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Current Operations

• US Warns 'Distressingly High' Afghan Violence Could Derail Deal with Taliban VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- The United States has warned that "distressingly" high levels of violence in Afghanistan threaten to derail Washington's peace-building deal with Taliban insurgents and the ongoing intra-Afghan peace negotiations.
• U.S. Envoy Warns That 'Distressingly High' Level Of Violence In Afghanistan Could Derail Peace Process RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- U.S. envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad warned on October 18 after a car bomb killed 14 people in Ghor in central Afghanistan that continued high levels of violence in the country could threaten the peace process.
• Rouhani: Solution to Afghanistan's problems intra-Afghan political talks IRNA 19 Oct 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that it is important that the people of Afghanistan achieve a real peace to preserve their successes after years of war and conflict, and the political negotiations, as well as intra-Afghan talks, are the solutions to the problem.
• Abdullah: Afghan nation fed up with war IRNA 19 Oct 2020 -- Chairman of Afghan Peace Council Abdullah Abdullah says that the people of Afghanistan are sick and tired of war and prolonged conflict as the country has been suffering from civil wars for years.
• Intra-Afghan political talks the solution to Afghanistan's problems: President Rouhani ISNA 19 Oct 2020 -- Supporting the efforts made to establish peace, stability and security in Afghanistan by the High Council for National Reconciliation, Iranian President said, "Peace, stability and lasting security in Afghanistan, as a neighbour and brother country, are of special importance to the Islamic Republic of Iran".
• US exploiting Afghan peace talks for election purposes: Iran president Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to take advantage of Afghan peace talks to win the forthcoming presidential election and to make up for its political failures across the world.
• US denies airstrikes on Taliban violate Doha peace deal Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- The United States has defended last week's military attack on Taliban positions in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, which the militant group says came in violation of a so-called peace agreement between them and Washington, an apparent further proof of the US failure to bring security to the war-ravaged country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Task Force Illini creates Mobile Training Team to prepare Ukrainian rotational units Army News 19 Oct 2020 -- A Mobile Training Team was created in an effort to streamline the process for rotational units coming to Combat Training Center-Yavoriv. Units coming to Yavoriv have a limited time to learn essential skills such as the Military Decision Making Process. By setting the stage in this way, incoming training units can maximize the effectiveness of their time on site.
• Defense Official Calls Artificial Intelligence the New Oil DoD News 19 Oct 2020 -- Artificial intelligence is the new oil, and the governments or the countries that get the best datasets will unquestionably develop the best AI, the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center's chief technology officer said Oct. 15.
• U.S., Japan, Australia Conduct Trilateral Naval Exercises in South China Sea US Navy 19 Oct 2020 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) in the South China Sea for multinational exercises, Oct. 19.
• Navy, Marine Corps reach 'Unprecedented Milestone' US Navy 19 Oct 2020 -- For the first time in recorded naval aviation history, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps closed out the previous fiscal year without a single aviation-related fatality in either service.
• Sun sets as Harriers prepare for Lightning USMC News 19 Oct 2020 -- Marine Attack Squadron 311 conducts a sundown ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, October 15.
• Joint training strengthens air defense capability US Air Force 19 Oct 2020 -- For decades, the superiority of the U.S. military has come from integrating the strengths of the military branches in joint operations.
• Historic agreement opens defense data to academia US Air Force 19 Oct 2020 -- Data is a commodity that fuels the technological world. Data powers machine learning, drives advances in artificial intelligence and helps corporate and government leaders make better, more informed decisions.
• Orange Flag brings test data to warfighter US Air Force 19 Oct 2020 -- Units from across the country converged at Edwards Air Force Base in September to execute the multi-domain, large force test series exercise known as Orange Flag. The latest feat involved a dramatic change in how test professionals engage with test data.
• NATO Allies and partners reaffirm their commitment of financial support for sustainable Afghan security forces NATO 19 Oct 2020 -- Today (19 October 2020), NATO Allies and partners met at the plenary meeting of the Afghan National Army Trust Fund Board. They reviewed the implementation of their financial contributions in support to the Afghan security forces, discussed contributions for 2021 and reiterated their commitment to provide financial support to the Afghan security forces through 2024.
• Kremlin Would Prefer to Hear US Readiness to Extend New START, Presidential Spokesman Says Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- The Kremlin would prefer the United States to announce its readiness to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), as giving up on the deal could have a negative impact on the entire world, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.
