES DURING COVID-19 AFRICOM 14 Apr 2020 -- UN-standard level-2 hospitals provided by the U.S. to African partner nations as part of the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (ARPRP) have been deployed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Africom's Partnership Endures During COVID-19 Pandemic DoD News 14 Apr 2020 -- As the world fights to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States, through U.S. Africa Command, is doing its part to help African partner nations combat this new enemy.
• DOD Continues Global Military Operations Even as It Battles COVID-19 DoD News 14 Apr 2020 -- Even as the Defense Department supports the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it continues its vital national security missions, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said.
• USS Roosevelt Arrives in 6th Fleet NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) is conducting operations in U.S. 6th Fleet in support of maritime security operations.
• America, Akebono Sail Together in East China Sea NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit joined Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Murasame class destroyer JS Akebono (DD 108) for a series of collaborative events while sailing in the Philippine Sea and East China Sea, April 9-11.
• USS Mustin Remains Mission Ready During COVID-19 NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) remains mission ready and focused on operations due to the proactive implementation of prevention policies regarding novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• CH-53K Successful in Air Refueling tests NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- The CH-53K King Stallion aced an air-to-air refueling test, successfully demonstrating long-range logistics support capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps. The 4.5 hour test was accomplished over the Chesapeake Bay with a KC-130J aerial refueling (AR) tanker.
• NRL power-beaming demonstrated on International Space Station NNS 14 Apr 2020 -- International Space Station astronaut Jessica Meir completed the first U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) power-beaming demonstration in orbit February 12, 2020, using relatively simple components suitable for STEM activities.
• NATO Chief: Alliance Has to Fight Propaganda VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he has seen examples of propaganda being used during the COVID-19 pandemic to try to divide the alliance.
• Esper, NATO Defense Ministers to Discuss Global Effort to Defeat COVID-19 DoD News 14 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus sets its own timetable and does not respect international boundaries, and it will take an international effort to defeat the pandemic, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
• NATO Defence Ministers meet to discuss COVID-19 NATO 14 Apr 2020 -- NATO Defence Ministers will meet tomorrow (15 April 2020) by secure video conference to discuss the Alliance's response to the COVID-19 crisis. As well as ensuring the safety of Allied troops and personnel, NATO is coordinating military support to Allies in response to the pandemic.
• Pre-ministerial press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg NATO 14 Apr 2020
• Robot warriors join Chinese military arsenal, will free soldiers from dangerous missions Global Times 14 Apr 2020 -- More robot warriors are entering the arsenal of the Chinese military, with the latest additions being a small model that's equipped with a machine gun and a crane-like missile-loading robot, and experts said on Tuesday that robots will free human soldiers from heavy physical work and unnecessary danger.
• Chinese aircraft carrier formation conducts regular training People's Daily 14 Apr 2020 -- The task group of Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning has recently sailed to the South China Sea during regular trans-theater training, said a navy spokesperson Monday.
• China's AG600 amphibious aircraft conducts test flights over sea PLA Daily 14 Apr 2020 -- China's independently-developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft has conducted test flights over the sea, according to its developer Tuesday.
• North Korea test-fires multiple cruise missiles: South Press TV 14 Apr 2020 -- South Korea says the North has fired multiple short-range cruise missiles into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
• North Korea Launches Multiple Short-Range Cruise Missiles - Reports Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- The news comes just two weeks after Pyongyang tested a "super-large" multiple rocket launcher, firing two short-range projectiles from Wonsan, according to the Yonhap news agency.
• North Korea Launches Missiles Ahead of S. Korea Election VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- North Korea test-fired multiple short-range missiles Tuesday, its latest military provocation that comes just a day before an important national election in neighboring South Korea.
• Indian Navy 'Prepared for Immediate Deployment' Amid China's Increased Activities in Region Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- In January, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh confirmed the constant presence of seven to eight People's Liberation Army Navy warships in the Indian Ocean Region at any given time. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, the admiral warned: "If anyone operates in our region, they have to notify us first".
• U.S. aircraft spotted near Taiwan as Chinese navy conducts training CNA 14 Apr 2020 -- An American anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft was spotted south of Taiwan Tuesday morning, close to where a Chinese aircraft carrier battle group is engaged in a training exercise, according to Aircraft Spots, a military air movement tracker.
• Turkey Ready to Buy US Defence System, But Stance on Russian S-400 Unchanged - Cavusoglu Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- Turkey is ready to purchase the Patriot air defence system from the United States under certain conditions, but Ankara's position on purchasing and keeping Russian S-400 air defence systems has not changed, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.
