Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Briefing with Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ambassador James Jeffrey, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Henry Wooster, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Christoper Robinson On Russian Engagement in the Middle East US Dept. of State 07 May 2020
• US-Backed Forces Crack Down on Resurgent Islamic State VOA 07 May 2020 -- U.S.-led coalition special operation forces hit back against an Islamic State cell in Syria, capturing a midlevel leader linked to a rise in attacks by the terror group in the Deir el-Zour countryside.
• Afghanistan says has freed 900 militants since US-Taliban deal Press TV 07 May 2020 -- The Afghan government says it has released more than 900 Taliban prisoners since the militant group signed a deal with the United States.
• US Military Loses Second Drone Near Niger Due to Mechanical Failure, Pentagon Spokesperson Says Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The US military lost an armed remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) in the African country of Niger due to a mechanical malfunction, a Pentagon spokesperson stated.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Lawmakers Fail to Check Trump on War-Making Power With Iran VOA 07 May 2020 -- The U.S. Senate failed to override a White House veto Thursday, bringing an end to a four-month congressional effort to limit presidential power to unilaterally take the United States into war.
• Senate Fails to Override Trump Veto Of Iran War Powers Resolution Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- One day after President Donald Trump vetoed a bi-partisan resolution aimed at curbing his war-making powers, the Senate failed to override the veto.
• Trump Vetoes Resolution Seeking to Limit Actions Against Iran VOA 07 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has vetoed a congressional resolution calling for him to halt the use of U.S. forces against Iran unless authorized by Congress.
• Trump Vetoes Congressional Resolution To Restrict War With Iran Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- U.S President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed a congressional resolution restricting his powers to unilaterally take military action against Iran.
• Trump vetoes resolution to limit war power against Iran People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed a resolution aimed at limiting the president's power to use military forces against Iran.
• 'We'd Like to Do It': Trump Says US, Russia Looking Into Moving Ahead on Arms Control Deal Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- Following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, US President Donald Trump indicated the two countries are ready to discuss arms control agreements.
• Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper Media Engagement at U.S. Northern Command DoD 07 May 2020 -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper
• Pentagon Confirms Recruits Hospitalised With COVID-19 to Be Disqualified Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- New recruits who have been hospitalized with the coronavirus will be disqualified from the US military service unless they get a waiver, a Pentagon spokesperson stated on Thursday.
• Coronavirus Survivors to Be 'Permanently Disqualified From Joining US Military' Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- According to the Washington Times, over 4,000 US troops have tested positive for COVID-19, while nearly 1,000 crew members of USS Theodore Roosevelt were confirmed to have been infected, as well.
• Pentagon: COVID-19 Hospital Stay Disqualifies Recruits VOA 07 May 2020 -- A new Pentagon recruitment policy considers hospitalization for COVID-19 an automatic disqualification for acceptance without a medical waiver from the recruit's military service branch.
• Senate Hears Testimony on Top Pentagon Nominations DoD News 07 May 2020 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from the nominees for three senior Defense Department positions.
• Gen. Brown testifies at CSAF confirmation hearing US Air Force 07 May 2020 -- Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Air Force Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown expressed support Thursday for meeting the National Defense Strategy, for expanding to 386 squadrons, refining and modernizing joint warfighting capabilities while safeguarding "the well-being of our Airmen and families."
• Montgomery, Cesar Chavez operate near West Capella NNS 07 May 2020 -- The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) and the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) conducted presence operations in international waters and airspace near Panamanian flagged drill ship, West Capella, May 7.
• New Mexico National Guard delivers water by the truckload Army News 07 May 2020 -- Airmen and Soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard Joint Task Force are supplying food and water to New Mexico communities during the COVID-19 response mission.
• DAF ACT contracting executes N95 mask production for DoD US Air Force 07 May 2020 -- The Department of the Air Force's Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF-ACT) executed a $126 million contract on May 1 for expanded production of N95 masks–26 million per month–starting in October. The contract, awarded to 3M, will increase the supply chain of N95 masks and resupply the Strategic National Stockpile following increased demand due to COVID-19.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 07 May 2020
• Pentagon Mad Scientists Developing a Robotic Vessel Resembling 'Star Wars' Ship Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which develops high-tech weaponry for the US military, is attempting to create a purpose-built unmanned warship. Observers have noted it bears a curious resemblance to the wedge-shaped Imperial Star Destroyers from the "Star Wars" franchise.
