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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Report: US Wasted Billions of Dollars on Afghan Rebuilding Projects VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- The United States has spent billions of American taxpayer dollars on reconstruction projects in Afghanistan that were either not needed or not wanted by authorities in the war-torn country, a new report says.
• US wasted billions of dollars on buildings and vehicles in Afghanistan Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- A scathing new report from a US watchdog says Washington wasted billions of dollars in war-ravaged Afghanistan on buildings and vehicles either abandoned or destroyed.
• Watchdog Says U.S. Wasted Billions On Unused, Abandoned Assets In Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 01 Mar 2021 -- A U.S. government watchdog says the United States has wasted about $2.4 billion on assets such as buildings and vehicles that were either unused or abandoned, had not been used for their intended purposes, had deteriorated, or were destroyed.
• US Envoy in Afghanistan on Resumption of Peace Talks VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Monday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, head of Afghanistan's peace council, to discuss steps for accelerating a process that could end decades of war in the country.
• Former Adviser Points To Major Flaws Of U.S.-Taliban Deal One Year On RFE/RL Gandhara 01 Mar 2021 -- On the one-year anniversary of the peace deal between the Taliban and the United States, Barnett Rubin, a former adviser to the United Nations and U.S. State Department, says Washington and the Taliban are looking for ways to revive their agreement, which has hit numerous roadblocks.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Press Secretary Updates Reporters on DOD Operations DoD 01 Feb 2021 -- Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby
• New Officials Sworn-in at the Department of Defense DoD 01 Mar 2021 -- The following individuals have been sworn-in virtually or in-person from Feb. 23, 2021, through today, March 1, 2021.
• Pentagon Hosts First Meeting of US-China Task Force VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- Top U.S. military and intelligence officials have started looking at how best to confront what they see as the growing threat from a rising China.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With New Zealand Minister of Defence Peeni Henare DoD 01 Mar 2021
• China Task Force Begins Work; DOD Makes Progress on COVID-19 DoD News 01 Mar 2021 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gave marching orders to the China Task Force today.
• Pentagon's Logistics Agency Utilizes Software Bots to Improve Accuracy, Efficiency DoD News 01 Mar 2021 -- The Defense Logistics Agency is improving accuracy, cycle time and productivity in supply chain management practices through robotic process automation, which uses software bots to execute tasks and interact with systems.
• Special Operations Command GMVs coming to Production Plant Barstow USMC News 01 Mar 2021 -- Special Operations Command Ground Mobility Vehicles are coming soon to Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command on the Yermo Annex aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California.
• USAFE completes CJADC2 demonstration US Air Force 01 Mar 2021 -- U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, in conjunction with the Department of the Air Force's Chief Architect's Office, conducted a Combined, Joint All-Domain Command and Control demonstration in international waters and airspace in and around the Baltic Sea. Participation included assets from U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, U.S. Army Europe – Africa, U.S. Strategic Command, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Netherlands air force and the Polish air force.
• USS Winston S. Churchill conducts Port Visit to Sudan US Navy 01 Mar 2021 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) arrived in Port Sudan, Sudan for a scheduled port visit, Mar. 1, 2021.
• U.S. Marine Corps update for COVID-19 USMC News 01 Mar 2021
• New ground-to-air missile weapon system commissioned to Army brigade PLA Daily 01 Mar 2021 -- Recently, a new ground-to-air missile weapon system was commissioned to a brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army.
• China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership serves as an example of international relations: Defense PLA Daily 01 Mar 2021 -- China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era serves as an example of new-type international relations featuring mutual respect, justice and win-win cooperation, said the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense in a written statement on Monday.
• China Begins Month of Military Exercises in South China Sea Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- China launched a month of military exercises in the South China Sea on Monday and accused foreign countries of heightening tensions by increasing their military presence in those contested waters.
• Brand new military planes, choppers delivered to Iran Armed Forces IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iranian Armed Forces took delivery of nine military planes, 10 choppers and tens of engines repaired at Iran Aviation Industries.
• Taiwan stages live-fire drill on island in South China Sea CNA 01 Mar 2021 -- The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) was scheduled to hold a round of live-fire exercises on the Taiwan-held Pratas (Dongsha) Islands in the South China Sea on Monday amid rising tensions in the region.
• Defense Department Announces $125M for Ukraine DoD 01 Mar 2021 -- The Department of Defense announces a new $125 million package for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative that includes training, equipment, and advisory efforts to help Ukraine's forces preserve the country's territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.
