Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Trump Says U.S. Has 'No Target' Date To Pull Troops From Afghanistan RFE/RL 26 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he has not set a target date for a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, where a fragile U.S.-Taliban peace process has gained renewed momentum in recent days.
• Afghan Government To Free 900 More Taliban Prisoners RFE/RL 26 May 2020 -- The Afghan government plans to release 900 more Taliban prisoners as a three-day cease-fire with the militants draws to an end.
• Afghan Government Releases 900 Taliban Prisoners as Part of Eid Ceasefire Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- Some 900 Taliban* prisoners were released across Afghanistan on Tuesday as part of the pledge made by President Ashraf Ghani to mark Eid, the holiday ending the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Afghan National Security Council's head of program on prisoners exchange said in a statement.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Third Unsafe Intercept by Russia in U.S. Sixth Fleet in Two Months NNS 26 May 2020 -- For the third time in two months, Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while intercepting a U.S. Navy P-8A Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft in U.S. Sixth Fleet, May 26, 2020.
• Pentagon Weeks Away From Normal Operating; Military Bases Set to Allow Transfers VOA 26 May 2020 -- The Pentagon is still several weeks away from returning most of the more than 20,000 people who work there back to their offices, defense officials said Tuesday, as the military prepares for some bases to start accepting transfers immediately.
• Pentagon Reservation Plan for Resilience and 'Aligning With National Guidelines for Opening Up America Again' DoD 26 May 2020 -- Today the department unveiled the "Pentagon Reservation Plan for Resilience and 'Aligning with National Guidelines for Opening Up America Again'" for returning to normal operations. The Pentagon Reservation resilience plan places the health and safety of our workforce first.
• ATSD(PA), CMO, USD(P&R) Provide Updates on DOD COVID-19 Response DoD 26 May 2020 -- Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; Matthew Donovan, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Lisa W. Hershman, the Defense Department's Chief Management Officer
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 26 May 2020
• U.S. Army and Jordan Armed Forces continue partnership mission despite COVID-19 challenges CENTCOM 26 May 2020 -- The United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have continued to cement their military partnership through the Jordan Operational Engagement Program (JOEP) in past months.
• USS Blue Ridge Arrives in Okinawa for Limited Port Call NNS 26 May 2020 -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff pulled into Okinawa, May 24, making the ship's first port visit in more than 70 days.
• US and Saudi Forces Conduct Joint Military Exercises on Saudi Islands NNS 26 May 2020 -- The U.S. and Saudi forces are conducting routine and joint sustainment training on and around Karan and Kurayn islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, May 24-30, 2020.
• US, Saudi Armed Forces Carry Out Joint Training Exercises in Northern Persian Gulf Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The United States and Saudi Arabia are holding week-long joint military exercises at islands in the northern Persian Gulf, the Navy said on Tuesday.
• Coronavirus response: United States and NATO provide additional critical assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in tackling pandemic NATO 26 May 2020 -- Today (26 May 2020), as part of the broad Allied efforts in response to the COVID 19 pandemic, representatives of the United States military and NATO Headquarters/Sarajevo have donated critical supplies and medical equipment to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The donation was delivered to the Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It included dozens of thermometers, hundreds of face shield visors, five thousands masks, hundreds of protective goggles and suits, hundreds of blankets, pillows and bed linen sets and hundreds of litres of disinfectant. A similar delivery was made this past Friday (22 May 2020) to the Ministry of Health of Republika Srpska.
• Russia begins building first strategic stealth bomber: Report Press TV 26 May 2020 -- Russia has begun manufacturing a prototype of its first strategic stealth heavy bomber, which is expected to be completed next year, a report says.
• US Should Not Hope to Get Open Skies Treaty Data After Pullout - Russian Foreign Ministry Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The United States should not hope that they will receive data on the Open Skies Treaty after exiting it, but not-parties to the agreement may partially compensate it with satellite surveying, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
• Tests of Russia's Poseidon Drone Carrier, Belgorod Sub to Last Until End of 2021 - Source Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- Tests of Russia's Project 09852 nuclear submarine Belgorod, which will be the first experimental carrier of Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drones, will last until the end of 2021, a defen?e industry source said.
• Russian Military Helicopter Crashes In Chukotka, Killing Four RFE/RL 26 May 2020 -- A Russian military helicopter has crashed in Russia's northeastern Chukotka Peninsula, killing four people.
