COVID-19 - Daily News

21 July 2020 Military News

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Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
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Current Operations

Afghan Fighting Rages as Prisoner Swap Dispute Remains Unsolved VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Fresh clashes between government forces and Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have reportedly killed dozens of combatants on both sides.

Defense Policy / Programs

Department of the Air Force introduces Arctic Strategy US Air Force 21 Jul 2020 -- Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett unveiled the new, comprehensive Department of the Air Force Arctic Strategy, July 21.
Air Force Reveals Cold Facts on New Arctic Strategy DoD News 21 Jul 2020 -- As conditions change in the Arctic region, the Department of the Air Force has revealed a new strategy for how it will contribute to regional stability there, what new partnerships it should pursue and how its mission might evolve.
US Air Force Plans to Enhance Missile Defences to Counter 'Advancing' Threats in Arctic Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- The US plans to counter growing threats to its interests in the Arctic by upgrading systems to detect enemy missiles with over-the-horizon radar and satellite surveillance while responding to threats with fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35 at bases in Alaska and possibly Greenland, the US Air Force said in a report.
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Jonathan Rath Hoffman Briefs Reporters on Department of Defense Operations DoD 21 Jul 2020 -- Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
Texas Guard launches innovation unit Army News 21 Jul 2020 -- After over a year of preparation, the Texas Guard is officially launching the Texas Military Department Joint Innovation Unit: TMDx.
Pentagon Orders 14 More F-35A Lightning II as Turkey Removed from Joint Fighter Jet Program Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has received a more than $860 million US Navy contract to procure eight F-35A Lightning II aircraft as a result of Turkey's removal from the F-35 program, and six more F-35A aircraft for the Air Force, the Department of Defence said in a press release.
ACC officially declares Full Operating Capability for Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) US Air Force 21 Jul 2020 -- Gen. Mike Holmes, Air Combat Command commander and Lt. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander declared Full Operating Capability for Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) during a virtual ceremony held at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland July 14.
Combat Aviation Brigade prepares to deploy during pandemic Army News 21 Jul 2020 -- Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade mobilized from their home stations to Fort Hood, Texas, to prepare for their deployment to the Middle East.
Memorandum on Reinforcing Operations Security DoD 21 Jul 2020 -- Today the Secretary for Defense released a memorandum for all Department of Defense personnel reinforcing Operations Security (OPSEC) and the importance of preventing unauthorized disclosures.
Readout of Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper's Phone Call With Greek Minister of Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos DoD 21 Jul 2020
Esper Discusses Importance of Indo-Pacific Strategy DoD News 21 Jul 2020 -- The United States is following the tenets of the National Defense Strategy and prioritizing resources to the Indo-Pacific theater, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said during a virtual speech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Official Emphasizes Diversity and Inclusion Steps DOD is Taking DoD News 21 Jul 2020 -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper is committed to diversity and inclusion and has directed a comprehensive review to identify and develop options for addressing shortcomings, a senior Defense Department official said.
Australia, Japan, Join U.S. for Trilateral Naval Exercise NNS 21 Jul 2020 -- The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Australian Defense Force (ADF), and the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group began a trilateral exercise in the Philippine Sea, July 19.
22 Nations Participate Virtually in 19th SEACAT NNS 21 Jul 2020 -- The largest number of nations ever will participate in the 19th iteration of Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT), being held as a virtual symposium July 21-23.

US Defense Secretary Says 'No Orders to Withdraw Forces' From South Korea Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is pushing back against recent troop reduction reports and clarifying that the Pentagon is not developing a plan geared toward a pullback in troops from South Korea.
US Defense Secretary: No Orders Issued to Change Military Force in Korea VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he has "issued no orders to withdraw from the Korean peninsula," while also sounding the alarm on Chinese "bad behavior" that he says has picked up since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea, US fail to decide on joint military drills amid pandemic concerns Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- A South Korean official says the coronavirus pandemic threatens the joint military exercises with the United States, as the two sides struggle to agree on the scale, scope and timing of their annual war games.

