13 November 2019 Military News

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Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
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Current Operations

US to Keep Control Over Oil Fields in Syria - Trump Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- The United States intends to retain control over the oil fields in Syria's northeast, despite scaling down its military presence in the area, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.
US Military Convoy Arrives in Oil-Rich Areas in Northeastern Syria - Reports Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- A US military convoy consisting of 22 military vehicles and two trucks have crossed the Syrian-Iraqi border and positioned itself near several oil deposits in northeastern Syria, the Al-Ikhbariya broadcaster reported.

Car Bomb Kills 12 in Afghan Capital, Kabul VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- A car bomb explosion in the Afghan capital of Kabul Wednesday killed at least 12 people and wounded about 20 others, including children.
Car Bomb Explodes In Afghan Capital, Killing At Least 12 RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- At least 12 people were killed and 20 others wounded when a car bomb detonated during the morning rush hour in the Afghan capital, officials said.
Results Of Afghan Presidential Vote Delayed Again RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- At least 12 people were killed and 20 others wounded when a car bomb detonated during the morning rush hour in the Afghan capital, officials said.
At least 7 killed in explosion in Afghanistan's Kabul: official People's Daily 13 Nov 2019 -- A large explosion ripped through a busy road in Qasaba neighborhood of Afghan capital of Kabul during morning rush hour on Wednesday, leaving casualties and destruction, an Interior Ministry official said.
Afghanistan postpones election results once more Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- Afghanistan has once again postponed announcement of the preliminary results from the presidential election that were due on November 14.
Car bomb hits Kabul during morning rush hour Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- A car bomb has exploded during the busy morning rush hour in the Afghan capital city, Kabul, killing at least seven people.

Defense Policy / Programs

U.S. warship sails through Taiwan Strait, ninth this year CNA 13 Nov 2019 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed Wednesday that a United States warship recently sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the ninth such transit in 2019.
US provokes China with Taiwan Straits transit, pressures trade talks: expert Global Times 23 Nov 2019 -- China's solid-fueled KuaiZhou-1A (KZ-1A) Y11 carrier rocket blasted off at 11:40 am on Wednesday and successfully sent the Jilin-1 Gaofen 02A satellite into planned orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province.
US Warship Sails Through Taiwan Strait for First Time Since September Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- The USS Chancellorsville, a guided-missile cruiser, has transited the Taiwan Strait between China and the island of Taiwan.
Loose Cargo Locks on US Air Force's New Pegasus Tanker Could Take 'Months' to Fix Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- The plane the US Air Force hopes will soon become its aerial refueler of the future, the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, has encountered its fourth major problem prior to entering service. Boeing promises that the tendency of cargo to come loose and slide around will be fixed within "months."
Defense, industry partners plan for future multi-domain conflicts US Air Force 13 Nov 2019 -- The U.S. military finds itself at a flashpoint, shifting from a period focused overwhelmingly on violent extremism to state competition.
International force comes together for mine countermeasures training as part of IMX CENTCOM 13 Nov 2019 -- At any one time, thousands of commercial and military vessels occupy the tense waters and strategic choke points spanning from the Suez Canal to the Bab-al-Mandeb, through the Strait of Hormuz and into the North Arabian Gulf. For these mariners, what is unseen is often as dangerous as what is seen.
Secretary of Defense Esper Press Gaggle En Route to INDOPACOM DoD 13 Nov 2019 -- Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper
DOD Expects Significant Progress on Critical F-35 System DoD News 13 Nov 2019 -- Nearly 460 F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft have been delivered to military organizations around the world – including the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as to a handful of partner nations. But a critical component of the F-35 program, the Autonomic Logistics Information System, or ALIS, has proven less stellar than the aircraft itself. Defense Department officials say that's going to change soon.
Pentagon Says None F-35 Aircraft 3 Variants Meet Reliability, Maintainability Metrics Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- All three variants of the F-35 fighter jet fleet do not fulfill the set metrics regarding the aircraft's reliability or maintainability, Defence Department Operational Test and Evaluation Director Robert Behler said in congressional testimony on Wednesday.
Pentagon Faces Sustainment Challenges for F-35 Jet Fleet - Gov't Accountability Office Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- The US Department of Defence (DOD) is facing challenges in sustaining the F-35 fighter jet fleet due to a shortage of parts and the poor performance of the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) system, the Government Accountability Office said in a report.
Socom Preps for Fast-Paced Technological Change DoD News 13 Nov 2019 -- Technology is disrupting the business environment and government, and it will soon disrupt U.S. Special Operations Command and the rest of the Defense Department.
Milley Describes Indo-Pacific Region as U.S. Military's 'Main Effort' DoD News 13 Nov 2019 -- The U.S. military capabilities allotted to the region illustrate that the Indo-Pacific is the focus of the U.S. military's main effort, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in Tokyo.
DOD Focuses on China's Growing Military Capability DoD News 13 Nov 2019 -- The Defense Department is keenly focused on China and its growing projection of power, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for China said.
USS Detroit Underway, Forward Deployed NNS 13 Nov 2019 -- USS Detroit (LCS 7) completed a major milestone when it got underway as scheduled Oct. 31, becoming the first Freedom-variant block-buy East Coast littoral combat ship (LCS) deployer.
USS Truman Ready for Deployment as Other Five East Coast Carriers Remain Docked Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- After several months of electrical maintenance, the US Navy has announced repairs on the aging USS Harry S. Truman have concluded, and the carrier is expected to make a return to the seas.
Despite Multiple Redesigns, US Osprey Aircraft Engines Still Troubled by Debris Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- A US Defense Department Inspector General report released Tuesday reveals that the vacuum filtration system used to protect the engines of the US military's V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft has once again failed to keep them free of dirt and debris, particularly in desert conditions.
US Air Force on the Hunt for 'Arsenal Plane' to Carry Hypersonic Weapons Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Rather than develop a new bomber to serve as its "missileer" of the future, the US Air Force is exploring how to turn one of its present aircraft into a long-range missile platform.

