• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban Announces Prisoner Release VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- The Taliban announced late Wednesday it will soon release remaining imprisoned Afghan security force members, a day after a similar announcement from Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, indicating that the start of negotiations between the warring factions in Afghanistan may be close.
• Taliban say will free Afghan government inmates before Eid al-Adha Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The Taliban militant group says it will release the remaining Afghan government prisoners before Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) as a "goodwill gesture."
• UN Says More Than 100,000 Afghans Displaced By Conflict This Year RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- The United Nations says that more than 100,000 people fled conflict inside Afghanistan's borders so far this year amid continued violence, despite an agreement between the United States and the Taliban intended to pave the way for intra-Afghan peace talks.
• Suspected car bomb blast kills 18 in eastern Afghanistan Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- At least 18 people, including Afghan security personnel, are killed in a suspected car bombing in eastern Afghanistan, shortly before an expected ceasefire between the government and the Taliban militant group.
• Bomb Attack Kills At Least Eight Afghans Ahead Of Cease-Fire RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Afghan officials say at least eight people were killed and dozens injured in a bomb attack in the eastern province of Logar on July 30, just hours before a three-day cease-fire was to begin for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
• Pompeo says he raised Taliban 'bounties' on US troops with Russia despite Trump not doing so Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the Trump administration has confronted top Russian diplomats and military officers over the allegations about suspected Russian bounties on coalition forces in Afghanistan, despite Donald Trump previously calling it a "Fake News tale."

Defense Policy / Programs

• China, Russia Nearing Status as U.S. Nuclear Peers, Stratcom Commander Says DoD News 30 Jul 2020 -- For the first time, the United States will face two peer competitors with nuclear capabilities – China and Russia – by the end of this decade, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command said.
• Pentagon Justifies Need for First New Nuke in Decades With Rare Critique of Current Weapons Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- The Trump administration has been seeking funding for the modernisation of US nuclear capabilities; it plans to develop a new submarine-launched warhead, which will be included in the nation's arsenal by 2040.
• DOD Chief Information Officer Updates Reporters on Digital Modernization and the National Defense Strategy DoD 30 Jul 2020 -- Dana Deasy, Department of Defense Chief Information Officer
• F-35 crews conquer new territory in CENTCOM AOR CENTCOM 30 Jul 2020 -- The 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron did something in early July which had never been done before by an F-35A Lightning II unit - go into alert status.
• Readout of Virtual Meeting Between Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. James Anderson and Israel's Director of Policy and Political Military Affairs Zohar Palti DoD 30 Jul 2020
• Tenets of National Defense Strategy at Heart of Defense Department CIO Efforts DoD News 30 Jul 2020 -- The National Defense Strategy, which provides momentum to the Defense Department, also drives its information technology efforts, DOD's chief information officer said.
• RailOps transports divested tanks and other heavy equipment from USMC to Army USMC News 30 Jul 2020 -- As part of the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030, nearly 200 M1A1 Abrams Tanks, M-88 Recovery Vehicles, and Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges are moving through Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California throughout this month.
• U.S. to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany: Pentagon People's Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- The United States plans to withdraw 11,900 military personnel from Germany, reducing U.S. troops there from some 36,000 to 24,000, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Wednesday.
• Fighter Jet Scrambled to Intercept US Spy Planes Flying Near Russia's Black Sea Borders Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- The incident follows last week's string of interceptions of NATO spy planes and reconnaissance drones operating near Russia's maritime borders off the Black and Baltic seas, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea near the Russian naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus.
• PLA Navy's new bomber debuts in South China Sea drills Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- New warplanes affiliated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, including H-6G and H-6J bombers, recently conducted intensive round-the-clock drills in the South China Sea, China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday.
• China, ASEAN countries explore int'l military cooperation under normalized pandemic situation PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- From July 7 to 8, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Senior Officials' Meeting Plus and the ASEAN Regional Forum Security Policy Conference (ASPC) held video conferences, and Chinese military's representatives participated in the video conferences in Beijing, said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND), in a regular press conference on Thursday.
