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• U.S.-Europe Communiqué on the Afghan Peace Process US Dept. of State 07 May 2021 -- The following is the text of a communiqué issued by the United States of America, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, Norway, and the United Kingdom on the Afghan Peace Process.
• Pentagon Sends Reinforcements For Afghan Pullout RFE/RL Gandhara 07 May 2021 -- The Pentagon has deployed more heavy bombers and fighter jets to ensure the protection of the withdrawing U.S. and coalition troops from Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on May 6.
• US deploys extra warplanes to Afghanistan as troop withdrawal underway Press TV 07 May 2021 -- The United States says it has deployed extra warplanes to Afghanistan to protect its troops as they leave the country after two decades of war and occupation.
• Top U.S. general says no attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan since drawdown started People's Daily 07 May 2021 -- The Afghan Taliban had not launched any attack against U.S. and coalition forces since the drawdown began, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USCGC Charles Moulthrope and Robert Goldman Transit Suez Canal DVIDS 07 May 2021 -- The Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutters USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) and Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) transited the Suez Canal, May 7.
• Navy to Commission Expeditionary Mobile Base USS Miguel Keith DoD 07 May 2021 -- The Navy will commission its newest expeditionary mobile base, the future USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), during a 10:00 a.m. PST ceremony Saturday, May 8, at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, Calif.
• Stratcom Leader Describes Growing Threat From Nuclear-Armed China and Russia DoD News 07 May 2021 -- The United States and its allies face an increasing set of threats from potential adversaries such as China, Russia and North Korea. U.S. Strategic Command's mission is to deter these threats through the deployment of a set of strategic capabilities, including nuclear armed submarines, bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
• Supporting the future fight: MCSC modernizing infantry capabilities USMC News 07 May 2021 -- The Marine Corps has been investing time, money and resources into modernizing the force to meet objectives outlined in the Commandant's Planning Guidance, Force Design 2030 and the National Defense Strategy.
• Army South strengthens cooperation in Jamaica with humanitarian assistance, disaster relief response Army News 07 May 2021 -- Brig. Gen. Alcides V. Faria, U.S. Army South deputy commanding general for interoperability, represented the U.S. Army and conducted a walk-through of the second field hospital donated to Jamaica by the U.S. through U.S. Southern Command.
• US general: China's Africa outreach poses threat to America Press TV 07 May 2021 -- A top US general has accused China of planning to extend its influence beyond the Asia Pacific with the potential construction of a large Atlantic naval base on the west coast of Africa, adding that Beijing is "outmaneuvering the US in select countries in Africa."
• First B-1Bs resume flight operations US Air Force 07 May 2021 -- The first B-1B Lancers resumed flight operations May 3 following a safety stand-down issued April 20 by Gen. Tim Ray, Air Force Global Strike Command commander. Individual B-1B aircraft will return to flight as inspections and maintenance directed during the stand-down are completed on each aircraft.
• F-15EX take to the Alaska skies for testing US Air Force 07 May 2021 -- Just weeks after delivery to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the F-15EX – both 001 and 002 – have taken to the Alaska skies for exercise Northern Edge 21, May 3-14.
• 609th AOC optimizes ATO production, first to use KRADOS operationally US Air Force 07 May 2021 -- U.S. Air Forces Central's 609th Air Operations Center made history this week when it became the first AOC to operationally utilize the Kessel Run All Domain Operations Suite to plan and execute the Master Air Attack Plan.
• USS New Hampshire Returns from Deployment US Navy 07 May 2021 -- The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) returned from deployment to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, May 7.
• Kearsarge Completes Basic Phase US Navy 07 May 2021 -- The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing basic phase sea trials April 30, 2021.
• USS Donald Cook Completes Eleventh and final FDNF-E Patrol US Navy 07 May 2021 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Rota, Spain after completing its 11th and final FDNF-E Patrol, April 28, 2021.
• On-Time Delivery Top Priority at Space Development Agency DoD News 07 May 2021 -- Cost, performance and delivery drive acquisition across the Defense Department, typically in equal measure. But the Space Development Agency has prioritized delivery above all else in its effort to get satellites into space that will deliver non-line-of-sight targeting to warfighters across the globe.
• NATO Secretary General and the Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister discuss NATO's forward looking agenda ahead of NATO Summit NATO 07 May 2021 -- Today (7 May 2021) NATO Secretary General welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Slovenia, Matej Tonin, to NATO Headquarters.
• Chinese naval ships arrive in Bali to help salvage sunken Indonesian submarine PLA Daily 07 May 2021 -- Three salvage ships sent by the Chinese Navy have reached Bali Sea waters to help salvage the wreckage of Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala-402, that sank last month with 53 crewmembers on board, according to media reports on May 4. The diving depths of the three salvage ships can reach 4,500 meters underwater.