Taiwan receives draft LOA on tank sale from U.S.: MND CNA 13 Nov 2019 -- Taiwan has received a draft letter of offer and acceptance (LOA), a contract between the United States military and a foreign customer, detailing an offer from the Pentagon to sell more than 100 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday.

China hosts largest land-based ADMM-Plus joint counter-terrorism drill Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- A joint counter-terrorism exercise with 10 ASEAN members and eight dialogue partners including China, US, Russia, and India kicked off Wednesday in Guilin, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Military officers said the drill will boost joint efforts to address looming terrorist threats in Southeast Asia and neighboring regions.

Germany Heading Toward New Arms Exports Record Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Germany could break the defence export record it set four years ago when it sold $8.7 billion worth of weapons, according to the data shared by the Economy Ministry at a parliamentary request.

Indian Army to Use 'All-Weather' Robots for Munitions Delivery to Avoid Human Casualties in Kashmir Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Amid several incidents of casualties among troops during counter-terror operations, the Indian Army has decided to use robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help hundreds of thousands of soldiers deployed in restive areas of Kashmir.

200 UK troops deploy to support flood relief UK MOD 13 Nov 2019 -- Two hundred UK Armed Forces personnel have deployed this morning to South Yorkshire to support flood relief efforts.

Defense Industry

Contracts For Nov. 13, 2019

Other Conflicts

13 November 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Nov 2019

Vietnam Advances Plan to Protect Disputed Maritime Claims with Stronger Fishing Fleet VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Vietnamese boats fish so far outside their territorial waters that authorities in Malaysia and the Philippines sometimes spot them. Now Vietnamese state agencies are falling in line behind a long-term blueprint that analysts say would increase use of their country's fishing fleet to assert sovereignty over the South China Sea that is contested by five other governments.

Turkey Captures Top Daesh Militant During Operation in Northern Syria - Defence Minister Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Turkish Defence Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Wednesday that a top Daesh militant had been captured during Ankara's operation in northern Syria.

