Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• North Carolina Guard members distribute PPE across state Army News 16 May 2020 -- The North Carolina National Guard members have distributed 432,000 gloves, 44,000 face shields, 45,000 shoe covers, 88,800 procedural masks, and 2800 bottles of hand sanitizer split between two sites that support 112 facilities.
• During COVID-19 crisis, Cal Guardsmen prepare for wildfires Army News 16 May 2020 -- As the COVID-19 crisis continues, so does the threat from wildfires that flare up across California, usually from summer through fall. Over the past few years, the state has seen a series of devastating fires that have destroyed communities and taken dozens of lives. In 2018, the Camp Fire in Butte County was the deadliest in California history, killing 86 people.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USNS Mercy Arrives to Naval Air Station North Island, Prepared for Future Tasking NNS 16 May 2020 -- Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived to Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, May 15, after supporting the Department of Defense (DOD) response efforts in the greater Los Angeles area during the coronavirus outbreak.
• Pentagon: US developing range of hypersonic missiles Press TV 16 May 2020 -- The Pentagon has reluctantly acknowledged it is developing hypersonic weapons, hours after refusing to comment on President Donald Trump's remarks about a new "super-duper missile."
• Trump: US will beat out Russia and China with 'super duper missile' Press TV 16 May 2020 -- While unveiling the flag for his new Space Force in the Oval Office in the White House, President Donald Trump has said the United States will beat out military rivals including Russia and China with "'super duper missile."
• NATO Secretary General, Libyan Prime Minister discuss situation in Libya NATO 16 May 2020 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a phone call with the Prime Minister of Libya, Fayez al-Sarraj, on Saturday (16 May 2020), at the Prime Minister's request, to discuss developments in Libya.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin Reveals How Moscow Created Unique High-Tech Weapons Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- During his address to the Federal Assembly, the president showcased the country's new strategic weapons, including the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, unmanned underwater vehicles and the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic cruise missile.
• China's PLA beefing up talent pool by hiring new university graduates Global Times 16 May 2020 -- China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has launched online applications to officers' positions on Friday, marking the first time to recruit graduates from non-military universities across the country in 2020, which experts believe will fill the talent gap.
• OP SAMUDRA SETU PHASE 2 - INS JALASHWA DEPARTS MALE WITH INDIAN NATIONALS EMBARKED India PIB 16 May 2020 -- Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa completed embarkation of 588 Indian citizens on 15 May 20, at the port of Male, Maldives as part of Operation Samudra Setu - the Indian Navy's contribution to India's national effort to bring home our citizens from foreign shores by sea. Her manifest of 588 includes six expectant mothers and 21 children.
• Serbia Deploys Army To 'Secure' Three Migrant Camps RFE/RL 16 May 2020 -- Serbia has deployed troops near a town not far from the border with Croatia where hundreds of migrants are located, hoping to reach the European Union.
• Serbia Deploys Army to 'Secure' 3 Migrant Camps VOA 16 May 2020 -- Serbia has deployed troops near a town not far from the border with Croatia, where hundreds of migrants hoping to reach the European Union are located.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Saudi Arabia asks Hadi regime officials to leave as costs bite amid economic downturn: Report Press TV 16 May 2020 -- Saudi Arabia has reportedly asked members of the regime of former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi residing in the capital Riyadh to leave and suspended financial support provided to them.
• Yemeni Government: Houthi Militias Loot Medical Supplies SPA 16 May 2020 -- The Yemeni government has accused the Iranian-backed Houthi militias of committing operations of looting medical supplies which are dedicated to confront the novel Coronavirus in the governorates under their control.
• Tactical Change Or Withdrawal? Iran's Syria Strategy Analyzed Amid Reports Of Force Reductions Radio Farda 16 May 2020 -- Some nine years after Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) deployed military advisers and fighters to Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli and U.S. officials have said Tehran is reducing its presence in Syria.
• Militants Shell Towns in Syria's Idlib, Russian Military Says Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- Militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham* terrorist group have conducted three attacks in the Syrian province of Idlib, Rear Admiral Oleg Zhuravlev, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's centre for Syrian reconciliation, said on Saturday.
• Iraqi army, police launch anti-Daesh operation in Diyala province Press TV 16 May 2020 -- Iraqi army troops and police forces of Diyala province have launched a joint counterterrorism operation in the eastern parts of the country.
• Return Of Crimea 'Difficult And Slow Process,' Says Ukraine's Parliament Speaker RFE/RL 16 May 2020 -- The speaker of the Ukrainian parliament says efforts to return control of Crimea to Kyiv are part of "a difficult and slow process," that Ukraine is determined to resolve.
• A Tale Of Central Asian Borders: One Of Cooperation, One Of Conflict RFE/RL 16 May 2020 -- Having a good neighbor in a tough part of the world is a real plus.
• UN welcomes arrest of top suspect in Rwanda genocide UN News 16 May 2020 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the arrest on Saturday of one of the world's most wanted fugitives, his Spokesperson said in a statement.
• France Arrests Rwandan Businessman Wanted in Connection With 1994 Genocide VOA 16 May 2020 -- French police have arrested a man accused of funding militias that massacred hundreds of thousands of people in Rwanda 1994 genocide.
• Pompeo Warns ICC Against Asserting Authority Over Israel VOA 16 May 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned the International Criminal Court Friday that if it continues to assert authority over Israel, the U.S. will "exact consequences."

News Reports

• Trump Fires State Department Watchdog Following Pompeo's Recommendation - White House Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- Following the move, House Democrats launched a probe into the firing, which they deemed as "politically motivated", requesting the Trump administration to submit records related to the watchdog's removal by 22 May.