• Chinook Helicopter unit set to deploy to Middle East Army News 07 May 2020 -- While more than 900 Washington National Guard members are supporting the COVID-19 response, one unit is training for a different kind of fight.
• 1st SFAB begins advising mission to Africa with vehicle maintenance training in Senegal Army News 07 May 2020 -- Logistics Advisor Team 1610, 6th Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, delivered a three-week long Vehicle Maintenance and Recovery Course in Dakar, Senegal from March 2-21, to train the Senegalese Armed Forces how to keep their military moving.
• U.S.-Australia Defense Policy & Strategy Talks Press Statement DoD 07 May 2020 -- The United States and Australia held the inaugural Defense Policy and Strategy Talks on May 6, 2020, with U.S. co-chairs David Helvey (Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs) and Vic G. Mercado (Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities), and Australian co-chairs Hugh Jeffrey (First Assistant Secretary, International Policy) and Celia Perkins (First Assistant Secretary, Strategic Policy).
• U.S.-British Arctic Exercise Shows U.S. Concern for Region DoD News 07 May 2020 -- A U.S. and British exercise underway in the Barents Sea highlights the importance of the Arctic region in a time of climate change.
• MCSC, ONR and CD&I collaborating to inform ARV path forward USMC News 07 May 2020 -- Marine Corps Systems Command is working toward the next phase of replacing the legacy Light Armored Vehicle with a modern Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle.
• Putin Bans Armed Forces Members From Carrying Electronic Devices, Gadgets RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning members of the armed forces from carrying smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets capable of recording and storing information while on duty.
• Photos spark talk of 2nd stealth fighter's PLA commissioning Global Times 07 May 2020 -- The maker of the FC-31, China's second stealth fighter jet following the J-20, recently revealed photos of a scale model of the aircraft painted with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) insignia, a move military observers said suggested the warplane might join PLA service, despite being a made-for-export model.
• PCL-181 brings great improvement for PLA artillery troops PLA Daily 07 May 2020 -- Recently, it has been widely reported that China's new generation of 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzers, the PCL-181, have been delivered to troops of a brigade under the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command in batches. This reveals both the renewal of the main equipment, and even the overall improvement of the authorization system, tactical thinking, and equipment system of the PLA Army artillery troops.
• North Korea Building Grand Storage Base for Nukes, Think Tank Claims Amid Stalled Trump-Kim Talks Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The configuration and whereabouts of the base and its underground facility from the 1980s are deemed as an indication that it can be used for the assembly of ballistic missiles from components delivered by rail from local plants.
• DPRK Condemns South Korean Drills As 'Grave Provocation', Mulls Response Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- According to state-run North Korean news agency KCNA, the South Korean military staged a joint drill in contested waters in the West Sea of Korea to "cope with the north firepower", apparently referring to the DPRK as "enemies".
• Indian Air Force Mi-17 Helicopter Crash Lands in Country's Northeast Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- According to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the chopper was on a routine air maintenance sortie from Chaten to Mukutang.
• India Mounts Massive Operation to Evacuate Citizens Stranded Overseas VOA 07 May 2020 -- India has launched the biggest evacuation of its citizens in decades, deploying aircraft and navy ships to bring home thousands of Indians stranded in foreign countries after it shut its borders and stopped all international commercial flights in March due to COVID-19.
• Special Forces Deficient British Army Launches Major Recruitment Drive Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- Despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis, he British Army's website makes clear the armed forces are still accepting applications - indeed is currently advertising for a number of "army jobs", including officers, mechanics and trainee intelligence analysts.