• PLA soldiers stationed in Tibet receive new QBU-191 assault rifles Global Times 19 Oct 2020 -- People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers stationed in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region have received new marksman rifles QBU-191, which have 30-shot magazine and variable magnification scope that can increase long-distance hit precision.
• The Chinese military's new cold-weather quilts effective at minus 40? Global Times 19 Oct 2020 -- The Chinese military has made a batch of new cold-weather quilts and clothing for troops stationed on the Tibetan plateau border defense posts, the People's Liberation Army News reported Sunday.
• Xi stresses carrying forward China's volunteers army's spirit in War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea PLA Daily 19 Oct 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed carrying forward the great spirit demonstrated by the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in the new era and striving to achieve national rejuvenation.
• CMC unveils decision on advancing new-type military personnel training PLA Daily 19 Oct 2020 -- With the approval of Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the CMC has issued a decision on advancing the training system to cultivate new-type military personnel.
• Video: China's New H-6N Bomber Spotted Armed With New Hypersonic Cruise Missile Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Video has emerged of a Xian H-6N, China's new ballistic missile-hauling bomber, carrying what Chinese military insiders said is a new type of hypersonic cruise missile.
• Malabar 2020 Naval Exercise India PIB 19 Oct 2020 -- The Malabar series of Naval exercises started in 1992 as a bilateral Indian Navy-US Navy exercise. Japan joined the Naval exercise in 2015. This annual exercise has been conducted off the coast of Guam in the Philippine Sea in 2018, off the coast the Japan in 2019 and is expected to be held in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea later this year.
• Indian Defence Secretary to Review Weaponry Order in Russia in the Event of a Clash with China Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Amid India's longest-ever border standoff with China, the nation's military is rushing to provide winter gears and weaponry to thousands of troops in the high-altitude region Ladakh amid freezing conditions. India has expedited several defence purchases, including that of air defence missile systems and 33 fighter jets from Russia.
• Iran naval weapons capable of competing with foreign types IRNA 19 Oct 2020 -- Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said that Iran has increased its marine capabilities which can today compete with their foreign types.
• Iran ready to sign military-security agreements with Persian Gulf countries: Defense Minister ISNA 19 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Defense Minister, Brigadier General Amir Hatami stressed, "Termination of arms embargo against Iran has created an opportunity for us to import the weapons we need and export our weapons to other countries".
• US afraid of Iran's return to world's military export market: Ministry Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Iran says its potential for military exports far outweighs its purchase requirements, noting how the United States is afraid of the Islamic Republic's tapping the export market now that Tehran has had an arms embargo lifted against it.
• China slams US sanction threats after arms embargo against Iran terminated Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- China has lambasted the United States for 'peddling arms' and 'interfering' in the domestic affairs of other countries in the wake of Washington's threat that it will impose sanctions against any country that trades arms with Iran.
• Beijing Calls US Threats to Impose Sanctions Over Arms Supply to Iran Senseless Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- The US threats to impose sanctions on anyone supplying weapons to Iran are senseless, as such restrictions would be illegitimate, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday.
• Iran Plans to Sell More Arms Than Import as Embargo Lifted, Defence Minister Says Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Iranian Defence Minister Mohammad Amir Khatami said that with the lifting of the arms embargo, Tehran plans to sell more military products than purchase them.
• Defence Secretary announces MOD Science and Technology Strategy 2020 UK MOD 19 Oct 2020 -- The MOD Science and Technology Strategy 2020 sets out how MOD will secure and maintain scientific and technological advantage for the future.
• 'Drunken' submariner raises doubts about safety of UK's nuclear deterrence Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- A Royal Navy officer has reportedly tried to take charge of his submarine's Trident nuclear missiles while drunk.
• Royal Navy Officer Responsible for Nuclear Sub Reportedly Sent Home After Arriving to Work 'Drunk' Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- While the vessel was docked in Georgia, United States for maintenance. An officer reportedly staggered onto the nuclear-armed submarine drunk holding a bag of leftover barbecue chicken.
• Japan and Vietnam Agree on Defense Export Pact, Discuss South China Sea RFA 19 Oct 2020 -- Japan has agreed in principle to supply Vietnam with military equipment, in a significant deepening of security cooperation between a key U.S. ally and a South China Sea claimant as their leaders met Monday.
