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News Reports

Current Operations

• Deadly Suicide Blast Hits Afghan Military Academy VOA 30 May 2019 -- Afghan police say a suicide bomb blast near a military training academy in Kabul has killed at least six security personnel and injured 16 other people.
• Afghan Politicians, Taliban Cite 'Tremendous Progress' During Moscow Peace Talks RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Senior Afghan politicians and the Taliban said they made progress during peace talks in Russia, although they did not make any significant breakthrough.
• IS Claims Deadly Blast Near Afghan Military Academy RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- A suicide bombing at the entrance to a military training center in Kabul has killed at least six people and wounded six, police and security officials say.
• Taliban say progress made in Afghan talks in Moscow but no breakthrough Press TV 30 May 2019 -- The Taliban say "decent progress" has been made in talks with senior Afghan politicians in Moscow but that there has been no breakthrough towards ending two decades of the US occupation of Afghanistan.
• Six killed in blast at Kabul military academy Press TV 30 May 2019 -- A bomb attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul has left at least six people dead and several others wounded.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US, Croatian, Slovenian forces participate in logistics-focused exercise Army News 30 May 2019 -- Every year, thousands of European armed forces participate in multiple exercises with the U.S. to help improve interoperability and stability of the region.
• DOD Centers share best practices on 'Securing Borders against Traveling Terrorists' Army News 30 May 2019 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Regional Centers in the Indo-Pacific and Europe teamed up to host the first collaborative global counterterrorism alumni workshop here from May 13 to 17.
• Future John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Reaches Key Milestone NNS 30 May 2019 -- The future John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) reached a key milestone on May 29, when the island house was lowered onto the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding division.
• A Quarter-Century of Naval Partnership: US, Thailand Kick off 25th CARAT Exercise NNS 30 May 2019 -- The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and Royal Thai Navy and Marine Corps kicked off the 25th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) during an opening ceremony at Sattahip Naval Base, May 29.
• USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) Arrives in Bremerton for Decommissioning NNS 30 May 2019 -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) arrived at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to commence the inactivation and decommissioning process, May 28.
• 7th Fleet Flagship Strengthens Partnerships Throughout Indo-Pacific NNS 30 May 2019 -- The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff returned to Yokosuka May 29, after visiting 11 ports and strengthening partnerships in nine Indo-Pacific nations.
• SNMG1 Ships Visit Stockholm NNS 30 May 2019 -- Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) ships departed Stockholm, Sweden, May 27, following a port visit during a routine patrol in the Baltic Sea.
• Chilean Chief of Naval Operations Visits San Diego NNS 30 May 2019 -- Vice Adm. Marcelo Gomez Garcia, commander, Chilean Navy Operations, visited San Diego May 23 to gain additional familiarization with U.S. Navy operations on the West Coast.
• Exercise Northern Edge 2019 comes to a close US Air Force 30 May 2019 -- Approximately 10,000 Airmen, Marines and Sailors journeyed back to their respective home stations following participation in exercise Northern Edge 2019, May 13-24.
• USAFE commander discusses regional security with Arctic air chiefs during Arctic Challenge 19 US Air Force 30 May 2019 -- The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Force Africa met with the air chiefs of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway to discuss regional security and exercise planning during Arctic Challenge 19 at Luleå, Sweden, May 28.
• Hill AFB F-35As transition to Mountain Home during runway closure US Air Force 30 May 2019 -- The 34th Fighter Squadron and 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit will transition F-35A Lightning II operations to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, as the runway at Hill AFB closes for construction.
• Air Force confirms Wright-Patterson AFB to host F-35 support organization US Air Force 30 May 2019 -- Outgoing Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson confirmed the selection of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, to host the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator Organization.
• US Vows to Respond With Military Force if Iran 'Attacks American Interests' Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The development comes just a few weeks after the United States deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf in what White House National Security Adviser John Bolton described as a "clear and unmistakable message" to Iran.