• Egypt - AH-64E Refurbished Apache Attack Helicopters and Related Equipment and Support DSCA 07 May 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt to refurbish forty-three (43) AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for an estimated cost of $2.3 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles DSCA 07 May 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the UAE of Excess Defense Articles (EDA) of up to four thousand five hundred sixty-nine (4,569) MRAP vehicles for an estimated cost of $556 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Italy's Aircraft Carrier Cavour Leaves Port After Upgrades to Carry F-35s Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The Italian Navy flagship, the aircraft carrier Cavour, left drydock on Wednesday. The warship has received 10 months of modernization upgrades to operate the F-35B stealth aircraft, and will now embark on integration tests.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For May 7, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 7 May 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 07 May 2020
• Indonesia Summons Ambassador over Deaths on Chinese Fishing Boats Radio Free Asia 07 May 2020 -- Officials in Jakarta summoned the Chinese ambassador Thursday over the deaths of four Indonesians and the treatment of others who allegedly worked in harsh conditions aboard Chinese fishing boats since December 2019.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 07 May 2020
• Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Yemen The White House 07 May 2020
• Saudi warships kill four, including child, in Yemen's Hajjah Press TV 07 May 2020 -- At least four Yemeni civilians, including a child, have lost their lives after the Saudi-led coalition's warships targeted the impoverished country's northwestern province of Hajjah.
• Prominent Houthi Leader Mohammed al-Hamran Killed Amid Clashes in Yemen Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- Ansarallah, the rebel Houthi movement in Yemen, confirmed on Thursday the death of Mohamed Abdel Karim al-Hamran, a special forces commander. He was killed in battle west of the hotly contested city of Ma'rib.
• Daesh terrorists kill 11 Syrian soldiers, allied fighters in eastern Syria: Monitor Press TV 07 May 2020 -- Members of the Daesh terrorist group have killed 11 Syrian government soldiers and their allied fighters, a monitoring group says.
• Trump Renews US Sanctions Against Syria Over Ongoing Conflict Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress on Thursday announcing that he is renewing US sanctions against Syria due to the ongoing conflict in the country.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 07 May 2020
• Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria The White House 07 May 2020
• UN Monitors Say Mercenaries From Russia's Vagner Group Fighting In Libya RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- UN experts say mercenaries from the Vagner group, a Russian private security firm, are supporting Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar in his battle to capture the capital, Tripoli.
• Iran Says Two Terrorist Cells Destroyed, Three Guard Members Killed In Operation Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- An Iranian news agency with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday reported that the Intelligence Ministry has "tracked down and destroyed two terrorist cells".
• Iran Says Two 'Terrorist Cells' Destroyed In Western Parts Of The Country RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry says it has tracked down and dismantled two "terrorist cells" in the Western part of the country.
• Bangladesh: All Rohingya Found at Sea Will Be Taken to Bhashan Char Island Radio Free Asia 07 May 2020 -- After insisting for weeks that it would not help Rohingya refugees stranded at sea, Bangladesh authorities relented Thursday and towed a boat packed with people to a flood-prone island, saying all refugees found at sea would be taken to the controversial site from now on.
• Myanmar Military Column, Artillery Firings Displace Rakhine Villagers Radio Free Asia 07 May 2020 -- Large numbers of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in rural Rakhine state after a Myanmar military column deployed in three villages fired artillery into a forested area where it believed rebel Arakan Army camps were, residents said Thursday.
• Israel's annexation plan shuts door on 'peace talks' with Palestinians: UN chief Press TV 07 May 2020 -- United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned Israel's controversial plan to annex much of the occupied West Bank, saying the move will shut the door on possible "peace negotiations" with the Palestinians.
• Hamas demands national Palestinian action against Israel's annexation plan Press TV 07 May 2020 -- The Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has called upon all Palestinian forces to join hands and confront the Israeli regime's plan to annex much of the occupied West Bank.
• Hamas, Islamic Jihad reject Arab scheme on Israeli-Palestinian talks Press TV 07 May 2020 -- Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance movements have expressed their opposition to an initiative reportedly supported by the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
• Khan says India could launch false flag operation against Pakistan, under infiltration pretext Press TV 07 May 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says India can use the current tension between the two nuclear-armed countries to launch a purported "false flag operation" against Islamabad under the pretext of infiltration.
