Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Afghanistan's War Victims Demand 'A Just Peace' With The Taliban RFE/RL Gandhara 20 Oct 2020 -- Draped in a blue burqa, Soraya sobs inside a tattered tent at a swelling makeshift camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh.
• US Reportedly Lost $19 Billion To Fraud, Abuse in Afghanistan VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- The United States has lost $19 billion in Afghanistan since 2002 due to "waste, fraud and abuse," the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a new report released Tuesday.
• Blasts kill dozen policemen in southwest Afghanistan Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Two separate roadside bomb explosions have killed at least a dozen policemen, including a district police chief, in Afghanistan's southwestern Nimruz Province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Medicine Europe maintains robust COVID testing and reporting process Army News 20 Oct 2020 -- Army Medicine Europe maintains a robust COVID testing and reporting process, ensuring the health and safety of the entire military community across the European theater. At the same time, Army health officials maintain open lines of communication with host nation public health officials responsible for tracking COVID cases.
• ReARMM to help stabilize training, modernization, mission requirements Army News 20 Oct 2020 -- The Army is developing a new framework to help integrate and synchronize the force to meet regional requirements, all while providing predictability during training and modernization efforts, leaders said Wednesday
• Readout of Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper's Phone Call With U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace DoD 20 Oct 2020
• Secretary Esper Discusses Strengthening Allies and Partners at the Atlantic Council DoD 20 Oct 2020 -- Secretary Of Defense Mark T. Esper; Fred Kempe, President And CEO, Atlantic Council
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 20 Oct 2020
• U.S. Army South begins 36th annual U.S., Brazil army-to-army staff talks Army News 20 Oct 2020 -- U.S. Army South hosted an opening ceremony to officially begin U.S. and Brazil army-to-army staff talks, a weeklong series of meetings held to strengthen professional partnerships and increase interaction between armies, at the Army South headquarters Oct. 20.
• DOD Approves $87 Million for Newest Bioindustrial Manufacturing Innovation Institute DoD 20 Oct 2020 -- Today, the Department of Defense announced an $87 million, seven-year award to the BioIndustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem (BioMADE), a nonprofit created by the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC), for a new Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII). BioMADE, headquartered at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, will collaborate with public and private entities to advance sustainable and reliable bioindustrial manufacturing technologies.
• Esper Details Approach for Strengthening Alliances, Partnerships DoD News 20 Oct 2020 -- As America's strategic competitors modernize their own armed forces and continue to ignore international law, violate the sovereignty of smaller states and shift the balance of power in their favor, the strength of U.S. military alliances and partnerships becomes even more important.
• USS Ross Destroyer Resumes Mission in Barents Sea, US Navy Says Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- The United States' guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) has returned for a mission to the Barents Sea, the 6th Fleet of the US Naval Forces Europe-Africa said in a statement on Tuesday.
• Indonesia Rejects US Request to Allow P-8 Spy Planes to Land and Refuel - Reports Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- Indonesia has refused to allow P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance planes of the United States military to land and refuel in the country despite several requests from Washington, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing four high-ranking Indonesian officials.
• Air Force Services Center software innovation enhances deployment readiness US Air Force 20 Oct 2020 -- A decade-long mission gap impacting a wide range of military operations is closing, thanks to the Air Force Services Center and an innovative software system that tracks contingency quarters availability.
• AFMC successfully navigates FY20 challenges US Air Force 20 Oct 2020 -- With a focus rooted in the ability to sustain the mission, and an eye towards long-term expansion and growth, the Air Force Materiel Command successfully executed a $67 billion portfolio in fiscal year 2020, ensuring operational mission success for warfighters.
• U.S. Navy Opens Tech Bridge Network in London US Navy 20 Oct 2020 -- Today the U.S. Navy's acquisition chief announced the establishment of the London Tech Bridge—the Navy's first such innovation center outside the United States.
• USS Devastator Returns to Fifth Fleet Upon Completing Availability US Navy 20 Oct 2020 -- Manama, Bahrain - Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) Detachment Bahrain has returned USS Devastator (MCM 6) back to operations after successfully completing a scheduled Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).
• Naval Information Warfare Systems Command Transitions First Wave of Research Project Prototypes to Production US Navy 20 Oct 2020 -- The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) recently hit a significant milestone and transitioned the first wave of Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP) prototypes to production through an Other Transaction Authority Production (OTP) award using 10 U.S.C §2371b(f) Authority.
• Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 Restores Coastline US Navy 20 Oct 2020 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 has taken the baton in the race to complete Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota's Cliff Erosion Repair project. The multi-year project aims at strengthening the integrity of nearly a kilometer of the NAVSTA Rota's coastline. The project started in January of 2018, with NMCB 133 being the first battalion to take on the task, and three years later, they are back in Rota and charging forward.
• USS Ross Returns to Barents Sea US Navy 20 Oct 2020 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to operate in the Barents Sea Oct. 19.
• Pentagon Estimates New Nuclear-Armed ICBM Arsenal Will Cost $95.8 Billion Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- The Pentagon said on Monday that the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), the nuclear missile system that will replace the Minuteman III arsenal by the end of the decade, will cost roughly $95.8 billion.
• NATO delivers ventilators to Albania – 20 October 2020 NATO 20 Oct 2020 -- The Albanian Ministry of Defence received 60 ventilators from the NATO stockpile in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, 17 October. The donation was coordinated by NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). Later this week the ventilators of State 20 Oct 2020
• US, Russia Signal Willingness to Extend Nuclear Arms Pact VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- The U.S. and Russia signaled their willingness Tuesday to reach a new deal on nuclear arms control by working toward a freeze on warhead arsenals for a year past the February expiration of the current weapons pact.
• U.S. Ready To Meet 'Immediately' With Russia Over Extending Nuclear Weapons Accord RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- The United States says it is prepared to meet "immediately" with Russia to finalize a deal to extend their last major arms-control treaty, New START, by one year after Moscow backed a U.S. proposal to freeze its total number of nuclear warheads if Washington does the same.
• Russia offers mutual 1-year freeze on N-warheads to facilitate extension of treaty with US Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Russia has offered to put a one-year freeze on the number of its nuclear warheads in return for a similar freeze on the number of the United States' atomic warheads to facilitate a one-year extension of the last nuclear arms control treaty between the two countries.
• Foreign Ministry statement on New START Treaty Extension Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20 Oct 2020 -- "We have received no official response from the United States to our Note dated October 16 which contains the proposal put forward by President Vladimir Putin to extend the New START Treaty for one year. We have noticed only some comments made by U.S. officials on social media platforms. Given contradictory reactions to the actual situation, we want to clarify."
• Progress on New START US Dept. of State 20 Oct 2020 -- The United States scrambled two F-22 fighters to escort Russian TU-95 strategic bombers, which serve as missile platforms, over neutral waters in the Russian Far East, the Russian Defence Ministry said Tuesday.
• US Fighters Escort Russian Strategic Bombers in Far East, Russian Defen?e Ministry Says Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- The United States scrambled two F-22 fighters to escort Russian TU-95 strategic bombers, which serve as missile platforms, over neutral waters in the Russian Far East, the Russian Defence Ministry said Tuesday.
• Russian Defense Ministry Mulls Opening Office In Traditional Ally Serbia RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to open an office in Serbia as Moscow pushes to expand military ties with its traditional Balkan ally.
• Russian Defense Ministry Opposes Cutting Army Staff, Other 'Unacceptable' Proposals RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- Russia's Defense Ministry says it has rejected austerity measures proposed by the Finance Ministry, such as reducing of the number of military personnel.
• China's latest bomber H-6N spotted carrying hypersonic missile Global Times 20 Oct 2020 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's latest bomber, the H-6N, was recently spotted carrying what seems to be a ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead, overseas media reported. This new capability will enable the H-6N to become a real strategic bomber capable of covering the entire Indo-Pacific region with air strikes against which there is no defense, Chinese analysts said on Tuesday.
• Yuanwang-6 returns from monitoring missions PLA Daily 20 Oct 2020 -- China's third-generation space-tracking ship Yuanwang-6, which voyaged to the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, has safely returned to the homeport at the China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Controlling Department on October 17, after successfully completing two maritime monitoring missions.
• PLA borders troops in Ngari move in new barracks PLA Daily 20 Oct 2020 -- Officers and soldiers assigned to a border defense regiment stationed in the Ngari prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, moved into the new barracks before the National Day.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh releases DRDO Procurement Manual 2020 India PIB 20 Oct 2020 -- To encourage more participation of Indian industry, including Start-ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Defence Research & Development (R&D) for achieving 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh released a new version of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Procurement Manual 2020 (PM-2020) here today.
