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Current Operations

• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate The White House 01 Nov 2020

Defense Policy / Programs

• Patriot Express Travel at BWI, SEATAC to Require On-Site, Rapid COVID-19 Testing DoD 01 Nov 2020 -- In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to meet the long-standing commitments to our allies and partners, the Department of Defense will begin rapid, on-site COVID-19 testing for passengers departing Baltimore Washington International Airport and Seattle Tacoma Airport aboard Patriot Express flights for official duty at overseas locations.
• USS Hershel 'Woody' Williams Arrives in Astakos, Greece US Navy 01 Nov 2020 -- The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) arrived in Astakos, Greece, Nov. 1 following a 43-day underway period supporting U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
• US Air Force plans to convert cargo aircraft into 'bomb trucks' Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- The US Air Force has awarded major weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp. $25 million to convert large cargo aircraft such as C-17 Globemaster III into bomb trucks, and plans to hold a demonstration of the capability sometime in 2021.
• Army Aviation stages large-scale maneuvers in central Iran Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA) has undertaken large-scale drills in central Iran, enlisting as many as seven airbases and dozens of manned and unmanned aircraft.
• Iran's Air Force to Hold New Drills on Modern Warfare Tactics to Prepare for Emerging Threats Sputnik 01 Nov 2020 -- The upcoming war game is one of many held annually by Iran in a bid to prepare for a possible invasion by hostile forces. These preparations come in light of the ongoing standoff between Tehran and Washington, as the latter continues to maintain a military presence in the Persian Gulf despite Iran's objections.
• Remarks by President Trump After Air Force One Arrival | Charlotte, NC The White House 01 Nov 2020

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Zarif elaborates on Iran's peace plan for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict IRNA 01 Nov 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday elaborated on Iran's peace plan for settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Aliyev rejects Russia's possible intervention in Karabakh conflict as 'Azerbaijan fights on own land' Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev says there is no reason for Russia to intervene in the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh as Baku has "no plan" to conduct military operations against Armenia.
• Turkish FM in Azerbaijan as tensions flare over Karabakh Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Turkey's foreign minister has arrived in Baku for talks over an ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
• Zarif on Karabakh conflict: Iran won't tolerate terrorists' presence near borders Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned about the transfer of Daesh remnants to the Nagorno-Karabkh region amid ongoing fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia, saying the Islamic Republic will not tolerate the presence of Takfiri terrorists near its borders.
• Baku Warns Of Fighting 'To The End' Amid Claims More Civilians Shelled In Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued more dire warnings over the ongoing fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh on November 1 as he and other senior officials met with a senior visiting delegation from staunch ally Turkey.
• Armenian Premier Claims Existence of Proof That Syrian Mercenaries Fight in Karabakh Sputnik 01 Nov 2020 -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday claimed the existence of concrete proof of Turkey recruiting and transporting thousands of Syrian mercenaries to Azerbaijan for the war in the breakaway republic of Nagorno Karabakh.
• Pakistan Announces 'Provisional Provincial' Status for Part of Kashmir VOA 01 Nov 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced Sunday his government had decided to give "provisional provincial" status to part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
• Pakistan to upgrade status of part of Kashmir: PM Khan Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said his government would give provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, the northern part of the larger Kashmir region.
• Kashmir launches general strike against controversial new land laws Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Indian-administered Kashmir has launched a general strike in protest at controversial laws imposed by New Delhi that allow non-locals to buy land in the disputed region.
• India Rejects Pakistani Plan to Upgrade Status of Disputed Kashmir Area Sputnik 01 Nov 2020 -- New Delhi rejected on Sunday Islamabad's plan to grant provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, a strategic Pakistani-held part of the disputed Kashmir region, which is claimed by the two rivals.
• Turkey Extends Seismic Survey in Disputed East Mediterranean Area Sputnik 01 Nov 2020 -- Turkey's Oruc Reis research vessel will continue its seismic exploration in the disputed area of the Eastern Mediterranean, near the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kastellorizo, until 14 November, the navy's Office of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography has announced.
• Turkey extends research vessel mission in eastern Mediterranean again Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Turkey has decided to extend once again the work of its seismic research vessel in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, despite warnings from Greece that such move is at odds with international efforts to ease tensions between the two sides.

