Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve | Quarterly Report to the United States Congress | April 1, 2019 – June 30, 2019 DOD OIG 06 Aug 2019 -- This is the 18th Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) report on Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the overseas contingency operation to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The report covers the period April 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019, and summarizes the quarter’s key events and describes completed, ongoing, and planned Lead IG and partner agency oversight work related to OIR.
• Report Slams US Troop Pullout from Syria VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- U.S. plans to keep just a residual force in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State may be on the verge of backfiring, with some military officials warning the strategy is giving the terror group new life.
• Taliban Threatens Violent Disruption Of Afghan Presidential Election RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- The Taliban has denounced the Afghan presidential polls set for September as a "sham" and said that its fighters would do all they can to disturb the election process.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Acting Secretary Esper En-Route Media Availability DoD 06 Aug 2019 -- Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper
• Battle Group Poland strengthens unity through Interoperability Games event Army News 06 Aug 2019 -- NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland hosted the first annual Interoperability Games to test multinational Soldier's abilities to work together through a series of challenges, at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Aug. 1.
• Pentagon spending more on F-35 to make it nuke-ready Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- The US Department of Defense has revealed in a report that the cost for its F-35 fighter jet program is increasing as it plans to upgrade the aircraft with several new features, including the ability to deliver nuclear payloads.
• Effort to Upgrade F-35 to Carry Nukes Helped Add $95 Bln to Plane's $1.5 Trln Price Tag - Report Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Last week, a senior US lawmaker complained that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter continues to be "plagued by technical issues, delays and exorbitant costs" despite decades of development, with problems of mission readiness and the jets' safety to pilots remaining unresolved.
• Ohio Guard tests disaster response with civilian partners Army News 06 Aug 2019 -- Vigilant Guard kicked off Monday with a flurry of activity, with first responders and emergency management personnel from across Ohio working together during a variety of disaster scenarios designed to test their skills and their teamwork.
• Australia will not host US missiles, says PM Morrison Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the United States has not requested to deploy intermediate-range missiles in his country, stressing that such a request will be met with rejection.
• Joint press point by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern in Wellington, New Zealand NATO 06 Aug 2019
• Russian Military Satellite Put Into Intended Orbit Successfully - Defence Ministry Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that its military satellite that was launched earlier in the day from the Baikonur cosmodrome atop a Proton-M carrier rocket was put into calculated orbit successfully.
• Investigators Confirm One Killed, Eight Injured By Blasts At Siberian Ammo Depot RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- Russia's Investigative Committee has confirmed the death of one person and increased the number of injured to eight from a series of blasts at an ammunition depot in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk.
• China's H-6K bomber expected to be armed with hypersonic weapons Global Times 06 Aug 2019 -- The main mission objective of China's H-6K bomber is to strike key strategic points deep within enemy territories, the state broadcaster revealed, leading experts to predict that the warplane could eventually be armed with hypersonic weapons that can destroy hostile military hubs 3,000 kilometers away within minutes.
• China vows to respond if US deploys missiles in Asia Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- China has vowed to take countermeasures if Washington deploys intermediate-range missiles in Asia, a prospect that US officials have hinted at.
• China Vows 'Countermeasures' If US Deploys Missiles in Asia-Pacific VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- China says it will take "countermeasures" if the United States deploys ground-based intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region.
• China Plans to Use New Tech Like AI To 'Win Wars' Amid US Concerns VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- China's military says it is focused on harnessing new technologies to "fight and win wars" in the future and is competing with the United States in boosting the regional influence of its People Liberation Army.
• DPRK fires two short-range projectiles into eastern waters: S. Korea People's Daily 06 Aug 2019 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired two short-range projectiles into its eastern waters early Tuesday, the fourth such launch in less than two weeks, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
• US inciting military tension: North Korea Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- North Korea has lambasted the United States for "inciting military tension" by conducting joint military drills with South Korea, vowing to take countermeasures.
• Trump, Kim Have Understanding That Pyongyang Will Not Launch Long-Range Missiles - Bolton Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have an understanding that Pyongyang will not launch intercontinental missiles, White House National Security Adviser John Bolton said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday following Pyongyang's recent missile tests.
• North Korea missile test launches: Foreign Office statement UK FCO 06 Aug 2019 -- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is deeply concerned by the repeated launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea, most recently on 5 August.
• N. Korea Launches More Ballistic Missiles, Slams Joint Military Drills VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- North Korea launched a fresh round of ballistic missiles into the sea early Tuesday and warned it could take a "new road" in response to U.S.-South Korean military exercises that began this week.
