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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Iraqi PM says US foreign combat forces 'not needed' in Iraq Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has said that his upcoming visit to Washington is aimed at regulating Iraq's relations with the United States and pushing for the withdrawal of foreign combat forces from the Arab country.
• Global Community Calls for Urgent Taliban Cease-fire VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- Foreign diplomatic missions in Afghanistan called for the Taliban on Monday to urgently cease their military offensive, saying it runs counter to claims the insurgent group wants a negotiated settlement to the war.
• US Army Base Set to Welcome Afghans Fleeing Taliban VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- The first Afghans to be airlifted out of Afghanistan as the United States completes its withdrawal from the country after nearly two decades of war will initially be housed at an Army base south of Washington.
• 'Weak From Hunger': Taliban's Sweeping Offensive Pushes Afghanistan Toward Humanitarian Crisis RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Jul 2021 -- Safia and her three young children live out in the open, exposed to the punishing summer heat, with no food or water.
• Turkey's Erdogan Urges Taliban To End 'Occupation' In Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Jul 2021 -- Turkish Recep President Tayyip Erdogan on July 19 called on the Taliban to "end the occupation" of Afghanistan and said Turkey will talk to the militants over their refusal to let Ankara run Kabul airport after the U.S. troops complete their pullout from Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Divided Over Taliban Victories In Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Jul 2021 -- The Taliban's rapid victories in neighboring Afghanistan have once again highlighted deep divisions within Pakistan, where some are celebrating the hard-line Islamists' expanding territorial control while others warn of increasing homegrown violence and extremism.
• U.S. Envoy In Islamabad Amid Tensions Between Afghanistan, Pakistan RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Jul 2021 -- U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has met with political and military leaders in Pakistan amid a further worsening in relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
• Foreign missions in Kabul urge Taliban to lay down arms, end offensive Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Foreign diplomatic missions in Afghanistan have called for "an urgent end" to the Taliban's offensive after an inter-Afghan peace meeting in Doha failed to agree on a truce.
• Afghanistan recalls ambassador to Pakistan over 'security threats' after daughter kidnapped Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Afghanistan has recalled its ambassador from Islamabad over "security threats," after the envoy's daughter was briefly kidnapped in the Pakistani capital.
• Turkmenistan Continues Military Buildup Near Border Amid Deteriorating Afghan Security RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Turkmenistan continues to send heavy weaponry, helicopters, and other aircraft to areas along the Turkmen-Afghan border to allay security fears as Taliban fighters engage in major offensives nearby in northern Afghanistan.
• US, Turkey Finalizing Details on Ankara Offer to Manage Kabul Airport Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States and Turkey are finalizing the details on Ankara's plan to run the airport in Kabul once US troops withdraw from Afghanistan, US Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.
• Afghan Army Reclaims Control Over Garmsir District of Helmand Province Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- Afghan government forces have retaken control of Garmsir district in the province of Helmand, captured by the Taliban (terrorist organization banned in Russia), the Afghan Ministry of Defense representative posted on Twitter on Monday.
• Senior Leaders from Afghanistan Hold Peace Talks US Dept. of State 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States welcomes the talks held July 17-18 between senior leaders of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban in Doha and the commitment the two sides have declared to accelerate negotiations towards an inclusive political settlement. Only a negotiated settlement can bring a lasting end to over 40 years of conflict in Afghanistan.
• Biden Administration To Begin Relocating Afghans Who Worked With U.S. To Virginia Military Base RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States will bring the first group of Afghans who worked with the U.S. government to a military base in Virginia until their visas are finalized, the Biden administration said on July 19.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Guantanamo Bay Detainee Transfer Announced DoD 19 Jul 2021 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Abdul Latif Nasir from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Kingdom of Morocco.
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Guantanamo Bay The White House 19 Jul 2021
• US Releases Guantanamo Bay Detainee to Morocco VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States on Monday released Abdul Latif Nasser, a one-time Taliban commander in Afghanistan, from its detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sending him to his native Morocco after holding him for 19 years.
• Transfer of GTMO Detainee to Morocco US Dept. of State 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States commends the Kingdom of Morocco for its collaboration in repatriating Abdul Latif Nasir, a Moroccan citizen who had been held at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
• US transfers Guantanamo inmate to Morocco; first under Biden Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The Biden administration has transferred its first detainee out of the notorious military prison at Guantanamo Bay, the Pentagon said.
• White House: Biden Aims to Close Guantanamo Bay Prison, No Timeline Set Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- The Biden administration is aiming to close down the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for good as it works to transfer its remaining detainees out of the facility, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a news conference on Monday.