• Iran Army, IRGC set to hold large-scale air defense maneuvers Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Army and Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) are set to stage massive aerial exercises aimed at bolstering their preparedness for defending the country's skies against enemy threats.
• Iran Will Not Engage in Weapons Purchasing Spree Despite End of Arms Embargo, Zarif Says Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- Iran will not engage in an arms race in the Middle East and will not start unrestrained acquisition of weapons despite the expiration of the United Nations arms embargo, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
• Zarif : Iran not to engage in arms race IRNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday stressed that Iran does not intend to engage in an arms race in the region and to start a buying spree in spite of the end of Security Council restrictions.
• Japan, Indonesia Agree to Bolster Defense, Economic Ties VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- Japan and Indonesia on Tuesday agreed to accelerate defense and trade talks over mutual concerns about an increasingly assertive China across the Indo-Pacific region.
• South Korea Acquires 24 New F-35A Stealth Fighters From US in Defence Revamp, Reports Say Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- A batch of next-generation US-built fighter jets has arrived in South Korea as part of the country's push to revamp its aerial defence capabilities, media reported Tuesday.
• UK, Australian Navies Sign Cooperation Agreement on Building Next-Generation Frigate Class Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- The United Kingdom and Australia defence agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on naval frigate shipbuilding, the UK government said on Tuesday.
• UK and Australia commit to shipbuilding partnership UK MOD 20 Oct 2020 -- Australia and the UK have further strengthened their enduring defence relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on building and delivering the next generation of cutting-edge frigates.
• UK and US reaffirm relationship at Atlantic Future Forum UK MOD 20 Oct 2020 -- Senior figures from government and industry in the UK and US will meet over the next two days on board HMS Queen Elizabeth for the annual Atlantic Future Forum.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Oct. 20, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 20 October 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 20 Oct 2020
• US Backs Release of 'Low-Level' Islamic State Prisoners in Syria VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- An effort to reduce growing strains on overcrowded prisons in Syria, some holding thousands of captured Islamic State fighters, is being met with cautious optimism in Washington, even though it involves letting hundreds of the terror group's adherents walk free.
• Nagorno-Karabakh conflict drone collapses in NW Iran IRNA 20 Oct 2020 -- A drone from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict collapsed in Khoda Afarin town, East Azarbaijan Province, northwestern Iran on Tuesday, Khoda Afarin governor said.
• Renewed Fighting Puts Nagorno-Karabakh Cease-Fire Under Severe Strain RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- A cease-fire in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh was under severe strain on October 20 after new clashes between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces, despite a plea by the UN Security Council for both sides to respect the truce.
• Return of PLA soldier bodes well for talks between China, India Global Times 20 Oct 2020 -- The Indian army's decision to return a Chinese soldier is viewed as a positive sign ahead of the eighth round of China-India commander-level talks this week. However, many believe that India should show more sincerity in the upcoming talks and less provocative moves.
• China urges India to return apprehended soldier People's Daily 20 Oct 2020 -- The Chinese army confirmed on Monday that one of its soldiers had been apprehended by Indian troops and asked that he be released as promised.
• India expected to cooperate in handover of Chinese soldier who got lost in border area : Chinese military PLA Daily 20 Oct 2020 -- China hopes that India will hand over soon the Chinese soldier who got lost in China-India border areas on the evening of October 18 when helping local herdsmen retrieve a yak at their request, said Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday.
• Missing Chinese soldier found by India, return expected soon PLA Daily 20 Oct 2020 -- A Chinese soldier who went missing along the China-India border on Sunday night has been found by Indian border troops, and the Indian side promised to return him to China after a medical exam, said Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili, a spokesman of the People's Liberation Army Western Theater Command, in a statement on Monday night.
• Meeting between US' Tibet coordinator and head of 'Tibetan government-in-exile' sends wrong signals to secessionists: Chinese FM Global Times 20 Oct 2020 -- US' new Tibet coordinator's meeting with the "president" of the "Tibetan government-in-exile" has sent strong wrong signals to Tibetan secessionists, and the US should stop providing any support for anti-China separatist activities, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, noting that China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests.
• Israel, UAE Sign First Cooperation Agreements VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- A senior delegation from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Israel for the first official visit since the two countries signed a peace agreement last month. They signed a series of bilateral agreements, including a visa waiver agreement.