• US Prepares to Destroy One of its Last Chemical Weapons Caches Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The US Army will soon begin the process of destroying one of its last remaining caches of chemical weapons. Over 100,000 rockets, shells and other weapons containing poisonous agents have been stored at a Kentucky facility since the mid-20th century.
• 'Like a Backup Pentagon': US Air Force REVEALS Secrets of 'Doomsday Plane' Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- One of the planes from the so-called "doomsday" fleet will temporarily become a "National Airborne Operations Centre" if a nuclear war erupts and US military command needs to sustain and control all operations worldwide while avoiding the aftermath of a nuclear weapons strike.
• Pentagon Working on Reducing US Reliance on Chinese Rare Earth Minerals Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The Pentagon presented a report to Congress on rare earth minerals in an effort to reduce reliance on China after a series of statements from Chinese officials which were viewed as a veiled threat.
• US F-35 Jet Production at Risk if China Cuts Rare Earth Exports Amid Trade War Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The ongoing trade war between the United States and China may take a dramatic turn for the Pentagon if Beijing, the leading supplier of rare earths, chooses to give Donald Trump a taste of his own medicine and imposes tariffs on the minerals essential for the manufacture of everything: from military equipment to high-tech products.
• Pentagon to Prohibit Cooperation With Russia in Space Launches - Document Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos on Thursday condemned the Pentagon's decision to ban the use of Russian carrier rockets for launching US spacecraft considering this move as a clear sign of unfair competition.
• Russia rejects US claim of violating nuclear test ban treaty Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Russia has categorically dismissed a claim by the United States that Moscow may be conducting nuclear tests in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
• Russia Calls U.S. Accusation Of Nuke-Treaty Violation A 'Smear' RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Russia has reacted angrily to an assertion by a top U.S. defense official that Moscow "probably" violated an international nuclear test ban treaty.
• Hungary May Scrap Swedish Jet Deal for US F-35 Over War of Words - Report Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The Swedish government has unleashed a series of attacks against Hungary over its resistance to multiculturalism, perceived lack of feminism, and political correctness.
• Spanish Forces Claim to Have 'Intercepted' Russian Jets Across Baltic Sea Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Spanish EF-18 fighter jets "intercepted" a Russian An-12 military aircraft in international airspace "controlled by one of the Baltic states," the General Staff of the Spanish Defence Ministry said.
• Defense Minister Wei's speech, planned meeting with US delegate highly anticipated Global Times 30 May 2019 -- The Chinese delegation at this year's Shangri-La Dialogue arrived in Singapore on Thursday for the highly anticipated three-day event, which gathers defense ministers, military chiefs and top-ranking military officials from 38 countries.
• World's largest silent research vessel built in China Global Times 30 May 2019 -- The world's largest silent research vessel built by China was officially put into use on Thursday, which will pave the way for the cultivation of innovative deep-sea talent and ocean science study.
• Major weapon systems used in anti-landing drill in Pingtung County CNA 30 May 2019 -- All of the nation's most cutting-edge weapons systems were featured in a large-scale joint anti-landing drill in Pingtung County that involved all branches of the military on Thursday as part of the annual Han Kuang military exercises.
• Cabinet passes draft amendments for military parental leave CNA 30 May 2019 -- In its latest effort to boost Taiwan's fertility rate, the Executive Yuan passed two draft amendments Thursday designed to make it easier for military officers to apply for parental leave, including halving the minimum length of service required to permit such leave.
• Taiwan conducts live-fire drill Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Taiwan's military has carried out an annual, live-fire, anti-landing military exercise, simulating operations to ward off an amphibious attack on its southern beaches.
• US Playing With Fire in Taiwan Strait, Undermining Relations - Chinese Ministry Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The United States' actions in the Taiwan Strait are precarious and are undermining US-Chinese relations as well as regional stability, Chinese Defence Ministry Spokesman Wu Qian said.
• Four Killed In Military Helicopter Crash In Western Ukraine RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- An Mi-8 military helicopter crashed late on May 29 during a training exercise in western Ukraine, killing three crew members and their commander, Ukraine's military has said.
