Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 30, 2019

Reuters: U.S. military says monitoring Venezuela events, no change in mission

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Tuesday said it was monitoring developments in Venezuela but suggested no role in the unfolding events, as armed factions opposing and supporting President Nicolas Maduro clashed at a protest outside a Caracas air base.

“We are monitoring the recent developments in Venezuela closely and are in close contact with our interagency partners and senior chain of command. At the present time, U.S. Southern Command’s mission remains unchanged,” said Colonel Armando Hernandez, a spokesman at the U.S. military’s Southern Command, which oversees U.S. forces in Latin America.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 30, 2019

Bolton says 'all options are on the table' in Venezuela as protests intensify -- The Hill

US Air Force conducts airstrikes with F-35 for first time ever -- Defense News

Crashed F-35A fighter jet located, US says -- Nikkei Asian Review

Boeing awarded $5.7B for KC-46 Pegasus combat capability work -- UPI

Lockheed awarded $1.1B contract for F-35 support -- UPI

Boeing's MQ-25 refueling drone moved to air base for flight testing -- UPI

Boeing awarded $127.6M contract for nuclear bomb life extension -- UPI

The Air Force is spinning toward a $4 billion financial disaster -- Defense News

Trump drops plan to retire the USS Truman -- The Hill

Trump administration reverses course on decision to decommission carrier Truman -- Defense News

We can't stay 'stagnant': Navy chief defends decision to decommission aircraft carrier -- Washington Examiner

Mattis ignored orders from Trump, White House on North Korea, Iran: report -- The Hill

Senate confirms top generals for Europe, Africa -- The Hill

New measure would allow troops to sue for military malpractice mistakes -- Military Times

Air Force secretary warns against European military force -- The Hill

Air Force leaders want airmen to hit the books to be ready against China, Russia and others -- Air Force Times

GAO to review if climate change hinders military contractors' response to national security threats -- The Hill

Top admiral nominee: Climate change 'going to be a problem' for Navy -- The Hill

Canadian military has 2,000 personnel dealing with floods but provinces determine priorities -- Ottawa Citizen

Trump Asks Senate to Approve North Macedonia Joining NATO as 30th Member State -- Sputnik

EU extends weapons ban on Myanmar for another year -- UPI

US Defence Giant Blasts Germany’s Refusal to Buy F-35s as ‘Retrograde Step’ -- Sputnik

Boeing, Lockheed contracted for Apache work, Hellfire missiles for Saudi Arabia -- UPI

Russia Ready to Extend New START, But Future of Treaty in Doubt - Antonov -- Sputnik

China’s coastguard ‘can expect military treatment’ in South China Sea -- SCMP/Bloomberg

Beijing ‘tones down’ response after US warships sail through Taiwan Strait -- SCMP

Japan navy officers attend maritime security ceremony in South Korea -- UPI

South Korea to build destroyers that can be fitted with missile interceptors -- UPI

India to Test Fire Air-Launched BrahMos-A Supersonic Cruise Missile Soon -- Sputnik