• Zelenskiy Says Those Who Gave Up Crimea Without A Fight Must Be Held Responsible RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says those who allowed Russia to illegally annex Crimea in early 2014 must be held responsible.
• Greece calls on EU allies to impose arms embargo on Turkey Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Greece has called on several fellow European Union (EU) members to impose an arms embargo on Turkey, amid a growing dispute between the two neighbors over energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
• Almost 1,000 Prison Inmates Escape in DRC After Militant Assault, Reports Say Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- Several hundred prisoners escaped on Tuesday morning from a jail in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a militant attack on the facility, the local Actualite news agency reported.
• Militants attack prison, free 900 inmates in DR Congo Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Gunmen have attacked a prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's northeast, setting free at least 900 inmates, the city's mayor says.
• 'Work in unison' to promote peace and security in the Persian Gulf region - UN chief UN News 20 Oct 2020 -- Given the complex and multifaceted challenges in the Persian Gulf region, the UN chief told the Security Council on Tuesday that it is important to reflect more deeply on how everyone, particularly the Council itself, can "work in unison to promote peace and security".
• Israel Defense Forces Launch Retaliatory Strikes on Gaza After Intercepting Rocket Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed retaliatory strikes on Gaza Tuesday local time after intercepting a rocket fired from Gaza earlier that day.
• UN Raises $1.7 Billion for Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- The United Nations said Tuesday it has received preliminary pledges of about $1.7 billion for the central Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger at a donors' conference in Copenhagen.
• UN chief appeals for urgent action to reverse 'downward spiral' in Central Sahel UN News 20 Oct 2020 -- The world must act now to reverse the situation in Africa's central Sahel region, where humanitarian needs are at "a breaking point", UN Secretary-General António Guterres told a high-level conference on Tuesday, to address the burgeoning crisis.

News Reports

• DNI Releases Appropriated Budget Figure for 2020 National Intelligence Program Director of National Intelligence 21 Oct 2020 -- Congress appropriated an aggregate amount of $62.7 billion to the National Intelligence Program (NIP) for Fiscal Year 2020. This amount includes funding to support overseas contingency operations.
• DHS Launches New Center for Countering Human Trafficking DHS 20 Oct 2020 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf announced Thursday the opening of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, the U.S. government's first-ever integrated law enforcement operations center directly supporting federal criminal investigations, victim assistance efforts, intelligence analysis, and outreach and training activities related to human trafficking and forced labor.
• Elliott Broidy Pleads Guilty for Back-Channel Lobbying Campaign to Drop 1MDB Investigation and Remove a Chinese Foreign National US Dept. of Justice 20 Oct 2020 -- Elliott Broidy, 63, of Beverly Hills, California, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
• Victims of Terror Attacks Reject US Deal to Delist Sudan VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- One of the attorneys representing victims of the 1998 terror attacks on U.S. embassies in East Africa and their families says the majority of his clients reject the deal that would result in President Donald Trump removing Sudan from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
• Trump: US to Remove Sudan from Terror List VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says the United States will remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after the country follows through on an agreement to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to U.S. terror victims and families.
• US to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- The US president says he plans to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism now that the African country has agreed to pay $335 million to US victims of terrorism.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on October 20, 2020 PRC MofA 20 Oct 2020
• Thousands Held in Inner Mongolia As Crackdown on Language Protesters Continues Radio Free Asia 20 Oct 2020 -- Chinese authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia have detained at least 8,000 ethnic Mongolians amid regionwide resistance to plans to phase out the use of the Mongolian language in schools.
• Chinese Activists Detained for Backing Former Tsinghua Professor VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- Authorities in Beijing have detained an outspoken publisher and her husband on suspicion of running an "illegal business operation" after she made public her support for former Tsinghua University scholar Xu Zhangrun, a critic of China's leaders who is now under house arrest.
• Interview: 'Not All Heredity Reds Are Out to Preserve Their Political Power'-Scholar Cai (Part III) Radio Free Asia 20 Oct 2020 -- Cai Xia, a retired professor of the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, was expelled from the party and had her pension stripped on August 17 for "serious violations of political discipline of the Party" following her criticism of the increasingly authoritarian policies of Xi Jinping, party chief and state president. The dissident in-house scholar called the CCP a political zombie and likened Xi to a "gang boss".