• Australian Navy to Join Annual India-US-Japan Malabar Drills in 2020 Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Australia will join the Malabar drills, the annual naval exercises held by the Indian, US and Japanese navies, in 2020, the Indian government said on Monday.
• Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure | Phoenix, AZ The White House 19 Oct 2020
• Remarks by President Trump After Air Force One Arrival | Prescott, AZ The White House 19 Oct 2020
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo At the Three Seas Virtual Summit and Web Forum US Dept. of State 19 Oct 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Oct. 19, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 19 October 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 19 Oct 2020
• Turkish forces, allied militants shell town in northeastern Syria Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Turkish forces and allied Takfiri militants have reportedly shelled residential areas in the countryside of Syria's northeastern province of Raqqah.
• Top US Official Traveled to Syria for Talks With Damascus on US Citizens' Release - Report Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Top White House counterterrorism official Kash Patel recently went to Damascus to discuss the release of US citizens with the Syrian government, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing unnamed Trump administration officials.
• Attacks on Civilians in Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq US Dept. of State 19 Oct 2020 -- The United States strongly condemns the massacre of innocent civilians by Iran-backed militias in Salah al-Din governorate.
• EU welcomes humanitarian truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan, deplores violations People's Daily 19 Oct 2020 -- The European Union (EU) welcomed the humanitarian truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan starting midnight (2000 GMT) Saturday, and denounced any violation of the newly reached ceasefire, it said on Sunday.
• Azerbaijan, Armenia trade accusations of cease-fire violation after new truce agreed People's Daily 19 Oct 2020 -- Azerbaijan and Armenia traded accusations of violating a new cease-fire on Sunday, hours after they agreed for the second time to halt fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• Armenia threatens to recognize Karabakh as fresh fighting continues Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Armenia has threatened to unilaterally recognize the independence of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh if Azerbaijan refuses to comply with peace talks, as both sides continue to accuse each other of violating a humanitarian ceasefire amid reports of fresh fighting in and around Karabakh.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan Accuse Each Other Of Shelling Despite Cease-Fire RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- A new cease-fire aimed at stopping the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh appears to be in jeopardy, with ethnic Armenian forces and Azerbaijan accusing each other of renewed shelling.
• Reports of Shelling Persist in Nagorno-Karabakh Despite Cease-fire VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- Shelling was reported Monday in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, despite a cease-fire that took effect early Sunday.
• The Cartographers Case: How A Border Dispute Became Georgia's 'October Surprise' RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- The Davit Gareja monastery is carved into a mountain that sits astride the Georgian-Azerbaijani border. It is said to have been founded by one of the monks who came from Mesopotamia to bolster Christianity in Georgia in the sixth century, St. David Garejeli.
• Update: China urges India to fulfill promises on returning missing soldier: PLA command spokesperson Global Times 19 Oct 2020 -- The Global Times has learned from sources that a missing Chinese has been detained in India and will likely be returned to his base.
• Indian Army Apprehends a Chinese Soldier in Demchok Sector of Eastern Ladakh India PIB 19 Oct 2020 -- A PLA soldier identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long was apprehended in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh on 19 October 2020 after he had strayed across the LAC.
• Chinese Soldier Captured by Indian Army in Ladakh, He is Being Questioned, Sources Say Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- The Indian Army is now questioning a Chinese soldier, captured in the disputed border region of Ladakh, he is likely to be handed over to the Chinese armed forces later, the Indian Army said in a statement on Monday.
• Greece Slams Extension of Turkey's Search And Rescue Area in Eastern Mediterranean Illegal Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- The Greek government challenged on Monday the legitimacy of Turkey's intention to extend the area in the Eastern Mediterranean where it has the authority to conduct search and rescue operations, as it covers areas within Greece's jurisdiction.
• German Foreign Minister Maas Says Turkey's Latest Seismic Surveys 'Very Bad Surprise' Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Turkey's decision to conduct new seismic exploration surveys of the seabed near the Greek island of Kastellorizo comes as a "very bad surprise," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has told the Greek newspaper Kathimerini in an interview as tensions remain high in the Eastern Mediterranean.
• UN Shines Spotlight on Sahel Suffering VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- The United Nations is warning that Africa's Sahel region is facing a confluence of factors that are pushing the region deeper into poverty, hunger and the hands of extremists. The U.N. says that if the international community does not invest attention and money to stop the problem now, the consequences could spread beyond the region in the coming years.