• Pentagon Announces $125-Million Defense Aid Package For Ukraine RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- The Pentagon has announced a $125-million military aid package for Ukraine that includes two armed patrol boats to help the country defend its territorial waters.
• US Sending Patrol Boats, Equipment to Ukraine VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- The Pentagon appears to be making good on Washington's pledge to help Ukraine stand up to what the United States has described as "Russian aggression."
• Three new Lightnings touch down Australia DOD 01 Mar 2021 -- Three new F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown on February 11, joining the No. 81 Wing fleet.
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with National Security Advisor Suh Hoon of the Republic of Korea The White House 01 Mar 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Nigerian Foreign Minister Onyeama US Dept. of State 01 Mar 2021
• Department Press Briefing – March 1, 2021 US Dept. of State 01 Mar 2021
• Remarks by President Biden and President López Obrador of Mexico Before Virtual Bilateral Meeting The White House 01 Mar 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For March 1, 2021
• China Eastern Airlines to be first global customer for C919 Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- China Eastern Airlines will be the first global customer for the domestically made regional jetliner C919, the airline said at a signing ceremony on Monday, a milestone showing the aircraft is on the road to commercial operation.
• C919 gets first global contract People's Daily 01 Mar 2021 -- China Eastern Airlines and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China signed a contract to buy C919 large passenger planes in Shanghai on March 1, finalizing the world's first official purchase contract for the domestically produced aircraft.

Other Conflicts

• 1 March 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 01 Mar 2021
• US military urged to manage divergence with China; patrol of Diaoyu Islands waters to continue: Ministry of National Defense Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- The Chinese defense ministry released a statement on Monday to answer media questions about China-US military ties, the current situation of the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea. The ministry said that China hopes the US can work with China on implementing the consensus reached by the national leaders of the two countries to enhance communication and manage divergences.
li>China urges relevant countries not to provoke in South China Sea and escalate tensions: Defense Ministry PLA Daily 01 Mar 2021 -- Currently, the situation in South China Sea is generally stable and countries in the region are committed to making it a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, said the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense in a written statement on Monday, urging relevant countries to make constructive contributions to the peace and stability of the South China Sea.
• Yemen Donors Fail to Raise Even Half of $4 Billion to Avert Famine VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed disappointment Monday that a donors conference for Yemen received less than half of the nearly $4 billion needed to prevent a catastrophic famine from potentially killing millions of people in the war-torn country.
• United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Yemen US Dept. of State 01 Mar 2021 -- "Today, I announced nearly $191 million in additional humanitarian assistance at the virtual 2021 High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen."
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the 2021 High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen US Dept. of State 01 Mar 2021
• Yemen pledging conference: Severity of suffering 'impossible to overstate' says Guterres UN News 01 Mar 2021 -- The international response to Monday's High-Level Pledging Event on Yemen has been described as "disappointing" by the UN chief, announcing that pledges totalled less than last year's humanitarian response, and a billion dollars less than the figure raised in 2019.
• Yemen: UN ceasefire monitoring mission condemns attack on civilians in Hudaydah UN News 01 Mar 2021 -- The United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), on Sunday, strongly condemned an attack in Yemen that killed five civilians, including a woman and child.
• Ansarullah: Stopping Saudi aggression, blockade best help for Yemen Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Stopping Saudi Arabia's war of aggression and its total blockade against Yemen is the best help that the Yemeni nation could receive under the current circumstances, says the spokesman for Ansarullah movement.
• Yemeni army forces, allies shoot down Saudi-led coalition's bomb-laden drone in Hudaydah Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Yemeni army forces, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Committees, have intercepted and targeted an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the Saudi-led military coalition as it was flying in the skies over the country's strategic western province of Hudaydah.
• Reducing aid death sentence for entire families in Yemen, UN warns, urges generous donations Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on international donors to give more money in the hope of raising a sum of $3.85 billion to avert large-scale famine in Yemen.
• Israel attacks vicinity of Syrian capital People's Daily 01 Mar 2021 -- A fresh Israeli missile attack targeted positions in the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday night, state TV reported.
• Syria urges Security Council to condemn Israeli attacks on its territory Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Syria has once again called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to condemn Israeli attacks on its territory, urging the world body to act decisively to stop the regime.