• Indian Air Force Rafale Squadron to Be Based Near Chinese Border - Reports Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- New Delhi has signed a deal with the French government and Dassault Aviation to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets for over 7.8 billion euros in order to boost the Indian Air Forces (IAF), with the squadrons to be located in different parts of the country.
• U.S. warns Turkey against negative consequences of S-400 delivery People's Daily 30 May 2019 -- Turkey would face U.S. sanctions if it completes the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, U.S. State Department warned on Wednesday.
• Hopes Rise on Averting Turkish-US Crisis Over Russian Missiles VOA 30 May 2019 -- Turkey's currency surged Thursday on rising speculation a looming crisis could be averted between Ankara and Washington. The revived optimism follows a telephone conversation between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Remarks to Traveling Press US Dept. of State 30 May 2019 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
• Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure The White House 30 May 2019
• Department Press Briefing – May 30, 2019 US Dept. of State 30 May 2019

Defense Industry

• Contracts for May 30, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 30 May 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 May 2019
• The UN's unyielding effort to tackle sexual abuse and exploitation: our quarterly update UN News 30 May 2019 -- In the first quarter of 2019, according to latest figures released on Thursday, the United Nations recorded a total of 37 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) against UN personnel, including civilian and uniformed personnel from peacekeeping operations, agencies, funds and programmes. So far, most of these allegations remain under investigation.
• How China Will Resist if US Approves Sanctions over Maritime Expansion VOA 30 May 2019 -- A U.S. congressional bill to sanction companies that help China's expansion in a disputed Asian sea is expected to spark retaliation, if passed, without stopping Chinese maritime activity.
• US Top General Claims Chinese President Xi Broke Promise on South China Sea Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The US military's top general said Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping reneged on promises not to militarize the South China Sea and called for "collective action" to hold Beijing responsible.
• US accuses China of broken promises on South China Sea militarization Press TV 30 May 2019 -- The US military's top general has called for "collective action" to stop what Washington insists is China's militarization of the South China Sea, accusing Chinese President Xi Jinping of reneging on his promises to stop the practice.
• Defense Ministry dismisses reports of fishing boats' laser attack in South China Sea Global Times 30 May 2019 -- Foreign media accusation of Chinese fishing boats firing laser beams at Australian helicopters in the South China Sea is not consistent with the facts, said Wu Qian, spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of National Defense, on Thursday.
• UK Special Forces Sent to 'Capture or Kill' Daesh Leader Al-Baghdadi – Reports Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The world's most wanted man – Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – has on numerous occasions been reported to have been killed or seriously wounded, but is believed to be alive and on the run.
• U.S., Russian Diplomats Discuss Ways For Syria To Rejoin 'International Community' RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Top U.S. and Russian diplomats are considering measures that could eventually allow Syria "to move back into the international community" if it agrees to a series of steps to help end the country's long civil war.
• Germany in Secret Talks With US on Military Support in Syria – Report Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Ahead of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Berlin, the German outlet Spiegel reported that Washington has been urging Berlin to support a buffer zone in northern Syria. The zone is meant to shield the Kurds, whose militia has been supported by the US, from both Turkey and the government forces of Bashar Assad.
• Syria: Thousands of children 'hemmed in' by 'brutal and gratuitous' spike in violence UN News 30 May 2019 -- A marked escalation in fighting has put tens of thousands of children in northwest Syria at "imminent risk of injury, death and displacement", the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) chief warned on Thursday.
• Turkey says airstrikes 'neutralized' 19 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Turkish warplanes and attack helicopters have "neutralized" 19 PKK militants in a string of airstrikes targeting their hideouts in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, Anadolu news agency reports.
• UN Renews South Sudan Arms Embargo VOA 30 May 2019 -- The U.N. Security Council renewed sanctions on South Sudan Thursday for another year, including an arms embargo. But none of the council's three African members supported the measure.
