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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Iraqi resistance group stages drone attack on base housing US warplanes Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- An Iraqi resistance group has staged a drone attack on an airbase housing US forces and warplanes north of the capital Baghdad.
• Hundreds In Afghan Jails Are Members Of Islamic State, Afghan Security Chief Says RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Apr 2021 -- The head of the Afghanistan National Directorate of Security (NDS) says there are 408 members of the Islamic State (IS) from 14 countries in Afghan government prisons.
• U.S. Envoy Says Aid To Afghanistan Could Be Cut If Women's Rights Aren't Upheld RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Apr 2021 -- The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan said U.S. aid to Afghanistan could be slashed if a Taliban-dominated government did not respect human rights, especially women's rights.
• Will Chinese Policies In Afghanistan Change After U.S. Military Pullout? RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Apr 2021 -- Afghan security forces broke up an alleged Chinese espionage ring in December that was operating in Kabul and trying to infiltrate terrorist networks in the country.
• US orders non-essential staff out of embassy in Afghan capital due to 'threats' Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- The United States has ordered non-essential staff at its embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to leave due to alleged threats, as the Pentagon prepares to begin a complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Port Royal Returns to Homeport US Navy 28 Apr 2021 -- A Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile cruiser returned to her homeport following a deployment to 5th and 7th Fleets, April 27.
• U.S. Soldiers in Estonia for DEFENDER-Europe 21 receive quality life support Army News 28 Apr 2021 -- DEFENDER-Europe 21 is a highly complex, multinational, joint exercise involving over 26,000 forces from 26 nations conducting operations across more than 30 training areas in 12 countries.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Call With Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa DoD 28 Apr 2021
• DOD on Path to Getting to a 'Clean' Audit, Official Says DoD News 28 Apr 2021 -- Senior Defense Department financial leaders updated the House Armed Services Committee today on the department's Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation plan, the fiscal year 2020 audit and other DOD financial management related issues.
• Pacific Pioneer 21 | 9th Engineer Support Battalion practices EABO concepts & Naval integration USMC News 28 Apr 2021 -- Marines and Sailors with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, honed their Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations capabilities and "Fight Now" concepts in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force, on training areas throughout Okinawa during exercise Pacific Pioneer, April 8-23.
• Nigerian president urges U.S. to relocate AFRICOM to Africa People's Daily 28 Apr 2021 -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari urged on Tuesday the United States to consider relocating the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Germany to Africa, so as to strengthen ongoing efforts to check the security situation in the continent.
• About 60% US Special Forces Focus on Great Power Competition, Commanding General Says Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- About 60 percent of US Special Forces formations are focused on the ongoing great power competition while 40 percent are engaged in combating violent extremism around the world, the Commanding General of the United States Army Special Operations Command Francis Beaudette said in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
• US Sends 8 F-35B Fighters Jets to UK Ahead of Joint Strike Group Deployment, Pentagon Says Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- The United States has sent its Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 of eight F-35B fighter jets, known as the Wake Island Avengers, to the United Kingdom ahead of a record-setting joint strike force deployment aboard the UK's newest aircraft carrier, the Pentagon said in a statement on Wednesday.
• NATO and North Macedonia take stock of achievements, following one year of NATO membership NATO 28 Apr 2021 -- Today (28 April 2021), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, at NATO Headquarters. The Secretary General praised North Macedonia's contributions to Euro-Atlantic security.
• Russia says its fleet monitoring US warship movements in Black Sea Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Russia has expressed alarm about the presence of a US warship in the Black Sea while its naval forces were conducting military drills in the area, declaring that it was monitoring the actions of US Coast Guard Patrol Cutter Hamilton.
• Claims About Suspension of Deal to Create Russian Naval Base on Red Sea Untrue, Embassy Says Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mansour Boulad told Sputnik that at the moment he did not have official confirmation of the suspension of the agreement on the establishment of a Russian Navy facility on the Red Sea.
• China's Liaoning aircraft carrier group crosses Miyako Strait, patrols Diaoyu Islands, 'warning to Japan' People's Daily 28 Apr 2021 -- The Liaoning aircraft carrier task group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy reportedly crossed the Miyako Strait again on Monday and sent an aircraft near the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday, which Chinese experts said sends a warning to Japan amid the country's recent, repeated wrong statements on China's Diaoyu Islands. Similar PLA activities will likely become routine depending on China-Japan relations, experts said.