• China's amphibious rescue aircraft readies for maiden sea takeoff Global Times 26 May 2020 -- China's indigenously developed amphibious aircraft AG600, which is the largest in the world, will set out for sea for the first time in the second half of the year, its developer said Monday.
• Netizens identify China's 2nd carrier leaving port from online images Global Times 26 May 2020 -- A series of photos and videos uploaded on China's social media platforms have set Chinese internet abuzz as they were identified by Chinese military enthusiasts and netizens as showing China's second aircraft carrier, the country's first domestically built one, leaving its shipyard for sail on Monday.
• Steady defense spending growth proper, necessary: spokesperson Global Times 26 May 2020 -- China has set its 2020 defense budget growth target at 6.6 percent, and a military spokesperson said on Tuesday that a moderate and steady increase in the nation's defense expenditure is right, proper and necessary.
• China's moderate and steady defense budget increase reasonable and necessary PLA Daily 26 May 2020 -- The scale and structure of China's defense budget is reasonably determined in accordance with the level of national economic development and defense demand, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police (PAP) Force on Tuesday during the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, when interviewed by the media.
• Military deputy to NPC suggests unified system for military-civil counter-emergency activities PLA Daily 26 May 2020 -- "The fight against the COVID-19 epidemic is a test of the national mobilization in a real combat environment." Song Yuanjun, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and Commander of the Heilongjiang Corps under China's Armed Police Force (APF), believed that the military-civil joint prevention and control mechanism together with society-wide efforts to prevent and control the epidemic has played a critical role in defeating and preventing the virus, while also exposing some shortcomings and deficiencies at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the establishment of joint emergency management and command institution under military-civil cooperation to achieve unified command and dispatch of military and civilian emergency forces, and to improve the ability to respond to new-type security risks in an all-round way.
• Xi stresses strengthening national defense, armed forces PLA Daily 26 May 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday stressed achieving the targets and missions of strengthening the national defense and armed forces for 2020, while maintaining effective epidemic control on a regular basis.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany The White House 26 May 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For May 26, 2020

Other Conflicts

• Yemen aid lifeline near 'breaking point': UN food agency UN News 26 May 2020 -- Humanitarian aid projects to war-torn Yemen are reaching breaking point, and some $870 million is needed to continue giving life-saving assistance to millions of vulnerable people for the next six months, the World Food Programme (WFP), warned on Tuesday.
• UN refugee agency's relief operations in Yemen near 'potential breaking point' Press TV 26 May 2020 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned its actives in Yemen are near a "potential breaking point" as the new coronavirus is spreading throughout the impoverished country, where the healthcare system has effectively collapsed amid a bloody Saudi-led war.
• Turkish forces, allied militants intend to steal wheat crops in Syria's Hasakah: SANA Press TV 26 May 2020 -- Turkish military forces and allied militants are reportedly planning to steal tens of tons of grain from Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, and smuggle it across the border.
• Militants Shell Town in Syria's Idlib, Russian Military Says Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- Militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham* terrorist group have attacked a settlement in the Syrian province of Idlib, Rear Admiral Oleg Zhuravlev, the head of the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for Syrian reconciliation, said on Tuesday.
• Daesh's Iraq Head Killed in US Coalition Airstrike in Syria, Iraqi Anti-Terrorism Service Says Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- Mouataz al-Jabouri, an who heads militants associated with the Daesh* terrorist group in Iraq, has been killed in an attack carried out by the US-led international coalition in northeastern Syria, a spokesman of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) said on Tuesday.
• Russia deploys military fighter aircraft to Libya AFRICOM 26 May 2020 -- U.S. Africa Command assesses that Moscow recently deployed military fighter aircraft to Libya in order to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors (PMCs) operating on the ground there.
• U.S. Accuses Russia Of Sending Jets To Libya To Support Mercenaries RFE/RL 26 May 2020 -- The United States says Moscow has deployed military jets to Libya to provide support for Russian mercenaries helping a local warlord battle the North African country's internationally recognized government.
• AFRICOM: Russia Deploys Fighter Jets to Libya VOA 26 May 2020 -- U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) says Russia recently deployed military fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian state-sponsored, private military contractors, who are helping forces fighting the U.N.-supported Libyan government.