Iran strongly condemns Israeli assassination of Palestinian commander ISNA 13 Nov 2019 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has strongly condemned the Israeli regime's terrorist attack on Gaza Strip and the assassination of an Islamic Jihad commander.
Netanyahu Pledges 'More and More Blows' in Clash With Palestinian Militants VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that while Israel does not want escalation in the latest clashes with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, it will "respond to every attack."
Fighting Between Israel, Islamic Jihad Continues for Second Day VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Israel continued Wednesday to strike targets in Gaza affiliated with Islamic Jihad, and Islamic Jihad continued to fire rockets into Israel – more than 300 over the past two days.
Palestinian fighters vow integrated defense Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- Hamas promises an integrated defense by the group and all its fellow resistance factions against all instances of Israeli aggression amid ramped-up military operations by Tel Aviv that have followed the regime's assassination of a senior resistance commander.
Gaza Flare-up Day Two: Fresh Israeli airstrikes prompt rocket fire Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- Eight more Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli military renews its air raids against the besieged coastal enclave for a second day, prompting retaliatory rocket fire into the occupied territories.
'No justification' for attacks against civilians, UN envoy says on mounting cross-border violence in Gaza UN News 13 Nov 2019 -- Following Israel's targeted killing of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader inside Gaza on Tuesday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has expressed his growing concern over increasing rocket fire across the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

On South Sudan's Failure to Form a Unity Government by November 12 US Dept. of State 13 Nov 2019
US to Re-evaluate' Relationship With South Sudan VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- The United States says it will "re-evaluate" its relationship with South Sudan after the country's leaders failed to form a transitional unity government by Tuesday's deadline.

News Reports

Republicans Defend Trump in Public Impeachment Hearings VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Republicans contended Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump did not improperly pressure Ukraine to investigate political rivals for political advantage, with Representative Devin Nunes declaring the accusations were based on "zero evidence" and that Democrats "made it up."
US Diplomat: Trump Took Direct Interest in Whether Ukraine Would Open Biden Probe VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump took a direct interest in whether Ukraine would open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden while Trump was withholding vital military aid from Kyiv, the top American diplomat in Ukraine told the impeachment inquiry on Wednesday.
3 Witnesses Kick Off First Week of Historic Impeachment Hearings VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- The U.S. House of Representatives holds its first public hearings this week on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump with testimony by three top diplomats on Wednesday and Friday.
Historic Trump Impeachment Hearings Begin VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Historic impeachment hearings targeting U.S. President Donald Trump are opening Wednesday in Washington, with lawmakers faced with the question of whether he abused his office to help himself politically.
US House holds first public hearing in Trump impeachment probe Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- The impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump's actions toward Ukraine has reached a crucial point as Democratic Party lawmakers launch their first televised public hearings in Congress as they investigate if the Republican president made an impeachable offense.
Impeachment Inquiry Hears Trump 'Cared More' About Biden Probe Than Ukraine RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- The U.S. ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, reportedly said President Donald Trump was more interested in the investigation of his political rivals than in Ukraine policy, the U.S. envoy to Kyiv testified during an impeachment hearing.