• Colombian Defence Minister Refutes Maduro's Accusations of Preparing Invasion to Venezuela Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- Colombian Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo once again refuted accusations of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that the Colombian government was involved in preparing the recent invasion of mercenaries to Venezuela.
• China to adjust annual legislative session arrangements People's Daily 16 May 2020 -- China's top legislature will adjust its arrangements for the upcoming annual legislative session to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic and safeguard public health, a senior member of the legislature said Friday.
• Xi chairs leadership meeting to discuss draft government work report People's Daily 16 May 2020 -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday held a meeting to discuss the draft government work report, which will be submitted by the State Council to the third annual session of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation and approval.
• China urges US to stop 'unreasonable suppression' of Huawei Press TV 16 May 2020 -- China has urged the United States to stop the "unreasonable suppression" of Chinese tech giant Huawei as well as other enterprises, as tensions have heightened between the world's two largest economies.
• Beijing Urges US to Halt 'Unreasonable Suppression' of Huawei, Chinese Enterprises Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- The US Commerce Department earlier introduced a new rule aimed at preventing Huawei from being able to "undermine", as it put it, the firm's status as a blacklisted company, requiring suppliers of sophisticated American-made technology seek additional US government licenses before any sales occur.
• China calls on US to pay its debts to United Nations Press TV 16 May 2020 -- China has called on the United States to pay its debts to the United Nations, stressing that Washington owes the international body more than $2 billion.
• IPCC's report comprehensive, objective, fact-based, weighty: HKSAR chief executive Global Times 16 May 2020 -- Carrie Lam, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Friday that the report released by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) was comprehensive, objective, fact-based and weighty.
• Foreign, defense ministers to keep posts in new Cabinet CNA 16 May 2020 -- Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and Defense Minister Yen De-fa (嚴德發) will retain their posts when President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) second-term Cabinet takes office on May 20, Cabinet aides said Saturday.
• CIB investigating alleged cyberattack on Presidential Office CNA 16 May 2020 -- Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) is investigating an alleged cyberattack on the Presidential Office, after some members of the country's media on Friday received what the Office said were altered documents pertaining to two April meetings between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).
• Mired in uproar and panic, Taiwan's DPP a clown in their self-directed political soap opera: experts Global Times 16 May 2020 -- Mainland analysts warned Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island of Taiwan not to step any further of declaring independence amid the pandemic, as both the mainland's deterrence and US' purported sincerity are rattling the island's ruling party.
• Circular issued clarifying policy on Taiwan-funded enterprises People's Daily 16 May 2020 -- A circular about promoting the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises and projects in the mainland was jointly issued by 10 central departments on Friday, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.
• Classroom Incident Deepens Tensions Between China, Taiwan VOA 16 May 2020 -- Independence-minded Taiwan residents and politicians are in an uproar after officials at a university forced a professor to apologize to his class for saying he is from the ROC (Republic of China), using Taiwan's official name.
• Kim Jong-un Reportedly Replaces His Spy Chief, Head of Personal Security After Month-Long Absence Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- The North Korean leader recently disappeared from the public for nearly a month, sparking rumors regarding his health status. He returned at the beginning of May for a ribbon-cutting event without any explanation about his absence, further fuelling the speculation.
• Iran's fuel shipment to Venezuela guaranteed by its missile power Press TV 16 May 2020 -- Iran is shipping tons of gasoline to Venezuela in defiance of US sanctions on both countries in a symbolic move guaranteed by Tehran's missile prowess.
• US spreads division, violence instead of fighting COVID-19 outbreak: Iran Press TV 16 May 2020 -- The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has lashed out at the United States for pressing ahead with its acts of sabotage while the world is in need of a united fight against the deadly coronavirus outbreak, saying Washington is continues to encourage division and violence across the globe.
• Iran Spent Billions Creating Alternative 'Internet' To Control Information Radio Farda 16 May 2020 -- The Research Center of the Iranian parliament (Majles) has estimated that about 190 trillion rials have been spent on setting up the National Information Network (NIN) by last year.
• Iran Offers Families Of Protesters Killed In November Money Instead Of Justice Radio Farda 16 May 2020 -- A London-based Human Rights Organization in a report published on Saturday says Iranian authorities have pressured the families of those killed during the November 2019 protests to settle for proposals of money and "martyrdom".
• Former Iraqi minister: Iran to remain key energy source despite US pressure Press TV 16 May 2020 -- Iraq's former electricity minister says neighboring Iran will remain a key source of energy to the Arab country for years to come until suitable alternatives materialize.
• NASA: US Hopes Russia Will Support Artemis Space Development Accords Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- The US government still hopes that Russia will support the newly proposed bilateral Artemis Accords for the economic development of space between the Earth and the Moon, NASA Acting Associate Administrator Mike Gold told reporters.
• India Axes Gov't Monopoly in Strategic Sectors - Defence, Space, and Coal Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled three tranches through the week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $266 billion economic stimulus package. The measures are aimed at helping the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Uganda High Court Rules Police Halting Bobi Wine Concerts Illegal VOA 16 May 2020 -- Robert Kyagulanyi, a member of Uganda's National Assembly popularly known as Bobi Wine says he is not excited about a court ruling that declared police orders to halt his concerts in the country illegal. Obiga Kania, Uganda's internal affairs minister, says as long as the law says they can halt his shows, they will continue doing so. Wine last held a concert in Uganda three years ago.
• US to send oil to Belarus in latest inroad into Russia's orbit Press TV 16 May 2020 -- The United States says it will dispatch its first oil shipment to Belarus in what seems to be an apparent move to gain further influence in Russia's neighbor and former close ally months after an oil price dispute between Moscow and Minsk.