• Indian forces kill top pro-independence commander in Kashmir Press TV 07 May 2020 -- India's security forces have killed a senior pro-independence leader along with four other fighters in separate gun battles in the Indian-controlled Kashmir.
• Pakistan Urges India to Refrain From 'Ill-Considered Move' Across LoC Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- India and Pakistan have been exchanging cross-border fire along the Line of Control since April, resulting in the death of a dozen civilians and a dozen security personnel on both sides of the border. The firing escalated after terrorists killed five Indian troops while crossing the border to enter Kashmir on 5 April.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 07 May 2020
• Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Central African Republic The White House 07 May 2020

News Reports

• After Being Delayed by White House for Almost a Year, Transcripts from House Intelligence Committee Russia Investigation Released HPSCI 07 May 2020 -- Transcripts Reaffirm Mueller's Findings That Russia Interfered to Hurt Clinton and Help Trump, the Campaign Invited and Made Full Use of Illicit Russian Help, and Trump Lied to Cover It Up White House Would Not Allow Release of All Transcripts for More Than a Year By Holding Up Declassification Process Until this Week
• US House Intel Releases Trove of Transcripts From Russia Probe Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The US House Intelligence Committee released a trove of documents related to its investigations of US President Donald Trump potentially having sought help winning elections from outside the US. The tranche includes 57 witness transcripts from the Russiagate and Ukraine scandal probes.
• Justice Department Drops Case Against Former Trump Adviser Flynn VOA 07 May 2020 -- The Justice Department on Thursday moved to drop the charges in its long-running criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn, ending one of the most politically charged and controversial cases stemming from the now-closed investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.
• U.S. Justice Department Dropping Case Against Ex-Trump National-Security Adviser Flynn RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- The U.S. Justice Department is dropping the criminal charges against former national-security adviser Michael Flynn.
• US Justice Department Drops Criminal Case Against Ex-Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- As a result of the Russia probe, Flynn struck a plea deal with the FBI, confessing to willingly lying to the agency about his contacts with Russian ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, in 2016. Flynn later withdrew his plea and successfully fought attempts to sentence him in 2020.
• Venezuelan-US Dialogue Suspended After Invasion Attempt - Maduro Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- On 3 May, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said an invasion of "Colombian militants" had been diverted on the sea. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro named two US citizens among those detained, who, he asserted, were 'security guards of US President Donald Trump'.
• Venezuela to Request Extradition of American Allegedly Involved in Suspected Plot VOA 07 May 2020 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday that four more people he described as terrorists have been captured in connection with Sunday's foiled raid to overthrow his government.
• Briefing on Russian Engagement in the Middle East US Dept. of State 07 May 2020
• Pandemic, Oil, And Arms Control Dominate Trump, Putin Phone Call RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on May 7, discussing arms control, oil prices, and the global coronavirus pandemic, according to the White House and the Kremlin.
• 'We Would Have Lost': Did U.S. Lend-Lease Aid Tip The Balance In Soviet Fight Against Nazi Germany? RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- On February 24, 1943, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft with serial number 42-32892 rolled out of a factory in Long Beach, California, and was handed over to the U.S. Air Force.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on May 7, 2020 PRC MofA 07 May 2020
• Chinese FM slams Pompeo for making up 'pack of lies' Global Times 07 May 2020 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday slammed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for making up a "pack of lies," urging US politicians who indulged in blame games to focus more on saving American lives.
• HK needs central govt support Global Times 07 May 2020 -- Under the combined impact of social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is facing another tough year in 2020, with anti-government and separatist forces preparing to take more action in June to extend the turmoil.
• Two sessions likely to shorten, number of reporters cut Global Times 07 May 2020 -- This year's two sessions, which have been pushed back to late May because of the coronavirus epidemic, are likely to be shortened to one week and see fewer reporters covering the event, delegates and reporters told the Global Times.
• China's experimental new-generation manned spaceship works normally in orbit People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- The trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship is now working normally in orbit, having completed a series of operations as planned, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on Wednesday.
