Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US House intelligence panel chairman calls for Russia sanctions after bounty briefing Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- The United States should weigh new sanctions on Russia in response to unfounded reports that a Russian military intelligence unit had offered Taliban-linked militants bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan.
• US Should Consider Imposing More Sanctions on Russia Over Bounty Allegations, Schiff Says Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- The United States should consider imposing additional sanctions against Russian in light of the allegations that it offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to assassinate US soldiers, House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said on Tuesday.
• White House Updates More Lawmakers on Alleged Russian Bounties on US Troops in Afghanistan VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Senior U.S. lawmakers walked out of a White House briefing early Tuesday, saying they are not satisfied with what the administration had to say about allegations Russia offered bounties to Taliban fighters to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.
• White House Defends Trump Not Being Briefed on Russia 'Bounty' for US Soldiers VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- The White House is on the defensive about President Donald Trump not being briefed on reports that a Russian military intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban militants in Afghanistan to kill U.S. soldiers.
• Trump Not Briefed on 'Unverified' Intel Allegations of Russian Collusion With Taliban - O'Brien Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- Groundless allegations that Russia offered reward money to Taliban militants for killing American soldiers, published in a recent article in The New York Times, have been denied by Moscow, the White House and the Taliban itself.
• Republicans Urge 'Swift And Serious Action' If Reports About Russian Bounties Paid To Taliban True RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- Republican lawmakers who have been briefed about reports alleging that Russia paid the Taliban bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan are calling for consequences for Russia, if the reports are true.
• Kremlin denies report on Russian bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- The Kremlin on Monday denied a New York Times report alleging that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's Call with Taliban Deputy Mullah Baradar US Dept. of State 30 Jun 2020
• Taliban Attempts to Reassure Pompeo Amid Russia 'Bounty' Controversy VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- The Taliban said Tuesday that its political chief held a video call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and reassured him the Islamist insurgency does not allow anyone to use Afghanistan to plot attacks against other nations.
• Taliban Reaffirms Commitment To U.S. Deal In Call With Pompeo RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- The Taliban says it has held a video conference call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during which the militant group reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process in Afghanistan.
• Taliban say discussed Afghan peace with US's Pompeo Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- The Afghan Taliban militant group says the head of its political office in the Qatari capital, Doha, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have discussed Afghan peace.
• Pompeo Warns Taliban Against Attacking U.S. Troops RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has held a video conference call with the Taliban during which the top U.S. diplomat warned the insurgents against attacking American troops in Afghanistan, the Department of State says.
• UN Blames Afghan Army For Deadly Market Blasts RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says "initial impartial" findings indicate the Afghan National Army fired mortars on a market in the southern province of Helmand earlier this week, inflicting multiple civilian casualties.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs on U.S. Troop Levels in Germany DoD 30 Jun 2020 -- The Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff briefed the President yesterday on plans to redeploy 9,500 troops from Germany.
• Pentagon Clears Plan to Withdraw 9,500 US Troops From Germany Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has approved the Pentagon's plan for withdrawing 9,500 troops from Germany after Trump said the country was failing to live up to its spending obligations as a NATO partner.
• Missile Defense Chief Looks to Handle Changing Threat DoD News 30 Jun 2020 -- Missile defense has gone from pie-in-the-sky Star Wars technology in the 1980s to a proven military capability in the 21st century, and the Missile Defense Agency is looking to extend those capabilities against new threats.
• Soldiers test new night vision capabilities Army News 30 Jun 2020 -- "Really good" was never really going to be good enough for the Army team developing the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular. Nine months after equipping the first unit with the ENVG-B, developers are testing the rigor of system enhancements at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., in order to assess new augmented reality technologies and the hardware that delivers them.
• Risk Aversion Impedes Hypersonics Development DoD News 30 Jun 2020 -- Speeding ahead with the development of hypersonic weapons, both offensive and defensive, will require the Defense Department to look back to the 1960s – a time when it was far less risk-averse than it is now, the department's director of defense research and engineering for modernization said.
• USSF field command structure reduces command layers, focuses on space warfighter needs US Air Force 30 Jun 2020 -- The Department of the Air Force and the United States Space Force have finalized the new service's organizational structure for echelons below the headquarters, reflecting the newest branch of the armed forces' guiding principles of being a lean, agile and mission-focused organization.
• USS Donald Cook Completes Tenth FDNF-E Patrol NNS 30 Jun 2020 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, following the completion of its tenth Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet (C6F) area of operations, June 23, 2020.