• Fate still unclear of 'tens of thousands' of civilian detainees in Syria UN News 01 Mar 2021 -- The fate of tens of thousands of civilians being held in Syria's "notorious" prisons or detention centres is still unclear, 10 years after the country's civil war began, UN investigators said on Monday.
• UN: Tens of Thousands of Syrian Detainees Have Disappeared VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- U.N. investigators say the fate of tens of thousands of people detained by all warring parties during Syria's decade-long war remains unknown and a matter of great concern. The report will be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council March 11.
• Jihadist Women's Demands Come at Crucial Time for France VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- A group of French women who joined the so-called Islamic State militant group and are currently detained in Syria continue a hunger strike as the French government denies their requests to be repatriated to France, along with their children.
• China in Tightened Security Clampdown in Tibet's Capital Lhasa and on the Border Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- Chinese authorities in Tibet are tightening security and carrying out arrests in the regional capital Lhasa and along Tibet's border with Nepal in the run-up to a month of politically sensitive anniversaries beginning in March, sources in the region say.
• HRW urges India to provide refuge to Rohingya Muslims adrift at Indian Ocean Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Indian government to provide refuge to dozens of Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers who have been adrift in the Andaman Sea for more than two weeks.
• Bangladesh: OIC Visits Remote Island Housing Rohingya Refugees Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- Although U.N. officials have not been allowed to inspect a low-lying island that Bangladesh has developed to house Rohingya refugees, a delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation visited the site Sunday and expressed satisfaction with infrastructure there, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said.

News Reports

• Myanmar Junta Hits Aung San Suu Kyi With Two New Charges as Anti-Junta Protests Rage On Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- Myanmar's military junta brought new charges against deposed country leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, accusing the detained state counselor of incitement and violating telecommunication laws, her lawyer said.
• ASEAN Foreign Ministers to Hold Meeting to Discuss Myanmar Crisis Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold a special meeting on Tuesday on the political crisis in Myanmar, the Indonesian foreign ministry said, as the regional and international community condemned a deadly weekend crackdown against pro-democracy protesters.
• Myanmar violence: Foreign Secretary's statement, 1 March 2021 UK FCDO 01 Mar 2021 -- Dominic Raab gave a statement on Myanmar following an increase in violence by the military against peaceful protesters over the weekend.
• Crowds Again Protest Myanmar Coup, Defy Crackdown VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- Protesters in Myanmar marched in several cities Monday in defiance of a deadly crackdown on demonstrators Sunday.
• Myanmar's Suu Kyi Makes First Public Appearance Since February 1 Coup VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in court Monday, her first public appearance since she and other members of Myanmar's civilian government were removed from office and detained by the military on Feb. 1.
• Russia Targets Officers Accused Of Leaking Data On Navalny Poisoning RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- Within four months of falling violently ill on a flight to Moscow from Siberia in August, Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny had duped one of his alleged poisoners into confessing on a phone call and collaborated with investigative journalists on a report identifying the men suspected of using a nerve agent in a botched assassination attempt.
• UN Rights Experts Urge International Inquiry Into Navalny Poisoning RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- Two UN human rights experts have called for an international investigation into the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, saying evidence points to the "very likely involvement" of Russian government officials.
• Moscow Court Finds Arrest Warrant For Navalny Associate Lawful RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- The Moscow City Court has upheld an arrest warrant issued by a lower court last month for Leonid Volkov, a close associate of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny.
• Russia responsible for Navalny poisoning, rights experts say UN News 01 Mar 2021 -- Russia is responsible for the poisoning and attempted killing of jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny, two independent UN rights experts said on Monday, issuing an "open call" for an international investigation into the incident.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on March 1, 2021 PRC MofA 01 Mar 2021
• China to issue report on human rights violations in US Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- China's State Council Information Office will in the near future issue a report on the human rights violations in the United States in 2020, an official statement said Monday.
• China's State Council to release report on 'human rights abuses' in US Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- The information office of China's State Council is expected to come out with a report on human rights situation in the US in the year 2020, according to an official statement.
• Australia needs to reflect on flight of Chinese investment: FM spokesperson Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson urged the Australian government to seriously reflect on itself against the backdrop of a plunge of Chinese investment in Australia last year when China's outward foreign direct investment grew by 3.3 percent.
• Hundreds Protest as Hong Kong Locks up 47 Democracy Activists, Politicians Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- Hundreds of people gathered in protest outside a Hong Kong court on Monday as the authorities charged 47 pro-democracy activists, including sitting councilors and former lawmakers, with "subversion" under a national security law imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
• Charging of Politicians For 'Subversion' in Hong Kong Sparks International Outcry Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- The charging of 47 democracy activists and opposition politicians with "subversion" in Hong Kong under a draconian national security law imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sparked an international outcry on Monday, amid calls for their immediate release.