• U.S. secretary of state urges WHO chief to invite Taiwan to WHA CNA 07 May 2020 -- United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called on the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite Taiwan to this year's World Health Assembly (WHA), saying it is within a WHO director-general's power to do so.
• Cyberattacks on Democratic Taiwan Set to Rise Ahead of President's Inauguration Radio Free Asia 07 May 2020 -- Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen approaches her second inauguration later this month amid malware attacks on two of the island's major petrochemical companies that are believed to have come from China.
• Support to Construction of Pyongyang General Hospital Brisk in DPRK KCNA 07 May 2020 -- A hot wind of support to the Pyongyang General Hospital under construction is sweeping the DPRK.
• Rural North Koreans Forced to Provide Food Aid to Privileged Pyongyang Radio Free Asia 07 May 2020 -- North Korean residents are being forced to chip in with food aid for construction workers building a new hospital in Pyongyang, creating resentment among provincial residents who are not permitted to freely travel to the capital, sources in the country told RFA.
• US in no position to comment on Iran nuclear deal: Foreign Ministry Press TV 07 May 2020 -- On the anniversary of the US' unilateral departure from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major world powers, the Iranian Foreign Ministry says Washington has through its withdrawal forfeited all rights to address the issues concerning the landmark deal.
• Touting Missile Launch, Khamenei Urges Surge In Production In A Failing Economy Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei says a "surge in production is doable" for a nation that launches satellites into space.
• Iran's Food Price Inflation At An Alarming 43 Percent Rate Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- In a new report on Thursday, the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI) announced that the inflation rate in the 12-month period ending March 20, 2020 in for foodstuff, drinking water, beverages and tobacco products passed the 42 percent mark.
• US Extends Iran Sanctions Waiver For New Iraqi Government, Pledges Support Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- Iraq has succeeded forming a government after months of instability, and the United States welcomed the move by extending a waiver on Iran sanctions to ease pressure on the new leader.
• Iraq: Guterres welcomes new Prime Minister, calls for 'meaningful' reforms UN News 07 May 2020 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his Special Representative in Iraq, welcomed the long-delayed formation of a new Government in Baghdad on Thursday and called for meaningful reforms to be put into place to better the lives of the Iraqi people and strengthen democratic institutions.
• Iraqi territory won't be used as launching ground against others: Al-Kadhimi Press TV 07 May 2020 -- Iraq's new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi says his country would never allow outsiders to use the Arab country's territory for any act of aggression against others.
• Iraqi MPs approve al-Kadhimi's cabinet, ending months of deadlock Press TV 07 May 2020 -- The Iraqi parliament has approved the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, ending six months of political deadlock in the Arab country.
• Iraq's Former Spy Chief Takes Office as Prime Minister VOA 07 May 2020 -- Iraq swore in a new prime minister Thursday, ending a five-month period of squabbling among its political blocs.
• Oil crisis, coronavirus taking toll on Saudi Crown Prince Press TV 07 May 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic coupled with a dramatic fall in oil prices is taking its toll on the leadership of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), a new analysis shows.
• Belarus Election Commission Confirms Presidential Election In August RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- Belarus will hold its presidential election between August 9 and August 30, the chairwoman of the country's Central Election Commission (CEC) said on May 7.
• Israel's top court allows scandal-tainted Netanyahu to form new administration Press TV 07 May 2020 -- Israel's top court has ruled that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can legally form a new coalition administration while facing criminal indictments, a decision that appears certain to secure his grip on power.
• Ukrainian President Names Saakashvili To Head Reform Council RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- Ukraine's president has named former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to head the executive committee of Ukraine's National Reform Council.
• EU Enlargement Commissioner Vows 'Thorough' Assessment Of State Of Democracy In Serbia, Montenegro RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi says the 27-member bloc will make its own assessment on the democratic values of candidate countries in the Western Balkans amid criticism of backsliding in the region as it pushes for accession.
• Moldovan Court Rules Russian Loan Violates Law RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- Moldova's Constitutional Court has ruled that a 200 million-euro ($216 million) loan agreement with Russia is unconstitutional.