• UN reveals secret Western mission backing Libya's rebels against Turkey Press TV 26 May 2020 -- United Nations (UN) experts have disclosed a secret military operation by several Western countries in Libya that is aimed at supporting Libyan rebels under the command of military strongman Khalifa Haftar by interrupting Turkey's shipment of arms to the government in Tripoli.
• UN blames both Koreas for violating armistice in latest border firefight Press TV 26 May 2020 -- The US-led United Nations Command (UNC) has blamed North and South Korea for violating the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War when the two countries exchanged gunfire earlier this month.
• North and South Korea Violated Armistice During Gunfire Exchange at DMZ, UN Says VOA 26 May 2020 -- Both North and South Korea were at fault when they exchanged gunfire earlier this month across their heavily fortified shared border, according to a probe by the United Nations Command.
• Thousands put in quarantine at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh Press TV 26 May 2020 -- At least 15,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar are placed in quarantine in Bangladesh's sprawling camps due to alleged spikes in coronavirus cases there, health officials say.
• Myanmar's Rakhine State Revokes Order Evicting Squatters From Rohingya Land Radio Free Asia 26 May 2020 -- Authorities in western Myanmar's Rakhine state have revoked an order requiring Rakhine Buddhist families to vacate land in a former Rohingya Muslim area of Sittwe township that was razed eight years ago during a flare-up of sectarian violence.
• HRW: 200 Homes Burned in Rakhine, Myanmar VOA 26 May 2020 -- Around 200 homes and other buildings were destroyed by fire in Myanmar's conflict-torn Rakhine state, Human Rights Watch reported Tuesday. The rights group says satellite images recorded the destruction on May 16.
• Erdogan Says Turkey 'Won't Allow' Israel to Claim New West Bank Territories Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The Turkish president's comments come a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his intention to "apply sovereignty in a wise way in Judea and Samaria", calling parts of the West Bank by their biblical names.
• Tibetan Students, State Workers Barred From Religious Events in Lhasa Radio Free Asia 26 May 2020 -- Chinese authorities are closely watching government employees and students in Tibet's regional capital Lhasa during the Buddhist holy month of Saga Dawa, forbidding them from participating in traditional religious gatherings, according to sources in Tibet.
• India Rushes More Troops to Border as Tensions With China Increase in Uttarakhand, Report Suggests Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The ongoing standoff between India and China erupted over infrastructure construction near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has been urging India to be cautious and practice restraint over infrastructure development in the border areas, which are separated by the loosely demarcated LAC.

News Reports

• Statement by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe Director of National Intelligence 26 May 2020 -- Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe today issued the following statement after taking the oath of office to serve as the sixth DNI in our nation's history
• Trump Loyalist Sworn in as US Director of National Intelligence VOA 26 May 2020 -- More than nine months after U.S. President Donald Trump first floated his name, John Ratcliffe is taking charge of the country's intelligence operations, promising to live up to the U.S. intelligence community mantra of speaking truth to power, despite his reputation as a Trump loyalist.
• Pompeo Blasted by Rep. Eliot Engel for 'Thoughtless' Threat to Cut off Australia From Intel Sharing Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The US embassy in Australia sought to downplay the statement the top US diplomat made over the weekend, saying Washington had "absolute confidence" in Canberra's ability to protect the security of its telecommunications networks and those of its intelligence partners.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on May 26, 2020 PRC MofA 26 May 2020
• Taiwan Vows to Boost Support For Hong Kong Protest Movement Radio Free Asia 26 May 2020 -- Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen has warned that she could suspend trading privileges accorded to Hong Kong if Beijing imposes a draconian national security law on the city.
• Trump Thinks It's Hard to See Hong Kong Remain Financial Hub If China Takes Over, White House Says Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien on 24 May hinted at a possibility of the US using sanctions against China if Beijing impinges upon Hong Kong's autonomy.
• Russian FM Lavrov Slams US for Trying to Pressure Beijing Over Hong Kong Security Bill Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The legislation, introduced by the Chinese government and is yet to be voted on, suggests to make treason and sedition laws stricter, banning any activities that could potentially "split the country".
• Hong Kong Leader Says Controversial Security Law is Nothing to Worry About VOA 26 May 2020 -- Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says the city's basic freedoms will not be infringed by a new security law for the semi-autonomous city proposed by Beijing.
• HK national security law sheds light on Taiwan question: deputies Global Times 26 May 2020 -- National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Taiwan said Hong Kong's national security legislation sheds light on the Taiwan question, sending a warning shot to Taiwan secessionists.
