31 October 2019 Military News

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Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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Current Operations

Pentagon Holds Briefing on Baghdadi Raid, Releases Surveillance Footage Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- US military officials revealed on Wednesday the details, including photos and videos, of the special forces operation that killed Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi earlier this week.

US Forces Conduct Patrol on Syria-Turkey Border for First Time Since Decision to Withdraw - Reports Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- Earlier in October, US President Donald Trump said that American troops had begun pulling out from northern Syria. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper later said that Washington would withdraw another 1,000 troops from Syria.
About 900 US Servicemen May Stay in Syria After Pull Out From Country - Reports Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- About 900 US servicemen may stay in Syria after US troops withdrawal from the country and after new deployments are done, The New York Times reported, citing sources.

101st brigade returns from ISIS fight after helping build up Iraqi Army Army News 31 Oct 2019 -- The commander of an infantry brigade that backed Iraqi forces in ridding the country of the ISIS caliphate remains optimistic on the future of the Iraqi Army as it continues to rebuild.

Sources: US Envoy Returns to Afghanistan, Discusses Prisoner Swap VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Chief U.S. peace negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad is back in Afghanistan and held fresh meetings with Afghan leaders on the fate of two Western hostages held by the Taliban and efforts aimed at restarting stalled peace talks with the insurgent group, sources said.
Taliban Attacks Getting More Effective, SIGAR Says VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Attacks carried out by Taliban and other insurgent groups in Afghanistan were twice as effective in the third quarter of 2019 than they were earlier in the year, according to a leading oversight authority on Afghanistan that reports to the United States Congress.
CIA-Trained 'Death Squads' Behind Afghan War Crimes, Says Rights Group RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary forces have "committed summary executions and other grave abuses without accountability" -- including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and attacks on health-care facilities.
HRW says CIA-backed Afghan forces carry out 'grave' rights abuses Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- CIA-backed security units in Afghanistan are committing "war crimes" and other "grave" rights abuses with impunity, according to a damning report by Human Rights Watch.
CIA-Backed Afghan 'Death Squads' Behind 'War Crimes', Targeted Civilians - Report Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- Similar allegations about strike groups supported by "international military forces" and acting "with impunity, outside of the governmental chain of command" were brought up by a UN report earlier this year.

Defense Policy / Programs

Jordan, U.S. launch Decisive Spear Army News 31 Oct 2019 -- U.S. Army Soldiers, with 115th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB), Wyoming Army National Guard (WYARNG), gathered alongside Jordan Armed Forces-Arab army (JAF) Soldiers for a ceremony that formally commenced the joint training exercise Decisive Spear at Joint Training Center-Jordan October 31.
DOD Names First Bases to Host Initial 5G Testing and Experimentation DoD 31 Oct 2019 -- The Department of Defense has selected Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Naval Base San Diego, California; and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia as the first U.S. military installations to host testing and experimentation for 5G technology.
Remarks by Secretary Esper and Australian Defence Minister Reynolds Following Bilateral Engagement at the Pentagon DoD 31 Oct 2019 -- Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper; Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds
Marines Embark Merchant Vessel to Provide Security in Strait of Hormuz Transit NNS 31 Oct 2019 -- Marines and Sailors deployed with Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Central Command (FASTCENT) Company, assigned to Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5th MEB), embarked on a Military Sealift Command time chartered vessel in the Arabian Gulf to provide security during a Strait of Hormuz transit Oct. 21.
Losing Technology to Competitors Threatens Force Lethality DoD News 31 Oct 2019 -- The loss of technology to strategic competitors has a direct effect on the joint force's lethality, the director of the Defense Department's Protecting Critical Technology Task Force said.
2nd MLG conducts TCAT 20.1 with U.S. Navy USMC News 31 Oct 2019 -- U.S. Marines and Sailors with 8th Engineer Support Battalion and 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, executed Type Commander Amphibious Training 20.1 on Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 21-26, 2019.
USS Donald Cook Visits Faroe Islands NNS 31 Oct 2019 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived in Faroe Islands, Denmark, Oct. 10, 2019.
Keel Laid for First-in-Class T-ATS NNS 31 Oct 2019 -- Gulf Island Shipyard held a keel laying ceremony Oct. 30 for the future USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), the lead ship of the Navy's new class of Towing, Salvage, and Rescue vessels. The ceremony was held at the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center in Houma, Louisiana.
US forces untrained aginst Russian, Chinese militaries Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- American military forces have mostly forgotten all of the training they received for electronic warfare and are therefore not prepared at all to confront their Russian and Chinese peers in case a conflict breaks out, a report states, amid increasing speculation that Moscow and Beijing are overtaking Washington in terms of military prowess.
'Ill-Equipped' US Military Unprepared For Two-Front War - Report Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- According to the Heritage Foundation's annual report card on US military readiness, the armed forces just barely got a passing grade. The conservative think tank wants more units, and more modern equipment, across the board, in order to better prepare for a two-front war.