• Chinese Arms to Help Nigeria Combat Terrorists Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- China and Nigeria are strengthening their military-technical cooperation: 17 Chinese armoured vehicles have been unloaded at the port of Lagos under a new contract signed in 2019. The contract, worth $152 million, was signed following a tender that was won by the China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation, known as Norinco.
• Morocco - AGM-84L Harpoon Air Launched Block II Missiles DSCA 14 Apr 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco of ten (10) AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Air Launched missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $62 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 14, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 14 April 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Apr 2020
• China Sends Survey Vessel into Vietnamese Waters Radio Free Asia 14 Apr 2020 -- China has sent a survey vessel involved in a standoff with Vietnam last year back into that nation's exclusive economic zone this month, vessel-tracking data shows, in a move likely to fuel tensions between the two countries over their rival claims in the South China Sea.
• Ansarullah reports rise in Saudi-led aggression after truce claim Press TV 14 Apr 2020 -- Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement says the invading Saudi Arabia-led coalition has even ramped up its acts of aggression against the impoverished country after claiming it had initiated a voluntary ceasefire.
• Turkey dispatches another military convoy to Syria's Idlib: Group Press TV 14 Apr 2020 -- A monitoring group says Turkey has dispatched a new military convoy to Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, despite a recent ceasefire deal that Ankara has signed with Moscow to halt the escalation of violence there.
• Nagorno-Karabakh Election Runoff Under Way Amid Criticism, Coronavirus Concerns RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- De facto authorities in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh are holding a second round of elections for the disputed region's leader on April 14 amid international criticism and safety concerns due to the coronavirus outbreak.
• Colombia: Security Council hears of 'epidemic of violence' against civil society and ex-combatants UN News 14 Apr 2020 -- While political actors in Colombia are uniting to confront COVID-19, they must also work together to fight "the epidemic of violence" against civil society leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants, the head of the UN mission in the country said on Tuesday during a Security Council meeting held by videoconference.

News Reports

• Trump Walks Back Claim of 'Absolute' Authority Over States VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- Facing intense criticism, U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday walked back earlier comments suggesting he has total authority to reopen the economy from the coronavirus crisis.
• Trump Cuts US Funding to WHO VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- U.S. funding to the World Health Organization is being halted by President Donald Trump, who blames it for creating "a 20-fold increase" in COVID-19 cases worldwide.
• Trump Announces Order to Halt WHO Funding Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday he was pulling funding for the World Health Organization while his administration conducted an investigation of the UN agency, claiming it had impeded the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Now is 'not the time' to reduce funding for the World Health Organization in COVID-19 fight, urges Guterres UN News 14 Apr 2020 -- Now is a time for unity in the global battle to push the COVID-19 pandemic into reverse, not a time to cut the resources of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is spearheading and coordinating the global body's efforts, said UN chief António Guterres, on Tuesday.
• Top Ukrainian Security Official Detained For Alleged Collaboration With Russia's FSB RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says one of its top officials has been detained on suspicion of collaborating with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).
• Democrats In Congress Question Trump's 'Heavy-Handed' Approach To Kosovo RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- Two Democratic U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about what they say is a "heavy-handed approach" by the Trump administration toward Kosovo's government.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on April 14, 2020 PRC MofA 14 Apr 2020
• Chinese Doctor Says She is Safe And Well Amid Concern She Was Detained Radio Free Asia 14 Apr 2020 -- Whistleblowing doctor Ai Fen has confirmed she is still at work at her hospital in the central Chinese city of Wuhan after concerns over her whereabouts and personal safety.
• 111 Africans in Guangzhou test positive, receive same treatment as Chinese Global Times 14 Apr 2020 -- A total of 4,553 African people living in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, have been tested for COVID-19 from April 4 as of Monday, of whom 111 tested positive, according to the Guangzhou government on Monday night.
• 'No discrimination' against Africans amid pandemic Global Times 14 Apr 2020 -- The controversy over suspected maltreatment and discrimination against Africans in Guangzhou has made headlines on Chinese social media platforms and caused many Chinese authorities, including the Guangzhou government, China's Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies in African countries, to respond, reiterating China's firm stance to equally treat foreigners and domestic residents.
• Africans in China Complain of Coronavirus-Linked Discrimination VOA 14 Apr 2020 -- Restrictions on movement are now eased across China but some African immigrants are facing a different barrier: discrimination.
