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News Reports

Current Operations

• Blinken Discusses Afghan Peace Process With Pakistan's Qureshi RFE/RL Gandhara 17 May 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have discussed the Afghan peace process and the war on terror during a phone call.

Defense Policy / Programs

• CNO Gilday Speaks at the McAleese 12th Annual Defense Programs Conference US Navy 17 May 2021
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Portuguese Minister of National Defense João Cravinho DoD 17 May 2021
• DOD Exercise Highlights Need to Address Climate Change, Its Impacts DoD News 17 May 2021 -- The Defense Department's first climate and environmental security "tabletop" exercise, dubbed Elliptic Thunder, highlighted the growing security threats posed by climate and environmental change, while illustrating that prevention activities today are essential to avoiding dire consequences in the future, Annalise Blum, an American Association for the Advancement of Science policy fellow in Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy's Office of Stability and Humanitarian Affairs said.
• North African Maritime Exercise Phoenix Express Set to Begin US Navy 17 May 2021 -- Exercise Phoenix Express 2021, the 16th iteration of the North African maritime exercise begins May 17, 2021, in Tunis, Tunisia, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
• Canada, Mexico, U.S. ships conduct combined operations US Navy 17 May 2021 -- Ships from Canada, Mexico and the United States conducted combined operations off the coast of Southern California, May 13, to enhance partnership and interoperability among the nations' sea services.
• Military Sealift Command in Europe Enables DEFENDER-Europe 21 US Navy 17 May 2021 -- With the beginning of exercise DEFENDER-Europe 21, the United States and 26 partner nations demonstrated their mobilization and logistics capabilities through sealift during the last week of April and first week of May 2021.
• U.S. Sixth Fleet and STRIKFORNATO Commence Complex Air and Missile Defense Exercise US Navy 17 May 2021 -- Exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield (ASD/FS) 2021, a live-fire integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) exercise conducted by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO on behalf of U.S. Sixth Fleet, kicked off today, May 15, 2021 at the U.K. Ministry of Defence's Hebrides Range in the vicinity of the Western Isles of Scotland.
• Two Major North Sea Maritime Exercises Converge US Navy 17 May 2021 -- Ships from U.S. Exercise Ragnar Viking met up with the ships participating in the Royal Navy's Strike Warrior Exercise in the North Atlantic Ocean, May 17, 2021.
• Secretary General stresses NATO's commitment to stability in the Western Balkans NATO 17 May 2021 -- Today (17 May 2021), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with President Aleksandar Vučić of the Republic of Serbia at NATO Headquarters. They discussed the partnership between NATO and Serbia, NATO's role in upholding stability in the Western Balkans, and security trends across the region.
• Deputy Secretary General discusses NATO 2030 initiative at NATO Parliamentary Assembly NATO 17 May 2021 -- Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană outlined the opportunities of the NATO 2030 initiative in his address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Monday (17 May 2021).
• France, Germany, Spain push ahead with fighter jet project Deutsche Welle 17 May 2021 -- With billions of euros on the line, Spain, France and Germany agreed on the next stage of building a new European fighter jet. An early prototype is expected to take flight in 2027.
• Russia Could Go Beyond Planned Series of 10 Borei-Class Nuclear-Powered Subs, Government Says Sputnik 17 May 2021 -- Russia could build more Borei-A class strategic ballistic missile submarines after it finishes the construction of ten such subs in accordance with the current contracts, Vladimir Pospelov, member of the Military-Industrial Commission under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Sputnik.
• Iran's Defense Ministry to deliver advanced drones to Army ISNA 17 May 2021 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Army and Defense Ministry signed a strategic agreement on developing and boosting drone power of the Army and the Armed Forces.
• Turkey to Go Ahead with Russian Weapons Purchases Despite US Objections VOA 17 May 2021 -- Turkey is threatening to go ahead with Russian military purchases despite warnings from Washington. The threat comes as the impasse between the NATO members deepens over Ankara's purchase of a Russian missile system.
• Support continues for Operation Argos Australia DOD 17 May 2021 -- Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Ballarat has joined the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.
• Blinken in Iceland for Climate Talks, Arctic Council Meeting VOA 17 May 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he will join talks on climate change and take part in an Arctic Council Ministerial meeting.