• Cameroon Chiefs Create Militias for Protection from Separatists VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- Traditional village chiefs in Cameroon's restive western regions are for the first time creating armed militias for protection against separatists. Cameroon's government has been asking traditional rulers who fled the separatist conflict to return to their palaces and take part in December's regional elections. But a majority of the chiefs has been reluctant to return due to threats from the rebels.
• Cameroon Closes Schools as Boko Haram Suicide Bombings Increase VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- Cameroon says it has again closed more than 60 schools on its northern border with Nigeria to save children and teaching staff from increasing Boko Haram attacks. The central African state has deployed its military to teach displaced children in locations they say are safe. Boko Haram is increasingly using suicide bombers, as the military has drastically reduced the terrorist group's firepower.
• ICC Prosecutor Visits Khartoum, Says Sudan Should Hand Over Bashir VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- The International Criminal Court's prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is in Khartoum, trying to persuade the transitional government to hand over former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and other former top officials wanted for war crimes and genocide in Darfur.
• Sudan Pledges Cooperation with ICC on Former Leader Omar al-Bashir VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- The leader of Sudan's transitional government has pledged to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its case against former autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir.
• Joint Statement by the United States, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Israel The White House 19 Oct 2020
• Ensuring long-term stability in the Central African Republic UK FCDO 19 Oct 2020 -- Statement by Ambassador James Roscoe at the Security Council briefing on MINUSCA
• Arakan Army Admits to Abducting Myanmar Ruling Party Candidates, Demands Prisoner Release Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- Five days after armed men in a speedboat snatched three candidates from Myanmar's ruling party as they campaigned in rural Rakhine, the rebel Arakan Army on Monday claimed responsibility for the abductions and demanded the release of detained civilians and student anti-war protesters.

News Reports

• Navalny Determined To Return To Russia Despite Kremlin Efforts To Keep Him Away RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny says the Kremlin is doing everything in its power to prevent him from returning to Russia, but he still plans to go back.
• Six Russian GRU Officers Charged in Connection with Worldwide Deployment of Destructive Malware and Other Disruptive Actions in Cyberspace US Dept. of Justice 19 Oct 2020 -- Defendants' Malware Attacks Caused Nearly One Billion USD in Losses to Three Victims Alone; Also Sought to Disrupt the 2017 French Elections and the 2018 Winter Olympic Games
• FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich's Remarks at Press Conference Announcing Cyber-Related Indictment of Six Russian Intelligence Officers FBI 19 Oct 2020 -- FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich delivered the following remarks during a press conference in Washington, D.C., with other Department of Justice officials announcing charges against six members of the GRU—Russia's military intelligence agency—in connection with the worldwide deployment of destructive malware and other disruptive actions. (Remarks as delivered)
• Six Russian GRU Officers Charged in Connection with Worldwide Deployment of Destructive Malware and Other Disruptive Actions in Cyberspace US Dept. of Justice 19 Oct 2020
• U.S. Charges Six Russian Military Officers With 'Destructive' Global Hacking Campaign RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- The United States has charged six Russian military officers with a "destructive," global criminal cyber-campaign that included the worldwide distribution of destructive malware and attempts to undermine the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine.
• US Charges Six Russian Military Officers in Global Cyberattacks VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- U.S. prosecutors on Monday announced charges against six Russian military intelligence officers in connection with a global computer hacking campaign that targeted the 2017 French presidential election and the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, and carried out other high-profile cyberattacks.
• UK exposes series of Russian cyber attacks against Olympic and Paralympic Games UK FCDO 19 Oct 2020 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemns malicious cyber activity by Russia's GRU.
• United States Charges Russian Military Intelligence Officers for Cyber Crimes US Dept. of State 19 Oct 2020 -- The criminal charges the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today against six officers of the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate's (GRU) Military Unit 74455 highlight once again Russia's continuing disruptive, destructive, and destabilizing activities in cyberspace.