• National security law solid and firm, does not violate Basic Law: Carrie Lam Global Times 26 May 2020 -- Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said at her weekly news briefing on Tuesday that the constitutional foundation of the national security law to be implemented in Hong Kong is solid and firm and not in violation of the region's Basic Law.
• PLA's HK garrison will carry out central govt's policies PLA Daily 26 May 2020 -- Major General Chen Daoxiang, commander of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, said his troops will firmly execute the central government's policies and decisions and strive to safeguard the city's long-term prosperity and stability.
• PLA HK Garrison supports national security legislation for HK, confident in safeguarding national sovereignty: commander Global Times 26 May 2020 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison firmly supports the draft decision to introduce national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the troops have the determination, confidence and capability to safeguard the national sovereignty, security, development interests and long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, affirmed the commander of the garrison.
• Central govt has full legal rights to set up national security law for HK: Ex-Secretary of Justice Global Times 26 May 2020 -- The central government has the legal power and responsibility to establish a national security law anytime, and even if Hong Kong establishes Article 23, the central government could enact a new national security law, Elsie Leung Oi-sie, deputy director of Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and former Secretary of Justice told the Global Times on Tuesday in rebuking questions raised by the Hong Kong Bar Association on whether China's top legislator has the legal power to draft the law.
• HK measures to hurt US badly Global Times 26 May 2020 -- The US may be able to launch a vicious word war against China on the Hong Kong issue, but it's impossible for the US to strike heavily at China at a low cost. Most measures cost the US too much with little benefit, which would make it suffer significantly, a top Hong Kong think tank advisor told the Global Times.
• UK offer of 'rubber check' for Hongkongers brazen interference in China's internal affairs: observers Global Times 26 May 2020 -- Some UK politicians' promise to expand the "right of abode" to tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents was dubbed void promises and brazen interference in China's internal affairs by Chinese mainland experts and Hong Kong residents interviewed by the Global Times on Monday.
• Chinese leaders deliberate, discuss draft NPC decision on Hong Kong People's Daily 26 May 2020 -- Leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state have joined lawmakers and political advisors in deliberating and discussing a draft decision on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the annual sessions of the national legislature and political advisory body.
• National security legislation for HKSAR only targets heavy crimes, illegal activities: Tung Chee-hwa People's Daily 26 May 2020 -- Tung Chee-hwa, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said online here Monday that the national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) only targets heavy crimes and illegal activities, therefore people of Hong Kong can rest reassured.
• Hong Kong affairs purely China's internal affairs, the U.S. has no right to criticize or interfere: spokesperson People's Daily 26 May 2020 -- The Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and the U.S. has no right to criticize or interfere, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Monday.
• National security legislation to ensure enduring success of "one country, two systems": commissioner of Chinese foreign ministry in HKSAR People's Daily 26 May 2020 -- National security legislation for Hong Kong is of greatest urgency and will ensure the enduring success of "one country, two systems," Commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Xie Feng said on Monday.
• Liaison office of China's central gov't in HKSAR condemns violence, illegal actions for endangering national security People's Daily 26 May 2020 -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday strongly condemned the illegal assemblies and violent acts by rioters in Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong's leader reaffirms new law would not harm rights, freedoms Press TV 26 May 2020 -- Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has reiterated that the new national security law proposed by Beijing would not affect rights and freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, amid a wave of protests over the bill.
• China Plans to Send Teachers to Hong Kong to Give Guidance, Instruction in Schools Radio Free Asia 26 May 2020 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party is planning to send primary, secondary, and kindergarten teachers from schools in Hunan, Anhui and other provinces to Hong Kong to conduct "teaching instruction," RFA has learned.
• Russia says Hong Kong security law is China's domestic affair Press TV 26 May 2020 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the new security law that has been proposed by China and that is set to apply to Hong Kong is China's domestic affair and the United States should not be interfering in the matter.
• Fujian's GDP surpassing Taiwan a historic breakthrough with significance for Taiwan work: NPC deputy Global Times 26 May 2020 -- GDP in East China's Fujian Province reached 4.23 trillion yuan ($592.9 billion) in 2019, surpassing that of the island of Taiwan for the first time, which is a "historic breakthrough" having "far-reaching significance for efforts toward Taiwan," said Zhang Zhijun, president of The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and also a deputy to the National People's Congress this year.