• DRDO conducts maiden trial of Python-5 Air to Air Missile India PIB 28 Apr 2021 -- Tejas, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its air-to-air weapons capability on April 27, 2021.
• EXERCISE VARUNA – 2021 CONCLUDED India PIB 28 Apr 2021 -- The 19th edition oftheIndian and French Navy bilateral exercise 'VARUNA-2021' concluded on 27th April 2021.
• US, Israel to form working group focused on Iran's missile, drone power Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Fearful of Iran's growing military power, the United States and the Israeli regime have decided to set up a working group focused on the Islamic Republic's missile and drone capabilities.
• Annual Han Kuang computer war games all bilingual: MND report CNA 28 Apr 2021 -- The computer-assisted war games portion of Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises has been conducted in both Mandarin and English for years to prepare for possible operations with a foreign military, a recent Ministry of National Defense (MND) report revealed.
• Turkish Military Hints at Prospect of Expulsion of US Troops From Incirlik Base Amid Genocide Spat Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- US President Joe Biden recognised the actions of the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as genocide last week, prompting Ankara to summon the US ambassador, sparking mass rallies throughout Turkey, and leading to protesters outside Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey demanding the country's exit from NATO.
• Major investment in Northern Territory Defence bases Australia DOD 28 Apr 2021 -- The Morrison Government will invest $747 million to upgrade four key training areas and ranges in the Northern Territory to enable the Australian Defence Force to conduct simulated training exercises and remain battle ready.
• Australia unveils $580mn budget to upgrade military amid tensions with China Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Australia has announced a major upgrade to its northern military bases and a plan to expand joint war games with the US military, amid a persisting diplomatic and trade row with China.
• Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by President Biden — Address to a Joint Session of Congress The White House 28 Apr 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Azerbaijani President Aliyev US Dept. of State 28 Apr 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thordarson US Dept. of State 28 Apr 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Botchwey US Dept. of State 28 Apr 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 28, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 28 April 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 28 Apr 2021
• More uniformed women in peace operations, 'key priority' UN News 28 Apr 2021 -- Increasing the participation of uniformed women in peace operations is a "key priority" for the United Nations, the head of peacekeeping told a High-Level Launch Event on Wednesday.
• Philippine Non-Military Agencies to Coordinate on Patrols in Disputed South China Sea Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- The Philippines said Wednesday that non-military agencies were coordinating in deploying patrols to South China Sea waters which it claims, as Manila faces an unabated challenge from Chinese ships scattered within its exclusive economic zone.
• Fierce fighting in Yemen triggers air relief for displaced: UN People's Daily 28 Apr 2021 -- Fierce battles in Yemen's Marib governorate prompted the United Nations to begin flying aid in on Tuesday to meet increasing relief needs for thousands of displaced civilians, UN humanitarians said.
• Yemeni army launches new drone strike against King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Yemeni armed forces and fighters from allied Popular Committees have carried out another drone strike on a major airbase in Saudi Arabia's southern region of Asir in retaliation for the kingdom's military aggression and blockade against the impoverished country.
• Delivering equitable vaccine access and a sustainable solution to conflict in Syria UK FCDO 28 Apr 2021 -- Statement by Sonia Farrey, UK Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Syria
• Revived peace process, lasting calm, and a new constitution needed in Syria UN News 28 Apr 2021 -- In addition to the challenges that all Syrians have faced during a 10-year conflict, women have experienced sexual and gender-based violence, early and forced marriage and trafficking, the country's UN envoy told the Security Council on Wednesday.
• Myanmar military bombs rebel-held territory near Thai border Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- For the second consecutive day in Myanmar, the military has conducted air assaults on the rebel-held territory near the eastern border with Thailand.
• Renewed clashes displace thousands in Myanmar, UN reports UN News 28 Apr 2021 -- Fresh clashes between Myanmar security forces and regional armed groups have displaced thousands across the country, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.
• Coup Stymies Junta Peace Outreach to Myanmar Ethnic Armies Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- Myanmar's junta, which suffered casualties and attacks in two far-flung regions controlled by ethnic armies this week, has been frustrated in its effort to revive moribund peace talks with powerful militias who won't play ball with the unpopular military dictatorship, analysts and ethnic leaders said.
• Pakistani Police Officer Killed, Two Other People Wounded In Balochistan Blast RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Apr 2021 -- Pakistani officials say a blast has hit a police van in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan, killing an officer and wounding three other people.