• Blinken Meets With Danish PM At Start Of Diplomatic Trip Focused On Future Of Arctic RFE/RL 17 May 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen in Copenhagen at the start of a diplomatic tour that includes a meeting in Iceland of the Arctic Council and his first face-to-face talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov since President Joe Biden started his term in January.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, May 17, 2021 The White House 17 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Tunisian Foreign Minister Jerandi US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Ministers from Denmark, Faroe Islands, and Greenland US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod at a Joint Press Availability US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Calls with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan The White House 17 May 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For May 17, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 17 May 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 May 2021
• Supporting the ICC Prosecutor's ongoing investigations in Libya UK FCDO 17 May 2021 -- Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on ICC Libya
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi US Dept. of State 17 May 2021
• Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel The White House 17 May 2021
• WFP moves to support families affected by Gaza violence UN News 17 May 2021 -- Responding to rising humanitarian needs brought about by the escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip, the World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday began providing emergency assistance to support families, amid fears of low food stocks and rising prices.
• Israel-Hamas Fighting Has Deep Roots VOA 17 May 2021 -- Jews and Arabs have clashed for a century over the fate of Jerusalem. Tensions seem always to be near the surface in a city that is home to major religious sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
• Israel, Hamas Promise More Rockets as Violence Enters 2nd Week VOA 17 May 2021 -- Israel pummeled GazaCitywith airstrikes Monday, killing a senior Palestinian militant commander, and Palestinian militant groups renewed rocket attacks on Israel as violence in the region entered its second week.
• World Food Program Increases Aid to Needy Gazans VOA 17 May 2021 -- The World Food Program says it is increasing assistance to more than 51,000 people in north Gaza as the conflict with Israel shows no signs of ending.
• Death toll in Gaza hits 181 as tension with Israel continues for 7th day People's Daily 17 May 2021 -- Tension between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip continued on Sunday for the seventh day in a row as death toll in the coastal enclave climbed to 181 and 1,225 others were injured, officials said.
• UN Security Council urges cessation of violence amid Israeli-Palestinian tension People's Daily 17 May 2021 -- As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict keeps escalating, the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Sunday held an open debate on the situation, during which countries around the world called for an immediate end to the bloodshed.
• Russia Warns That Escalating Tensions Between Israel, Hamas Pose Risks to Regional Security Sputnik 17 May 2021 -- The possible uncontrolled escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would pose a significant danger given the fragile security system in the Middle East, and effort is currently being made to prevent new airstrikes, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
• US Congratulates Tibetan Exile Political Leader Penpa Tsering on his Election Win Radio Free Asia 17 May 2021 -- The United States has congratulated Tibetan exile political leader Penpa Tsering on his election as Sikyong, or head of Tibet's India-based government-in-exile, the Central Tibetan Administration, following the official announcement of Tsering's win on May 14.
• Fighting in Myanmar's Kachin State Drives More Refugees Into Camps, With Food Aid Blocked by Government Troops Radio Free Asia 17 May 2021 -- More than 3,000 refugees have fled their villages in northern Myanmar to escape fighting between junta military forces and the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) during the last three months, filling refugee camps in Kachin state's five townships, sources in the region say.
• Kyrgyz, Tajik Nationals Briefly Detained Along Disputed Border Segment RFE/RL 17 May 2021 -- Several Kyrgyz and Tajik nationals were briefly detained along a disputed segment of the border between the two Central Asian states as tensions in the area continue to simmer.
• Papua New Guinea Begins Breakaway Talks with Bougainville Leader VOA 17 May 2021 -- Formal talks moderated by the United Nations are to begin Monday in the next stage in Bougainville's efforts to achieve independence from Papua New Guinea. After years of secessionist conflict and a long peace process, an overwhelming majority of Bougainvilleans voted to breakaway in 2019. Bougainville is north-east of Australia.