• Tactical Communications Marketplace Evolves to Joint Communications Marketplace NNS 30 Jun 2020 -- The Joint Tactical Networking Center (JTNC) announced that the Tactical Communications Marketplace (TCM) will now be known as the Joint Communications Marketplace (JCM), effective June 30.
• USS Roosevelt Conducts Passing Exercise with Spanish Navy NNS 30 Jun 2020 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) executed a passing exercise (PASSEX) with Spanish naval counterparts in the Atlantic Ocean, June 25, 2020.
• CNO Message to the Fleet on Sustaining Readiness NNS 30 Jun 2020 -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday sent a message to the fleet stressing the importance of remaining vigilant in the long-term battle against the Coronavirus (COVID-19), June 30.
• US Military Moves to Address Bias and Prejudice VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- With race relations front and center in the United States, U.S. military service branches have begun taking steps to make their organizations more inclusive.
• Deputy Secretary General at Brussels Forum: NATO is responding in unity to the pandemic NATO 30 Jun 2020 -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana spoke at the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum on Monday (29 June 2020). Together with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, they discussed security challenges in the COVID-19 context.
• NATO Secretary General underlines the need for NATO to take a more global approach NATO 30 Jun 2020 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed an online event of the German Institute for Global and Area studies (GIGA) on Tuesday (30 June 2020). Speaking about "The Geopolitical Implications of COVID-19", the Secretary General called for a global approach to address the security challenges we face. He stressed NATO 2030 was recently launched to reflect on where we see our Alliance ten years from now and how it will continue to keep us safe.
• First aircraft of NATO's future multi-role tanker transport fleet lands at Eindhoven airbase NATO 30 Jun 2020 -- NATO's future fleet of multi-role aircraft (MMF) is marking an important milestone on Tuesday (30 June 2020), as the first of the eight aircraft in the fleet landed at the main operating base in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The aircraft, an Airbus A-330, arrived from the production facility in Getafe (Spain).
• US stance on nuclear-test ban treaty most destructive: Russia Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Russia says the United States is taking a "destructive" stance over a decades-old multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions by saying openly that it does not plan to ratify it.
• China's new-generation fighter jet scheduled to make maiden flight in 2021: report Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- China's new-generation fighter jet is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2021, an aviation industry report revealed on Monday. Analysts speculate that it will be China's new aircraft carrier-based fighter jet.
• China's Yun-20 large transport aircraft holds great potential PLA Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China's domestically developed Yun-20 large transport aircraft has carried out missions abroad for many times, successively delivering anti-epidemic supplies to Pakistan, Thailand and other countries. Recently, it made its maiden flight to Russia to transport the PLA Guard of Honor to participate in the military parade staged in Moscow's Red Square. Military expert Chen Hong said that in the future, the Yun-20 transport aircraft is sure to significantly improve the combat capability of the PLA troops.
• Navy plans live-fire torpedo drill on Wednesday: source CNA 30 Jun 2020 -- The Taiwanese Navy's submarines plan to carry out a live-fire torpedo drill for the first time in 13 years off the coast of southeastern Taiwan on Wednesday, a military source said Tuesday.
• U.S. military aircraft flies near Taiwan for 10th day CNA 30 Jun 2020 -- A United States warplane flew over waters near Taiwan on Tuesday, the 10th consecutive day American military aircraft have been active in the area at a time when China forced through a highly controversial security law for Hong Kong.
• Pandemic Stalls Deliveries of Submarines, Helicopters to Singapore - Defense Ministry Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore's military will have delivery of German submarines and French and American helicopters delayed by several months. Its F-35 order, however, remains on schedule.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany The White House 30 Jun 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For June 30, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 30 June 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Jun 2020
• Syria: Top UN officials appeal to donors to help end 'shocking' scale of suffering UN News 30 Jun 2020 -- The UN chief called on the world to step up "financial, humanitarian and political commitments", to help end nearly a decade of brutal conflict and suffering across Syria, in a video message delivered to the fourth Brussels Donor Conference on Tuesday.
• Millions of Syrians go to sleep hungry: aid organizations Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- A staggering 9.3 million Syrians are now going to sleep hungry and more another two million are at risk of a similar fate, international NGOs said in a joint statement Monday.
• Netanyahu Warns Assad Not to Ally With Iran's Ayatollahs, Hints Israeli Ops in Syria Will Continue Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- The Israeli Air Force has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria in recent years, justifying air and missile attacks by accusing Iran of trying to establish a proxy presence in the Arab Republic. Damascus has denied these claims, and accused Tel Aviv of blatant aggression.