NATO ships test next generation of electronic warfare defences NATO 31 Oct 2019 -- Thirteen NATO countries are taking part in simulated air and missile defence drills off the United Kingdom's southern coast from Thursday (31 October 2019). The 6-day Naval Electro Magnetic Operations – or "NEMO" – trials will test how allied navies can defend themselves against anti-ship cruise and hypersonic missiles using state-of-the-art electronic defences.

Statement of the NATO-Ukraine Commission NATO 31 Oct 2019 -- "The NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) met in Kyiv today in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to discuss the security situation in and around Ukraine, the reform process within the country, as well as progress in the NATO-Ukraine partnership."
NATO-Ukraine Commission meets in Kyiv, addresses security in eastern Ukraine NATO 31 Oct 2019 -- The NATO-Ukraine Commission met in Kyiv on Thursday (31 October 2019) to address the security situation in eastern Ukraine, the country's reform process, and progress in the NATO-Ukraine partnership.
Speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to the Parliament of Ukraine NATO 31 Oct 2019
Hungary Vetoes NATO Statement On Ukraine Over Kyiv's Education, Language Laws RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Hungarian officials have vetoed a joint NATO statement about Ukraine because it didn't contain language criticizing Kyiv for its education and language laws that Budapest says deprive the rights of the Hungarian minority in the neighboring country.

DPRK fires 2 unidentified projectiles towards East Sea: S.Korea People's Daily 31 Oct 2019 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired off two unidentified projectiles towards the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday.
North Korea fires two unidentified projectiles towards East Sea: South military Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- North Korea has launched two "unidentified projectiles" toward the Sea of Japan, the South Korean military says, an apparent resumption of weapons tests amid stalled nuclear talks with the United States.
North Korea Launches Unidentified Projectile Toward Sea of Japan - Seoul Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- The news comes after Pyongyang stated it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile earlier in the month, warning that any possible aggression against North Korea would be deflected.
North Korea Fires More Projectiles After Warning of Deadline VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- North Korea has fired two short-range projectiles – likely ballistic missiles – toward the sea off its east coast, South Korea and Japan reported Thursday, the 12th such launch by the country this year.

Iran's Volunteer Forces Begin War Games in Mountainous Western Province - Reports Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- Iran's Basij Volunteer Forces have begun a large-scale two-day military war game in the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan, the Mehr News Agency reported.

Cabinet passes special budget for F-16 purchase CNA 31 Oct 2019 -- Taiwan's Cabinet passed a NT$246.7 billion (US$8.04 billion) special budget Thursday to be spent on the purchase of a new fleet of F-16 fighter jets from the United States amid the rising threat from China.

First Poseidon aircraft delivered to the RAF UK MOD 31 Oct 2019 -- The first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) has been delivered to the Royal Air Force.

Defense Industry

Contracts For Oct. 31, 2019

Other Conflicts

31 October 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 31 Oct 2019

Death toll in Saudi war on Yemen hits 100,000: Report Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- The Saudi-led war on Yemen has killed more than 100,000 people since 2015, a US-based database project that tracks violence has said.
Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) issues statement SPA 31 Oct 2019 -- Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) issued a statement regarding allegation that Coalition forces targeted (Souq Al-Thabet) in the directorate of (Qatabir) in (Sa'ada) governorate on (29/07/2019)

Supporters Begin Flocking to New Islamic State Leader VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Some Islamic State supporters are starting to rally around the terror group's new leader, using social media to pledge their allegiance to a man whose true identity may not be known for some time.
IS Confirms Death of Its Leader VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Islamic State has confirmed the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, days after President Donald Trump announced the terrorist leader was killed during a U.S. military raid in Syria.
Islamic State Names New Leader After Baghdadi's Death RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- The Islamic State (IS) extremist group has confirmed the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and named his successor.
Daesh Confirms Death of al-Baghdadi Following US Raid, Names Successor - Reports Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- On 27 October, US President Donald Trump announced that Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed in a raid executed by US Special Operations Forces in Syria's Idlib province.

Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the Small Group on Syria US Dept. of State 31 Oct 2019 -- The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America welcome the launch of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva on October 30, 2019.
Many Syrian Refugees in Turkey Want to Stay, Despite Erdogan Plan to Force Their Return VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's plan to return up to 2 million refugees to Syria is increasingly in question. With refugees carving out a new life for themselves in Turkey, many may be reluctant to return, while rights groups warn of forced deportations.
Minister: Turkey, Russia Negotiating Return of 18 Captured Syrian Soldiers VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Thursday said his country is negotiating with Russia to return 18 people believed to be Syrian government troops.
Syria urges Kurdish-led SDF to join national army in face of Turkish aggression Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- Syria has called on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to join the ranks of the national armed forces and help defend the country against the Turkish aggression.

Path to rule of law begins as Syria constitutional committee meets: Zarif Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- Iran's foreign minister has hailed the first meeting of Syria's constitutional committee in Geneva, describing it as the beginning of a "path to the rule of law" in the Arab country following over eight years of war.
Syria's groundbreaking constitutional talks: 'a clear success of mediation' says Guterres in Turkey UN News 31 Oct 2019 -- Mediation is "one of our most important tools to reduce and end conflict", United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the sixth Istanbul Mediation Conference, in the Turkish capital on Thursday.

NATO Chief Demands Russia Get Out Of Eastern Ukraine, Stop Supporting Separatists RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has demanded that Russia end its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and called on it to withdraw all Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
Senior U.S. Diplomat Calls Russia 'Malign Influence' That 'Occupied Ukraine' RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker says the citizens of both Russia and Ukraine are "paying a price" for Russia's "malign influence."

Violations, Violence and Repression Remain Rampant in Indian-Administered Kashmir: UN VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- The U.N. human rights office has denounced what it calls the ongoing repression in Indian-administered Kashmir and is urging the government to restore the rights stripped from the region's millions of Muslim inhabitants in August.
Peace Elusive as Kashmir Loses Special Status VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Indian Kashmir officially became a federally ruled territory Thursday, nearly three months after New Delhi stripped its decades-old special status, but peace remains elusive in the Himalayan region that has been wracked by a violent separatist insurgency and is the flashpoint of its dispute with Pakistan.
India formally divides Kashmir to tighten grip over Muslim-majority region Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- India has formally divided the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir into two new federally-administered territories, aiming to tighten its grip on the restive Himalayan valley.
India Raises Aksai Chin Issue as China Calls Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation 'Unlawful, Void' Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- Aksai Chin is a sparsely populated area about the size of Switzerland under Chinese jurisdiction. Pakistan handed control over a part of it, measuring 5,180 sq km, to China in 1963, prompting criticism from India, who blasted it as an illegal act.
Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir Divided Into Two Territories Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- In a surprise move in early August, India abrogated Articles 370 and 35A, "temporary" provisions in the Constitution to strip the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and divided it into two federally administered territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Lebanon's Hezbollah scares away intruding Israeli drone Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah has repelled an intruding Israeli drone near the country's southern town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanese media report.

Three Villagers Escape From Myanmar Army Days After Rakhine Fighters Hijack Ferry Radio Free Asia 31 Oct 2019 -- Three villagers detained by Myanmar forces immediately following a weekend raid to free captives taken from a passenger ferry hijacked by the rebel Arakan Army in strife-torn Rakhine state escaped Wednesday while being held for interrogation in Rathedaung township, relatives of two of the men said Thursday.
Fallow Fields, Empty Tourist Attractions as Conflict Takes Toll on Economy of Myanmar's Rakhine State Radio Free Asia 31 Oct 2019 -- The Myanmar military's heavy-handed war on Arakan Army (AA) rebels across northern Rakhine state and in neighboring Chin state's remote Paletwa region has lasted for 10 months without either side defeating the other, but has resulted in significant economic damage to local residents.

Tensions Growing Between Israel and Jordan VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Despite marking 25 years of a peace treaty, there are growing tensions between Israel and its neighbor Jordan. Israeli officials have long said the peace treaty with Jordan, and the intelligence cooperation that followed, was one of the country's most significant foreign policy successes.

Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Sudan The White House 31 Oct 2019
Presidential Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Sudan The White House 31 Oct 2019

News Reports

Statement from the Press Secretary The White House 31 Oct 2019
Statement from the Press Secretary The White House 31 Oct 2019
US House Votes to Formally Open Impeachment Inquiry Targeting Trump VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to authorize a public impeachment inquiry targeting President Donald Trump after weeks of testimony behind closed doors about his efforts to push Ukraine to investigate his political opponents.
US House Passes Resolution on Impeachment Process VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution Thursday formally setting out the process by which committees will continue carrying out the inquiry into whether President Donald Trump should face impeachment.
US House votes to formalize Trump's impeachment inquiry Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to formally proceed with the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, ushering in a new phase of the investigation that poses the greatest threat to Trump's presidency to date.
U.S. Congress Votes To Set Up Next Steps In Trump Impeachment Inquiry RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure that sets up the next steps in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
Trump Impeachment Probe Hears More Evidence As Congress Set To Formalize Proceedings RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- The full U.S. House of Representatives will vote on October 31 to formalize impeachment inquiry proceedings as a second currently serving White House official is expected to testify before congressional panels that are looking into whether President Donald Trump committed impeachable offenses.
Trump National Security Council Aide to Resign From Post Ahead of Impeachment Testimony Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- Tim Morrison, the National Security Council's Russia and Europe director, is expected to resign before his scheduled testimony with investigators in ongoing impeachment inquiry against US President Donald Trump, according to reports revealed Wednesday.
US House Approves Resolution Outlining Impeachment Procedures Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- The Democrat-led US House of Representatives voted largely along party lines on Thursday to approve a set of ground rules for their impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian President Says Nord Stream 2 'Strengthens Russia' RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has used Denmark's approval for a controversial pipeline to pump more Russian gas into Europe as an occasion to reiterate Kyiv's position that the project "strengthens Russia and weakens Europe."
US Looks to Block Nord Stream 2 as Denmark Permits Route for Pipeline VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- The United States says it is still looking for ways to block a proposed natural gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany, after the Danish government this week cleared away one of the last legal obstacles to the project, known as Nord Stream 2.

Former CIA Chief Brennan Says Russia Changed Minds Of Voters In 2016 Presidential Election RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan took findings from his country's intelligence agencies a step further by saying that at least one voter was persuaded as a result of Russia's 2016 presidential election interference machinations, but refrained from concluding that the operation influenced the vote's outcome.

Facebook Moves to Curb Russian Interference in African Politics VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- This week's takedown of Facebook and Instagram accounts that were used to interfere with African political affairs has provided new insight into the extent to which a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is engaged in the continent, analysts say.

Iran ready for cooperation with IAEA based on mutual respect IRNA 31 Oct 2019 -- Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday Iran's readiness to preserve and promote constructive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) based on goodwill, mutual respect, impartiality, and professional accuracy.
Iran hopes new IAEA chief will act 'impartially', 'professionally' Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- Iran says it will keep up cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under Rafael Grossi, expressing hope that the UN nuclear watchdog's new chief will act "partially" and "professionally."
US to renew waivers allowing nuclear cooperation with Iran again: Report Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- The United States will once again waive its sanctions on nuclear cooperation with Iran, allowing Russian, Chinese, and European companies to continue their work at Iranian nuclear facilities, a says.

Male Chinese 'Relatives' Assigned to Uyghur Homes Co-sleep With Female 'Hosts' Radio Free Asia 31 Oct 2019 -- Male Han Chinese "relatives" assigned to monitor the homes of Uyghur families in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) regularly sleep in the same beds as the wives of men detained in the region's internment camps, according to sources who have overseen the forced stayovers.
Tear Gas Mars Hong Kong Halloween As Recession Haunts Economy Radio Free Asia 31 Oct 2019 -- Police used tear gas and pepper spray to clear revelers from the streets of downtown Hong Kong on Thursday night after thousands marched in a Halloween "masquerade" in spite of widespread closures of public transportation as months of protests tipped the city's economy into recession.
China's Party Plenum Gets Behind President at 'Complicated' Time Radio Free Asia 31 Oct 2019 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party on Thursday wrapped up a top-level meeting of its Central Committee with a statement praising the leadership of President Xi Jinping at a "complicated" time at home and overseas.
Fourth plenary session of the CPC Central Committee passes document to improve socialist system and to modernize governance Global Times 31 Oct 2019 -- The 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded its fourth plenary session in Beijing on Thursday with the release of a communiqué, which comprehensively covered different issues and fields, while China experts said that China has the confidence to overcome severe challenges from inside and outside by improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.
Party meeting focuses on better economic governance People's Daily 31 Oct 2019 -- China is likely to see breakthroughs in improving its business environment and the rule of law in economic fields to better unleash the country's growth potential and ensure high-quality development as the central leadership discusses governance systems and capacity at an ongoing Party meeting in Beijing, experts said.
Mainland can help HK get over technical recession: experts Global Times 31 Oct 2019 -- Hong Kong has fallen into a technical recession as its third quarter GDP in real terms decreased by 2.9 percent year-on-year and by 3.2 percent compared with the second quarter, a situation that Chinese experts said could be addressed through restoring order and engaging in more cooperation with the mainland.
Hong Kong Protesters Challenge New Face Mask Ban in Halloween Rally VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Hong Kong Police fired tear gas Thursday on masked pro-democracy protesters and Halloween revelers in the territory's nightlife district.