• China detected 100-million-ton oilfield in Bohai Bay Global Times 26 May 2020 -- China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) announced the discovery of China's first 100 million-ton oilfield in Bohai Bay, a sea not far away from the industrial Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
• China's domestically developed C919 jet receives 815 orders: chief designer Global Times 26 May 2020 -- The development of the C919 narrow-body twinjet airliner is progressing as planned and in an orderly manner, said Wu Guanghui, National People's Congress (NPC) deputy and chief designer of the aircraft, on Tuesday.
• Fuqing-5 nuclear reactor will go into operation this year: CNNC Global Times 26 May 2020 -- The Fuqing-5 nuclear reactor will be put into operation by the end of 2020, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
• NPC Constitution and Law Committee deliberates draft civil code, decision on Hong Kong People's Daily 26 May 2020 -- The Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Monday deliberated a draft civil code and a draft decision of the NPC on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security.
• Venezuelan president terms Iranian fuel shipment sign of Tehran-Caracas solidarity IRNA 26 May 2020 -- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a message on Tuesday termed shipment of Iranian fuel to Venezuela as sign of Tehran-Caracas solidarity.
• Iranian tankers feed fuel to Venezuela's El Palito refinery, help it resume gasoline production Press TV 26 May 2020 -- Iranian tankers have fed fuel to one of Venezuela's most important refineries, enabling the strategic El Palito facility to resume gasoline production after it was forced to largely reduce its activities under pressure from draconian American sanctions.
• Rouhani Concerned About New Hardliner-Dominated Parliament Radio Farda 26 May 2020 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and his Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi have been sending mixed messages to the country's new Islamic Republic Parliament ahead of its opening on May 28.
• Khamenei Representative Apologizes After Plastic Bullets Fired At Iranian Protesters RFE/RL 26 May 2020 -- The representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the southwestern province of Khuzestan has visited some of the people who were wounded by security forces during a protest over a lack of drinking water last week.
• Iran's Rouhani Orders State Bodies to Implement Law on 'Countering Israel', Reports Say Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has issued an executive order to all government structures to implement the law passed last week on launching a comprehensive retaliation against any of Israeli's action that Tehran might consider hostile to itself or the Palestinian Authority, the IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
• SpaceX Launch Marks New Era in Space Travel VOA 26 May 2020 -- Even by using the tools at his disposal at the Adler Planetarium situated along the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Director of Astronomy Geza Gyuk acknowledges there is a limit to what he can see and do in understanding the cosmos.
• Virgin Orbit Says Air-Launched Rocket Tests Fail Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The Virgin Orbit company said the tests of the air-launched LauncherOne carrier rocket had failed.
• Israeli aircraft lands at Sudan's Khartoum airport amid normalization attempts: Report Press TV 26 May 2020 -- An Israeli private aircraft has reportedly landed at Khartoum International Airport as the Tel Aviv regime and Sudan's sovereign council are engaged in cooperation towards normalization of bilateral ties.
• Khashoggi's family may have pardoned killers under Saudi pressure: Saudi scholar Press TV 26 May 2020 -- A Saudi scholar says the family of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi may have forgiven his killers under "pressure and intimidation" from the Riyadh regime.
• Poroshenko Fails To Appear For Questioning As Witness In Illegal Transfer Of Paintings RFE/RL 26 May 2020 -- Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has failed to appear at the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) for questioning as a witness in a case about the alleged illegal transfer of cultural objects across the border.
• Iran Spokesman Rejects State Department Allegations Of Extraterritorial Terrorism Radio Farda 26 May 2020 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday dismissed the U.S. State Department allegations that the Iranian regime has carried out more than 360 assassinations and terrorist operations across the world since 1979.
• After Record Drug Bust, Questions of Opioid Crisis Creeping into Asia VOA 26 May 2020 -- The evergreen hills of northeast Myanmar's section of the Golden Triangle are sparse, making it easy to hide out in the open a set of machines that look like squat robots, but are in fact pressure reactors that cook drug chemicals. Authorities revealed last week they had seized the reactors, along with opioids, 193 million meth tablets and other narcotics in what the United Nations called one of the biggest drug busts in Asian history.
• Alexandria Man on FBI Most Wanted List Indicted on Terrorism Charges US Dept. of Justice 26 May 2020 -- A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an Alexandria man with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization operating in Somalia.