News Reports

• The United States Designates ISIS Financial Facilitators US Dept. of State 17 May 2021 -- Today, the United States is designating three individuals and one entity connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to coincide with the 14th meeting of the Counter ISIS Finance Group, which plays a key role coordinating the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS' efforts to disrupt the group's generation and transfer of resources.
• Treasury Targets ISIS Financial Facilitators in Syria and Turkey US Treasury 17 May 2021 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated three individuals and one entity in connection with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
• US Targets Islamic State Moneymen in Turkey, Syria VOA 17 May 2021 -- The United States is taking new steps to make it more difficult for the Islamic State terror group to move money, including donations from international supporters, through Syria and Turkey.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone David John Francis, Moscow, May 17, 2021 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 May 2021
• Navalny Court Hearing Postponed After Extra Evidence Added RFE/RL 17 May 2021 -- A Russian court has postponed the hearing into a case against the political network of jailed Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny to determine whether it should be designated "extremist."
• EU Says Russian 'Foreign Agent' Law Stifling Independent Media, Calls For Repeal RFE/RL 17 May 2021 -- The European Union has called on Russia to repeal its controversial "foreign agent" law, which has been used to target a growing number of Russian-language media outlets, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
• China's Ruling Party Cancels Maoist Gatherings on Cultural Revolution Anniversary Radio Free Asia 17 May 2021 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has canceled a conference of prominent Maoist ideologists ahead of its 100th centenary, suggesting that CCP leader Xi Jinping is unwilling to allow the faction to increase its power base in a possible challenge to his "core" leadership.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on May 17, 2021 PRC MofA 17 May 2021
• Jimmy Lai pleads guilty to organizing unauthorized assembly on 2019 National Day after assets frozen Global Times 17 May 2021 -- Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and 9 other defendants pleaded guilty on Mon to organizing and attending an unauthorized assembly on 2019 National Day (Oct 1).
• Hong Kong Rights Group Leaders Say They Are Prepared For Jail Radio Free Asia 17 May 2021 -- A Hong Kong rights group that has organized candlelight vigils marking the 1989 Tiananmen massacre for the past three decades says several of its key members could soon face jail, as a further 10 veteran activists plead guilty to "illegal assembly" charges.
• Trading on Hong Kong Dissident Jimmy Lai's Media Company Halted VOA 17 May 2021 -- The Hong Kong stock exchange suspended trading in shares of Next Digital media company Monday, just days after authorities froze assets of founder and owner Jimmy Lai.
• Tianzhou-2 to send 2nd part of China's space station into orbit Global Times 17 May 2021 -- Following China's Tianwen-1's successful landing on Mars on Saturday, the fervor over China's space journey has yet to fade amid the rolling out of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft to the launch site, igniting another round of cheers for the upcoming mission to send the second section of China's space station into orbit after the first - the Tianhe core module cabin - was sent to space in late April.
• North Korean Factory Hunts Down Workers Who Fled for Higher-Paying Fisheries Jobs Radio Free Asia 17 May 2021 -- A machinery factory in a North Korean border city has sent agents to track down workers who abandoned their government-assigned jobs when coronavirus idled their plant and headed to the coast to harvest seafood for higher wages, sources in the country told RFA.
• No discussion like "preliminary agreement" in Vienna talks: Iran IRNA 17 May 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday that no topic called "preliminary agreement" was raised in Vienna talks to revive the JCPOA, as a considerable part of the remaining issues were finalized in tripartite groups with some of them left for political decisions.
• US Sanctions Myanmar Junta Figures as Chin Fighters Claim 6 Army Troop Kills Radio Free Asia 17 May 2021 -- The United States imposed sanctions on Myanmar's junta and 13 military regime figures on Monday, specifically citing the "violence and repression" against civilians in the western town of Mindat, where the army unleashed heavy artillery and helicopter gunships in a weekend fight against ethnic Chin militia fighters.
• US Announces More Sanctions on Myanmar Junta VOA 17 May 2021 -- The United States has sanctioned more members and associates of the Myanmar military junta for their alleged role in violence against protesters demonstrating against the country's February 1 military coup.
• Designating One Entity and 16 Individuals Connected to Burma's Military Regime US Dept. of State 17 May 2021 -- Today, the United States is announcing new sanctions against Burma's military regime in response to its continued violence and repression against the people of Burma, most recently in Mindat, Chin State, and its failure to take any steps to restore Burma's democratic transition.
• Treasury Sanctions Governing Body, Officials, and Family Members Connected to Burma's Military US Treasury 17 May 2021 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 16 individuals and one entity connected to Burma's military regime.
• US, Canada Impose New Myanmar-Related Sanctions Sputnik 17 May 2021 -- The United States has imposed sanctions on 19 individuals and two entities from Myanmar, the Treasury Department announced Monday.
• UK announces sanctions on gemstone company linked to the military regime in Myanmar UK FCDO 17 May 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces sanctions on Myanmar Gems Enterprise (MGE), a state-owned enterprise under the military junta's control.
• Divided By Pakistan's Border Fence, Pashtuns Lose Business, Rights, And Tribal Ties RFE/RL Gandhara 17 May 2021 -- Until a few year ago, Malak Ziarat Gul Atmarkhel made a decent living from his businesses that crossed the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Bosnian Serbs, Serbia Launch Construction Of Controversial Hydropower Plant RFE/RL 17 May 2021 -- Bosnia-Herzegovina's predominantly Serbian entity, Republika Srpska, and neighboring Serbia have launched the construction of a hydropower plant on the Drina River despite opposition from environmental organizations and Bosnia's central government.
• Kyrgyz Parliament Supports Seizure Of Canadian-Run Gold Mine RFE/RL 17 May 2021 -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament has backed a plan to temporarily seize the country's largest gold mine after its Canadian operator, Centerra Gold, announced it was taking the government to an international court.
• Invest in Sudan's peaceful and sustainable future, UN chief tells Paris conference UN News 17 May 2021 -- Continued international support for Sudan is critical as the country undergoes a historic political and economic transformation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told a major investment conference in Paris on Monday.
• France Announces Support to Sudan during Africa Financing Talks VOA 17 May 2021 -- France said it will cancel $5 billion in debt Sudan owes it, and Germany also offered assistance, during back-to-back Paris financing summits targeting Khartoum's democratic transition and Africa's economic rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
• France Pledges $1.5 Billion to Sudan to Pay Off IMF Loan VOA 17 May 2021 -- France announced Monday that it will grant Sudan a $1.5 billion loan to help the north African country pay off its debt to the International Monetary Fund.
• Samoa Poised to Welcome First Female Prime Minister VOA 17 May 2021 -- Samoa's high court has restored the results of last month's parliamentary election, putting the South Pacific nation one step closer to installing its first female prime minister.