• Three Chinese military planes enter Taiwan's ADIZ CNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Three Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, the 21st day such incursions have occurred since mid-September, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• Taiwan's deputy military chief visits Dongsha Islands following plane row CNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Taiwan's deputy military chief on Tuesday made a visit to the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea, in what is believed to be an attempt to dispel doubts about Taiwan's ability to maintain supplies to the islands after a recent row with the Hong Kong air traffic control.
• Taiwan key to freedom of Indo-Pacific: former U.S. defense official CNA 20 Oct 2020 -- The survival and safety of Taiwan is key to the United States' ability to secure freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region, former U.S. defense official Randall Schriver said Monday.
• Fiji given evidence of Chinese diplomats' assault: Taiwan foreign minister CNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Evidence relating to an incident in which Chinese diplomats allegedly assaulted a staff member of a Taiwan office in Fiji has been submitted to that country's authorities, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (???) said Tuesday.
• Chinese FM urges India to take caution with the Taiwan question after reported trade talks push Global Times 20 Oct 2020 -- China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called on India to adhere to the one-China principle and handle the Taiwan question "prudently and properly," after media reports suggested that some in New Delhi were pushing for formal talks on a trade agreement with the island of Taiwan.
• North Koreans Scoff as Government Mobilizes Them for '80-Day Battle' Radio Free Asia 20 Oct 2020 -- North Koreans are grumbling at the latest "80-day battle" military-style mobilization scheme, with residents saying the campaign of forced labor and has few clear goals beyond solidifying loyalty and devotion to the state, sources in the country told RFA.
• Support to Reconstruction Campaign Sites Increases KCNA 20 Oct 2020 -- People across the country are rendering labor and material support to the reconstruction campaign sites.
• Rouhani: Gov't focusing on overcoming economic hardship with least damage IRNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said overcoming the current economic situation with the least pressure possible inflicted on the economically vulnerable groups is the main aim of the government, stressing that there are no justifications for any kind of shortages and limitations in supplying basic items.
• Iran's keeping up with JCPOA commitments bearing fruits: Rabiei IRNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Spokesman for the Iranian Government Ali Rabiei said here on Tuesday that Iran's policy of remaining committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) picked its fruit in the form of expiry of the arms embargo against Iran two days ago.
• Lifting of UN arms ban outcome of Iran's correct policy on JCPOA: Govt. spox Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Government spokesman Ali Rabiei has hailed the lifting of the UN arms embargo on Iran as an "achievement," saying it shows that the country adopted a "correct policy" when it chose to remain a party to the 2015 nuclear deal despite America's pullout.
• China : Lifting Iran's arms embargo result of JCPOA efficacy IRNA 20 Oct 2020 -- China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said lifting arms embargo and travel restrictions against Iran is the result of Iran nuclear deal efficacy.
• China: Removal of Iran arms ban must be faithfully implemented Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- China has lauded the expiration of the UN Security Council (UNSC) arms embargo and travel restrictions against Iran, saying the development, which was stipulated in the Council's Resolution 2231, should be "faithfully implemented."
• There's no reason to limit supply of essentials, medicine: President Rouhani ISNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Iran's President emphasized, "Protecting the health and lives of the people is the first priority. The government will do its best to protect the health of the people, and the responsible departments are obliged to coordinate the production, distribution and distribution cycles in order to achieve safe and fast consumer access throughout the country".
• Iran's Insulin Shortage Prompts Scrutiny Radio Farda 20 Oct 2020 -- A widespread protest is underway on Persian social media against the shortage of insulin in Iran.
• Iranian, Ukrainian diplomats hold new round of political talks ISNA 20 Oct 2020 -- Ranking diplomats from Iran and Ukraine held the second round of political talks between the two countries in Tehran.
• Iran to release its report on Ukraine plane crash soon: Deputy FM Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- A deputy Iranian foreign minister says the Islamic Republic will soon release its report on the unintentional downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January, saying the country has done its utmost to ensure that the report avoids all bias.
• U.S. Sanctions Chinese Companies For Dealing With Iranian Shipping Line RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- The United States said on October 19 that it has blacklisted two Chinese men and six Chinese entities for their dealings with an Iranian shipping company that the United States sanctioned earlier this year.
• Belarus Labels Popular Telegram Channel 'Extremist' RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- A Belarusian court has labeled a popular Telegram channel, which has been covering ongoing postelection protests in the country, as extremist.
• Tsikhanouskaya Calls On Police Officers In Belarus To 'Take People's Side' RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called on the country's law enforcement officers to join those taking part in ongoing protests against Alyaksandr Lukashenka, whose claim to power has not been recognized by Western governments.