• The United States Designates Al Qa'ida Financial Facilitator US Dept. of State 19 Oct 2020 -- Today, the United States continued to disrupt the financial and logistical networks that support Al Qa'ida (AQ) operations in the Middle East and around the world by designating a financial facilitator. Ahmed
• Treasury Designates al-Qa'ida Financial Facilitator US Treasury 19 Oct 2020 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Australia-based al-Qa'ida-associated facilitator Ahmed Luqman Talib for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Al-Qa'ida. Additionally, OFAC also designated one company, Talib and Sons, for being owned, controlled, or directed by Ahmed Luqman Talib.
• France to Expel 231 Radicalised Foreigners After Beheading of Teacher in 'Islamist Terrorist Attack' Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron held a defense council meeting in the wake of the brutal attack on a history teacher in a Paris suburb, vowing that "Islamists will not sleep peacefully in France", with probes to be conducted of the authors of 80 posts on social media that expressed support for the attacker.
• Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Narcotics Trafficking Centered in Colombia The White House 19 Oct 2020
• Text of a Letter to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate The White House 19 Oct 2020
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on October 19, 2020 PRC MofA 19 Oct 2020
• Fresh Wave of Chinese Diplomacy Bolsters Resistance to US in Southeast Asia VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- China scored points in Southeast Asia against the United States, a rival superpower trying to curtail Chinese influence abroad, through a slate of ministerial visits last week, analysts in the region believe.
• Germany Grants Political Asylum to Chinese University of Hong Kong Student Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- A former university student who fled Hong Kong after riot police surrounded their university campus in November 2019 has been granted political asylum in Germany, a rights group said on Monday.
• China Scholars Hit Out at New Zealand University Over Probe of Professor Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- Dozens of academics and experts on China have hit out at a New Zealand university for its investigation of Anne-Marie Brady, a university professor who publicized links between the country's universities and Chinese state interests.
• Uyghur Afghan National Detained in Xinjiang Internment Camp Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- Authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have detained an ethnic Uyghur who is a citizen of Afghanistan, according to members of his family who say they have called on Kabul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist in advocating for his case.
• Two Ethnic Kazakhs From Xinjiang Obtain Rare Temporary Refugee Status In Kazakhstan RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- In a rare occurrence, two ethnic-Kazakh men from China's northwestern region of Xinjiang who were convicted of illegally crossing the border a year ago have obtained temporary refugee status in Kazakhstan.
• China Is Stepping Up Its Control over Religion VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- China appears to be strengthening its censorship controls over Christian religious publications that are approved for distribution by the state.
• PLA's hypersonic missile to target 'foreign military intervention' in reunification-by-force Taiwan operation Global Times 19 Oct 2020 -- Media reports in and outside Taiwan have been hyping that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is preparing to strike the Taiwan island with new weapon deployment, and Chinese military experts believe weapons like hypersonic missile, the DF-17, should actually target foreign military forces if they intervene in PLA's reunification operations, and that targeting the island would be a waste.
• Taiwan Lodges Protest Over Assault by Chinese Diplomats at Fiji Reception Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- The democratic island of Taiwan said on Monday it had lodged a protest with Fiji after it emerged that one of its diplomats was taken to hospital following an assault by Chinese officials who gatecrashed an event in Suva earlier this month.
• Taiwan separatists stir up conflicts in Fiji to attract attention of US, Australia Global Times 19 Oct 2020 -- Chinese authorities denounced the allegations by the separatist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on the Taiwan island of Chinese Embassy diplomats in Fiji attacking DPP representatives on the ground.
• New Report Documents Rights Abuses in North Korea's Pre-Trial Detention Facilities Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- North Koreans awaiting criminal trial routinely endure beatings and starvation in overcrowded, unsanitary cells with no access to legal representation, according to a new report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch.
• Rights Group Says North Korean Detainees Routinely Tortured and Degraded VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- North Korea's pretrial detention system is characterized by systemic torture, degrading treatment and rampant corruption, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.
• Iran, Ukraine start 2nd round of talks on plane crash in Tehran IRNA 19 Oct 2020 -- Iranian and Ukrainian officials started the second round of talks on the passenger plane crash on October 19 expected to continue until October 21.
• Cooperation key to success in Ukraine plane crash talks: Zarif Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Iran's foreign minister says cooperation among all the involved parties is key to the success of ongoing talks over the unintentional shooting down of a Ukrainian plane by the Iranian air defense in January.
• Iran, Ukraine In New Round Of Talks Over Downed Plane RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Iran is hosting officials from Ukraine in a second round of talks over compensation for a Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in Tehran in January after being struck by two missiles, killing 176 people.