• The United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the Syrian People US Dept. of State 30 Jun 2020 -- At today's fourth Brussels Conference on "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region," hosted by the European Union, Special Representative for Syria Engagement Ambassador James Jeffrey announced more than $696 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Syria in response to the ongoing crisis caused by the Assad regime, Russian, and Iranian forces.
• US seeks to prolong military presence in Iraq through raids on PMU bases: Lawmaker Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- An Iraqi legislator and leader of the State of Law Coalition has denounced the recent raid on a headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, in southern Baghdad, saying the United States is seeking to prolong its military presence in the country through such bids.
• France supports a 'pirate' in Libya: Turkey Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says France is supporting a "pirate" in Libya, a reference to Libyan rebel commander Khalifa Haftar, who has been fighting the internationally-recognized government in the North African country.
• Battle looms over Libya's strategic city of Sirte Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Libyan government forces are preparing to retake the strategic city of Sirte, and the rebels occupying the city are also reinforcing their ranks by deploying thousands of foreign mercenaries ahead of the battle.
• Myanmar martial court finds mere 3 troopers guilty in Rohingya massacre Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- A court martial probing atrocities against persecuted Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has found a mere three military officers guilty, even though the Southeast Asian country faces genocide charges at the United Nations (UN) court over a 2016-2017 crackdown.
• Indian and Chinese Army Commanders Meet to Defuse Ongoing Tension at Border Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- After the unprecedented face-off between Indian and Chinese armies in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on 15 June, both New Delhi and Beijing have been trying to diffuse tensions at the border through army-to-army engagements and diplomacy.
• Imran Khan Slams India for Alleged Attempts to Alter Jammu and Kashmir's Demography Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- In April, the Indian government announced a new domicile policy for Jammu and Kashmir to complete the integration of the valley with mainland. Under the new policy, whoever has resided in Jammu and Kashmir for a period of fifteen years will get a domicile certificate.
• Two Terrorists Killed as India and Pakistan Exchange Gunfire in Major Skirmish on Border in Kashmir Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- On Monday, three terrorists including a top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander were killed following a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the police chief of the Indian territory, Pakistan is trying to infiltrate using more terrorists to carry out attacks in the Kashmir Valley.
• Israel's Annexation Plan Will Trigger Violence, Instability Arabs Warn VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Arab governments have warned Israel that plans to annex the West Bank will trigger violence and regional instability. Unilateral annexation could happen as early as July 1, but European states, the United Nations, the Arab League and senior members of the U.S. Democratic Party say the move will harm chances for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
• Lebanon warns Israel over 'dangerous' gas exploration bid Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- President Michel Aoun has warned Israel against its "extremely dangerous" bid to explore oil and gas on Lebanon's maritime border, parts of which are claimed by the regime, saying the Arab country will not allow any violation of its territorial waters.
• Myanmar Army Says it Has Convicted Three Troops For 2017 Massacre of Rohingya Radio Free Asia 30 Jun 2020 -- Myanmar's military said Tuesday that it tried and convicted three soldiers in a secret court-martial for the massacre of hundreds of Rohingya villagers during an army-led crackdown in Rakhine state in 2017, only the second case in which troops have been held accountable for atrocities against the Muslim minority.
• Equatorial Guinea Halts Construction of Cameroon Border Wall VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Equatorial Guinea has agreed to pause the construction of a controversial border wall with Cameroon after talks between the two countries' defense ministers in Yaoundé. The two sides also agreed once again to withdraw troops from their disputed border after deadly clashes left at least seven people dead. An agreement earlier this month to withdraw forces failed to hold and some border traders are skeptical of this latest pact.

News Reports

• Bad Neighbors: Chechnya's Kadyrov Tied To Moscow Apartment Where Head Of Nord-Ost Attackers Lived RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov and his family have been tied to an undeclared Moscow apartment in the same building where the head of a group of Chechen terrorists lived and planned the deadly "Nord-Ost" hostage-taking at a Moscow theater in October 2002, an opposition-backed media outlet has reported.
• Your Whole Family Already Voted: Incident At Polling Station Points Up Inconsistencies In Russian Constitutional Ballot RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- When a Moscow couple turned up to cast their ballots in Russia's nationwide vote on constitutional amendments, they were surprised to learn from election officials that they had already voted.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 30, 2020 PRC MofA 30 Jun 2020
• US' Pompeo Denounces China's 'Draconian' Security Law, Pledges to Defend Hong Kong's Freedoms Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday denounced China's new national security law for Hong Kong and pledged to defend the city's freedoms.