• Nearly Four Dozen Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists Appear in Court VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a Hong Kong courthouse Monday in a show of support for 47 pro-democracy activists and political figures who were scheduled to be formally charged with conspiracy to commit subversion.
• Hong Kong politicians and activists on charges for conspiracy to commit subversion: Foreign Secretary's statement UK FCDO 01 Mar 2021 -- Dominic Raab gave a statement after 47 Hong Kong politicians and activists were charged for conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security Law.
• Canada 'Disturbed' by Hong Kong Charging Pro-Democracy Activists, Foreign Minister Says Sputnik 01 Mar 2021 -- Canada condemns the arrests of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and urges authorities to comply with obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau said on Monday.
• China says US, Australia must not interfere in Hong Kong affairs Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- China has called on the United States and Australia to stop interfering in Hong Kong and China's other internal affairs in any way as tensions continue to escalate between Beijing and the West over a range of issues.
• Beijing listens to suggestions on HK political reforms Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- Over the week, senior central government officials on Hong Kong affairs listened to views from Hong Kong society on imminent political reforms, unleashing important messages about how to plug the loopholes in existing systems and carry on the reform process, with major consensus reached on the principle of only patriots governing Hong Kong, urgency of fixing the systematic loopholes and reforms to be led by the central government.
• Chinese FM rebuts Blinken's comments, defends HK police's legitimate law enforcement action against anti-govt figures Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- In response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's comments on the prosecution of 47 anti-government figures involved in illegal primaries in Hong Kong, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin defended the Hong Kong police for carrying out their duties in accordance with the law and said the prosecution is a legitimate law enforcement action.
• Senior official on HK affairs urges severe punishment for anti-China disrupters Benny Tai, Joshua Wong and Jimmy Lai in speech Global Times 01 Mar 2021 -- The latest edition of Zijing magazine has published the full text of a recent speech by Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, concerning the standards and fundamentals for upcoming Hong Kong political reforms, in which the senior Chinese official mentioned some extreme rioters including Benny Tai, Joshua Wong and Jimmy Lai by name, saying that they should be severely punished.
• North Korean Quarantine Police Shake Down Residents for Bribes and Food Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- North Korean quarantine enforcers are using their authority during coronavirus prevention inspections to extract bribes and food out of citizens struggling to survive under an economy devastated by the pandemic, sources in the country told RFA.
• Iran Repeats Demand US Sanctions Be Lifted Before Nuclear Talks Resume VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran Monday repeated its call for the United States to drop sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for talks on resume on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.
• Iran: No engagement with US without lifting sanctions Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran has reiterated that the US has to lift its inhuman sanctions on the Islamic Republic before the two sides could engage in any negotiations.
• Iran to react strongly if IAEA BoG issues anti-Iran resolution IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Rapporteur for Iranian Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Abolfazl Amouei on Monday said that Iran will react strongly if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors issues any anti-Iran resolution.
• Iran-IAEA agreement "compatible with Iranian law": IAEA chief IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said on Monday that Iran and the Agency reached an agreement in mid-February, which is "a temporary technical understanding" and "compatible with Iranian law".
• Zarif warns IAEA Board of Governors over probable wrong move IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday warned the IAEA Board of Governors over any probable wrong move.
• Iran won't hand over data to IAEA until sanctions lifted: Official IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Spokesman for Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Monday that Iran will not hand over data to IAEA until the US sanctions were not lifted.
• Because of greatness of JCPOA world conspires to break it: President Rouhani ISNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Referring to the high importance of the oil and petrochemical industries for the country, Iran's President said, "In the eleventh and twelfth governments, unique and valuable work has been done in the field of developing the oil and petrochemical industries, and this is one of the honours of this government."
• IAEA chief: Nuclear inspections in Iran should not be used as 'bargaining chip' Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the issue of nuclear inspections in Iran should not be used as a "bargaining chip" in any talks on the nuclear deal that Tehran clinched with six world powers in 2015.
• IAEA Chief Says Iran Nuclear Inspections Should Not Be 'Bargaining Chip' RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog says the agency's inspection work in Iran cannot become a "bargaining chip" in talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with world powers.