• Birthday of Tibet's Panchen Lama Celebrated in Ladakh, Exile Seat in India Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- Birthday celebrations for Tibet's Panchen Lama, who vanished into Chinese custody as a young boy in 1995, were held earlier this week in Ladakh and at Tashi Lhunpo monastery in South India, the now 32-year-old spiritual leader's monastic seat in exile.
• Informal 5+1 meeting on Cyprus kicks off in Geneva People's Daily 28 Apr 2021 -- An informal 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres kicked off here on Tuesday, in the hope that the parties would find common ground to negotiate a lasting solution to the long-standing issue.
• 370,000 children displaced in Central African Republic; highest level since 2014 UN News 28 Apr 2021 -- Child displacement in the Central African Republic (CAR) has now reached its highest level since 2014, according to the latest estimates from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), warning of the mounting risks children face.

News Reports

• US Agents Raid New York Home, Office of Former Trump Lawyer VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- U.S. federal agents seized electronic devices in daybreak raids Wednesday at the New York home and office of Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor who became former President Donald Trump's personal attorney, as investigators probe Giuliani's activities in Ukraine linked to Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.
• 3 Accused in Failed Kidnapping of Governor Charged With Conspiracy VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- Three men who face accusations in a failed plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer are now charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
• Individual Arrested and Charged with Operating Notorious Darknet Cryptocurrency "Mixer" US Dept. of Justice 28 Apr 2021 -- Bitcoin Fog Service Allegedly Laundered $335 Million in Cryptocurrency Since 2011
• European Parliament Passes Resolution Condemning Russia RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- The European Parliament on April 29 passed a resolution threatening action against Russia over its treatment of jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, its military buildup on Ukraine's border, and what lawmakers describe as "Russian attacks in the Czech Republic."
• Russia Expels 7 Diplomats VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- Russia ordered the expulsion Wednesday of seven diplomats from Slovakia and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in response to the expulsion of Russian Embassy personnel.
• Russia Expels Seven European Diplomats In Continuing Standoff RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Russia has announced the expulsion of seven diplomats from Slovakia and the three Baltic states in a continuation of the diplomatic war sparked by Czech allegations that Russian spies were involved in a deadly arms depot explosion in 2014.
• Russia expels more diplomats from some Western-aligned countries Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Russia has given one week to seven diplomats from some Western-aligned countries to leave, in a tit-for-tat move against the backdrop of the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
• Russia to prepare list of 'unfriendly' states soon Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Russia says it will soon present a list of governments deemed "unfriendly" to the state, following a decree by President Vladimir Putin to clearly identify and take countermeasures against hostile countries.
• Russia Unveils A New Tactic To Deter Dissent: CCTV And A 'Knock On The Door,' Days Later RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- In the week since a wave of protests in support of imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny swept Russia on April 21, at least 115 people in 23 cities have been detained by police. At least seven journalists who were covering the protests have also been summoned for questioning.
• Sofia Looks At Links Between Czech Blast And Bulgarian Incidents, Summons Russian Envoy RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- The Russian envoy has been summoned to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry after the authorities launched an investigation into six citizens of Russia suspected of involvement in a series of blasts at four weapons and armament facilities in Bulgaria between 2011 and 2020.
• Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Exports to Northwestern Polytechnical University US Dept. of Justice 28 Apr 2021 -- Defendant Conspired with Chinese Military University on the Department of Commerce's Entity List
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on April 28, 2021 PRC MofA 28 Apr 2021
• US only damages Africa's interests by seeking exclusivity on the continent: FM People's Daily 28 Apr 2021 -- The US should take practical actions to help African countries that are facing COVID-19 challenges and refrain from seeking exclusivity and competition with China on the continent, which would only sabotage the interests of African countries, China 's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• Australian politicians hyping up war threats are real troublemakers: Chinese FM spokesperson Global Times 28 Apr 2021 -- Some Australian politicians, out of their personal interests, are eager to stir up confrontation and hype up war threats, which is extremely irresponsible and against the will of the people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday, in response to the recent "drums of war" remarks made by Secretary of Australian Department of Home Affairs Michael Pezzullo.
• Is EU-China Investment Deal 'Dead as a Doornail'? VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- China may have sabotaged its own prospects for securing a sought-after investment agreement with the European Union when it penalized a long list of politicians, researchers and institutions – including a key member of Germany's Green Party – in response to recent EU sanctions.