• On Beijing's Imposition of National Security Legislation on Hong Kong US Dept. of State 30 Jun 2020 -- "The Chinese Communist Party's decision to impose draconian national security legislation on Hong Kong destroys the territory's autonomy and one of China's greatest achievements."
• Hong Kong Activists React to China's National Security Law VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Several civic groups in Hong Kong announced that they would disband on Tuesday, hours after China's legal body passed the new national security law for Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong's Security Law Takes Effect as China Unveils Sweeping Definitions Radio Free Asia 30 Jun 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday signed a presidential order to impose draconian security legislation on Hong Kong, with effect from 11.00 p.m. local time, an hour before the July 1 handover anniversary.
• China Passes Draconian Security Law For Hong Kong, Opposition Groups Disband Radio Free Asia 30 Jun 2020 -- China on Tuesday approved draconian new security legislation for Hong Kong banning activities deemed subversive or secessionist, paving the way for its feared state security police to operate in the city.
• China Legislature Passes National Security Law For Hong Kong - Reports Radio Free Asia 30 Jun 2020 -- China's top legislative body approved a national security law on Tuesday for Hong Kong that will bring China's feared state security police to the city and criminalize secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, Hong Kong media reports said.
• China's Approval of Hong Kong Security Law Sparks Widespread Jitters VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- China's legislature has passed a controversial national security law for Hong Kong that is causing widespread jitters among activists and ordinary citizens. Passage of the law has prompted several activist groups to immediately close while individuals delete social media posts out of fear that the new measures could send them to jail.
• China's President Xi signs Hong Kong national security bill into law Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed a landmark national security bill for Hong Kong into law.
• China ratifies Hong Kong security law; US suspends territory's preferential exports Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- The Chinese parliament's top decision-making body has approved a new national security law for Hong Kong, nearly 40 days after the semi-autonomous city's legislature passed the Beijing-proposed bill.
• China's national security legislation for Hong Kong: Foreign Secretary's statement UK FCO 30 Jun 2020 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab comments following the passage of national security legislation for Hong Kong through the National People's Congress in Beijing.
• Beijing's move shows 'one country, two systems' not feasible: Tsai CNA 30 Jun 2020 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Tuesday expressed dismay over China's passage of a national security law for Hong Kong, saying Beijing has broken its pledge to Hong Kong to let it maintain a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years.
• Natl security law for HK takes effect soon, gives 'final say' to central govt agency Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- China's top lawmakers on Tuesday voted unanimously to enact a draft law to safeguard national security in Hong Kong at the 20th session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which ended on Tuesday afternoon in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree unveiling the law.
• Chinese Parliament Unanimously Passes National Security Law for Hong Kong - Reports Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- The legislation, supported by Hong Kong leadership, caused protests in the city, as some residents saw it as undermining their liberties. It also drew criticism and sanctions from the United States, despite Beijing repeatedly stating that the matter of Hong Kong is the nation's internal affair and should not be interfered with.
• HK chief executive urges international community to respect need for national security law Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday that the national security law for Hong Kong will not undermine the city's judiciary or autonomy, and urged the international community to respect the mainland's right to safeguard its national security.
• HKSAR prepared for shocks from suspension of preferential status Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- China will take "necessary countermeasures" to firmly protect its national interests after the wrongful move by the US to revoke the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s special status in a bid to pressure China to drop its new National Security Law, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a routine press conference on Tuesday.
• HK extremists, secessionists flee, disband groups after security law passed Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- The deterrent effect of the National Security Law for Hong Kong has begun to show, as several secessionist leaders in Hong Kong have either left Hong Kong or disbanded their pro-secession groups on Tuesday, hours after China's top legislature voted to pass the law, analysts said.
• Impact of legislation on 'yellow economy' demonstrates HK secessionists' political farce Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Cafés and retail shops that publicly supported secessionists in Hong Kong are now playing it safe by making a clear break from the separatist forces, after the national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was passed on Tuesday morning.