News Reports

• Romania Rejects Partnering With China's Huawei On 5G, Prime Minister Says RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban says Chinese tech giant Huawei "does not meet [security] conditions" to be part of building 5G networks in the country.
• Wrong strategic mind-set makes Pompeo the most unsuccessful US state secretary ever Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the most unsuccessful top diplomat of the US ever compared to his predecessors, and the tour that he just concluded to five Asian countries to peddle his anti-China ideas is just a coda to his failed career, said Chinese analysts on Sunday.
• China seeks 'complete' economic self-reliance Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- Through a series of recent top meetings, official documents and speeches, China's top leadership, including President Xi Jinping, has signaled that the country would focus on boosting the domestic supply chain and homegrown innovation to become completely self-reliant in economy and core technologies, as external risks continue to mount.
• China starts 7th census, 'keystone' for policies in new 5-year plan Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- While many other countries and regions including the US and Europe are still struggling against the rebounding COVID-19 pandemic, China, the world's most populous country, kicked off its 7th national census on Sunday, with full usage of electronic devices and internet based on big data for the first time.
• Chinese premier stresses high-standard formulation of new five-year plan People's Daily 01 Nov 2020 -- Premier Li Keqiang has called for high standards in formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development to secure a good start in fully building a modern socialist country.
• China's Three Gorges passes all tests, effective in flood control, power generation Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- China announced Sunday the full completion of the Three Gorges project, and that it had passed all tests. The dam and reservoir are running smoothly and fully operational in flood control, power generation, navigation and water resources utilization, a sharp rebuke to long-held Western hype and suspicions that it is at risk of collapse and poses a danger to the environment.
• Three Gorges Project passes all tests Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- After more than 20 years of construction and testing, China on Sunday announced the full completion of the mega Three Gorges project, a historical moment marking the national spirit of Chinese people and a vivid rebuttal to the West who has been dedicated to fabricating rumors and hyping its safety problems and dangers to the environment.
• Arrest of 7 political figures to clean up mess at HK LegCo: expert Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- Seven Hong Kong politicians including current and former members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) were arrested on Sunday for contempt and interference with members of the LegCo.
• Chinese warplane again enters Taiwan's ADIZ CNA 01 Nov 2020 -- A Chinese military Y-8 aircraft entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) Sunday, the 31st Chinese intrusion since Sept. 16, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• PLA warplanes conduct sorties in Taiwan Straits on 25 days in October Global Times 01 Nov 2020 -- Amid recent US arms sales to the island of Taiwan, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly sent warplanes to the Taiwan Straits on at least 25 days out of the total of 31 days in October, setting a new record for frequency this year, and leading Chinese mainland military analysts to say on Sunday that the PLA's patrol and drill operations in the region have become completely routine and the PLA is in full grasp of the situation.
• Russia awards contract to Power Machines for work at Iranian power plant Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Russia's Power Machines has been awarded with a contract to build a major Iranian power plant on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
• Belarus Forces Fire Tear Gas, Beat Demonstrators In Minsk As Tens Of Thousands Take To Streets RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Security forces in the Belarusian capital have fired warning shots and begun detaining participants on November 1 in the latest anti-government protest fueled by a disputed presidential election 12 weeks ago.
• Belarus Partially Shuts Borders Over COVID-19 As Protest Crackdown Continues RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Belarus has partially closed all its land borders to foreigners in a move that prompted speculation the restrictions are politically motivated.
• UN Says Myanmar's Discriminatory Laws Cast Doubt on Fairness of Elections VOA 01 Nov 2020 -- The U.N. human rights office warns Myanmar's discriminatory citizenship and electoral laws cast doubt on the fairness of next week's general elections, putting the country's professed transition to democracy at risk.
• Georgia opposition calls for protests as ruling party claims vote win Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Georgia's opposition has called for mass protests after the former Soviet republic's ruling party declared victory in a highly contested parliamentary election.
• Georgia's ruling party leads parliament vote; opposition calls for protests Press TV 01 Nov 2020 -- Preliminary results show that Georgia's ruling party has taken the lead in parliamentary elections in the former Soviet republic, with the opposition rejecting the results and announcing plans for street protests.
• Georgian Dream Claims Win In 'Competitive' Parliamentary Vote Rejected By Opposition RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream has claimed victory in parliamentary elections that pitted it against a more united opposition hoping to end the party's eight-year run.
• Georgian Dream Party Says It's Already Won Majority in General Election Sputnik 01 Nov 2020 -- The executive secretary of the ruling political party Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, on Sunday said that his party had already won a legislative majority in the general election, citing data from the Central Election Commission.
• Meat, Butter Considered 'Luxuries' As Tajiks Face Steep Price Hikes RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Ozoda is making mantu, a traditional Tajik dumpling dish for dinner, but instead of meat she fills the dough wrappings with chopped onion and potatoes.
• Moldovans Vote In Presidential Election Charged By Accusations Of Foreign Interference RFE/RL 01 Nov 2020 -- Voters in Moldova cast ballots on November 1 in a presidential election that turned into a rematch of the hard-fought 2016 race.
• Thai King Voices 'Love' for Protesters VOA 01 Nov 2020 -- In his first public comments on months of protests, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn expressed "love" for protesters, who have called for limits to his power.
• Former Thai Prime Minister Sees Merit in Protesters' Demands VOA 01 Nov 2020 -- Former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, an internationally respected figure, has watched pro-democracy street protests roil Bangkok this summer. He finds himself agreeing with some of the movement's key demands and believes there is room for reconciliation.
• Tanzania's Magufuli Wins Landslide Re-election VOA 01 Nov 2020 -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli has officially won a second term, with a landslide victory of more than 84% of the vote in this week's election. His main opponent, Tundu Lissu, earned 13% of the vote, according to the official count. Tanzania's citizens have accepted the results.
• Weak and Powerful Countries to Come Under UN Human Rights Spotlight VOA 01 Nov 2020 -- The United States is among 14 countries whose human rights records will be examined under the U.N. Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review. The two-week session, which opens Monday, will be held both in-person and remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.