• Turkey Says US Laid Ground for Dialogue on F-35 Jets Sputnik 07 May 2021 -- A Turkish defence official said that the US has tried to avoid the memorandum of understanding on F-35 in practice, but it was not possible legally.
• British Army to possess most lethal tank in Europe UK MOD 07 May 2021 -- The British Army will receive a fleet of 148 Challenger 3 main battle tanks as part of an £800 million contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), the Defence Secretary has announced today.
• Sydney fires up to pass test Australia DOD 07 May 2021 -- HMAS Sydney has successfully completed her combat system sea qualification trials in the Southern Californian Exercise Area.
• Solomon Islands receives second vessel under the Pacific Maritime Security Program Australia DOD 07 May 2021 -- Australia and Solomon Islands' strong and enduring security partnership has reached another milestone today as Solomon Islands received its second Guardian-class Patrol Boat under Australia's Pacific Maritime Security Program.
• Department Press Briefing – May 7, 2021 US Dept. of State 07 May 2021
• Readout from NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with CARICOM Leaders The White House 07 May 2021
• Statement From Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders on Vice President Kamala Harris's Virtual Bilateral Meeting with President Andres Manuel López Obrador of Mexico The White House 07 May 2021
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, May 7, 2021 The White House 07 May 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For May 7, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 7 May 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 07 May 2021
• Security Council upholds role of multilateralism in a complex world UN News 07 May 2021 -- The President of the UN General Assembly on Friday urged countries to "do better" in making COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone, everywhere, warning that "good intentions are no match for vaccines in arms."
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken Virtual Remarks at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Multilateralism US Dept. of State 07 May 2021
• Blinken Makes Veiled Dig At Russia, China During UN Security Council Meeting RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made a veiled dig at Russia and China when he told the UN Security Council that the actions of some big powers are sending a wrong message to other countries.
• China Seen Increasing Control in Disputed Asian Sea with Revised Maritime Law VOA 07 May 2021 -- Analysts are raising concerns that a Chinese update to its maritime traffic law will help Beijing tighten control over disputed Asian seas by legalizing interception of foreign vessels and authorizing fines against their operators.
• Tajik, Kyrgyz Officials Deny Reports Of Ethnic-Based Expulsions After Deadly Border Fighting RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- As deadly violence erupted on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border last week, two peaceful Kyrgyz-majority districts of Tajikistan - located hundreds of kilometers away from the conflict zone - found themselves dragged into media reports of "evictions" and "deportations."
• Violence in Jerusalem US Dept. of State 07 May 2021 -- The United States is extremely concerned about ongoing confrontations in Jerusalem, including on the Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount and in Sheikh Jarrah, which have reportedly resulted in scores of injured people.
• Stop evictions in East Jerusalem neighbourhood immediately, UN rights office urges Israel UN News 07 May 2021 -- The UN's human rights office (OHCHR), on Friday, called on Israel to immediately halt all forced evictions, including those in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, as well as to exercise maximum restraint in the use of force while ensuring safety and security there.
• Thousands Flee Surging Violence in Burkina Faso VOA 07 May 2021 -- A series of attacks by unidentified armed groups in Burkina Faso over the past 10 days has left 45 people dead and forced 17,500 people to flee their homes, the U.N. refugee agency says.
• Malawi President Stands Firm on Refugees Relocation VOA 07 May 2021 -- Refugees and their advocates in Malawi have expressed alarm at President Lazarus Chakwera's defense of a plan to force about 2,000 people back into a refugee camp. A court injunction has prevented their immediate relocation, but authorities have appealed the order.

News Reports

• Four Individuals Plead Guilty to RICO Conspiracy Involving "Bulletproof Hosting" for Cybercriminals US Dept. of Justice 07 May 2021 -- Four Eastern European nationals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) arising from their providing "bulletproof hosting" services between 2008 and 2015, which were used by cybercriminals to distribute malware and attack financial institutions and victims throughout the United States.
• The Week In Russia: A Grave New World RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- Halfway between opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's grim winter homecoming and September parliamentary elections that will test President Vladimir Putin's legitimacy, analysts say Russia has entered a new era of repressions that poses risks for the Kremlin - and will be hard to reverse.
• Biden Says He's 'Confident' About Meeting Putin In June RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden has said that the time and place for his proposed summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, are still being worked out.
• Amnesty International Restores Navalny's 'Prisoner Of Conscience' Status RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- Amnesty International says it has decided to redesignate Aleksei Navalny as a "prisoner of conscience" after the human rights watchdog earlier this year stopped referring to the jailed opposition politician as such over past comments he made that reached "the threshold of advocacy of hatred."