• China's President Xi Jinping Signs Hong Kong National Security Law Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- China's top legislative body, the standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), voted unanimously in support of the new national security law on Hong Kong on Tuesday, the official China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
• Carrie Lam Assures Newly-Passed National Security Law Won't Undermine Hong Kong's Autonomy Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- Earlier in the day, Chinese legislators passed the law, which, according to Beijing, is designed for the purpose of safeguarding China's national security in Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong Party Demosisto Disbanded as Security Law Reportedly Passes Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- The Demosisto political party, which advocated for self-determination in Hong Kong has announced that it was disbanding in light of the new national security law.
• Joshua Wong's Hong Kong Opposition Group Disbands as Foreign Funding Dries Up Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- A National Security Law introduced by Beijing in Hong Kong has been met with widespread condemnation by foreign governments including the United States and the United Kingdom. The opposition groups, who have made repeated overtures for funding external powers, have coincidentally collapsed as the legislation comes in.
• Pompeo 'lying through his teeth' on Xinjiang affairs: Chinese FM Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who claimed that China is trying to reduce Uygur births using IUDs, abortion and sterilization, is "lying through his teeth," said a spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry (FM) on Tuesday.
• Beijing Vows Retaliation for US Removing Preferential Treatment for Hong Kong Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- The warning comes on the heels of reports that lawmakers in mainland China had approved a contentious security law which will allow authorities to crack down on subversion, secession, terrorism or foreign collusion in the semi-autonomous territory. The law met with opposition in Hong Kong and several Western countries, including the United States.
• China to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals acting maliciously on HK-related issues People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals who have acted maliciously on issues related to Hong Kong, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday.
• Chinese Company Hails Breakthrough Oilfield Discovery Amid Hopes to Shake Off Reliance on Imports Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- China has been hoping to lessen its dependence on oil and gas imports amid a global economy battered by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, plummeting demand and nosediving crude prices.
• Hong Kong Security Law Shows Failure of 'One Country, Two Systems': Taiwan Radio Free Asia 30 Jun 2020 -- Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen said Beijing had failed Hong Kong with the imposition on Tuesday of a sweeping national security law on the city banning a slew of offenses targeting anyone who challenges the ruling Communist Party's political and ideological supremacy.
• Natl security law for HK to cut off the 'dark hands' of Taiwan DPP creating trouble in HK: Taiwan Affairs Office Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- The Taiwan separatist authority, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), made irresponsible criticism of the national security law for HK, and this has revealed its toxic purpose - making trouble in Hong Kong and realizing its separatist goal: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
• 'Wishful Thinking': US May Be Unwilling to Fight China Over Taiwan, Strategists Fear Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- While the US may be gearing up for a military confrontation with China, some Taiwanese strategists are worried Washington may not be willing to make it happen over a cross-strait invasion.
• North Korean Workers Stranded in China After Being Idled by COVID-19 Radio Free Asia 29 Jun 2020 -- Large numbers of North Korean workers are stranded in China–made jobless by the coronavirus, but unable to return home until they meet hard currency quotas set by the government in Pyongyang that exports their labor and takes more than 90 percent of their wages.
• Iran nuclear deal still best way to ensure peace, DiCarlo tells Security Council UN News 30 Jun 2020 -- The UN regrets that the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is in doubt, but notwithstanding current challenges, that landmark deal is still the best way to ensure that Iran's nuclear programme proceeds along a peaceful path, the UN's top political official said on Tuesday.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo at the UN Security Council on the Iran Arms Embargo US Dept. of State 30 Jun 2020
• Pompeo Urges Accountability for Iran via Arms Embargo VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to "hold Iran accountable" and extend an arms embargo due to expire in October.
• Pompeo To Address UN Security Council On Iran Arms Embargo RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will address the United Nations Security Council on June 30 to argue in favor of an extension of a UN arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October.
• Iran's Zarif Blasts US for 'Bullying' Remaining Nuclear Deal Signatories Sputnik 30 Jun 2020 -- The Trump administration has ramped up its pressure against Iran along two tracks, accusing Tehran of violating the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, and seeking to extend the Security Council arms embargo against the Islamic Republic past its October deadline.
• Zarif at UNSC: US an 'outlaw bully' that UN shouldn't surrender to Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tells the UN Security Council (UNSC) that the United States is an "outlaw bully" that the world body should not surrender to, warning that giving in to Washington's pressure threatens to restore the "law of the jungle."
• US to witness another show of intl. support for Iran deal at UNSC: Tehran's UN envoy Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Iran's UN envoy says the US attempts to extend a United Nations arms embargo against Tehran are a blatant violation of Resolution 2231, adding that during the upcoming Security Council meeting, Washington will once again witness global support for the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal and the resolution that endorsed it.