NATO forces participate in Sea Breeze exercise in the Black Sea NATO 21 Jul 2020 -- BLACK SEA -- Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) is participating in the bilateral U.S.- Ukraine exercise Sea Breeze 2020, between 20 and 24 July 2020.
Secretary General commends strong cooperation between NATO and Japan NATO 21 Jul 2020 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke by telephone with Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday (21 July 2020), addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, regional security issues, and ways to further strengthen cooperation between NATO and Japan.

Putin orders Russian navy to modernize warships Global Times 21 Jul 2020 -- The share of modern warships in the Russian navy should exceed 70 percent by 2027, President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

'Forced to Take Countermeasures:' Beijing Practices Airstrikes on Ships as US Carriers Drill Nearby Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- While two US Navy carrier strike groups drilled in the South China Sea last week, Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) jets practiced anti-ship attacks nearby.
Air force missile brigade gets zero non-combat attrition rate in days of flood fight PLA Daily 21 Jul 2020 -- Troops of a ground-based missile brigade of the air force under the PLA Eastern Theater Command have been fighting the flood in south China for nearly half a month. Up to now, no service members got ill and the non-combat attrition rate is zero, in spite of the troops' long time flood-fighting efforts in high temperature and high humidity.

India, US Hold Joint Maritime Drill Amid China Tensions VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Indian Navy warships have held a joint exercise with the United States Navy in the Indian Ocean, according to the two countries.
India Develops World's Most Agile, Lightest Surveillance Drone to Keep Eye on China Border Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- India and China have been holding diplomatic talks since last month to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control following their soldiers' violent face-off on the night of 15 June in Ladakh's Galwan valley. According to the Indian government, it lost 20 soldiers during the clash with Chinese troops.
1st Batch of 'Fully Operational' Rafale Jets to Join Indian Air Force's Northern Air Base on 29 July Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in 2018. Despite manufacturing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris had assured New Delhi that the first batch of five jets would be delivered in July. Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale has committed to deliver 18 jets to the Indian Air Force by February 2021.
India Plans to Add Four More Lethal Reconnaissance Craft From Boeing to its Naval Assets Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- India has been reinforcing its defence strategies, with the induction of more advanced weaponary from Russia, the United States, and Israel, given the geopolitical situation in its neighbourhood. A violent standoff with China has given an added urgency to New Delhi to keep its military supplied with enough advanced assets.
2 Mega Watt Solar Power Plant Inaugurated at Naval Station Karanja, Uran India PIB 21 Jul 2020 -- Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, e-inaugurated the first Two Mega Watt Capacity Solar Power Plant of the Western Naval Command on 20 Jul 2020.

Colombian Military Helicopter Carrying 17 Crashes, Killing Nine Soldiers - Army Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- A Blackhawk helicopter of Colombian forces was reportedly carrying 17 military personnel when it went down over Mitu, the capital city of the department of Vaupes in Colombia.

Taiwan takes delivery of third indigenous ocean research ship CNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan's newest ocean research vessel was delivered Tuesday, marking a milestone in domestic shipbuilding and putting the country on track to improve its marine, climate and oceanographic research.
Low-intensity armed conflict possible across Taiwan Strait: analysts CNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Security analysts in Taipei said Tuesday that while conventional war between Taiwan and China is unlikely anytime soon, low-intensity conflict is a possibility.

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at a Press Availability US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2020
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany The White House 21 Jul 2020

Defense Industry

Contracts For July 21, 2020

Other Conflicts

21 July 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 Jul 2020

After US Toughens South China Sea Legal Stance, China Deploys More Survey Ships Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- Multiple Chinese survey ships have intruded into the exclusive economic zones of other South China Sea claimant states since the United States last week resolved to help safeguard the resource rights of Southeast Asian nations facing pressure from China.

COVID-19 scapegoating triggers fresh displacement in Yemen, warns migration agency UN News 21 Jul 2020 -- COVID-19 fears have prompted fresh displacement in war-torn Yemen, and forced many of those on the move to sell what little they have to survive, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
Thousands of Yemenis Flee COVID-19 Hotspots VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- The International Organization for Migration says more than 10,000 people in conflict-ridden Yemen have fled their homes since April in fear of contracting COVID-19.