• Germany's Merkel Presses Chinese Prime Minister on Human Rights VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- During a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a return to discussions on human rights, saying such consultations in the past have improved relations between their two nations.
• Hong Kong Could Impose Travel Bans on Passengers From Aug. 1 Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- Hong Kong's government amended the city's immigration laws on Wednesday to enable security chiefs to ban passengers from taking any form of transport in or out of the city.
• China Set to Record First Fall in Population Since Great Famine Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- China will record its first population decline since the disastrous Great Leap Forward policies of late supreme leader Mao Zedong brought widespread famine to the country, killing tens of millions of people, according to a report in the Financial Times.
• China Renews Crackdown on Online Feminist Groups VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- Beijing has shut down several feminist social media platforms, a sign that China is renewing its crackdown on what it considers radical women's groups.
• Mainland strives for peaceful reunification, will never allow secession: Taiwan Affairs Office Global Times 28 Apr 2021 -- The Chinese mainland is willing to strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity, but it will never tolerate Taiwan separatist forces and will never allow the tragedy of national secession to be repeated, said a spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday, in response to a poll on the island showing that nearly 40 percent of the respondents agreed that "a war is inevitable" to solve the Taiwan question.
• Four Taiwanese, one Chinese acquitted in attempted espionage case CNA 28 Apr 2021 -- A Chinese man and four Taiwanese men accused of attempting to spy for China were acquitted in the Taipei District Court on Wednesday.
• North Korean Agricultural Quotas Unrealistic Due to Equipment Shortfalls Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- North Korea has ordered its farmers to begin planting crops, but many farms in the country have yet to be plowed due to a severe lack of adequate farming machinery, sources told RFA.
• US State Dept Says Appalled by North Korea's 'Increasingly Draconian Measures' Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- The United States is alarmed by the increasingly severe measures the North Korean government is taking towards its population, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.
• Leaking Zarif's tape aimed at sabotaging Vienna talks, says President IRNA 28 Apr 2021 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that those who leaked Foreign Minister Zarif's recording aimed at sabotaging ongoing Vienna talks on reviving the nuclear deal.
• Publishing a classified recording by anti-Iranian, anti-Islam TV aimed at sowing discord, disrupting unity: President Ro ISNA 28 Apr 2021 -- Stating that enemies are seeking to undermine unity in our society through different stories, Iran's President said, "Publishing a classified recording by the filthiest programme and a TV channel that is anti-Islam and anti-Iran sponsored by the Saudi Arabia was done with the goal of undermining unity in our society and sowing discord".
• Iranian Foreign Minister's Leaked Comments Spark Political Frenzy RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Leaked audio of dour foreign policy assessments from Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has raised a political storm amid questions about who was behind its release at a crucial juncture for Iran and the region.
• Rohani Links Leak Of Foreign Minister's Comments To Nuclear Talks RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani has said that the leak of a recording of the country's foreign minister making frank comments about the limits of his power sought to "create divisions" during talks aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
• HRH Crown Prince Reviews Achievements of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 Over the Past Five Years SPA 28 Apr 2021 -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, discussed the most important achievements of the Kingdom Vision 2030 programs and projects over the past five years, in an interview transmitting on the state's television and the most important Arab television channels.
• Saudi Arabia seeking 'good relations' with Iran: MBS Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says Riyadh is seeking to have "good relations" with Iran, adding, however, that the rapprochement is hindered by some differences.
• Saudi Arabia Wants 'Good And Special' Relationship With Iran, Crown Prince Says RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Saudi Arabia's crown prince struck a softer tone toward Iran in a television interview broadcast late on April 27 in which he also said that Saudi Arabia and the Biden administration agreed on most issues of mutual concern.
• Saudi Crown Prince Calls Kingdom, US Partners Despite Differences VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince says his country and the United States are partners, despite minor policy differences.
• Myanmar Parallel Government Rejects Talks With Junta Before Political Prisoners Are Freed Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- Myanmar's parallel government on Wednesday rejected holding talks with the junta that seized power in early February until the military regime releases more than 3,000 political prisoners, rebuffing a plan by the country's Southeast Asian neighbors.
• Myanmar's shadow government says no talks with junta until all prisoners freed Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Myanmar's newly-formed shadow government says it will not enter into talks with the military junta, which seized power in a February coup, until it releases all political prisoners.