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 7, 2021 PRC MofA 07 May 2021
• China Suspends Economic Dialogue with Australia VOA 07 May 2021 -- China says it is suspending further meetings in an economic dialogue with Australia in the latest sign of worsening relations.
• RTHK Independence Called into Question Over Show Hosted by Hong Kong Leader VOA 07 May 2021 -- Public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is bound by its charter to be editorially independent and immune from political influence.
• US House's Xinjiang hearing 'a clumsy anti-China farce': Chinese FM Global Times 07 May 2021 -- The recent hearing held by a US House of Representatives panel on "atrocities against Uyghurs" was no more than a "clumsy anti-China farce" without any justice or objectivity, condemned Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Friday.
• Family of Detained Chinese Rights Lawyer Turned Away After Making Torture Complaint Radio Free Asia 07 May 2021 -- Authorities in the northern Chinese province of Shaanxi have rejected an official complaint from family of detained rights lawyer Chang Weiping, who is currently under investigation for "subversion of state power" after he attended a December 2019 gathering of dissidents in the southeastern city of Xiamen.
• China Says Rocket Debris Unlikely to Cause Damage VOA 07 May 2021 -- Debris from a large, out-of-control Chinese rocket that is expected to reenter the atmosphere this weekend is unlikely to cause damage, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Friday.
• Restoring Taiwan's Appropriate Place at the World Health Assembly US Dept. of State 07 May 2021 -- "Beginning on May 24, the world will gather virtually for the 74th annual World Health Assembly (WHA). The Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, and it sets the agenda for strengthening international cooperation to end the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing global health and global health security — issues that affect us all. And yet, unless the Organization's leadership takes appropriate action, the Assembly will once again exclude the vital participation of Taiwan."
• Secretary of State Blinken Asks WHO to Invite Taiwan to Participate in Its Decision-Making Body Sputnik 07 May 2021 -- China has long opposed Taiwan's "illegal" participation in the World Health Organisation's World Health Assembly, arguing that proposals to this effect violate the principles of the United Nations charter and contradict the One China principle which both the UN General Assembly and the World Health Assembly are guided by.
• China condemns G7 joint statement concerning China affairs People's Daily 07 May 2021 -- A Chinese spokesperson on Thursday said any attempt to meddle in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty, or tarnish China's image under various excuses is doomed to fail. It was in response to a recent statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) concerning China.
• North Korea Punishes Local Officials After Secret Document Leaks Radio Free Asia 07 May 2021 -- North Korea has begun cracking down on government officials responsible for handling sensitive documents after dozens of incidents where the documents went missing and secrets were leaked, officials in the country told RFA.
• Saudi Official Confirms Talks With Iran: 'We Hope They Prove Successful' Sputnik 07 May 2021 -- The official also said that it was too early to judge the outcome of the talks and that Saudi Arabia wanted to see "verifiable deeds".
• Jury Convicts Iranian National for Illegally Exporting Military Sensitive Items US Dept. of Justice 07 May 2021 -- federal jury convicted an Iranian citizen and a resident of the United Arab Emirates and Germany, for scheming to obtain military sensitive parts for Iran in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo. These parts had dual-use military and civilian capability and could be used in systems such as nuclear weapons, missile guidance and development, secure tactical radio communications, offensive electronic warfare, military electronic countermeasures (radio jamming), and radar warning and surveillance systems.
• JCPOA Commission in Vienna Agrees to Start Working on Agreement on Nuclear Deal, Tehran Says Sputnik 07 May 2021 -- Following the Friday meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, parties agreed to begin holding expert and technical consultations, as well as drafting an agreement, Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said.
• Araghchi: US, all sides serious about reviving JCPOA IRNA 07 May 2021 -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the US and all sides are serious about reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka JCPOA.
• Top negotiator: US, all JCPOA parties serious in efforts to revive Iran deal Press TV 07 May 2021 -- Iran's top negotiator says all the parties concerned with the 2015 nuclear deal and the United States — a former signatory — are "serious" in efforts to revive the landmark agreement, and that the negotiations will continue until all of Iran's demands are met.
• JCPOA parties end 4th round of Vienna talks; expert consultations to continue Press TV 07 May 2021 -- Delegates from Iran and the other five signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement have wrapped up another round of talks in Vienna, Austria, on a potential revitalization of the accord apparently without any breakthrough, with both sides agreeing to speed up the diplomatic process.
• 4th JCPOA Joint Commission meeting ends in Vienna IRNA 07 May 2021 -- The fourth round of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action aka JCPOA Joint Commission meeting between Iran and P 4+1 on Friday ended an hour ago and it was decided that the working groups continue the work on the draft agreement immediately.