• PLA conducts 'high-intensity exercises' in South China Sea PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- The naval aviation units of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army conducted routine exercises in the South China Sea that improved pilots' combat techniques and overall all-weather fighting capability of the units, a military spokesman said on Thursday.
• Chinese armed forces rush to flood control after fight against epidemic:Spokesperson PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- PLA and armed police troops with a total of 725,000 person-time have participated in battling floods in southern China as of July 28 since the flood season this year, said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) at a regular press conference in Beijing on July 30.
• India's Rafale fighter jets have no chance against China's J-20: experts Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- India has recently received delivery of five Rafale fighter jets, with a former Indian air chief marshal boasting that the French-made warplanes' capability is superior to China's J-20 stealth fighter jet. Chinese experts said that the Rafale is only a third-plus generation fighter jet, and does not stand much of a chance against a stealth, fourth generation one like the J-20.
• IRGC will take firm, resolute action to defend Iran's interests: Statement Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says its forces will spare no sacrifice in defending the achievements of the Islamic Revolution as well as the Iranian nation and the Islamic establishment.
• Iranian Satellite Once Derided as 'Tumbling Webcam in Space' Snaps Pics of US's Largest Mideast Base Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- The images were reportedly obtained amid the ongoing massive war games in southern Iran involving multiple branches of the armed forces, including elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) formations.
• Philippines - Scout, Assault, and Light Support Boats with Armaments and Accessories DSCA 30 Jul 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Philippines of Scout, Assault, and Light Support Boats with armaments and related equipment for an estimated cost of $126 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Australia to build military fuel reserve with US funding Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The Australian government plans to set up a military fuel reserve in the port city of Darwin with funding provided by the United States, an apparent move to boost military cooperation with Washington amid rising tensions with China.
• Athens Elects to Buy 50 Turkish Tactical Drones Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- Turkish drone maker Assuva Savunma Sanayi announced on Tuesday the Greek Ministry of Defense had decided to buy 50 tactical drones made by the company which can be used for search and rescue missions as well as minesweeping.
• Briefing With Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Ambassador Michael Kozak On the Administration's Efforts to Promote Democracy in the Western Hemisphere US Dept. of State 30 Jul 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For July 30, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 30 July 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Jul 2020
• US military provocations in S.China Sea to strengthen China's resolve: defense ministry Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- Disregarding the facts and history, the US has made unfounded accusations against China, sowed discord in the South China Sea and sent two US Navy aircraft carriers for dual exercises in the region, which fully exposed its hegemony mentality and double standards, China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Ren Guoqiang told a press conference on Thursday.
• China Hits Back at Australia over South China Sea Statement Radio Free Asia 30 Jul 2020 -- In the latest flurry of diplomatic notes to the United Nations on the South China Sea dispute, China has lashed out at Australia for declaring Beijing's expansive maritime claims illegal, while Malaysia reiterated that it too did not accept China's stance on the contested waters.
• Thousands of Yemeni patients at risk of death due to ongoing siege: Health Minister Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The Yemeni health minister has warned that thousands of patients in the country are at serious risk of losing their lives as a result of the ongoing Saudi-led blockade and a decision by international humanitarian organizations to leave the war-torn country.
• Massive car bomb explosion kills nine in Turkish-held northeastern Syrian village Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- At least nine people have been killed when a massive car bomb explosion struck a checkpoint manned by Turkish-backed Takfiri militants in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah.
• Iraq's anti-terror fighters will never surrender to US: PMU chief Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The chairman of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd al-Sha'abi has highlighted the role of the counter-terrorism force in defending the Arab country against the Daesh Takfiri terror outfit, stressing that it will never give in to the US.
• Libyan rebels overhaul, operationalize old S-200 systems: Report Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- Rebel forces in Libya have purportedly overhauled and operationalized old Russian-built S-200 air defense systems to use them against government forces and Turkey.
• Ukrainian Ex-President Kravchuk Takes Presidential Envoy Post In Group For Resolving Conflict RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Ukraine's first President Leonid Kravchuk has agreed to take the post of presidential envoy in the trilateral contact group on resolving the armed conflict in the country's east.
• Chinese and Indian border troops are gradually disengaging from contact: Spokesperson PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- "China and India have conducted effective communication and coordination through both diplomatic and military channels since the clash at the Galwan Valley region. At present, the situation in this region tends toward de-escalation, and the disengagement between the border troops of the two countries is gradually carried forward," said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense（MND）at a regular press conference on July 30.
• Failure to Disengage, Military Build-Up Indicate No Quick Fix to Border Dispute Between India, China Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- India and China have been in a border dispute along the 4,057 km Line of Actual Control since the last week in April. The two sides have engaged in several rounds of diplomatic and military level talks, following a violent face-off on 15 June.
• Indian Ministry of External Affairs Says Disengagement on Border With China Not Completed Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- The disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control between China and India is still ongoing following the recent deadly clashes on the border between the two countries, Indian Ministry of External Affairs representative Anurag Srivastava said on Thursday.
• UN: Israeli forces demolished, seized 30 Palestinian structures in West Bank in 2 weeks Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says Israeli authorities have either demolished or seized 30 Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds, displacing more than two dozen people in two weeks.
• UN Calls for Action on Landmine Deaths Among Displaced in Sahel, Lake Chad Regions VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- The U.N. refugee agency is calling for urgent action to stop the killing and maiming of refugees and other forcibly displaced people from landmines and improvised explosive devices in Africa's Sahel and Lake Chad basin regions.
• 9 Civilians Die in Two Attacks in Northern Mozambique VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- At least nine civilians were killed in new attacks carried out by Islamist insurgents in the restive province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique, local sources said.

News Reports

• Portland Riots Read-out: July 30 DHS 30 Jul 2020
• US Federal Agents to Begin Portland Withdrawal VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- Governor Kate Brown of the northwestern U.S. state of Oregon said federal officers would begin leaving the city of Portland on Thursday after an agreement between local and federal officials.
• Troops to deploy in more US cities as Trump reiterates crackdown on protesters Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The US Justice Department says it will send federal agents to Cleveland, Milwaukee and Detroit amid crackdown on anti-racism protests, expanding the deployment of troops to major US cities under a program authorized by President Donald Trump.
• US Appeals Court in Washington, DC Agrees to Rehear Flynn Case Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated it earlier ruling from last month and agreed to rehear the case in which the court's three-judge panel ordered a lower court to dismiss the criminal case against former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to a filing on Thursday.
• Briefing by Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department Alexey Zaytsev, Moscow, July 30, 2020 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 Jul 2020
• Pompeo Says U.S. Will 'Do Everything' To Stop Nord Stream 2 Project RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told lawmakers that the United States intends to impose sanctions on firms that continue to help Russia build a natural-gas pipeline to Europe as he sought to dispel concerns about Washington's commitment to halt the controversial project.
• Ex-Trump Adviser Says Putin Living In A 'Bubble,' Out Of Fresh Ideas To Move Russia Forward RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- A former senior foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump said U.S. policy toward Russia continues to be hamstrung by partisan politics but that Moscow also needs to change its behavior for bilateral relations to improve.
• Russian Oligarchs Find Way To Bypass U.S. Sanctions Through Secrecy Of Art Sales RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Two Russian oligarchs have been able to bypass U.S. sanctions barring them from U.S. financial systems by taking advantage of lax laws governing high-priced art purchases in the United States, according to a congressional report released on July 29 following a two-year investigation.
• Russian Intelligence Hit In First Ever EU Sanctions Against Cyberattacks RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- The European Union has imposed its first-ever sanctions against alleged cyberattackers, targeting four Russian citizens and a unit of Moscow's GRU military intelligence agency.
• The United States Applauds the EU's Action on Cyber Sanctions US Dept. of State 30 Jul 2020 -- The United States welcomes today's announcement from the European Union's High Representative Josep Borrell regarding the body's first designations under its cyber sanctions framework.
• Russia's Security Service Arrests Black Sea Fleet Officer Working for Ukraine Intelligence Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- A serviceman of Russia's Black Sea Fleet who worked for the Ukrainian military intelligence was placed into custody in Sevastopol for committing high treason, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday.
• Russia arrests suspected Ukraine spy in Black Sea Fleet Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has arrested a serviceman from the country's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean city of Sevastopol over suspected espionage for Ukraine.
• US expands charges against former Twitter staff allegedly spying on dissidents for Saudi Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- The United States has reportedly expanded charges against two former Twitter employees and another individual accused of spying for Saudi Arabia on dissidents.
• Researcher Pleaded Guilty to Conspiring to Steal Scientific Trade Secrets from Ohio Children's Hospital to Sell in China US Dept. of Justice 30 Jul 2020 -- Crime is Another Example of Economic Malfeasance Related to the Peoples Republic of China Accommodating Theft of Commercial Products They Cannot Field Organically
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on July 30, 2020 PRC MofA 30 Jul 2020
• Last BeiDou satellite starts operation in network PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- The 55th and last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has commenced operation in the network after completing in-orbit tests and network access evaluations, according to a statement from China's Satellite Navigation System Management Office Wednesday.
• 12 Hong Kong Opposition Candidates Disqualified from September Elections VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- Hong Kong authorities have disqualified 12 pro-democracy candidates from running in September's legislative elections.
• Hong Kong Officials Disqualify 12 Pro-Democracy Election Hopefuls Radio Free Asia 30 Jul 2020 -- Election authorities in Hong Kong on Thursday disqualified 12 pro-democracy figures who tried to register as candidates in legislative elections slated for September, including former 2014 student protest leader Joshua Wong.
• HK junks 12 LegCo opposition candidates, reviews to remove secessionists Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- Twelve candidates, including secessionist Joshua Wong, for Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) election scheduled for September 6 have been disqualified (DQ) for failing the requirements of the elections.
• 4 arrested for breaking security law in first major action from HKPF's new natl security unit Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- Four people who claimed to be students have been arrested for breaching the national security law for Hong Kong and suspected of secession by advocating for "Hong Kong independence," the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) announced on Wednesday night.
• Call for probe of more secessionists after 1st major operation Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- There's a call for more secessionists in Hong Kong, including Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Tai Yiu-ting, to be investigated after four people who claimed to be students were arrested for suspected secessionist activities in the first major operation of the Hong Kong police's new national security unit on Wednesday.
• HKSAR govt supports disqualifying 12 nominees to LegCo election Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- HKSAR government voiced support to the decision by the electoral affairs commission to disqualify 12 candidates from the opposition camp in the LegCo election: HKSAR govt.
• EU's move over national security law in Hong Kong wrong: HKSAR gov't Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Wednesday night that European Union's (EU) conclusions and measures in response to the enactment of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR was a wrong decision.
• Hong Kong police arrest 4 people on suspicion of breach of national security law People's Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- Hong Kong police said on late Wednesday that they had arrested four people on suspicion of breach of the national security law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
• Chinese FM urges US to stop politicization of trade in response to TikTok review Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- China urged the US to provide an open, just, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies and stop the politicization of trade issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday in response to the US government's national security review of TikTok.
• Key CPC meeting to convene in Oct, focusing on new plan on economic, social development amid global uncertainties Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- The fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will be held in Beijing in October, it was announced Thursday.
• CPC leaders analyze economy, to convene Central Committee plenum in October PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- The fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will be held in Beijing in October, according to a decision made at a CPC Central Committee Political Bureau meeting on Thursday.
• Pompeo Claims Chinese Consulate in Houston Was a 'Den of Spies' Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- Last week, Pompeo announced that the Trump administration has been working to build a coalition of countries that would push China to change its political behaviour.
• Pompeo claims 'tide is turning' in US dealings with China Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the "tide is turning" in United States dealings with China, claiming that there is international support for American policies against Beijing.
• Beijing says US stoking new Cold War on China ahead of presidential election Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- China says the United States is triggering a new Cold War as a number of American politicians are looking for a scapegoat to rally further support for President Donald Trump ahead of the US presidential election in November.
• Beijing Urges Washington to Stop Unjustified Suppression of Chinese Companies Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- China is urging the United States to stop politicizing economic affairs and cease the unjustified suppression of Chinese companies, including tech giant Huawei, the country's ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said.
• Lee Teng-hui dies; pivotal figure in Taiwan's transition to democracy CNA 30 Jul 2020 -- Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who guided Taiwan through a rapid and peaceful transition to democracy while serving as Taiwan's president from 1988 to 2000, has died at the age of 97.
• On the Passing of Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui US Dept. of State 30 Jul 2020
• 'Godfather of Taiwan secessionism' dies at 97 Global Times 30 Jul 2020 -- Former Taiwan leader, also known as the "Godfather of Taiwan secessionism," Lee Teng-hui, has died at the age of 97, a Taiwan hospital announced on Thursday.
• U.S. lawmaker introduces Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act CNA 30 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Congressman Ted Yoho on Wednesday announced the introduction of the Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act, which would authorize the United States to respond militarily if China resorts to the use of force against Taiwan.
• Rouhani: Regional security, stability only possible through regional cooperation Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says establishment of security in the region is only possible through cooperation among all regional countries.
• Expansion of the Scope of Iran Metals Sanctions Targeting Iran's Nuclear, Military, and Ballistic Missile Programs and the IRGC US Dept. of State 30 Jul 2020 -- Iran's nuclear, ballistic missile, and military programs pose a grave threat to international peace and security.
• US Expands Sanctions Against Iran to Target Nuclear, Military, Ballistic Missile Programs - Pompeo Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- United States sanctions against Tehran were reimposed after President Donald Trump in 2018 announced a unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal.
• US Senator Accuses Twitter Of Violating Sanctions By Providing Platform To Iran's Khamenei Radio Farda 30 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has said that Twitter is violating sanctions on Iran by providing the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with account services.
• Iranian Delegation Arrives In Kiev To Discuss Compensation For Downed Ukrainian Flight Radio Farda 30 Jul 2020 -- Iranian news agencies on Thursday reported that a delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for International and Legal Affairs Mohsen Baharvand has arrived in Kiev for talks with the Ukrainian authorities over the downing of Flight PS752 over Tehran on January 8.
• Iran Agrees to Pay Compensation for Ukranian Plane Downed in January, Foreign Ministry Says Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- In January, the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 killed all of the 176 people on board. Commenting on the tragedy, Tehran later said that the plane was mistakenly downed after the military confused it with a hostile target.
• Iranian Media Name Potential Candidates For 2021 Presidential Election Radio Farda 30 Jul 2020 -- Nine months before the next presidential election in Iran, concerns over the coronavirus pandemic has pushed competition over the post of president of the Islamic Republic to backstage.
• Iran Dismisses Leaked Details of Proposed China Deal VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- Talks between Iran and China aimed at finalizing a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement are continuing despite what Tehran dismissed as "baseless rumors" about the deal that leaked earlier this month.
• Dollar Rising Again In Iran After Central Bank's Intervention Fizzled Out Radio Farda 30 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. dollar has started rising again since Saturday in Iran after a central bank intervention last week briefly strengthened the Iranian currency.
• NASA Rover En Route to Mars to Look for Signs of Life VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. has launched its next-generation Mars rover in search of potential signs of life on the red planet.
• What Is Russia's Vagner Paramilitary Group And What Was It Doing In Belarus Ahead Of Vote? RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- When authorities in Belarus conducted a high-profile operation to detain some 33 suspected Russian mercenaries near Minsk on July 29, officials were quick to connect the incident with the country's August 9 presidential election.
• Kremlin Refutes Claims That Russia Sends People to Belarus to Destabilize Situation Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refuted on Thursday as "slander" claims that Russia could have tasked anyone with destabilizing the situation in Belarus ahead of the presidential election there.
• Belarus Arrests Suspected Russian Mercenaries, Alleges Election Plot VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- Relations between Russia and its erstwhile ally Belarus veered into uncharted territory after Belarusian security forces on Wednesday detained more than 30 suspected Russian mercenaries near the capital Minsk – allegedly for trying to disrupt Belarus' Aug. 9 presidential elections.
• Belarusian Authorities Link Jailed Opposition Politicians With Detained Russian Military Contarctors RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Belarusian authorities have linked jailed opposition politicians with a probe launched against 33 contractors from the private Russian military company Vagner, who were detained and allegedly wanted to destabilize the country ahead of an August 9 presidential election.
• Belarusian Presidential Campaigner's Sister Briefly Detained For Questioning RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- A sister of Veranika Tsapkala, the wife of former potential presidential candidate Valer Tsapkala, says she was briefly detained for questioning after she disappeared, raising fears she had been kidnapped.
• Tens Of Thousands Rally In Minsk In Support Of Opposition Presidential Candidate RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Tens of thousands of people have gathered in the Belarusian capital for the largest opposition rally in the country since the start of the campaign ahead of a presidential election on August 9.
• Belarus, Ukraine Agree to Boost Border Control to Prevent Destabilization Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- Minsk and Kiev have reached an agreement to boost border control and strengthen cooperation between relevant agencies to prevent destabilization ahead of the Belarusian presidential election, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
• Myanmar Parties Select Candidates to Draw Youth And Women Voters in 2020 Contests Radio Free Asia 30 Jul 2020 -- Myanmar's political parties have put forward more female and young candidates for this year's general elections than in past polls, ramping up efforts to draw more ballots from the country's large proportion of women voters, analysts and party officials said Thursday.
• Sanctions pretext to violate Syria's sovereignty, support terrorism: Ja'afari Press TV 30 Jul 2020 -- Syria's Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari has denounced the Western economic sanctions against his country, saying the coercive measures are used as a pretext to keep up violations of Syrian sovereignty and support the terrorist groups wreaking havoc on the Arab country.
• Protesters In Bulgaria Turn Up Volume On Call For Government Leaders To Resign RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Thousands of people marched in cities across Bulgaria on July 29, marking three weeks of protests to demand the resignation of the government and the prosecutor-general.
• Azerbaijan's Despotic Ruler Throws 'Tantrum' In Unprecedented Crackdown On Pro-Democracy Rivals RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Facing growing public dissent over corruption, a mismanaged economy, his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and no progress in the country's long-running conflict with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan's strong-arm ruler Ilham Aliyev decided to crack down on the opposition.
• Serbian President Defends Controversial Investigation Into NGOs, Other Critics RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has defended an investigation into alleged money laundering and terrorism funding launched against dozens of rights groups and independent journalists critical of his government's policies.
• Georgian Opposition Figure Giorgi Rurua Sentenced To Four Years In Prison RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- Georgian opposition figure Giorgi Rurua has been sentenced to four years in prison for the illegal possession and carrying of firearms, charges he and his supporters have called politically motivated.
• UN Expert: Kyrgyz Activist's Death In Custody Shows 'Cruel Disregard' For Human Rights RFE/RL 30 Jul 2020 -- A UN human rights expert says the recent death of an ethnic Uzbek rights defender, Azimjan Askarov, while in Kyrgyz custody shows a "cruel disregard" for human rights in the Central Asian country.
• Judge Orders House Arrest for Former El Salvador Defense Minister Linked to Gang Conspiracy VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- El Salvador's former defense minister, General David Munguía Payes, is under house arrest, a week after he was detained for being involved in a pact with gangs.
• Ivory Coast Ruling Party Nominates President Ouattara to Seek Another Term VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- Ivory Coast's ruling RHDP party nominated President Alassane Ouattara to seek re-election, but he is withholding a decision on seeking a third term.
• WFP Appeals For $250M to Ease Zimbabwe's 'Dire Situation' Food Crisis VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- The United Nations World Food Program is appealing for an additional $250 million in emergency aid to help millions of Zimbabweans at risk of starvation. The WFP says the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening an already severe hunger crisis in the southern African nation.