Congratulations to Bolivian Senator Anez for Assuming the Role of Interim President US Dept. of State 13 Nov 2019
Violence Flares Anew in Bolivia Amid Political Turmoil VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- New clashes erupted in the Bolivian capital Wednesday even as the self-declared interim president called for quick elections after former President Evo Morales resigned and fled the country.
Bolivia calls for session to address President Morales' resignation People's Daily 13 Nov 2019 -- Bolivian Senate's Second Vice President Jeanine Anez called here on Tuesday for an extraordinary session of the Legislative Assembly at 16:00 local time (2000 GMT) to address the resignation of President Evo Morales.
Fears of civil war in Bolivia as US welcomes power grab Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- Bolivia is teetering on the brink of a civil war following violent protests which forced President Evo Morales to step down in order to avoid bloodshed.
Bolivia's Interim President Says She Plans to Ban Unlimited Re-Election of Country's Leaders Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Bolivia's Interim President Jeanine Anez said on Wednesday that she intended to annul the decision of the constitutional court allowing unlimited re-election for the country's leaders in an apparent move to ban ex-president Evo Morales to take part in upcoming elections.
Bolivian Military Pledges Support for Interim President Anez After Morales' Resignation Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Bolivian armed forces have declared support for the opposition senator Jeanine Anez, who assumed presidential powers following the resignation of former leader Evo Morales, and announced their readiness to cooperate with her, Armed Forces Commander Williams Kaliman said on Wednesday.
Moscow Calls on 'External Players' Not to Take Advantage of Bolivia Crisis Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- The situation in Bolivia remains tense since longtime President Evo Morales stepped down on Sunday, amid violent mass rallies and later left the country.
Bolivia's Foreign Minister Pary Resigns Amid Power Transfer - Reports Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Bolivia's Foreign Minister Diego Pary has resigned, local media reported amid a power transition in the country that followed the resignation of President Evo Morales.
Bolivian Senate Opposition Leader Jeanine Añez Declares Herself Interim President Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Bolivia's Second Vice Speaker of the Senate Jeanine Añez announced Tuesday that she will serve as interim president in light of the recent resignation of ousted President Evo Morales.

'Harmonized' plan launched to support millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants UN News 13 Nov 2019 -- A $1.35 billion appeal has been launched to meet the increasing humanitarian needs of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support the communities hosting them.
Spain Seeks Former Venezuelan Spy Chief VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Spanish police chiefs confirmed Wednesday that they are hunting for Venezuela's former military intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal, who went missing this week shortly after a Spanish court approved a U.S. extradition request for the onetime spy boss on drug trafficking charges.

Navalny's Foundation Alleges Posh Property Abroad Belongs To Moscow Prosecutor's Family RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- The Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), Russian opposition politician and blogger Aleksei Navalny's activist group, says it has found documentation showing luxury properties worth more than 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) belonging to the family of the Moscow State Prosecutor Denis Popov, raising questions over how such valuable real estate purchases were funded.
Moscow Accuses U.S. Of 'Hunting' Russians After Israel Extradites Suspected Hacker RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- The Russian Embassy in Washington says it has lodged a formal diplomatic protest after Israel extradited a Russian national to the United States, where he is suspected of stealing more than $20 million from U.S. consumers through credit card fraud.

British Refusal to Publish Russia Report Fuels Suspicions of Kremlin Links VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- The British government is refusing to publish a report examining Russian interference in its democratic process, despite widespread calls for its release before the December general election. The move is fueling suspicions that the details could be damaging for the ruling Conservative party.

Statement of Spokesman for DPRK State Affairs Commission KCNA 13 Nov 2019 -- A spokesman for the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released the following statement on Wednesday:
North Korea warns of reprisal against US-South Korea military exercises Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- North Korea has threatened to retaliate amid planned military drills between the United States and South Korea that comes at a time of Pyongyang's stalled denuclearization talks with Washington.
North Korea Issues New National ID Cards to Rural Residents Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- A North Korean initiative to issue a new type of national ID card every citizen has been restarted this month in rural areas of the country, raising fears that the campaign is really a way for authorities to discover people who have fled the country.
US-North Korean Officials Meet at Moscow Nonproliferation Conference VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- U.S. and North Korean officials held a meeting at a nonproliferation conference in Moscow, a former U.S. official who attended the conference told VOA's Korean Service, as the denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington remain deadlocked.
North Korea Out of 'Patience' with Washington VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- North Korea intensified its demand Wednesday that the United States take steps by the end of this year to normalize relations, saying it is out of patience with Washington.

UN urges US to abide by ICJ order to lift sanctions on Iran IRNA 13 Nov 2019 -- The United Nations urged on Wednesday the US to abide by an order issued by the International Court of Justice calling for lift economic sanctions on Iran.
Iran stresses dialogue as only way to resolve regional crises ISNA 13 Nov 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says the country has always stressed the importance of dialogue and political negotiations as the only solution to regional problems and issues.
US 'wrong behavior' root cause of crisis over Iran nuclear deal: China Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- China has denounced the US withdrawal from Iran's nuclear deal and its maximum pressure policy against Tehran as a "wrong behavior" that constitutes the root cause of tensions with the country.
Moscow Warns Against 'Political Hysteria' Over Uranium Particles Found at Undeclared Site in Iran Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its latest "confidential" report, which was leaked to media, that it had detected "natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at a location in Iran not declared to the agency".