Syria's air defenses respond to Israeli missile attack over Damascus Global Times 21 Jul 2020 -- The Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli missile attack over the capital Damascus on Monday evening, state news agency SANA reported.
Syrian Media: Israeli Airstrikes Kill 5 Pro-Iranian Fighters VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Syrian state media reports say Israel carried out airstrikes in Syria near Damascus Monday for the first time in several weeks, targeting Iranian-linked sites and killing at least five Iranian-backed fighters. Israel has not confirmed it was behind the airstrikes, which come after a series of explosions in Iran itself over the past few weeks. While Israel may not have been responsible for all of the attacks in Iran – some observers in Israel argue Iran could strike Israel as a way of diverting attention from sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qatari Defenсe Minister in Talks With Turkish Counterpart, Libya's GNA Interior Minister Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- Qatari Minister of State for Defen?e Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah has held negotiations with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, and Fathi Bashagha, the interior minister of Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), amid Cairo's decision on the possible deployment of armed forces to Libya, the ministry said.
Egypt Parliament approves troop deployment in Libya Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- The Egyptian parliament has unanimously approved the deployment of troops outside the country, laying the groundwork for a possible military intervention in Libya.
Libya Remains Calm as Egypt's Parliament Authorizes Military Intervention VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- The Egyptian parliament has authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to deploy Egyptian troops to neighboring Libya, should the need arise. Sissi warned the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and its backers in Turkey earlier this month not to cross a "red line" Egypt considers vital to its security in the Libyan coastal port town of Sirte.
Turkey Faces Pressure as Libyan Conflict Widens VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- The Egyptian parliament's decision Monday to authorize the possible deployment of Egyptian troops in Libya is highlighting concerns in the region about a possible escalation of the Libyan conflict. International pressure is, meanwhile, growing on Turkey over its involvement as Ankara doubled down on its support of Libya's Government of National Accord, fueling fears of a wider a regional war.

Turkish drilling in Mediterranean can affect relations with EU, Germany warns Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- Germany says Turkey's failure to halt drilling activities in contested waters in the eastern Mediterranean Sea would affect relations between Ankara and the European Union (EU).

Netanyahu's plans to annex West Bank could unleash new extremism wave in Middle East: Jordan PM Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has warned against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to annex large parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, stating that such a contentious move could unleash a new wave of extremism in the Middle East region.

UN urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to avoid 'disastrous' full conflict Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise "maximum restraint" in order to avoid a full conflict that would be "disastrous," days after a recent flare-up of tensions between the two former Soviet republics.

Myanmar to Set up Complaint Process For War Violence Against Children Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- With scores of children killed and maimed each year in Myanmar's long-running ethnic wars, and hundreds conscripted as laborers, the government is setting up a national complaint mechanism for reporting violence and sexual crimes against minors in regions under conflict, officials said.

Armed Attack in Nigeria's North Leaves 10 People Killed, Scores Injured - Reports Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- Ten people were killed and numerous others injured as a result of a gun attack in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna, Chinese media reported on Tuesday, citing its sources.

News Reports

Portland Riots Read-Out: July 21 Department of Homeland Security 21 Jul 2020
US Homeland Security Head Says 43 Arrests in Portland This Month, Vows Agency 'Will Not Retreat' Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- Amid condemnation of the violent repression of anti-racist protests by federal police, the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday the agency "will not retreat" from Portland, Oregon.
New York City Mayor Vows Immediate Action in Court If Trump Sends Federal Forces Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday he will immediately take US President Donald Trump to court if he proceeds with sending federal law enforcement agents into the city to address an uptick in violence.
Trump likens US cities with pro-justice rallies to Afghan towns Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has described the situation in American cities where pro-justice rallies were held "worse than Afghanistan".

U.S. Democrats Demand FBI Briefing On Foreign Election Interference RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- Top Democrats in the U.S. Congress have demanded an urgent intelligence briefing over what they say is a concerted foreign campaign to spread disinformation to interfere in the November 3 election.