• Anger After Myanmar Election Authorities Cancel Voting in 56 Townships, Citing Armed Conflict Radio Free Asia 20 Oct 2020 -- Myanmar regional political parties have expressed shock and anger after election authorities cancelled voting in more than 50 townships across the country, citing military conflict -- a move critics says favors the military and ruling party while stripping 1.3 million voters of a choice on Nov. 8.
• 'Shocked' Senior Pakistani Police Officials Protest Arrest Of Exiled Ex-PM's Son-In-Law RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- More than a dozen top police officials in Pakistan's province of Sindh have applied for leave following the arrest of the son-in-law of exiled ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the provincial capital.
• Joint Statement of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Strategic Dialogue US Dept. of State 20 Oct 2020 -- The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Russia says US preparing 'revolution scenario' in Moldova Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Russia says the United States is preparing a "revolution" in Moldova ahead of the November election in the former Soviet state.
• Bolivia Presidential Race Runner-up Concedes Defeat VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- Bolivian presidential candidate Carlos Mesa of the Citizen Community party has conceded defeat to rival Luis Arce Catacora, candidate of the Movement Towards Socialism party, citing exit polls showing Arce with an insurmountable lead.
• Bolivia's Morales vows to return home after ally's election win Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Bolivia's exiled ex-president Evo Morales has vowed to return to his country after exit polls showed that his former economy minister Luis Arce has defeated centrist rival Carlos Mesa in a landslide victory in the presidential election.
• Guinea opposition leader claims victory in presidential vote Press TV 20 Oct 2020 -- Premature victory celebrations have turned violent in Guinea as opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo claimed victory in the presidential election before the announcement of the official results.
• Controversial Chinese Development Project in Laos Moves Closer to Government Approval Radio Free Asia 20 Oct 2020 -- A controversial Chinese development project in Laos is now moving ahead despite environmentalists' warnings and long delays caused by villagers' objections to surveys of their land by the Chinese firm, Lao sources say.
• Serbia's New Government To Be In Power Until Early Elections In 2022 RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says the country's new government will remain in power until new elections are held in less than two years.
• EU 'Concerned' By Election Of Hungary's New Supreme Court President RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- The executive arm of the European Union has expressed concern over the election of an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as president of the country's Supreme Court.
• Poster Boy For Alleged Corruption In Kyrgyzstan Detained By New Authorities RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (UKMK) announced on October 20 that it had detained Raimbek Matraimov, an influential former deputy chief of the State Customs Service implicated in a massive corruption scheme but long regarded as untouchable. A few hours later he was placed under house arrest.
• House Arrest Ordered For Kyrgyzstan's Powerful Oligarch Raimbek Matraimov RFE/RL 20 Oct 2020 -- A Bishkek district court judge has ordered that Raimbek Matraimov, the powerful former deputy chief of the customs service, be placed under house arrest.
• European Commission Opens Probe Into Violations Linked to Cyprus', Malta's 'Golden Passports' Scheme Sputnik 20 Oct 2020 -- Last week, the ?ypriot government scrapped a "golden passport" citizenship-through-investment scheme after Al Jazeera released an investigative report into the issue.
• Lagos Imposes Curfew as Anti-Police Protests Continue VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- The governor of Nigeria's largest city and financial hub has declared a full-day curfew amid continuing protests against police violence.
• Thai Parliament Recalled Amid Ongoing Protests VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- Thailand will recall its Parliament from recess to discuss ongoing pro-democracy protests in the country, the cabinet announced Tuesday.
• Former Top French Official Hopes Teacher's Beheading Will Mark 'Turning Point' VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- The report was explosive. Sixteen years ago, one of France's top education officials, Jean-Pierre Obin, sounded what he hoped would be a wake-up call about the "Islamization of French public schools."
• Mexico to Extradite Drug Lord to US VOA 20 Oct 2020 -- The Mexican government is set to extradite to the United States Jaime González Durán, one of the founders of the Los Zetas drug cartel.
• Al Qaeda-Trained Jihadist Who Recruited Other Inmates to Join ISIS Sentenced to 300 Months US Dept. of Justice 20 Oct 2020 -- Mohammed Ibrahim Ahmed was in Federal Custody Serving a Sentence for Terrorism Violations at the Time of his Current Plot to Recruit Terrorists