India's Biggest Nuclear Power Project Was Cyber-Attacked, Gov't Body Admits, Day After Denying It Sputnik 31 Oct 2019 -- he Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu had said earlier that a cyber-attack on its systems was impossible, despite Twitter being abuzz with speculation of a spy virus infiltration.

Iraqi president says premier ready to quit, vows early poll after new election law passed Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- Iraqi President Barham Salih says the country's embattled Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi is ready to step down if a replacement is found, emphasizing that a snap parliamentary election will be held once a new electoral law is passed.

Islamabad Braces For 'Freedom March' Demanding Government's Resignation RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Pakistani authorities have tightened security across Islamabad as thousands of anti-government demonstrators converge on the capital from across the country to demand that Prime Minister Imran Khan's government step down.

Trump Accused of Attempting to Interfere in British Election VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Accusations of attempted interference in a foreign election are being leveled at U.S. President Donald Trump after he phoned into a British radio station Thursday.

Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Bill Criminalizing Illicit Enrichment RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Ukraine's parliament has approved President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's bill that criminally punishes state officials for illegally enriching themselves.
Ukraine Vows To Protect Minority Rights Amid Spat With Hungary RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- In a joint statement with NATO, Ukraine vowed to respect minority rights and implement a set of recommendations regarding an education law that Hungary opposes.
Ukraine's State Gas Company, Struggling To Reform, Is Pulled Into U.S. Impeachment Politics RFE/RL 31 Oct 2019 -- Not long ago, Ukraine's state-run natural-gas company was considered a monopolistic cesspool of corruption, "the poster child of inefficient and nontransparent state monopolies bearing high credit risks," as one think-tank report put it in 2010.

US intervention root cause of crisis in Lebanon: Hezbollah parliamentary bloc Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- The parliamentary bloc of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says US intervention in the Lebanon is the root cause of the ongoing political crisis in the West Asian country.
Signs of normalcy returning to Lebanon as army clears protester roadblocks Press TV 31 Oct 2019 -- Lebanese soldiers and riot police have reopened a major highway north of Beirut and a bridge in the capital that had been closed since the beginning of anti-government protests two weeks ago.
Roadblocks Continue in Lebanon as Protesters Demand Political Change VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- Lebanese citizens demanding political change are maintaining their roadblocks across the tiny Mediterranean country, only allowing security and medical personnel through, as the demonstrations entered a third week.

A Left Labour Gov't Would Weaken Imperialism, Work for Peace TeleSUR 31 Oct 2019 -- A left Labour government, led by Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and John McDonnell, would constitute an unprecedented opportunity for the anti-war and anti-imperialist movements. It would put our ideas at the heart of government, and in so doing could start to turn Britain into a force for peace and justice in the world.

On the Cancellation of APEC Leaders' Week Meetings and COP25 in Chile US Dept. of State 31 Oct 2019
Briefing with Senior State Department Official on Argentina and Chile US Dept. of State 31 Oct 2019 -- Special Briefing

Malawi Political Standoff Shows No Sign of Abating VOA 31 Oct 2019 -- The political impasse in Malawi stemming from disputed May elections shows no sign of ending. President Peter Mutharika has offered to negotiate with the opposition, but opposition parties say the president is illegitimate and should step aside. Political tensions started rising in May when opposition leaders rejected election results that showed President Peter Mutharika winning a second term.

Opposition Leader Says Will Give up 'Freedom and Even my Life' For Cambodia Democracy Radio Free Asia 31 Oct 2019 -- Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday he was ready to go to jail or die for the cause of restoring democracy in Cambodia, vowing to return home on Nov. 9 in the face of threats by "brutal dictator" Hun Sen.

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