• Brown emphasizes imperative to modernize with allies in first Europe trip as CSAF US Air Force 19 Jul 2021 -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. visited with European counterparts in France and virtually at the annual Global Air Chiefs' Conference to emphasize the U.S. Air Force as a committed partner toward collective defense and to introduce allies to his strategic vision of Accelerate Change or Lose.
• Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing DoD 19 Jul 2021
• The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Conducts Anti-Submarine Warfighting Exercises US Navy 19 Jul 2021 -- The Ronald Reagan carrier strike group (CSG) 5, including ships from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, and the Ohio-class submarine USS Georgia (SSGN-729) exercised anti-submarine warfare (ASW) tactics and procedures, July 15-16.
• Fleet Readiness Center East Marks 100th F-35 Induction US Navy 19 Jul 2021 -- Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) marked a milestone in its support of the F-35 Lightning II program when the depot inducted its 100th F-35 for modifications June 11.
• U.S. Navy Installations to Conduct Citadel Pacific 2021 Exercise US Navy 19 Jul 2021 -- Navy installations will exercise their security forces during Citadel Pacific 2021 (CP21), an annually reoccurring force protection exercise assessing emergency response in Navy Region Japan (July 19-23), Navy Region Hawaii (August 9-13), Navy Region Korea (August 23-27) and Joint Region Marianas (October 4-8).
• USS Laboon Returns from Deployment US Navy 19 Jul 2021 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58), a ship of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), returned to its homeport in Naval Station Norfolk on July 16 following a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation.
• U.S. Navy Destroyer Assumes Air Defense Duties as Part of Carrier Strike Group 21 US Navy 19 Jul 2021 -- While operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) assumed air defense commander for the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) in support of joint operations and interoperability training, demonstrating mutual commitment to stability and security throughout multiple areas of responsibilities.
• NATO ships exercise in the Black Sea NATO 19 Jul 2021 -- Over 2,000 forces and 30 ships are taking part in exercise Breeze 2021 in the Black Sea. The Bulgarian-led maritime exercise, which began on 12 July and wraps up today (19 July), involves forces from 14 NATO Allies and partners – Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Russia successfully tests Zircon ship-based hypersonic cruise missile Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Russia has successfully tested another Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile, a new addition to a series of Russian weapons called "invincible" by President Vladimir Putin.
• Pentagon Aware of Russia's Zircon Missile Test, Considers It Destabilizing, Spokesperson Says Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- The US Defense Department is aware of the Russian test of its supersonic Zircon missile that took place earlier in the day and considers it a destabilizing activity, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.
• Latest Version of Su-57 Fighter Equipped With New Combat Capabilities Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- The upgraded version of the Su-57 fighter will acquire new combat capabilities through the use of a wider range of weapons, Sergei Smirnov, a member of the Military-Industrial Commission board, told Sputnik ahead of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021.
• Maker of China's Y-20 large transport plane gives a hint about the aircraft's future engines Global Times 19 Jul 2021 -- China's Y-20 large transport aircraft is expected to switch to domestically developed engines with a high bypass ratio, according to media reports after the aircraft's maker gave a hint in a cartoon.
• UK Carrier Strike Group to exercise with Indo-Pacific partners UK MOD 19 Jul 2021 -- The Strike Group will undertake a series of exercises with forces from the US, Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand and Korea in the Philippine Sea in August.
• Weapons unleashed in powerful demonstration Australia DOD 19 Jul 2021 -- A pair of shells flew over the water and slammed into Townshend Island within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area on the afternoon of July 18.
• Boosting Indigenous Capabilities in Defence Production India PIB 19 Jul 2021 -- The Government has taken several policy initiatives and brought in reforms to promote indigenisation and self-reliance in defence manufacturing, under AatmaNirbhar Bharat Mission in the defence sector.
• INS TABAR COMPLETES MARITIME PARTNERSHIP EXERCISE WITH FRENCH NAVY India PIB 19 Jul 2021 -- INS Tabar, on completion of port visit to Brest, France undertook maritime partnership exercise with FNS Aquitaine, a French naval Frigate in the Bay of Biscay on 15 and 16 Jul 21. A twin engine helicopter (NH 90) from FNS Aquitaine and four Rafale fighter aircraft from French Navy also participated in the exercise.
• Production of Defence Equipment in 'Make-In-India' Programme India PIB 19 Jul 2021 -- 'Make in India' is implemented in defence sector through various policy initiatives which promotes indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence items.
• Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan to hold drills near Afghan border amid Taliban offensive Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are set to hold military drills next month near the border with Afghanistan where the Taliban militant group has over the past weeks ramped up attacks against government forces.
• Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan To Hold Military Maneuvers Near Afghan Border In August RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will hold joint military maneuvers near the Tajik-Afghan border in early August amid increasing security concerns in Central Asian nations over Taliban offensives against government troops in northern Afghanistan.
• Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan The White House 19 Jul 2021
• Remarks by President Biden and His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 19 Jul 2021
• Biden Praises Jordanian King as Strong Ally in 'Tough Neighborhood' VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden called Jordan's King Abdullah a "good, loyal, decent friend" during a meeting Monday at the White House, the first of three face-to-face talks he will have in the coming weeks with Middle Eastern leaders.
• Biden, King Abdullah Discuss US Aid to Modernize Jordan's Fleet of F-16 Jets Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah during a meeting at the White House discussed US support to modernize Amman's fleet of F-16 fighter jets, the White House said in a press release.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, July 19, 2021 The White House 19 Jul 2021
• Department Press Briefing – July 19, 2021 US Dept. of State 19 Jul 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For July 19, 2021
• Naval Group and the Fleet Support Service sign a new contract for the operational maintenance of the French Navy's nuclear attack submarines Naval Group 19 Jul 2021 -- Naval Group and the Fleet Support Service have signed a contract for the operational maintenance of the French Navy's nuclear attack submarines (SSN) which will be in force for over three years and is worth several hundred million euros

Other Conflicts

• 19 July 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 19 Jul 2021
• Philippine Coast Guard Challenges Chinese Warship in South China Sea Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2021 -- The Philippine Coast Guard said Monday it had challenged a Chinese warship that entered the country's territorial waters in the South China Sea last week but eventually sailed away.
• Syria defenses fend off Israeli missiles: SANA Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Syria's air defense units reportedly intercept several missiles fired during Israeli airstrikes against the Arab country's northwestern province of Aleppo.
• Video: Syrian Air Defenses Repelling 'Israeli Aggression' in Sky Over Aleppo, State Media Report Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- The Syrian government has repeatedly appealed to the UN Security Council with a demand to put pressure on Israel in order to end the systematic violation of Syria's sovereignty, since such aggressive actions threaten the stability of the entire region.
• North Macedonia Repatriates Four Suspected Islamic State Fighters, Families RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- North Macedonia says it has repatriated four suspected former fighters of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group and their families from Syria and Iraq.
• Ethiopian Police Reject Claims of Arbitrary Tigrayan Arrests VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- Ethiopian police have confirmed the arrest of hundreds of ethnic Tigrayans in the capital Addis Ababa in recent weeks. The police said they were supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which authorities banned after the Tigray conflict broke out in November. But rights group Amnesty International says dozens were detained because of their ethnicity.
• Food aid convoy headed for Ethiopia's Tigray attacked: UN's WFP Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says a convoy carrying food for Ethiopia's conflict-ridden region of Tigray came under attack at the weekend, as a humanitarian crisis is looming in the northern region.
• Algeria recalls envoy to Morocco in renewed row between neighbors Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Algeria has recalled its ambassador from neighboring Morocco amid rising tensions and a diplomatic row between the two countries over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
• Azerbaijani, Armenian Forces Exchange Fire Along Tense Border Section RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Azerbaijani and Armenian forces exchanged fire for several hours along a section of their border as tensions continue to simmer between the two countries after last year's war over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

News Reports

• Responding to the PRC's Destabilizing and Irresponsible Behavior in Cyberspace US Dept. of State 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States and countries around the world are holding the People's Republic of China (PRC) accountable for its pattern of irresponsible, disruptive, and destabilizing behavior in cyberspace, which poses a major threat to our economic and national security.
• The United States, Joined by Allies and Partners, Attributes Malicious Cyber Activity and Irresponsible State Behavior to the People's Republic of China The White House 19 Jul 2021
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Malicious Cyber Activity Attributable to the People's Republic of China The White House 19 Jul 2021
• China Spy Agency Blamed by US, Others of Using Contract Hackers VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden said he is to receive a detailed report Tuesday about the role China's civilian intelligence agency played in using ransomware to extort American businesses.
• US for first time accuses China of cyberattacks, including Microsoft hack Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The United States has formally accused the Chinese government of widespread destabilizing activities in cyberspace, including through a massive breach of Microsoft email systems used by many of the world's big companies.
• US Forms Global Coalition to Shame China on Malicious Cyber Activities Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2021 -- The U.S. has formed a coalition with its allies and other partners to identify and condemn malicious cyber activities orchestrated by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), the White House said Monday, warning it is weighing additional measures to hold Beijing accountable for its actions.