'Not Just Trolling, But Humiliation': Putin's Choice To Replace Khabarovsk Governor Unlikely To Calm Unrest RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- The moment the popular governor of Russia's Khabarovsk region was arrested and hustled off to Moscow on July 9, locals - who have taken to the streets in daily protests, with crowds twice numbering in the tens of thousands – began wondering who President Vladimir Putin would name as a replacement.
Rallies In Russia's Khabarovsk Continue As Protesters Target Anger At Newly Appointed Governor RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- Hundreds of supporters of the arrested ex-governor of Russia's Far Eastern Khabarovsk region, Sergei Furgal, rallied for an 11th day in the regional capital, denouncing newly appointed acting Governor Mikhail Degtyaryov.
Russian Lawmakers Approve Bill On Multiday Voting In Elections RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- The lower chamber of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, has approved the final reading of a bill that would allow voting over as many as three days during elections.
U.S. House Approves More Sanctions Related To Nord Stream 2 RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an amendment that would impose new sanctions on companies helping Russia complete a controversial natural-gas pipeline to Germany.
US Hits Russia's Kadyrov with Sanctions Over Rights Abuses VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. Department of State has announced it is imposing additional sanctions against Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia's southern republic of Chechnya, in a move American officials linked to a pattern of continued human rights abuses by the Chechen strongman.

Russia Report: Kremlin Denies Election Meddling as Dossier Compiled by UK Spy Agencies Published Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- A report on alleged Russian interference in British politics which was completed last year has finally been published. Publication of the report was deliberately delayed until after the General Election, reportedly to spare the blushes of the ruling Conservative Party.
U.K. Report Calls For Further Study Of Russian Interference, Claims Meddling In Scottish Vote RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- A British parliamentary committee has criticized the government for failing to investigate Russian interference during the 2016 Brexit referendum despite "credible" commentary that Moscow had tried to meddle in the Scottish independence referendum two years earlier.
Russian Influence in Britain is 'New Normal,' Intelligence Committee Warns VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- A long-awaited House of Commons report laying bare Kremlin-sponsored bids to influence the outcomes of British elections and other votes, and to meddle in the workings of British democracy generally, was released Tuesday, with lawmakers on the intelligence and security committee saying Russia sought to break up the United Kingdom by attempting to "influence" the 2014 Scottish independence vote.
Nicola Sturgeon takes London to task over Russia report Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- As the British political establishment digests the contents of the Russia report, Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has seized the initiative by calling out the government for its complacency.
Long-awaited Russia Report triggers political storm in Britain Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- The long-awaited report into alleged Russian "interference" in British national life was finally released today after the government caved into public pressure.

Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers Remarks for Press Conference on United States V Li, Et Al. (EDWA) US Dept. of Justice 21 Jul 2020 -- Today, the Justice Department unsealed charges in a significant national security cyber matter. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington (EDWA) and the National Security Division (NSD) have charged two Chinese hackers working with the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), including the Guangdong State Security Department (GSSD) of the MSS, with a sweeping global computer intrusion campaign. In making this announcement, I'm joined here by Dave Bowdich, Deputy Director of the FBI, Bill Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, and Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Seattle Field Division.
US Indicts Two Chinese Hackers For Vast, 10-Year Global Theft Campaign Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- A U.S. grand jury has indicted two hackers affiliated with China's Ministry of State Security for a 10-year global campaign in which they broke into computer systems of hundreds of companies, and recently targeted firms researching a coronavirus vaccine, the Justice Department said Tuesday.
US Unveils Criminal Charges Against 2 Chinese Hackers Accused of Targeting COVID-19 Vaccine Research Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- A newly unveiled United States indictment against two Chinese hackers alleges that they targeted companies in at least ten countries, Assistant US Attorney General for National Security John Demers announced in a press conference.
Two Chinese Hackers Working with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaign Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information, Including COVID-19 Research US Dept. of Justice 21 Jul 2020 -- Indictment Alleges Two Hackers Worked With the Guangdong State Security Department (GSSD) of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), While Also Targeting Victims Worldwide for Personal Profit
US Charges 2 Chinese Nationals in Global Hacking Campaign VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Two Chinese nationals working with China's state security ministry have been charged with a decade-long global campaign targeting intellectual property and confidential business information at hundreds of entities, including COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research conducted by U.S. firms.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on July 21, 2020 PRC MofA 21 Jul 2020
Nike Says China-based Supplier Sent All Uyghur Workers Home Amid Forced Labor Allegations Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- A China-based supplier to Nike has stopped hiring employees from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and sent all workers from the region back home, the footwear giant said in a statement on Tuesday, amid scrutiny over possible links between its supply chain and forced labor.
Riot Police Detain Politician For Holding up Banner in Hong Kong Protest Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- Riot police moved in on Tuesday to disperse protests marking the anniversary of a brutal mob attack on passengers at a train station in Hong Kong's Yuen Long district, arresting a district councilor for violating a draconian security law after he held up a banner with the words "Free Hong Kong! Revolution now!" blazoned on it.
China Hits Out at UK Over Suspension of Hong Kong Extradition Treaty Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- China has warned that the U.K. will "bear the consequences" of its decision to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong amid fears that the city's courts are no longer independent of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Beijing Promises to 'Resolutely Respond' to UK Interference in Chinese Internal Affairs Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK urged the UK to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which China considers its own internal affairs.
US hawks sanctioned by China keep interfering in various global issues Global Times 21 Jul 2020 -- As US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's attacks on China escalate, observers noted that some US politicians are joining him to push China-US ties to the brink of a clear r upture. Anti-China US hawks are not only infamous in China, but also despised by many US progressives, according to observers.
US, Britain Increasingly See Eye-to-Eye on China VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tuesday as tensions escalated between the United States and China over trade, the status of the South China Sea, the origins of the novel coronavirus and the Chinese response to the virus when it first emerged in the city of Wuhan.
Hong Kong Security Law Prompts International Organizations to Consider Relocating VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- The controversial national security law imposed by China on Hong Kong has brought deep concern among its robust civil society and non-governmental organizations who use the territory as regional hub, prompting some to relocate their staff while others fear over their fate under the new legislation.
Beijing vows to strike back forcefully in response to London's wrong deeds: Chinese FM Global Times 21 Jul 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held talks with British officials and some Hong Kong secessionists fleeing to the UK on Tuesday during his visit to London amid growing US-China tensions. Abandoning an independent foreign policy and yielding to the pressure of Washington, the Boris government has taken a harsh stance on Hong Kong, Huawei and other China-related matters. The policies will eventually backfire and London's policies won't be followed by the rest of Europe, observers said.
Little effect on China as UK ends extradition treaty with HKSAR to please US: experts Global Times 21 Jul 2020 -- The day US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in London, kicking off his short visit to the UK amid deteriorating China-UK ties, the British government announced that it would suspend its extradition treaty with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a move which further enflames the row with China.
China strongly condemns UK's suspension of extradition treaty with HKSAR People's Daily 21 Jul 2020 -- According to a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London, "any attempt to pressurize China and obstruct the implementation of this Law (the national security law for the HKSAR) will meet the strong opposition of 1.4 billion Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, and such attempt is doomed to failure."
China vows 'forceful counterattack' to UK's withdrawal from Hong Kong treaty Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- China has called on Britain to "correct its mistakes" and promised a "forceful counterattack" to London's unilateral withdrawal from an extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
Broken Levees Trap Thousands in China Floods VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Broken levees left over 10,000 people stranded in eastern China on Tuesday, as flooding across the country becomes more severe.

North Korea Intensifies Crackdown on South Korean Cultural Influences Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- North Korea has stepped up a campaign to eliminate the influence of South Korean pop culture, threatening stern punishments as a senior official revealed that some 70 percent of the country's 25 million people actively watch TV shows and movies from the South, sources in the North told RFA.