• 'No discrimination' against Africans amid pandemic Global Times 14 Apr 2020 -- The controversy over suspected maltreatment and discrimination against Africans in Guangzhou has made headlines on Chinese social media platforms and caused many Chinese authorities, including the Guangzhou government, China's Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies in African countries, to respond, reiterating China's firm stance to equally treat foreigners and domestic residents.
• Kazakhstan Protests Over Chinese Article Questioning Its Territorial Integrity RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry has officially protested an article published on a Chinese website that questioned Kazakhstan's territorial integrity.
• Premier offers support for China Airlines name change CNA 14 Apr 2020 -- Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Tuesday said he supports changing the name of national carrier China Airlines (CAL) to make clear that the airline represents Taiwan, though he noted the complexities involved in such a change mean it could likely only be accomplished in the long term.
• Iraqi parties require PM-designate to end US-led military presence: MP Press TV 14 Apr 2020 -- An Iraqi parliamentarian says the country's political parties have conditioned approving Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi's cabinet on his acting on a law approved by the parliament that mandates evacuation of US-led forces.
• Armed Men Board Oil Tanker Off Iranian Coast RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- Unidentified armed men have boarded a Hong Kong-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Iran near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a British monitoring organization and a private intelligence firm reported.
• Israeli political impasse: Gantz-Netanyahu miss coalition govt. deadline Press TV 14 Apr 2020 -- Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has extended the mandate of centrist Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz to form a unity government as coalition talks with rightist rival, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remain deadlocked.
• Cabinet Holds Session via Virtual Network Under Chairmanship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques SPA 14 Apr 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Cabinet held its session today via virtual network.
• Ukrainian Official Says Wildfires In Chernobyl Area Extinguished RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- Emergency crews have extinguished wildfires that had been burning near the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
• Fire in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Put Out, Several Days Needed to Douse Afterburn - Emergency Service Sputnik 14 Apr 2020 -- Hundreds of Ukrainian firefighters and local volunteers have been involved in extinguishing forest fires in the abandoned regions surrounding the site of the infamous nuclear disaster.
• U.S. Repatriates $300 Million to Malaysia in Proceeds of Funds Misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad US Dept. of Justice 14 Apr 2020 -- The Department of Justice announced today that it has repatriated to Malaysia approximately $300 million (RM 1.292 billion) in additional funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Malaysia's investment development fund, and laundered through financial institutions in several jurisdictions, including the United States, Switzerland, Singapore and Luxembourg.
• ASEAN holds special summit on response to COVID-19 pandemic People's Daily 14 Apr 2020 -- The Special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on the COVID-19 Response kicked off Tuesday morning in videoconferencing format to affirm their commitment to combating the global pandemic, ensuring peaceful life of people and sustainable development of countries in the region.
• ASEAN leaders prioritize COVID-19 pandemic control PLA Daily 14 Apr 2020 -- At the virtual Special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on the COVID-19 on Tuesday morning, leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states affirmed that the block's current leading priority is controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and preventing it from spreading further.
• ASEAN Leaders Meet Online, Reallocate Funds to Combat COVID-19 Radio Free Asia 14 Apr 2020 -- Southeast Asian leaders agreed at a special online summit on Tuesday to ensure a social safety net for the region's vulnerable populations and backed reallocating funds toward fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Southeast Asian leaders vow to cooperate in coronavirus fight SPA 14 Apr 2020 -- Southeast Asian leaders agreed at their first video conference summit on Tuesday to fight together against the "gravest public health crisis" in 100 years to make the region safe again, Reuters reported.
• COVID-19: Growth forecast at -3 per cent, as IMF offers debt relief to most vulnerable nations in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Caribbean UN News 14 Apr 2020 -- Forecasting the "worst economic downturn since the Great Depression", the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that growth for the year was likely to end up at minus three per cent, with a dramatic change evident since the last World Economic Outlook report in January.
• IMF Providing Debt Relief To Help 25 Countries Deal With Pandemic RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- The International Monetary Fund says it will provide immediate debt service relief to 25 of its poorer member states so they can focus more financial resources on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
• IMF Forecasts Global Growth Will Fall 3 Percent Due to 'Great Lockdown' RFE/RL 14 Apr 2020 -- The global economy will suffer its worst year since the Great Depression in the 1930s due to the coronavirus and lockdowns that have shut down much of the world, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its latest forecast.
• WHO Director-General's Statement on IHR Emergency Committee on Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo WHO 14 Apr 2020