Students Evacuated After Violent Police Raids, Resistance on Hong Kong Campuses Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- Authorities on Wednesday evacuated students from mainland China and democratic Taiwan from Hong Kong's universities as military helicopters were spotted near one campus and students dug in for another day of siege following Tuesday's clashes with riot police.
Hong Kong's Triads: A Reporter Looks Back Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- The triads first became widely known during the Qing dynasty, China's last imperial dynasty, which lasted from 1644 until 1912. The Qing dynasty was led by the Manchus, a non-Chinese people who lived in China's northeast, a region later called Manchuria. The Qing dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty.
University Campuses in Hong Kong Latest Battlegrounds in Pro-Democracy Protests VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Pro-democracy protesters, a number of them students, have barricaded themselves at universities in Hong Kong as the schools become the latest flashpoints in the demonstrators' quest for greater autonomy from China. Violent confrontations between authorities and demonstrators continue to erupt.
China will take strong countermeasures if US passes Hong Kong bill Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- Chinese Foreign Ministry warned Wednesday that if the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act" is passed by the US Senate and becomes law, China will definitely take strong countermeasures, while a Chinese expert said the act has no international legal basis and only shows that US politicians want to feed the "fire of chaos to keep it burning in the city."
Operations near CUHK campus aim to protect people: HK police Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- A senior Hong Kong police officer said police operations at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on Tuesday are only aimed at stopping rioters from throwing debris onto the street.
Mobs turn campuses into Syria-like war zone Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- After days of rampage, black-clad rioters have turned Hong Kong universities into a Syria-like war zone, and more mainland students and professors escaped from Hong Kong universities on Wednesday.
Riots paralyze Hong Kong; US pushes bill after China warning Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- In Hong Kong, protesters have paralyzed parts of the Asian financial hub for a third day as police warned that the territory is on the "brink of total collapse."
China issues patriotism education guideline Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- China launched a guideline to implement patriotic education in a new era, calling for a focus on the youth, enhanced education on national unity and implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle amid ongoing riots in Hong Kong, for which some Chinese experts believe the city's twisted education on the mainland should take part of the responsibility.
Violent riots in HK show 'final madness' Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- Endless "black-clad violence" continued to damage public order and security of Hong Kong, and observers from both the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong said on Tuesday that the rioters showed signs of a "final madness" as the number of participants have dropped and the riots are getting more and more extreme and losing support.

KuaiZhou-1A Y11 rocket successfully sends satellite to orbit Global Times 13 Nov 2019 -- China's solid-fueled KuaiZhou-1A (KZ-1A) Y11 carrier rocket blasted off at 11:40 am on Wednesday and successfully sent the Jilin-1 Gaofen 02A satellite into planned orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province.

China, Myanmar pursue mutual benefits and win-win outcomes People's Daily 13 Nov 2019 -- Officials from China and Myanmar acknowledged the potential the two countries possess for further cooperation in the fields of tourism, education and economic cooperation under the framework of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a recent interview with People's Daily Online.

Taiwan scaremongering with talk of possible attack: China Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- China has accused Taiwan of scaremongering after the self-ruled island warned of a possible Chinese attack, saying Beijing could resort to military conflict to divert domestic pressure if an economic slowdown bites.
Former Top Kuomintang Aide James Soong Joins Taiwan Presidential Race Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- Former top KMT official James Soong entered Taiwan's presidential race on Wednesday, representing the People First Party he founded in a move that could draw support away from pro-China opposition KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu.