• North Korea Fires Two Unidentified Projectiles - Joint Chiefs of Staff Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced early Tuesday that North Korea has fired off two unidentified projectiles from its east coast, marking its fourth such launch in recent weeks.
• South Korea Has 'No Plan' to Host US Missiles; China Angry Over Proposed US Deployment in Asia Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The statement comes as Beijing warned of its retaliation against the US' drive to deploy its intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region after Washington's withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty on 2 August.
• Washington, Seoul Begin Military Exercises With Zero Fanfare to Avoid Angering N Korea - Reports Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The United States and South Korea began their annual military exercises without any official statement to avoid angering Pyongyang, US media reported.
• Iran unveils new smart bombs IRNA 06 Aug 2019 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami unveiled Yasin and Balaban smart guided-missiles and precision-guided bomb, Qaem.
• Erdogan: No Evidence to US Claim That Russian S-400 Systems Will Harm F-35 Jets or NATO Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Relations between the US and its Turkish allies sunk to new lows after Washington announced that it would drop Ankara from the F-35 programme and consider slapping the country with sanctions over its purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defence systems.
• Can Turkey Be a Trusted NATO Partner? VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- Can Turkey be reeled back in as a trusted NATO partner? A growing chorus of policy-makers and foreign-policy analysts fear it can't.
• Britain to join US-led naval mission in Persian Gulf Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Britain says it will join a US-led naval mission purportedly aimed at protecting shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, where Washington falsely accuses Iran of having been behind a series of attacks on oil tankers.
• RAF Typhoons scrambled twice in two days to intercept Russian military aircraft UK MOD 06 Aug 2019 -- Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets have intercepted five Russian military aircraft in the last two days; four after launching on Monday and another today.
• Bulgaria Seeks Offers From European Firms To Supply 150 Armored Vehicles RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- NATO member Bulgaria has sent requests to companies in four European countries to supply 150 armored vehicles for its armed forces as it looks to upgrade its military and reduce its reliance on Russia.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Aug. 6, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 6 August 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Aug 2019
• Vietnam Police Disperse Protest of Chinese Oil Block Survey in South China Sea Radio Free Asia 06 Aug 2019 -- Authorities in Hanoi shut down a rare protest on Tuesday by a group of 10 activists opposed to China's survey of an offshore oil block located within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, according to one of the activists.
• US Warship Sails Into Disputed S.China Sea Waters as Beijing Announces Regional War Games – Report Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- US Navy ships have repeatedly carried out so-called freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea, where the majority of islands are controlled by Beijing. Other territories are claimed by countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei and the Philippines.
• Southeast Asia Takes Jab at China After Energy Exploration Flaps in Disputed Sea VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- In May a Chinese vessel exploring for oil tried to stop the operations of a Malaysian contract drilling site in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank says. In June and July, a Chinese boat entered a standoff with Vietnam over exploration in another tract of the disputed waters.
• Intensified Al Qaeda and ISIL activity in Yemen 'deeply worrying', says UN Human Rights Office UN News 06 Aug 2019 -- Armed groups affiliated with the Al Qaeda and ISIL terror groups, appear to have intensified their activities in Yemen, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) declared on Tuesday, describing the situation as an example of "deeply worrying developments" that have seriously impacted civilians over the past ten days.
• 5 Yemeni missiles hit targets in Saudi Arabia's Najran, Asir Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Yemeni forces have targeted gatherings of Saudi-led mercenaries in Saudi Arabia's southern provinces of Najran and Asir with at least five domestically-manufactured missiles.
• Accused Syrian IS Fighters Starting to Face Justice VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- Parts of Syria freed from the clutches of Islamic State are starting to hold some members of the terror group accountable for their crimes.
• Erdogan says Turkey will launch new operation in Syria 'very soon' Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will "soon" act to renew its military involvement in northern Syria to push back US-backed Kurdish militants, whom it associates with anti-Ankara terrorists.
• Erdogan Mulls Op in Syria 'Very Soon' as Pentagon Warns Turkey Against 'Unilateral Action' Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously notified the United States about Turkey's intention to launch an operation in Syria east of the Euphrates River, currently controlled by self-defence forces consisting mainly of Kurdish-led militants.
• US Says Any Uncoordinated Operation by Turkey in Syria to Erode Shared Security Interest Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The United States is concerned that any uncoordinated military operation by Turkey in Syria may undermine Ankara's shared security interest with Washington, US Department of State spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said.