• Interview: 'The Military Coup Was Not Supposed to Happen' Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- A small number of Myanmar military officers have made a risky decision to quit the armed forces and join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) of striking workers who abruptly left their jobs to protest against the coup that seized power from the elected government on Feb. 1, citing voting fraud in November 2020 elections.
• Pakistan, US Discuss Afghan Drawdown, Regional Security VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke Wednesday by phone with Pakistan's top military official to discuss regional security and the foreign troop drawdown in neighboring Afghanistan.
• Prime Minister's telephonic Conversation with President Putin of Russian Federation India PIB 28 Apr 2021 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on telephone today with President of the Russian Federation H.E. Vladimir Putin.
• Syria Sees Record 51 Applications From Candidates for Presidential Election, Reports Claims Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- The Syrian People's Council received applications from 51 candidates from the Supreme Constitutional Court for the presidential elections on May 26, state-run news agency SANA reported.
• Turkish Interior Minister Says Terrorist Attack Foiled in Istanbul Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- The Turkish police have found and neutralized an explosive device at a bus station in Istanbul, planted by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.
• EU Ratifies Trade Deal with Britain VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- The European Parliament has ratified a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain.
• European Parliament ratifies EU-UK trade deal People's Daily 28 Apr 2021 -- The European Parliament on Wednesday ratified the agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) in a 660-5 vote.
• European Parliament approves post-Brexit trade deal with UK Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- The European Parliament has voted to ratify the EU trade deal with the United Kingdom, but at the same time issued bitter final warnings that trouble lies ahead in cross-Channel ties.
• Northern Ireland's Arlene Foster Steps Down as Democratic Unionist Party Leader Sputnik 28 Apr 2021 -- As she announced her exit from the political stage, Foster said that her election as the DUP leader "broke a glass ceiling" and inspired other women to pursue a political career.
• Return to Election Negotiations US Dept. of State 28 Apr 2021 -- The United States notes President Farmaajo's April 28 commitment to return to the September 17 election agreement and resume talks immediately with Federal Member State leaders. We call on the President and Parliament to act swiftly to annul the April 12 mandate extension bill.
• Somalia's president calls for election, pulling country back from brink of civil war for now Press TV 28 Apr 2021 -- Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo) has called for a presidential election and a return to dialog, dropping his controversial decision to extend his own mandate and pulling the country back from the brink of civil strife for the moment.
• Somali Opposition Welcomes President Dropping Term Extension VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- Somalia's opposition politicians have cautiously welcomed President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's move to drop a controversial two-year extension of his term in office. But questions remain on his intentions, and how the country is going to hold already-delayed elections.
• Somalia President Drops 2-year Term Extension, Accepts Dialogue with Political Rivals VOA 28 Apr 2021 -- Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed says he will no longer pursue a two-year extension of his presidential term, giving in to internal and international pressure to back away from a controversial resolution on the extension passed by the Lower House of Parliament.
• Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Cambodia Opposition Chief Sam Rainsy For Incitement Radio Free Asia 28 Apr 2021 -- A court in Cambodia on Wednesday ordered the arrest of opposition chief Sam Rainsy on charges of "incitement" after he called on members of the public to disobey an ongoing coronavirus lockdown in the country's capital region, citing corruption and a lack of aid from the government.
• Rights Group Freedom House Warns Of 'Antidemocratic Turn' In Europe, Eurasia RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Human rights watchdog Freedom House is warning of an "antidemocratic turn" in Europe and Eurasia, saying that elected leaders in many countries are undermining democratic institutions in order to stay in power while they promote "alternative authoritarian governance."
• Moldovan President Calls Snap Parliamentary Elections RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- President Maia Sandu has dissolved the Moldovan parliament and called snap elections for July 11, shortly after the Constitutional Court canceled a state of emergency that lawmakers had approved.
• Kurti Says Kosovo Will Not Open Dialogue With Serbia Next Month RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti says he will not attend a meeting meant to relaunch a dialogue with Serbia that was proposed by EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell during talks in Brussels with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
• Turkmenistan Bans Lines Outside Stores So As 'Not To Discredit' President RFE/RL 28 Apr 2021 -- Turkmen regional authorities have banned lines outside state stores that sell food at subsidized prices after Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhammedov, the president's son, publicly said that "crowds near stores discredit" his father.