• US policy based on fomenting chaos, insecurity in world: Iran security chief Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says the policy followed by the United States across the world is based on fomenting chaos and insecurity no matter where in the world it is present.
• Tehran Stock Market Index Drops Sharply Radio Farda 19 Oct 2020 -- The total index of the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) dropped by 47,000 to about 1.5 million units on Sunday, a decrease of more than three percent compared to the previous day.
• Home Appliances Sales Fall in Iran Radio Farda 19 Oct 2020 -- The chairman of the Iranian Home Appliances Trade Union, Akbar Pazouki, says that the decrease in Iranian citizens' purchasing power has caused a 50% drop in household device sales compared with last year.
• The United States Imposes Sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong Persons for Activities Related to Supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines US Dept. of State 19 Oct 2020 -- The international community has long recognized that the Iranian regime uses the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) to transport proliferation-sensitive items intended for Iran's ballistic missile and military programs.
• US Poised to Sanction Iran After UN Arms Embargo Expires VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- The United States has rejected the expiration of an international arms embargo on Iran, saying it will use its domestic laws to punish any weapons supplier dealing with the Islamic Republic.
• Marchers Keep Up Pressure For Lukashenka's Resignation As Hundreds Detained RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Several thousand retirees marched through the streets of the Belarusian capital as protesters kept up their demand for the ouster of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
• Pakistani Opposition Alliance Holds Rally To Demand Khan's Resignation RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Tens of thousands of people gathered in Karachi, Pakistan, on October 18 in support of an opposition alliance that has vowed to topple the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
• Son-In-Law Of Exiled Former Pakistani PM Arrested RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Pakistani police have detained the son-in-law of exiled ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he led a crowd in chanting against the military at the tomb of the country's founder.
• Pakistani Opposition Accuses Military of Kidnapping Senior Police Official VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- An alliance of opposition parties in Pakistan has accused the military of kidnapping the most senior police official of a province to force him to arrest an opposition leader.
• Saudi Arabia restructures Supreme Court, religious, advisory bodies Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a raft of royal decrees, restructuring the country's supreme court as well as its highest religious and advisory authorities.
• Erdogan Says 'Thoughtless' Imitation of West Caused Largest Damage to Turkey Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that the thoughtless imitation of the West has caused Turkey the greatest damage.
• Thai Parliament to Convene Special Session Over Opposition Protests in Bangkok Sputnik 19 Oct 2020 -- Thai lawmakers will meet for an extraordinary parliament session to discuss the demands put forward by participants of the ongoing anti-government rallies in Bangkok, Parliament President Chuan Leekpai said on Monday.
• Thai's Embattled PM Recalls Parliament amid Protests VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok Monday for the fifth straight day, defying a ban on gatherings of more than four people and demanding the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.
• Exit polls signal socialists sweeping back to power in Bolivia with Arce win Press TV 19 Oct 2020 -- Exit polls from Bolivia's presidential election indicate Luis Arce has won the country's presidential election.
• Bolivia's Socialist Candidate Seen Winner of Presidential Election VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- Bolivia's socialist candidate Luis Arce appears to have won the presidential election in the first round of voting.
• Senior Cambodian Opposition Member Assaulted, Remains Unconscious in Hospital Radio Free Asia 19 Oct 2020 -- A senior member of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was brutally assaulted in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh Monday by two unidentified men on a motorbike, leaving him unconscious and in the hospital, according to his wife.
• Acting Kyrgyz President Japarov Says Changes To Constitution Could Clear Way For Him To Run RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Kyrgyzstan's acting President Sadyr Japarov says he will run for president in an upcoming election if lawmakers approve constitutional amendments to allow it.
• In Turkmenistan, Subsidized Food Comes With Strings Attached RFE/RL 19 Oct 2020 -- Fizzy drinks. Fruit jelly. Juice. They're not on everyone's grocery list.
• Burkina Faso 'one step short of famine', warns UN food relief agency UN News 19 Oct 2020 -- Unless access is urgently granted to humanitarian organizations, thousands in the Central Sahel will be "pushed into further destitution", the UN emergency food relief agency warned on Monday.
• Vote Counting Underway in Guinea Presidential Election VOA 19 Oct 2020 -- Vote counting is underway in Guinea to determine who will be the west African nation's new president.