• Iraqi Hashd al-Sha'bi forces purge 19 more villages south of Mosul of Daesh Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Iraq's pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Sha'abi, have successfully purged more than a dozen other villages in the southern part of the country's province of Nineveh during the third phase of a major offensive to hunt down remnants of the Daesh terrorist group.
• Libya's LNA Forces Strike Misrata's Air College - Reports Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar struck Misrata's air college early on Tuesday, according to media reports.
• Pakistan's army 'to go to any extent' to support Kashmir Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Pakistan's army chief says the country's military will "go to any extent" to support people in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, after New Delhi's decision to strip the restive Muslim-majority region of its autonomous status.
• UN urges India, Pakistan to stay calm as Kashmir heats up Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- The United Nations (UN) has urged India and Pakistan to maintain peace as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors escalate again in the wake of New Delhi's move to strip the disputed Kashmir region of its special autonomy.
• Pakistan Vows To Challenge India Over Kashmir Moves RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to use "every forum" to force New Delhi to reverse its decision to strip Indian-administered Kashmir of its special status and split the Himalayan state.
• Pakistani Army to 'Go to Any Extent' to Support Kashmiris in Their Struggle - Military Chief Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- On Monday India stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and submitted legislation to parliament to divide the state into two federally administered territories. Pakistan responded by saying that it would explore all possible options to counter the 'illegal steps.'
• Pakistan Says Stripping Kashmir of Special Status May Impair Regional Peace and Security Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Pakistan has written a letter to the UN Secretary General to apprise him of the fallout of India's decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, warning that it would threaten peace and security in the region.
• Pakistan's PM Vows to Reach Out to Global Stakeholders on Kashmir VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- Pakistan began a special joint session of its parliament Tuesday to discuss a possible response a day after rival India revoked the special status for Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan region both the countries claim in its entirety.
• India's Kashmir Legislations Sail Through Parliamentary Scrutiny Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Indian Parliament cleared historic legislation to withdraw special status to the restive Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate it into two federally administered territories. The upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha passed the legislation on Monday 5 August, and the lower Lok Sabha okayed it on Tuesday 6 August.
• Indian Army Reviews Kashmir Situation, Says Troops in Operational Readiness Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- A day after India stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and moved legislation in Parliament to bifurcate the state into two federally administered territories, the Indian army reviewed the situation in the region.
• Four Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In Clashes With Russia-Backed Separatists RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- Kyiv says four Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives in the latest clashes with Russia-backed separatists in the country's east.
• Stoltenberg: Annexation Of Crimea Is Consequence Of Increased Great Power Competition RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 was the result of increased "great power competition," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on August 5.
• The Man Behind Cambodia's Khmer Rouge 'Died Easier Than the People He Killed' VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- In his most recent photos, Nuon Chea looks like somebody's grandfather, wearing big dark glasses that suggest a sensitivity to light possibly tied to other medical problems.

News Reports

• Nicolás Maduro: Corruption and Chaos in Venezuela US Dept. of State 06 Aug 2019 -- The former regime of Nicolás Maduro has consistently violated and abused the human rights and dignity of the country's citizens, plundered its natural resources, and driven a once-prosperous nation into economic ruin with Maduro's authoritarian rule and ruinous economic policies. Maduro's thugs have reportedly engaged in killings and physical abuse, detained political opponents, and severely interfered with the exercise of freedom of expression, all in a brutal effort to retain power.
• The United States Imposes Maximum Pressure on Former Maduro Regime US Dept. of State 06 Aug 2019 -- "On August 5, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order blocking all property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within possession or control of any United States person."
• Treasury Underscores U.S. Commitment to Humanitarian Support for Venezuelan People US Treasury 06 Aug 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued guidance highlighting the United States' commitment to the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people. OFAC maintains several authorizations that permit humanitarian-related transactions, enabling continued support to the people of Venezuela and ensuring that legitimate humanitarian activity is not the target of U.S. sanctions.
• Bolton: New Sanctions Allow US to Target Supporters of Venezuelan Government VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said one day after the U.S. placed a full economic embargo against Venezuela the U.S. can now sanction anyone who supports the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
• President Donald J. Trump is Cutting Off the Financial Resources of Maduro and His Cronies The White House 06 Aug 2019
• Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding an Executive Order "Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela" The White House 06 Aug 2019
• Venezuela: Asset freeze by US equals economic terrorism Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Venezuela says the United States is practicing "economic terrorism" against the Venezuelan people by ordering a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in America.
• Trump orders freeze on all Venezuelan govt. assets in US Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- US President Donald Trump has ordered a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States, stepping up pressure on Caracas with the aim of ousting President Nicolas Maduro.
