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Putin announces Syria mission 'generally complete'
Russian troops parading at Humaymim Air Base in Syria on 15 March before the partial withdrawal of forces there ordered by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Source: Russian MoD via AP/PARussian fighters continue to flow into east Ukraine, US official states
Pro-Russian separatist fighters in east Ukraine, one of whom is wearing a traditional Cossack-style Kubanka hat. Large numbers of men wearing similar attire have recently crossed into Ukraine from Russia. According to the US representative to the OSCE they are unlikely to be in east Ukraine for the mushroom picking. Source: via OSCEAngolan president's announced 2018 retirement will intensify succession rivalries and trigger contract reviews between ministries
Angolan vice-president Manuel Vicente speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on 1 October 2015. Vicente is increasingly being sidelined by President José Eduardo dos Santos. Source: PAAnnounced Russian force reduction in Syria pressures Syrian government into agreeing a timeline for Assad's departure
Russian president Vladimir Putin, who ordered a withdrawal of combat units from the Syrian conflict, on 14 March 2016. Source: PA
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Colombia, Panama discuss border security post-FARC
The potential demobilisation of Colombia's FARC guerrilla group and its possible consequences for transnational crime around the Darien Gap on Colombia and Panama's border was a key topic during the latest Binational Border Commission's (COMBIFRON's) meeting, highlighting the difficult peacetime
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Cyber effects felt at tactical level in US Army training
The US Army is continuing to toll out the integration of cyber attacks in large-scale rotations as the service looks to improve the cyber element of its training and ultimately help inform doctrine in this area. During a January rotation at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin,
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More Turkish-Ukrainian military and trade co-operation likely to increase frequency and size of Black Sea naval exercises
Key Points Closer military and trade co-operation between Turkey and Ukraine aims to balance Russian military presence in the Black Sea and to mitigate the downside economic risks caused by their respective hostilities with Russia. A bilateral FTA is likely by the end of 2016. Increased Turkish
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Refugee influx tests Greek security response
Key Points If international efforts to control the migrant problem in the Aegean Sea are not successful, in excess of 300,000 refugees and migrants could be trapped in Greece by early June 2016, raising the risk of domestic social upheaval. The Greek economy is unable to bear the cost of policing
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Ukraine's new military doctrine officially declares Russia principal threat
Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, finally made it official on 16 March that Ukraine's military and national security policy now regards Russia as the most pressing threat to the former Soviet republic. The policy is based on Russia now being in the category of presenting the most pre-imminent
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Islamic State plans to attack European cities
The Islamic State is probably planning a mass-casualty attack in a European metropolis following threats issued by video. Using historical data and proxy threat indicators, IHS Jane's analyses the threat levels facing 46 cities and what form an attack might take. -
Economic woes expose regional rifts in Russia
Russia's economic decline is straining the tacit social contract between Moscow and the regions. Alex Kokcharov examines the Russian regions most likely to consider a push for greater independence in the event of a serious deterioration in state stability. -
Expansion and renewal: naval procurement in the Gulf
The threat of maritime conflict involving Gulf nations has spurred the Gulf Co-operation Council states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to embark on a major naval procurement drive in recent years. Kate Tringham and Alex Pape report
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Military Capabilities Military Capabilities
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Putin reveals units deployed to Syria
President Vladimir Putin confirmed on 17 March that Russian special forces, artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) units have been operating in Syria. In a ceremony held at the Hall of the Order of St George in the Kremlin, Putin presented medals and decorations to 17 service personnel,
CBRN Assessment CBRN Assessment
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Analysts remain sceptical of North Korea's nuclear strike claims
Photos released by North Korean official news outlet Rodong Sinmun on 9 March showed the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, meeting the country's nuclear technicians at what could be a KN-08 (Hwasong-13) intercontinental ballistic missile production facility near Jonchon in the country's northern
Terrorism & Insurgency Terrorism & Insurgency
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Islamic State claims Iraqi Cessna shoot-down
Islamic State claimed its fighters downed an Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in the Al-Hawijah in Al-Tamim province on 16 March. One of the group's media organisations released a video showing the aircraft crashing, as well as the resulting wreckage and the remains of its crew on