Iran's Zarif Offers A New Long-Term Cooperation Agreement To Russia Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says extending Tehran-Moscow 20-year cooperation agreement is on the Islamic Republic's agenda.
Extending Iranian Arms Embargo Will Destroy Nuclear Deal, Foreign Minister Zarif Warns Sputnik 21 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif left Tehran earlier today to hold talks with Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on the 2015 nuclear deal, bilateral relations, and the crisis in Syria.
Some 1,044 centrifuges enrich uranium at Fordow IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Spokesman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said on Monday that some 1,044 centrifuges are enriching uranium at Ahmadi-Rowshan Nuclear Site in Fordow.
Lavrov hails Iran-Russia cooperation deal as significant IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday said that the agreement signed on the basis of mutual relations and principles of cooperation between Iran and the Russia is an important deal which determines shape of bilateral relations and the principles of interaction as the key areas are mentioned in the document.
FM Zarif: Iran-Russia ties at highest level IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zaif said that the relations between Iran and Russia today have the strongest status compared to the previous decades, and the two sides hope to bolster such relations to the highest level possible.
Russia trying hard to maintain JCPOA, Lavrov says IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that Moscow is working hard to maintain the nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the US unilaterally withdrew from.
FM Zarif: Renewing Iran's 20-year agreement with Russia on agenda IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday described Iran's relations with Russia as strategic, adding that he is going to discuss the renewal of a 20-year agreement with Russia during his visit to Moscow.
Iran interested in buying new Russian weapons: ambassador to Moscow ISNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Iran is interested in buying new Russian weapons to enhance its defense capacities, Iranian ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said in an interview with the Kommersant daily.
Strong Iran-Russia ties guarantee global peace, security: FM Zarif Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran-Russia relations are at their strongest in decades, adding that such sustainable ties will benefit both countries and guarantee global peace and security.
Extension of 20-year Iran-Russia cooperation deal on agenda of talks: Zarif in Moscow Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- In Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says extending a 20-year cooperation agreement with Russia, which will expire next year, is on the agenda of talks between the two countries.
US's Pompeo repeats widely-disregarded appeal for arms embargo on Iran Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has repeated a widely-disregarded call for the extension of an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in a matter of months under an international deal with Tehran, even though a US attempt at the United Nations (UN) to have that embargo extended is most likely to fail.
Leader: Iran to deal US 'counterblow' for Gen. Soleimani's assassination Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran will never forget Washington's assassination in Iraq of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and will definitely deliver a "counterblow" to the United States.
Khamenei Tells Iraqi PM: 'We Will Strike Back At US' For Soleimani's 'Assassination' Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- In his first public meeting since the onset of the coronavirus crisis in February, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with Iraq's visiting Prime Minister Mostafa Al-Kadhimi in Tehran on Tuesday July 21.
Seoul Summons Iran Envoy Over Tehran's Threat And 'Inappropriate' Remark Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- Iran's ambassador to Seoul was summoned to the South Korean foreign ministry on Tuesday to lodge a protest over the Iranian threat to sue Seoul over frozen assets and calling the Korea-U.S. relationship one of "master and servant".
Part of Iran's frozen funds released in several countries: Vaezi IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Head of Presidential Office Mahmoud Vaezi said on Tuesday that parts of Iran's frozen funds in several countries have been released, noting that the amount will be used in the remittances section of the Central Bank of Iran to address the concerns and problems of importers.
Iran's Rial Gains 10 Percent As Government Pumps $300 Million Into Market Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- Iran's national currency gained 10 percent of its value back on Monday after several deep plunges in the past few days following the injection of $300 million into the market for businesses seeking imports.
Iran's rial recouping losses as government collects more export cash Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- The Iranian national currency rial keeps recouping losses suffered because of the coronavirus pandemic and the continued pressure of US sanctions on the economy.
US Allows Iran To Use Financial Channel For Humanitarian Aid -Iran Official Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- Chairman of Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Karim Hemmati on Monday announced that the United States has allowed the launch of a financial channel for transfer of international humanitarian aid to Iran.
Analysis of Ukrainian plane black boxes underway in France IRNA 21 Jul 2020 -- Iranian Embassy in France announced that analyzing data of the crashed Ukrainian plane black boxes will start in laboratory of the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety on Tuesday.
Iran's Judiciary Dismisses Online Campaign To Stop Executions Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- Reacting to more than 11 million tweets calling for an end to executions in Iran, the Islamic Republic Judiciary spokesman has said, "We are not obliged to listen to the counter-revolutionaries, aggressive opposition movements and the media empire."
Iran's Hardliner Watchdog Aims To Expand Power Over Parliament Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- The Secretary of The Islamic Republic's hardliner-dominated Guardian Council (GC), ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, has called for expanding the already powerful body's authority.
Well-Connected Suspects In Large Corruption Cases In Iran Are Often Off The Hook Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- One of the suspects in a major financial corruption case in Iran has gone "missing," the Young Journalists Club, an Iranian state TV affiliate, revealed on Tuesday July 21.