• US Working With Israel To Prevent Lifting Of Iran Arms Embargo, Hook Says Radio Farda 30 Jun 2020 -- In a joint press conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said the United States and Israel are working in tandem to prevent a United Nations arms embargo on Iran from expiring.
• It Is Time For All Nations To Support Extension Of Iran Arms Embargo Radio Farda 30 Jun 2020 -- Radio Farda is publishing a series of expert analysis and commentaries on the United States move to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran beyond October 2020.
• A US Decision To Force 'Snapback' Sanctions On Iran May Backfire Radio Farda 30 Jun 2020 -- Radio Farda is publishing a series of expert analysis and commentaries on the United States move to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran beyond October 2020.
• The UN 'Snapback' Option On Iran Is Full Of Pitfalls Radio Farda 30 Jun 2020 -- Radio Farda is publishing a series of expert analysis and commentaries on the United States move to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran beyond October 2020.
• Spox: China opposes extension of arms embargo on Iran IRNA 30 Jun 2020 -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China opposes the US act to extend arms embargo on Iran.
• Insurgent Group Claims Killing Guards Commander In Iran, Officials Deny Radio Farda 30 Jun 2020 -- The governor of Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran on Tuesday denied any fatalities in an attack on three Revolutionary Guard vehicles in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan by the Baloch Justice Army (Jaish al-Adl) in the early hours of Tuesday.
• Iran identifies 40 American individuals involved in Gen. Soleimani's assassination ISNA 30 Jun 2020 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has hosted a meeting on the US assassination of top Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.
• Iran says to sue U.S. president, officials for assassination of Soleimani People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- Iran has filed a case with the Interpol to arrest a number of U.S. political and military officials "who were involved in the assassination" of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January, Tehran Prosecutor General Ali Qasi Mehr said on Monday.
• Chinese Scientists Discover New H1N1 Virus Strain That Could Infect Humans VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Scientists in China have identified a new strain of a flu virus in pigs that has the potential to infect humans and lead to a new pandemic.
• Experts reassure public over risk of pandemic caused by swine flu Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Chinese researchers have issued an early warning over another potential pandemic caused by an influenza virus in pigs, coming after the COVID-19, but disease control experts said the public should not overreact and hog farms have shown no signs of related disease.
• While COVID-19 Rages, Don't Forget About Pandemic Flu VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Don't panic, but there is another virus out there that could cause a pandemic.
• Pakistani PM Blames India for Militant Raid on Stock Exchange VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has directly accused rival India of being behind a deadly terrorist attack on his country's stock exchange building in Karachi.
• Pakistan says India behind attack on Karachi stock exchange building Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused India of being responsible for a recent attack on the Pakistani Stock Exchange building in the southern port city of Karachi.
• Bachelet renews call for accountability in Philippines war on illegal drugs UN News 30 Jun 2020 -- The Human Rights Council should consider supporting new accountability measures against perpetrators of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines' so-called war on illegal drugs, the UN's top rights official said on Tuesday.
• UN Slams Extrajudicial Killings in Philippines' So-Called War on Drugs VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- A report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council denounces the so-called war on drugs by the government of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, which has resulted in the killings of thousands of alleged drug suspects.
• Poroshenko Fails To Show For Questioning At Ukraine's State Bureau Of Investigations RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has failed to show at the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) for questioning.
• Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired today a Cabinet's virtual session.
• Potential Belarusian Presidential Challenger Remanded In Custody RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- A court in Minsk has remanded in custody a potential opponent of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka as an August 9 presidential election nears.
• Belgian King Expresses Regret for Colonial Abuses in Congo on Country's Independence Day VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Belgium's King Philippe expressed regret Tuesday for 75 years of his country's exploitative rule in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Venezuela expels EU envoy following new sanctions Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has expelled the European Union (EU)'s envoy to the country following a move by the bloc to impose new sanctions against several Venezuelan officials.
• Thousands Demand Justice for Protesters Killed During 2019 Anti-Bashir Protests VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Hundreds of thousands marched in Sudan's capital Tuesday, demanding justice for the people killed by security forces during last year's street protests. Protest organizers say they need to keep pressure on the transitional government despite the ongoing risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• South Sudan President Appoints 1 Woman Among 8 Governors, 3 Administrators VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- South Sudan President Salva Kiir issued a decree Monday appointing governors for eight of the 10 states and chief administrators for the areas of Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei.