Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Deadly Fighting Rages for Control of Afghan City VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- Officials in Afghanistan said Monday security forces were locked in fierce battles with Taliban insurgents to keep them from capturing the capital of the country's southern Helmand province.
• Women Concerned Over Underrepresentation in Afghan Talks VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- While the Afghan government and the Taliban continue their negotiation efforts to reach a peace agreement, women's rights activists in Afghanistan say they are increasingly concerned that the talks, dominated by men, could lead to a decrease in their rights and freedoms gained since 2001.
• Afghan forces kill over 70 Taliban militants, detain local leader in Helmand: officials Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Afghan military forces have carried out an attack on a group of Taliban militants in Helmand, killing scores of them and arresting the group's local governor days after an escalation of fighting in the southern province.
• U.S. Strikes Taliban In Helmand, Warns Militants To Halt Offensive RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- U.S. forces have come to the aid of the Afghan Army in the southern Helmand Province, striking at Taliban fighters who had attacked government security forces in the area in recent days and warning the militants to "immediately stop" their offensive in the area.
• Afghan Forces Carry Out Attack on Taliban in Helmand Province, Local Authorities Say Sputnik 12 Oct 2020 -- The Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban insurgents in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban's local deputy governor, the Helmand Governor's press office said in a statement.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Stout Returns from Deployment US Navy 12 Oct 2020 -- The Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) returned to Naval Station Norfolk today, marking the end of a nine month deployment to U.S. 2nd, 5th, and 6th Fleet areas of operation.
• USS Comstock Embarks Mark VI Patrol Boats and ExMCM for Maritime Security Operations US Navy 12 Oct 2020 -- USS Comstock (LSD 45) is underway after loading Mark VI patrol boats and expeditionary mine countermeasure (ExMCM) elements in Guam to integrate Navy expeditionary forces aboard the amphibious dock landing ship for a security patrol in the Philippine Sea.
• Two new guided missile destroyers enter Chinese naval service Global Times 12 Oct 2020 -- Two new and advanced guided missile destroyers have recently entered service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, official reports show. This takes the tally of new destroyers that have been commissioned into the PLA Navy this year known to the general public up to four, which analysts said shows a strong momentum of growth for the PLA Navy amid external instability and pressure.
• China readies draft export control to protect national security Global Times 12 Oct 2020 -- China is set to advance a new export control law with four new amendments to protect the country's national security.
• China launches new optical remote-sensing satellite PLA Daily 12 Oct 2020 -- China successfully launched a new optical remote-sensing satellite from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 12:57 a.m. on Monday (Beijing Time).

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• 12 October 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Oct 2020
• One fifth of Yemen's population suffering from mental health disorders: UNFPA Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Yemen says twenty percent of the population in the war-ravaged Arab country suffers from mental health disorders, amid the ongoing Saudi-led military onslaught and tight blockade.
• Israeli Cabinet Approves UAE Peace Deal VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- Israel's Cabinet has approved an agreement on normalizing relations with the United Arab Emirates, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan have agreed to meet soon.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan Accuse Each Other of Violating Nagorno-Karabakh Cease-Fire VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to report fighting Monday despite a cease-fire brokered in the disputed breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which each country claims.
• Why is Azerbaijan Fighting? VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- The mounting death toll in and around Nagorno-Karabakh will make it harder for outside powers to persuade Armenia and Azerbaijan to stand down and return to the negotiating table, fear diplomats and analysts.
• Iran invites sides in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to respect ceasefire Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry has invited the sides involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to respect a truce that was recently negotiated by Russia to end the firefight between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region.
• Iran's reaction to violation of Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire ISNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saeed Khatibzadeh deplored the violation of a ceasefire between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and called on both sides to show restraint and stop attacking civilians.
• Turkey's defense minister says Armenia must leave Azerbaijan's territory Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says Armenian forces must immediately leave Azerbaijan's territory.
• Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Fresh shelling breaches fragile ceasefire Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Fresh fighting has been reported between Azerbaijan and Armenian-backed forces in and around the disputed South Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh, with both sides accusing each other of violating a humanitarian ceasefire that came into force two days ago to put the plug on 25 days of fighting in the region.
• Fresh Fighting Puts Further Strain On Nagorno-Karabakh Truce Deal RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- Fresh clashes have broken out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, with both sides accusing the other of violating a Russian-brokered cease-fire.
• Greece denounces as 'direct threat to regional peace' Turkey's decision to send back survey ship to disputed waters Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Greece has condemned Turkey's decision to send its research ship to the Eastern Mediterranean on a seismic survey mission, vowing to press the European Union to impose sanctions on Ankara over the move.
• Turkey once again sending seismic survey ship to disputed waters with Greece Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Turkey is once again planning to send its research ship to the Eastern Mediterranean on a seismic survey mission, after hopes for deescalation of tensions with its NATO ally Greece were dashed with the European Union's sanctions threat against Ankara.
• Greece Slams Turkey's Move to Send Research Ship to East Med as 'Direct Threat to Regional Peace' Sputnik 12 Oct 2020 -- The gas reserves of the eastern Mediterranean have been in the centre of tensions between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, which all have competing claims to the territory.
• Incumbent president, Turkey-backed premier to vie in Northern Cyprus runoff Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Incumbent President Mustafa Akinci and Ankara-backed Prime Minister Ersin Tatar will go to a presidential run-off in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus following an election Sunday.
• Amnesty report highlights Myanmar military's disregard for civilian suffering Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Amnesty International has accused Myanmar's army of human rights abuses against civilians in the states of Chin and Rakhine under the pretext of fighting an armed group called the Arakan Army.
• Ethnic Rakhine in Bangladesh Protest Against Myanmar's 'Military Aggression' Radio Free Asia 12 Oct 2020 -- Hundreds of mainly Buddhist ethnic Rakhine people living in Bangladesh staged a rare, if not unprecedented, protest over the weekend against Myanmar's alleged military aggression in Rakhine state, saying their community there faces "ethnic cleansing," much like the stateless Rohingya.
• Israel green-lights construction of 100s new settler units in occupied West Bank Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Israeli authorities have approved plans for the construction of hundreds of new settler units in the occupied West Bank, despite an agreement reached with the United Arab Emirates last month on normalization of ties, which is claimed to have put a freeze on Tel Aviv's plans for further annexation of Palestinian territories.

News Reports

• EU agrees to sanctions targeting Russians over Navalny case Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- The European Union (EU) has agreed to back a French-German proposal to sanction a number of Russian officials over accusations of the poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
• Sanctions Against Russia Over Navalny Should Not Impede Cooperation With Moscow, Borrell Says Sputnik 12 Oct 2020 -- High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell said on Monday that sanctions against Russia over the case of opposition figure Alexey Navalny should not get in the way of EU cooperation with Moscow on a number of issues, including on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
• Russia Expels Two Bulgarian Diplomats In Tit-For-Tat Move RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- Russia says it is expelling two Bulgarian diplomats, nearly three weeks after two staff at the Russian Embassy in Sofia accused of military espionage were told to leave.
• Russia Expels Two Bulgarian Diplomats Sputnik 12 Oct 2020 -- Bulgaria announced in late-September that it had moved to expel two Russian diplomats, claiming they could be involved in spying activities in the Balkan country.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on October 12, 2020 PRC MofA 12 Oct 2020
• China's Foreign Minister Visits Malaysia Days After Chinese Boats Detained Radio Free Asia 12 Oct 2020 -- China's foreign minister was due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur late Monday while touring five Southeast Asian nations, amid tensions in the South China Sea and days after Malaysia's coast guard detained six Chinese fishing boats and their crews on suspicion of trespassing in territorial waters.
• HK postpones address as Lam will visit Beijing to seek policy support Global Times 12 Oct 2020 -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will postpone this year's annual policy address which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, as Chief Executive Carrie Lam has been invited to attend the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone's anniversary event on the same day and she will visit Beijing to seek central government policy support.
• HKSAR chief executive postpones policy address Global Times 12 Oct 2020 -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Monday announced that she will postpone her annual policy address originally scheduled on Wednesday.
• Former HKSAR chief executive warns of structural damage to economy, sees hope in "dual circulation" People's Daily 12 Oct 2020 -- Hong Kong must avoid structural damage to its economy, and the first step toward recovery is to bring the COVID-19 epidemic under control, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
• China's Xi Heads South, Prompting Last-Minute Change of Plans in Hong Kong Radio Free Asia 12 Oct 2020 -- Ruling Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping will head south to Shenzhen this week, in a nod to the economic reforms launched during a similar trip by late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping nearly three decades earlier.
• China Confirms Jailing of Five Missing Relatives of Netherlands-Based Uyghur Activist Radio Free Asia 12 Oct 2020 -- At least five of nearly 20 missing relatives of a Netherlands-based Uyghur activist have been sentenced to prison, he recently learned, after receiving a letter confirming the incarcerations from the Chinese government in response to an inquiry by the Dutch foreign ministry.
• Beijing begins preparation for national population census People's Daily 12 Oct 2020 -- Beijing kicked off 21-day door-to-door household visits starting on Sunday until Oct. 31 in preparation for China's seventh national population census, said the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.
• Taiwan tells China to stop political manipulation CNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Taiwan urged China on Monday to stop engaging in political manipulation to avoid hurting cross-Taiwan Strait relations at a time when bilateral ties have dipped to a new low.
• Minister inspects NASC after delivery of final six Black Hawks CNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) on Monday inspected the National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) base in Kaohsiung after it received a final delivery of six Black Hawk helicopters for use in rescue missions last week.
• Taiwan spy used Europe academic post to infiltrate mainland, harm China-Europe ties: sources Global Times 12 Oct 2020 -- Sources in the Chinese mainland's state security agency recently provided details to the Global Times of the case against a Taiwan spy who used his academic post in Europe as a cover to collect intelligence, recruit mainland personnel to become Taiwan spies, and sow discord between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and other nations.
• S. Korea calls on DPRK to return to dialogue for substantive progress People's Daily 12 Oct 2020 -- South Korea called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday to return to the dialogue table for substantive progress in the complete denuclearization of and a permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.
• Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Participants in Military Parade KCNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, had a photo session with the participants in the military parade for celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WPK on Oct. 11.
• North Korea holds Mass Games to celebrate ruling party founding anniv. Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- North Korea has celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of its ruling Workers' Party with a mass gymnastics show featuring tens of thousands of performers.
• Some North Koreans Bristle at 'Sneaky' Army Parade, Mock Kim's Apology Radio Free Asia 12 Oct 2020 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivered on a pledge to show a "new strategic weapon to the world," unveiling a new intercontinental ballistic missile at a huge military parade, but residents of the reclusive country told RFA Kim's tearful apology for economic shortcomings came up short.
• Iranian Diplomat Arrested In Belgium Threatens Authorities Radio Farda 12 Oct 2020 -- Belgian police have released documents saying an Iranian diplomat in Belgium's custody, Assadollah Asadi, has threatened that a verdict against him could lead to "revenge."
• Refinery at South Pars produces 40,000 bpd gas condensate IRNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Operator of 11th refinery at Phase 13 of South Pars Gas Field, the world's largest gas field in southern Iran, produces 40,000 bpd gas condensate.
• Iran to sanction 45 American diplomats, intelligence officers ISNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Head of Iranian Judiciary's High Council for Human Rights, Ali Bagheri announced that 45 natural persons linked to the US sanctions on Iran will be prosecuted.
• If nations don't have strong defense, US won't leave them alone: Supreme Leader ISNA 12 Oct 2020 -- The joint graduation ceremony for the cadets studying in the academies of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Armed Forces, was held on Monday by way of a videoconference between the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the commanders and certain military units who were present in the event.
• Arms embargo on Iran to be lifted on October 18 based on JCPOA: Khatibzadeh ISNA 12 Oct 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh stressed that on October 18, the arms embargo on Iran will be lifted based on Iran Nuclear Deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Germany reiterates full commitment to Iran nuclear deal, regrets US withdrawal Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Germany has reiterated its full commitment to a multilateral nuclear agreement signed between Iran and major world powers in 2015, saying the United States' move to pull out of the agreement is "regrettable."
• Sabotage In Deadly Incident Near Strait Of Hormuz Ruled Out Radio Farda 12 Oct 2020 -- The military prosecutor of Tehran province, Gholam Abbas Torki, says that there was no sabotage in the May 2020 accident in which a rocket hit the Konarak support vessel during a naval exercise in waters near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, killing 19 sailors and wounding 15 others.
• In Sign Of Losing Patience, EU Warns Of Sanctions For Belarus, Russia RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- The European Union has warned Belarus and Russia that it is prepared to enact new sanctions against both as the bloc's largest powers signal they are running out of patience with their eastern neighbors over corruption and a lack of democracy.
• Belarus Threatens To Use Lethal Weapons On Protesters RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- Belarus has threatened to fire on protesters to break up demonstrations against Alyaksandr Lukashenka, as EU foreign ministers agreed the strongman leader should be personally included on a sanctions list.
• Two Opposition Figures In Belarus Released From Jail After Meeting With Lukashenka RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- Belarusian authorities have released two opposition activists after embattled Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who claims to have won the August presidential election, met with them and 10 other jailed opposition figures.
• Belarus Allows Police to Use Firearms Against Protesters VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- Belarus' government says police will now be permitted to use firearms against protesters "if need be" as demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko continued Monday.
• Germany Calling for EU Sanctions on Belarusian President VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- Germany is calling for European Union sanctions on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
• Remarks by Deputy Secretary Stephen E. Biegun US Dept. of State 12 Oct 2020
• Embattled Kyrgyz President Reintroduces State Of Emergency In Bishkek Amid Unrest RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- Embattled Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has signed a decree reintroducing a state of emergency in Bishkek, the capital, after thousands poured into the streets last week, throwing the country into chaos over contested parliamentary elections.
• Kyrgyz Law Enforcement Agencies Regain Control Over Seized Parl't Building, Presidential Office Says Sputnik 12 Oct 2020 -- The Kyrgyz law enforcement agencies have regained control over the building housing the parliament and the presidential administration, which was previously seized by protesters, the presidential office said on Monday.
• Amid Fraud Allegations, Results Give Tajikistan's Rahmon Fifth Presidential Term RFE/RL 12 Oct 2020 -- Tajikistan's authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon has been reelected for a fifth term with nearly 91 percent of the vote, according to preliminary official results, following a tightly controlled and largely ceremonial election.
• Emomali Rahmon secures 5th term as Tajikistan's president Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- Tajikistan's incumbent Emomali Rahmon, 68, has been reelected in a landslide victory as the president of the Central Asian country.
• US sanctions hurting Sudan's move to democracy: PM Press TV 12 Oct 2020 -- The Sudanese prime minister has lashed out at the US' sanctions against his country, saying Washington's blacklisting of Khartoum has hampered the country's transition to democracy.
• Cambodia Signs Free Trade Agreement With China Months After EU Sanctions Radio Free Asia 12 Oct 2020 -- Cambodia signed a free-trade deal with China on Monday it hopes will help offset the loss of a tariff-free scheme for exports to the European Union and secured U.S. $140 million in funding from Beijing for several of the country's "top priority projects."
• UN chief urges ministers to provide 'decisive leadership' on climate action UN News 12 Oct 2020 -- With nations striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts, efforts must focus on decarbonizing the global economy and building a more inclusive and resilient future, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday.
• 'Staggering' rise in climate emergencies in last 20 years, new disaster research shows UN News 12 Oct 2020 -- The first 20 years of this century have seen a "staggering" rise in climate disasters, UN researchers said on Monday, while also maintaining that "almost all nations" have failed to prevent a "wave of death and illness" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Will Britain's Brexit Chickens Come Home to Roost? VOA 12 Oct 2020 -- Britain's Boris Johnson sees himself and Donald Trump as kindred spirits. The British leader, who has taken as much delight as the U.S. President in upending political norms and establishment conventions, had been banking on securing a transatlantic trade deal early in a second Trump term.