• Stop Supporting Venezuela's Maduro, U.S. Tells Russia And China RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- The United States has pressed Russia and China to withdraw what he called their "intolerable" support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as Washington steps up pressure on the Latin American leader to step down.
• Bolton: US Will 'Ensure That Maduro Runs Out of Ways to Sustain Himself' Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The senior Trump administration official has played a lead role in US policy on Venezuela, urging the Venezuelan military to switch sides and join self-proclaimed 'president' Juan Guaido in his attempted coup, and stressing that the US will not take a military option off the table.
• Colombia offers nationality rights to Venezuelan children born there: UN hails 'very important step' UN News 06 Aug 2019 -- The UN migration agency, IOM, has welcomed Colombia's decision on Monday to grant nationality status to more than 24,000 Venezuelan babies born inside the country after their parents fled across the border.
• Trump Signs Executive Order Imposing Sanctions on Venezuelan Government Assets Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Washington's decision to block Venezuelan government's property in US jurisdiction has entered into force starting from August 5.
• US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. resigns Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman has resigned to go back to his country and reportedly pick another gubernatorial role.
• Reports: U.S. Ambassador To Moscow Stepping Down RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Jon Huntsman Jr. has resigned his post after just two years amid speculation he could seek to run for political office in his home state of Utah, U.S. media are reporting.
• US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Resigns VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. has sent his resignation letter to President Donald Trump, signaling the end of his two-year stint.
• Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs of DPRK Issues Press Statement KCNA 06 Aug 2019 -- A spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public the following press statement on Tuesday:
• Drive for Using Natural Energies Brisk in DPRK KCNA 06 Aug 2019 -- Amid a brisk drive for harnessing natural energies as electric generation, the West Sea Barrage Office in the DPRK has established its independent generating system based on wind and solar energies.
• N Korea Raised $2Bln for Weapons Program Via Cyberspace - UN Report Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- North Korea has raised up to $2 billion through cyber-attacks on financial institutions and money laundering schemes to support its weapons of mass destruction programs, a summary of a report by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea said.
• China recognizes rights of Iran under JCPOA IRNA 06 Aug 2019 -- A senior Chinese official criticized the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal as a credible international agreement, calling for taking measures to guarantee Iran's economic benefit under the deal.
• Zarif says diplomatic relations must not bring dependence IRNA 06 Aug 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran is interested in good relations with the world not to bring dependence on foreign powers.
• US interested in Iran's submission that will never happen: Zarif ISNA 06 Aug 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed that the US isn't interested in talks; rather, Iran's submission. That will never happen.
• Rouhani urges restored banking, oil ties for Iran under JCPOA Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that a restoration of banking and oil industry cooperation is what Tehran expects as minimums under a major international nuclear agreement which has suffered as a result of US sanctions.
• US failed to zero out Iran's oil sales: Speaker Larijani Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- Iran's Parliament speaker Ali Larijani says the United States has had no success in its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran even as American sanctions have impacted the Iranian economy.
• US needs to lift all sanctions first if it seeks talks with Iran: President Rouhani Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- President Hassan Rouhani says the US's sanctions against the Iranian people amount to crime against humanity, stressing that Washington needs to lift all its bans if it really seeks negotiations with Tehran.
• Rohani Says War With Iran 'The Mother Of All Wars' RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- President Hassan Rohani said on August 6 that Tehran favors talks with the United States if it lifts sanctions against Iran.
• Iran Says It Will Veer More From Nuke Deal If Europeans Don't Help RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- Tehran has told the European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal that it would further reduce its compliance with the accord if they don't provide relief from U.S. sanctions that have crippled the oil-rich nation's economy.
• Iran Urges UN Members to Condemn US Sanctions on Zarif as Breach of International Law Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The international community should condemn the US for imposing sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif because the action is in violation of international law, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi said in a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday.
• UK Cannot Use Strait of Hormuz If Iran Has No Access to Gibraltar – President Rouhani Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The United Kingdom cannot use the Strait of Hormuz as long as Iran cannot pass through the Strait of Gibraltar, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday.
• Iran's FM Zarif Says He Was Sanctioned by US After Refusing to Visit White House Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday that he was sanctioned by the United States after refusing to visit the White House for talks earlier in July.
• Chinese Officials Warn Protesters Not to Challenge Hong Kong Status Quo VOA 06 Aug 2019 -- As Hong Kong cleaned up after a general strike that splintered into a night of violent clashes between police and protesters, a Chinese government official warned opponents on Tuesday that "those who play with fire will perish by it."