• Jordan king meets Kushner, urges formation of Palestinian state with E al-Quds as capital Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Jordan's King Abdullah II has called for the formation of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 boundaries with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital, in what appears to be at odds with Washington's upcoming proposal on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• Iran's security chief: US-hatched 'deal of century' will be failure Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Iran's security chief says a US-devised plan targeting the Palestinian nation, dubbed "the deal of the century," will definitely end in failure.
• Pakistan Arrests Second Pashtun Lawmaker Over 'Attack' On Troops RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- A second Pakistani lawmaker accused of being behind an alleged attack on a military post has been arrested, a provincial spokesman said.
• France, Germany Call For Resumed Ukraine Peace Talks During Visit To Kyiv RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- France and Germany are seeking the resumption of stalled peace talks for the bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine, the Western nations' foreign ministers say.
• UN Chief Names US Diplomat as His Somalia Envoy VOA 30 May 2019 -- U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday named a new envoy for Somalia, nearly five months after his previous representative was declared persona non grata and expelled.
• Cameroon: NGOs Exaggerate Separatist Crisis VOA 30 May 2019 -- Cameroon is accusing the international NGOs of exaggerating the crisis in the country's two English-speaking regions. Separatists there have been fighting the government troops since 2017, alleging years of marginalization by authorities of the mostly French-speaking country.

News Reports

• Trump Unleashes Again on Special Counsel Who Didn't Charge Him VOA 30 May 2019 -- While reiterating his claim that the special counsel's report fully exonerates him, U.S. President Donald Trump is attacking the head of that investigation, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller, as a conflicted prosecutor.
• Trump Says Russia Helped Him Win Election, But Then Reverses Himself RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Russia helped him win the 2016 election, a comment that contradicted months of angry denials.
• Statement from the President Regarding Emergency Measures to Address the Border Crisis The White House 30 May 2019
• Pompeo Says Iran Attacked Tankers To Help Raise Oil Prices RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Iran attacked oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) earlier this month in an effort to push global crude prices higher.
• Russia refutes Bolton's claim of Iran's role in UAE oil tankers attack Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Russia says it does not trust claims by US National Security Advisor John Bolton that Iran was engaged in recent "sabotage" attacks targeting vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
• Moscow Mistrusts Bolton's Claims Iran 'Almost Certainly' Attacked Oil Tankers Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Moscow does not trust US National Security Adviser John Bolton's claims that Iran is "almost certainly" behind the recent attack on oil tankers in the UAE and qualifies this as a US attempt to impose its opinion on the whole world, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Sputnik.
• Saudi Arabia Calls for 'All Means of Force' to Confront Attacks Blamed on Iran Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Two Saudi oil tankers and two other vessels were targeted earlier this month near Fujairah, one of the seven Arab emirates, in what the UAE's Foreign Ministry has described as "acts of sabotage".
• Venezuela government-opposition talks fail in Norway Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Representatives of the Venezuelan government and opposition have failed to reach an agreement in Norway to resolve the Latin American country's political and economic crisis.
• Maduro Says Government Holding Secret Talks With Opposition for Couple of Months Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said that another round of negotiations with the opposition concluded in the Norwegian capital on Wednesday, noting that secret talks have been actually underway for a couple of months.
• Russian Citizen Butina to Spend Remaining Term in Tallahassee Prison - Lawyer Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Russian citizen Maria Butina, sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of conspiring to act as a foreign agent in the United States, will spend the rest of her sentence in the prison in Tallahassee, Florida, her lawyer Robert Driscoll told Sputnik on Thursday.
• NSA Discussed Spying on Russian Civil Targets in 2005 - Reports Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- A leaked post in the latest document dump from The Intercept's 'SIDToday' archive–a series of top secret National Security Agency newsletters provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden–reveals that the United States discussed spying on Russian non-military targets with the help of the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS).
• Pakistan Sentences Three On Spying Charges RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Pakistan's army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa has approved death sentences for a retired brigadier and a civilian after they were court-martialed on charges of espionage.
• 2 Pakistani Army Officers Given Death, Jail Sentences for Espionage VOA 30 May 2019 -- A military court in Pakistan has found a Brigadier-rank officer and a Lt. General guilty of espionage, sentencing one to death and handing 14 years of "vigorous imprisonment" to the other.