Sadr urges Iraqi parliament to initiate fundamental reforms Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- Influential Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called upon legislators to introduce sweeping reforms in the wake of ongoing anti-government protests in the country, dismissing any US and foreign intervention in Iraq's domestic affairs.
Iraqis paying an 'unthinkable price' to be heard, UN envoy tells politicians in Baghdad UN News 13 Nov 2019 -- Noting that the people of Iraq were at "a critical juncture", the top UN Envoy in the country told parliamentarians there on Thursday that over the past six weeks, hundreds of thousands have been peacefully voicing their "genuine, legitimate, demands, loud and clear".
Protests in Iraq Flare Up as Government Faces Mounting Pressure VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- Anti-government protestors rallied in Baghdad and in areas south of the capital Wednesday as the Iraqi government faces mounting pressure to respond to weeks of demonstrations.

Chinese Mega-Project in Myanmar's Kayin State Sparks Resentment And Worry Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- Dozens of newly built villas line a street as concrete skeletons of what may become hotels or casinos stand half-finished nearby. A new paved roadway allows access to more than a dozen boxy two-story buildings still under construction opposite plots of cleared land streaked with muddy tire tracks.

Anti-Government Protesters End Islamabad Sit-In To Block Roads RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- A radical Pakistani cleric has called off a two-week sit-in on the capital's main highway, but told his supporters to start blocking roads across the country.

Security Stymies Effort to End Ebola in Congo VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- The World Health Organization says that dangers posed by armed groups in two eastern Democratic Republic of Congo provinces are impeding progress in the battle to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Latest reports put the number of confirmed Ebola cases at 3,287, including 2,193 deaths.

Trump lauds Erdogan ties amid S-400 tensions, pro-Kurd protest Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- US President Donald Trump lauds his relationship with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan amid S-400 tensions between Washington and Ankara.
Remarks by President Trump and President Erdogan of Turkey in Legislative Engagement with Select Members of the Senate The White House 13 Nov 2019
Trump, Erdogan Discuss Turkey's Purchase of Russian Missile Defense System VOA 13 Nov 2019 -- There was no indication of any breakthrough following talks Wednesday between the leaders of Turkey and United States at a time when their relationship is at a low ebb.
Remarks by President Trump and President Erdogan of Turkey Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 13 Nov 2019

Ukraine Moves To Lift Ban On Farmland Sale RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- Ukraine's parliament has passed a bill in its first reading to remove a ban on the sale of farmland, a move supported by the country's foreign backers and hailed by Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk as a step away from "feudalism."
Ukrainian Detectives Detain Bribery Suspect In Presidential Office RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- Ukrainian anti-corruption detectives on November 12 have detained the head of one of the main departments at the presidential office for allegedly demanding a $300,000 bribe, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) said on Facebook.

US, allies benefiting from Lebanon unrest to advance own interests: Hezbollah official Press TV 13 Nov 2019 -- A high-ranking official from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are taking advantage of the anti-government protests in the country in order to attain their own political objectives.

EU Issues Damning Report on Cambodia Before Looming Deadline on Trade Benefits Decision Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- In a scathing report, the European Union warned Cambodia that it has not taken enough steps to prevent a loss of its special trade privileges, noting particularly "further deterioration" of its human rights record since a review process was launched nine months ago.
Indonesia Blocks Entry of Cambodian Opposition Leader: Malaysia Airlines Radio Free Asia 13 Nov 2019 -- Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy was denied entry into Indonesia Wednesday after a visit to Malaysia, according to sources, as the self-exiled leader struggled to return to his home country to push for democratic reforms.

Nonstop Nepotism: Uzbek President's Son-In-Law Named MMA Chief In Latest Sign Of Creeping Family Control RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- President Shavkat Mirziyoev's son-in-law has been named head of Uzbekistan's fledgling Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Association, adding to the list of influential roles for family members within Mirziyoev's three-year-old administration.

Moldova's Dodon Names Adviser Chicu As Prime Minister RFE/RL 13 Nov 2019 -- Moldovan President Igor Dodon nominated one of his advisers to be the country's next prime minister, a day after pro-Western Prime Minister Maia Sandu's cabinet lost a confidence vote.

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