• Hong Kong Police Double The Amount of Tear Gas Fired in a Single Day Radio Free Asia 06 Aug 2019 -- Hong Kong police arrested nearly 150 people during city-wide protests and street battles during Monday's general strike, as the ruling Chinese Communist Party geared up for a top meeting with the city's representatives to discuss the escalating anti-extradition movement.
• Central govt responds to possible PLA deployment in HK Global Times 06 Aug 2019 -- China on Tuesday further responded to questions on whether the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will be deployed to take over Hong Kong.
• Shenzhen police drill mirrors Hong Kong protests Global Times 06 Aug 2019 -- A total of 12,000 police officers in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province participated in a drill on Tuesday, attracting online attention as the drill features emergency scenarios that resemble the ongoing riots in adjacent Hong Kong.
• Rioters in Hong Kong can't hijack city's future Global Times 06 Aug 2019 -- Radical protesters in Hong Kong on Monday announced a citywide "three strikes" campaign and a "non-cooperation movement." However, going by the situation on the ground, not many people proactively took part in the "three strikes". Some rioters disrupted traffic by putting up roadblocks and disrupting subway operations, forcibly turning "going on strike" into "creating a strike." The rioters hyped up the "three strikes" with a false impression.
• Radicals losing ground in Hong Kong: analyst Global Times 06 Aug 2019 -- As tensions simmer in Hong Kong, many residents said they were expecting life to return to normal and hoped the government and the police, who are under extreme pressure, can fulfill their duty to bring violent criminals to justice.
• Chief executive: It's time for HK to bring back order, say no to violence People's Daily 06 Aug 2019 -- Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Hong Kong's chief executive, said on Monday that protesters' sustained acts of disruption are pushing "our city, the city we all love and many helped to build, to the verge of a dangerous situation".
• China warns Hong Kong protesters not to 'play with fire' Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- China has sternly warned protesters in Hong Kong not to "play with fire" or mistake Beijing's restraint for weakness, saying "dirty forces" are behind the weeks-long unrest plaguing the international financial hub.
• China says US officials must stop colluding with Hong Kong separatists Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- China has warned US officials against "colluding" with separatist protesters in Hong Kong, emphasizing that the city belongs to China and that Beijing will respond strongly to any moves challenging its sovereignty.
• Interview: Why China Won't Deploy Its Army in Hong Kong Before National Day Radio Free Asia 06 Aug 2019 -- Veteran journalist and political commentator Willy Lam spoke to RFA's Cantonese Service on Tuesday about why the ruling Chinese Communist Party hasn't cracked down on Hong Kong yet, in spite of escalating protests against amendments to the city's extradition law that could see alleged criminal suspects sent to face trial in mainland Chinese courts:
• 'Currency manipulator' label of US groundless: analysts Global Times 06 Aug 2019 -- Following US President Donald Trump's series actions which are leading to global trade and financial chaos, the US Treasury moved to name China a "currency manipulator" on Monday, which was denounced by China's central bank and Chinese economists as groundless and self-destructing.
• US Treasury Department Designates China As Currency Manipulator Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- United States Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin announced Monday that the US has designated China as a "currency manipulator."
• Taiwan People's Party formed by Taipei mayor CNA 06 Aug 2019 -- The Taiwan People's Party (TPP), initiated by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), was established Tuesday, with Ko elected its founding chairman.
• Florida Man Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 20 Years in Prison for Mailing 16 Improvised Explosive Devices in Connection with October 2018 Domestic Terrorist Attack US Dept. of Justice 06 Aug 2019 -- Cesar Altieri Sayoc was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison in connection with his mailing of 16 improvised explosive devices to victims across the country. SAYOC pled guilty to a 65-count Superseding Information on March 21, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who also imposed today's sentence.
• Saudi crown prince pursuing plan to target Turkey, weaken Erdogan: UAE document Press TV 06 Aug 2019 -- A leaked UAE intelligence document shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pursuing a "strategic plan" aimed at weakening the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has adopted a tough position against Riyadh over the state-sponsored assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• Has Anyone Seen The Turkmen President Lately? RFE/RL 06 Aug 2019 -- The big news from Turkmenistan in the last few weeks has been that the country's mercurial president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, has been absent from the news for large periods of time.
• Duterte Calls US 'Responsible' for Driving Philippines in China's 'Waiting Arms' Sputnik 06 Aug 2019 -- The Philippines has hit out at the US for treating it as 'bait' in a spat over disputed islands in the South China Sea despite the fact that President Duterte previously ignored a international court ruling that rejected China's claims to the area, a move that earned Manila financial promises from Beijing.