• North Korea accuses US of 'evil ambition' in talks Press TV 30 May 2019 -- North Korea has accused the United States of showing bad faith in negotiations by conducting nuclear and missile tests as well as military drills on the Korean Peninsula.
• Trump Adviser Bolton: Iranian Threat Persists Despite US Actions VOA 30 May 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser said Thursday the U.S. has helped prevent Iran from undertaking acts of aggression but warned the threat from Tehran still exists.
• Iran denies allegations on intervention in other countries IRNA 30 May 2019 -- Iran denied on Thursday allegations made by Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf about what he described as Iran's interference in the affairs of other countries.
• Iran criticizes Europe for inactivity against sanctions IRNA 30 May 2019 -- Iranian parliamentarians criticized Europe on Thursday for being inactive in the face of the US unilateral sanctions on Iran and said that Europe hasn't appreciated Iran's cooperative approach.
• Measuring performance of JCPOA's members IRNA 30 May 2019 -- US withdrawal from Iran's nuclear deal, also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is a test to measure the commitment of remaining members vis-à-vis the JCPOA; a test that Russia and China have so far been better than the European Troika.
• Iran strongly rejects Saudi claims about Tehran's 'regional interference' Press TV 30 May 2019 -- A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official has strongly denounced fresh claims made by Saudi Arabia about what Riyadh describes as Iran's meddling in the internal affairs of regional countries.
• US pressure campaign meant to blackmail Iran: Russia Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says the US is exerting pressure on Iran in a bid to "blackmail" the country, adding that Washington does not seem to be sincere in its offer to engage in dialog with Tehran.
• Energy dealings with Iran lawful, must be respected: China to US Press TV 30 May 2019 -- China, the top buyer of Iranian oil, has dismissed Washington's warning to Hong Kong that it could face penalties if it provides services to a vessel carrying Iranian oil headed for the autonomous territory, saying "normal energy dealings" with Iran are in accordance with law and should be respected.
• U.S., Persian Gulf Allies Step Up Pressure On Iran RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- The United States and key Middle East allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stepped up pressure on Iran, warning against any attacks and taking measures to bolster cooperation to counter Tehran's regional activities.
• Iran Asked Russia to Sell S-400 But Was Refused - Report Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- The sale of Russian S-400 systems has already resulted in issues, as Turkey has come under criticism and restrictions from the US after Ankara made it clear that it would proceed with its acquisition of the Russian air defences in accordance with a deal concluded back in 2017.
• China BOOSTED Imports of Iranian Oil Prior to End of US Waivers – Report Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Recent reports have suggested that Beijing decided to cease importing Iranian oil after the US sanctions waivers expired in May 2019. However, some analysts suggest that China could still resume the purchases at a lesser volume, something made possible via unofficial channels.
• China Dismisses US Warnings on Breaching Iranian Sanctions Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Hong Kong dismissed US warnings that it could face penalties if it does business with an oil tanker that allegedly violated sanctions on Iran.
• Leader: No point for negotiating with US IRNA 30 May 2019 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Iran will not negotiate with the US, because there is no point for negotiating and also because it would be detrimental.
• Iranian Supreme Leader Says Iran Will Not Negotiate With US Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Iran will not hold negotiations with the United States as there is no sense in such talks, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday.
• Acting Pentagon Chief Says Iran Is Still a Threat to US Forces Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Wednesday that the Trump administration's countermeasures to Iran in the Middle East region so far have not produced lasting changes in Tehran's behaviour, noting that Iran remains an acting threat to US forces.
• Moscow Warns of Military Confrontation Risks Amid Iran Intentions to Leave JCPOA Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Strengthening of Iran's intentions to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) may open the way for the collapse of the nuclear deal and potential military confrontation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper.
• Tehran Dried Up Enemy's Capacity for War, Revolutionary Guards Chief Says Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Over recent weeks, the US has been amassing military forces at Iran's doorstep, accusing the Islamic Republic of plotting an attack on American interests. Washington claims that Tehran was behind recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi oil facilities, something that Iran has vehemently denied.
• US Calls Tiananmen Square 'Full-On Massacre' as Anniversary Nears VOA 30 May 2019 -- The United States is calling the Chinese government's violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations in and around Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, "a full-on massacre."
• Former PLA lieutenant recalls Tiananmen Square Incident CNA 30 May 2019 -- Thirty years ago during the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, Li Xiaoming (李曉明) was a 25-year-old lieutenant in the People's Liberation Army's 116th Infantry Division.
• China should prioritize domestic rare-earth demand, put less stress on exports Global Times 30 May 2019 -- Tougher environmental protection efforts have reduced the supply of rare-earth minerals in Ganzhou, a key rare-earth base in East China's Jiangxi Province, where the industry has become more regulated and market-oriented.
• Xi calls for further reform to resolve major problems Global Times 30 May 2019 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over the eighth meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform on Wednesday.
• Proposed extradition law changes in Hong Kong: UK and Canada joint statement UK FCO 30 May 2019 -- The UK and Canada have issued a joint statement about concerns for their citizens in light of proposed changes to extradition laws in Hong Kong.
• President touts New Southbound Policy achievements CNA 30 May 2019 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday that Taiwan's New Southbound Policy (NSP), aimed at enhancing cooperation with key players in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand, has yielded initial results.
• MAC discourages Taiwanese from attending Straits Forum in China CNA 30 May 2019 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday urged citizen of Taiwan not to attend the upcoming Straits Forum in China, which the council sees as part of Beijing's scheme to ultimately annex Taiwan through its "united front" strategy.
• Zarif congratulates Barzani on election as KRG president IRNA 30 May 2019 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a telephone conversation with Nechirvan Barzani late on Wednesday congratulated his election as president of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG).
• India's Modi Begins 2nd Term in Office Amid High Expectations VOA 30 May 2019 -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a second term on Thursday during a glittering ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi, after a landslide election victory that sealed his position as the country's most powerful leader in decades.
• Israel to hold snap elections after Netanyahu fails to form coalition Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Israeli lawmakers have voted to dissolve the parliament and hold new general elections after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu missed a deadline to form a ruling coalition.
• Israel Heads to New Elections VOA 30 May 2019 -- Israel is in political turmoil after its parliament voted to dissolve itself a month after it was sworn in.
• Kazakh Ex-President Collects Yet Another Title -- Honorary Senator RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Kazakhstan's former authoritarian president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, has received yet another title - honorary member of the Senate, the upper house of the Central Asian state's parliament.
• Turkish court gives life sentences to 56 ex-soldiers over 2016 botched putsch Press TV 30 May 2019 -- A court in Turkey has handed down aggravated life sentences to dozens of former soldiers on charges of involvement in the July 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which the Ankara government blames on US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen.
• Ukrainian Lawmakers Refuse To Dismiss PM Hroysman RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has rejected Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman's resignation after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on May 20 called on the government to step down.
• Hundreds of Sudanese workers protest over 'economic collapse' Press TV 30 May 2019 -- Hundreds of white collar workers on the front line of protests in the capital Khartoum say the ruling elite and military rulers have proven their incompetence in handling the Sudanese economy.
• Incensed By 'Racist' Comments, Kosovo Says It Is Banning Serbian PM RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Kosovo's government says it is banning Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic from entering the country after comments she made that Pristina took as being "racist."
• Kyrgyz Authorities Probe Atambaev's Eavesdropping Accusations RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- Kyrgyz authorities have launched a probe into claims by former President Almazbek Atambaev that his office was bugged by the State Committee for National Security (UKMK).
• A 'strong and united Europe' has never been more needed, declares UN chief Guterres UN News 30 May 2019 -- With the post-world war international institutions eroded and under threat, a "strong and united Europe" standing alongside the United Nations, has never been more essential, said UN chief António Guterres in Germany on Thursday.