• Iran's Zarif warns of countermeasures if IAEA governors issue anti-Iran resolution Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran's foreign minister has warned against a likely anti-Iran resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors, saying the Islamic Republic has some options to take in case "reason does not prevail" on the other side.
• Iran strongly rejects Israel's accusations ISNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has strongly rejected the accusations made by the Zionist regime that Iran has been connected to explosions on board an Israeli-owned ship in the Persian Gulf.
• Accusing and threatening Iran not to bear fruit: FM spox IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has denounced attempts to accuse and threaten the Islamic Republic, saying that such a method will not be fruitful.
• Israel's Netanyahu Blames Iran For Explosion On Cargo Ship RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of carrying out an attack on an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman last week, a charge rejected by Tehran.
• Iran Strongly Denies Israeli Claims of Involvement in Thursday Vessel Attack Sputnik 01 Mar 2021 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Monday strongly refuted claims that Thursday's attack on an Israeli cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman was "clearly" the work of Tehran.
• President: Iran "nearly not dependent" on oil revenues IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran has adopted plan to reduce reliance on oil revenues and currently is not dependent on petro-dollars.
• Pres. Rouhani inaugurates three national oil projects IRNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, via a video conference on Monday, inaugurated three oil projects including, Azar oil field development, Kangan Petro Refining, and Kian Petrochemical plant in Ilam and Bushehr provinces with 5 billion dollars in investment.
• Iran rolls out massive petroleum projects worth $2.7bn Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Two massive Iranian petroleum projects with an investment of $2.7 billion have come on line in a fresh blow to US sanctions targeting the country's energy sector.
• Time not ripe for unofficial meeting proposed by EU's Borrell: Spokesman ISNA 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh says the time is not ripe for an unofficial meeting proposed by the EU foreign policy chief considering the recent stances and moves by the US and the three European countries.
• Iran says time "not appropriate" for informal meeting with Europe, U.S. People's Daily 01 Mar 2021 -- Iran on Sunday said that time is "not appropriate" for Iran to hold an informal meeting with Europe and the United States.
• US says ready to reengage in 'meaningful diplomacy' with Iran Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- The United States says it is disappointed that Iran has ruled out an informal meeting on the 2015 nuclear deal, but it remains ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy on the issue.
• France's former president Sarkozy convicted of corruption, handed jail sentence Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty by a court in the country's capital, Paris, on charges of corruption and influence peddling.
• Khashoggi Fiancée Urges Punishment for Saudi Crown Prince VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi said Monday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "should be punished without delay" for ordering the killing.
• Ukrainian Diplomats Accused Of Smuggling Gold, Cash, And Goods RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has disrupted a ring of former and current Ukrainian diplomats accused of smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods -- including gold and foreign currency.
• Armenians break into government building, pushing prime minister to resign Press TV 01 Mar 2021 -- A group of Armenian protesters have barged into a government building to pressure Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over the outcome of last year's bloody war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• Armenian PM Says He's Ready For Early Elections If Opposition Agrees To Conditions RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on March 1 that he is prepared to hold snap parliamentary elections provided the opposition agrees to certain conditions.
• EU-Armenia Partnership Pact Enters Into Force RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- An agreement between Armenia and the European Union designed to deepen relations across an array of issues entered into force on March 1.
• Kyrgyz Ex-President's Relative Faces 'Illegal Enrichment' Probe RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- Kyrgyz authorities have launched an investigation against the father-in-law of former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov's daughter on a charge of "illegal enrichment."
• Hungary's Orban Threatens Exit Of Fidesz Party From Conservative Bloc In European Parliament RFE/RL 01 Mar 2021 -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has threatened to pull his Fidesz party from the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament if the conservative bloc approves new internal rules this week.
• Cambodia's Acting Opposition Chief Sam Rainsy Sentenced to 25 Years For 'Attempted Coup' Radio Free Asia 01 Mar 2021 -- A court in Cambodia sentenced the acting chief of the country's opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy to a 25-year jail term in absentia on Monday for plotting a "coup" as part of his attempt to return home from self-imposed exile in late 2019, according to officials.
• How an Official's Admission that Police Are Slaying Suspects Will Change the Philippine Anti-Drug Campaign VOA 01 Mar 2021 -- A justice official's statement that the Philippine National Police have intentionally killed suspects in a 5-year anti-drug crackdown under President Rodrigo Duterte will lessen the use of deadly force as officials hope to head off growing international outrage, analysts believe.