Rouhani: Iraq PM visit to Iran milestone in bilateral ties Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani says the visit to Iran by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi – the latter's first foreign trip in the capacity – will serve as a "milestone" in bilateral ties between the two neighbors.
Iraqi PM in Tehran for high-level talks on first foreign visit Press TV 21 Jul 2020 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is in Iran's capital Tehran for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials.
Iraqi Prime Minister Arrives In Iran For First Official Visit Radio Farda 21 Jul 2020 -- Iraq's new prime minister who arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for his first official visit abroad is scheduled to meet with the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Prominent Pakistani Journalist Kidnapped, Was Critical Of Country's Powerful Army RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- A prominent Pakistani journalist known for his criticism of the country's powerful military has been kidnapped, raising concerns his life may be in danger.
Pakistani Journalist Seized in Broad Daylight, Held 12 Hours VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- A prominent Pakistani journalist known for his harsh criticism of the military and the ruling party was seized from the heart of the capital, Islamabad, and held for 12 hours Tuesday, according to his family.

Erdogan Eyes Social Media: The Last Refuge for Turkey's Journalists VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- For Turkish journalist Emre Kızılkaya, social media is a necessity. He's been using platforms including Twitter since 2008, tweeting during the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul in 2013 and when soldiers raided his newspaper building after the failed coup attempt in 2016.

Sudan's Ex-President Bashir Goes to Trial Over 1989 Coup VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir went on trial in Khartoum Wednesday for staging the coup that brought him to power in 1989.

The State Department Takes Action and Calls for Information to Bring Venezuelan National Maikel Jose Moreno Perez to Justice US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2020 -- "Today, I am announcing a reward under the Transnational Organized Crime Program of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Venezuelan National, Maikel Jose Moreno Perez for participating in transnational organized crime."

Lebanon Contracts New York Firm for Forensic Audit of Central Bank VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Lebanon's government announced Tuesday that a New York-based company will carry out a forensic audit of its central bank accounts to determine where massive amounts of money went in a country on the brink of financial collapse.

Zimbabwe Police Arrest Journalists, Opposition Leader Over Anti-Government Protests VOA 21 Jul 2020 -- Rights groups in Zimbabwe have condemned the arrests of a prominent investigative journalist and an opposition leader. Zimbabwean police say reporter Hopewell Chin'ono and the leader of the political group Transform Zimbabwe, Jacob Ngarivhume, were stoking violence ahead of a planned July 31 anti-government protest. Their supporters called the arrests a blatant attempt to silence voices against government corruption and abuse of power.

Bulgarian Government Survives Fifth No-Confidence Vote Over Corruption RFE/RL 21 Jul 2020 -- Bulgaria's center-right government has survived a no-confidence vote initiated by the opposition Socialists, who accuse it of failing to fight endemic corruption.

Cambodian Court Reminds Kem Sokha to Stay Away From Politics Radio Free Asia 21 Jul 2020 -- The presiding judge in the trial of Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha advised him Tuesday to adhere to a court order that forbids political activities, after the 67-year-old's recent tour of parts of the country.

Ethiopia urged to allow peaceful demonstrations, investigate protestor deaths UN News 21 Jul 2020 -- Independent UN human rights experts are urging the Ethiopian authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations, in a new appeal for investigations into the deaths of people protesting the recent killing of a popular singer and activist from the Oromo ethnic group.

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