• Iran, World Powers Hold New Round Of Talks On Bringing U.S. Back To Nuke Deal RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- Iran held a fourth round of high-level talks with world powers on May 7 aimed at returning the United States back into a landmark 2015 nuclear deal.
• 3rd round of Vienna talks, passing from thematic to special bans IRNA 07 May 2021 -- The third round of Joint Commission meetings of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) came to an end and the P4+1 group (Britain, France, Russia, China plus Germany) have reached the consensus to lift thematic or partial sanctions against Iran; now, it is time to wait and see what will happen in the next round of negotiations when it comes to the lifting of special sanctions targeting 1500 Iranian bodies and figures.
• Students Ignore Myanmar Junta's Order to Return to Campus Amid Turmoil Radio Free Asia 07 May 2021 -- Most students across Myanmar have ignored the ruling military junta's order to reopen colleges, universities, and government-run technical schools, with only a small percentage showing up on campuses after the reopenings, students said Friday.
• No Love for Myanmar Junta Leader Min Aung Hlaing in His Hometown Radio Free Asia 07 May 2021 -- Residents of Dawei, the hometown of Myanmar junta leader Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, are ashamed of their native son for a coup that has led to hundreds of civilian deaths and thrown the country into chaos, sources in the southern port city told RFA.
• Myanmar's Military Junta Kills, Detains Youths in Crackdown on Protest Movement Radio Free Asia 07 May 2021 -- Myanmar security authorities are targeting the country's youth in a crackdown on opponents of the Feb. 1 coup that has seen hundreds of young people detained and others killed or forcibly disappeared, rights groups and a U.N. agency say.
• 'No time to lose', stop flow of deadly weapons to Myanmar military now, urges UN rights expert UN News 07 May 2021 -- The United Nations independent human rights expert on Myanmar on Friday called on countries that have not yet done so, to impose arms embargo on the country urgently, to stop the "massacre" of citizens across the country.
• More Than A Dozen Handed Sentences In Belarus Over Anti-Lukashenka Protests As Crackdown Continues RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- More than a dozen activists in Belarus, including a Russian citizen, have been handed prison sentences amid a continued crackdown following months of protests sparked by a disputed presidential election last August that authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka claims to have won.
• Lukashenka Downplays Criminal Case Launched Against Him By Group In Germany RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- Belarus's authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka has downplayed a criminal complaint filed in Germany on behalf of 10 Belarusians alleging that the strongman has committed crimes against humanity.
• Pakistan's Khan Arrives In Saudi Arabia For Talks On Better Ties RFE/RL Gandhara 07 May 2021 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Saudi Arabia late on May 7, kicking off a two-day visit to a traditional ally but with whom relations have been strained recently.
• Rights Abuses Imperil Pakistan's Exports To EU RFE/RL Gandhara 07 May 2021 -- When a Pakistani court sentenced a Christian couple in Punjab Province to death in 2014 over a blasphemous text message that they denied sending, the case caused an international outcry.
• Erdogan says Turkey seeks to restore friendship with Egypt Press TV 07 May 2021 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country seeks to expand talks with Egypt to mend their fractured ties and restore their "historic" friendship.
• Early Returns in Scotland Election Bode Well for Sturgeon's Ruling Party VOA 07 May 2021 -- Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and her ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) made early gains Friday as the first returns from the nation's parliamentary election were reported.
• UK's Boris Johnson Celebrates Local Election Wins Thanks to 'Vaccine Bounce' VOA 07 May 2021 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling Conservatives appeared on course Friday to pull off a historic election victory against the country's main opposition Labour Party, making deep inroads into Labour's traditional heartlands in northern England after 48 million Britons voted Thursday for devolved, regional and town governments.
• Ally Says Cambodia Opposition Chief is Seeking Political Solution to Standoff Radio Free Asia 07 May 2021 -- Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha is trying to convince Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party to discuss a political solution to the country's prolonged political stalemate, a top official with the banned opposition party said Friday.
• Montenegro's Limited Coalition Hammers Away At Perilous Religion, Nationality Issues RFE/RL 07 May 2021 -- Still rutted with historically fraught questions of religious and national identity, Montenegro's political path took a sharp turn in August.
• Ex-Leader of Maldives in 'Critical' Condition After Assassination Attempt, Hospital Says Sputnik 07 May 2021 -- Nasheed headed a coalition government after the elections in 2008 but was ousted in a coup four years later. Since 2019 he has served as the speaker in parliament.
• US Tries to Help Resolve Ethiopian Dam Dispute VOA 07 May 2021 -- The United States is again stepping into efforts to resolve a dispute over Ethiopia's massive hydropower dam along an important Nile tributary.