• China: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union urging Chinese authorities to take action against malicious cyber activities undertaken from its territory EC/CEU 19 Jul 2021 -- Today, the EU and its member states, together with partners, expose malicious cyber activities that significantly affected our economy, security, democracy and society at large. The EU and its member states assess these malicious cyber activities to have been undertaken from the territory of China.
• EU Commission slams use of spyware against journalists as 'completely unacceptable' Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The European Commission has denounced as "completely unacceptable" the use of spyware programs against journalists and individuals working in the media, following reports that an Israeli spyware application was used to hack the smartphones of journalists, government officials and rights activists worldwide.
• Statement by the North Atlantic Council in solidarity with those affected by recent malicious cyber activities including the Microsoft Exchange Server compromise NATO 19 Jul 2021
• Biden Admin Accuses China of Perpetrating Massive Microsoft Exchange Email Hack Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- US intelligence agencies have released a joint advisory accusing China of malicious cyber activities and exposing more than 50 tactics allegedly used by hackers thought to be affiliated with Beijing.
• UK accuses China of 'hacking' Microsoft Exchange servers Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- In yet another rhetorical escalation against China, the UK has accused the rising world power of "systematic cyber sabotage".
• UK and allies hold Chinese state responsible for a pervasive pattern of hacking UK FCDO 19 Jul 2021 -- UK joins likeminded partners to confirm Chinese state-backed actors were responsible for gaining access to computer networks via Microsoft Exchange servers.
• Four Chinese Nationals Working with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaign Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information, Including Infectious Disease Research US Dept. of Justice 19 Jul 2021 -- Indictment Alleges Three Defendants Were Officers in the Hainan State Security Department (HSSD), a provincial arm of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS)
• US Charges 4 Chinese Nationals in Hacking Campaign VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- The U.S. Justice Department on Monday announced charges against three Chinese intelligence officers and a Chinese computer hacker in connection with an unlawful cyber campaign that pilfered trade secrets and confidential information from dozens of companies, universities and government entities in the United States and 11 other countries between 2011 and 2018.
• DOJ Formally Adopts New Policy Restricting Use of Compulsory Process to Obtain Reporter Information US Dept. of Justice 19 Jul 2021 -- The U.S. Department of Justice today formally adopted a new policy that restricts the use of compulsory process to obtain information from, or records of, members of the news media acting within the scope of newsgathering activities. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the new policy, effective immediately, in a memo to Department leadership.
• Outrage Builds Over Report Of Alleged Use Of Spyware On Press, Activists RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Politicians and media rights groups across the world have voiced outrage after a new report alleged several governments, including EU-member Hungary, used an Israeli program to hack the smartphones of journalists, officials, and rights activists worldwide.
• Pegasus: Human rights-compliant laws needed to regulate spyware UN News 19 Jul 2021 -- The UN human rights chief on Monday said the apparent widespread use of Pegasus spy software to illegally undermine the rights of those under surveillance, including journalists and politicians, was "extremely alarming" and confirmed "some of the worst fears" surrounding the potential misuse of such technology.
• Report: Journalists at top media outlets picked by UAE as targets of Israeli malware Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is believed to have selected the editor of the UK's Financial Times newspaper as well as journalists at The Economist and The Wall Street Journal to be spied on using Israeli spyware, according to a sweeping investigation.
• Private Israeli Spyware Used Against Activists, Journalists Worldwide, Reports Suggest Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- The software Pegasus, developed by Israel's NSO Group and used by government agencies to track criminals and terrorists, was deployed by state services to hack private phones of activists, journalists, and opposition figures around the world, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 other media outlets.
• Haiti's Interim Prime Minister Reportedly Plans to Step Down in Favour of Rival Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- Haiti's Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph told the Washington Post on Monday that he agreed to step down and hand over power to Ariel Henry, his challenger who is supported by the international community.
• New Haitian Prime Minister Prepares to Take Power VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- Officials in Haiti say interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who has run the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, is preparing to hand power to a challenger backed by the international community.
• 'A Planned Assault Along Many Fronts': Russia's Komanda 29 Shutters, Saying It's Too 'Dangerous' To Continue RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Just one month shy of its seventh birthday, the prominent legal-aid nongovernmental organization Komanda 29 has ceased its activities following a long pressure campaign against it by the Russian authorities.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on July 19, 2021 PRC MofA 19 Jul 2021
• Beijing Sends Hong Kong's Political System 'Back to The 1950s': Analysts Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2021 -- Changes to Hong Kong's election system imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have set the city's political life back by decades, to the pre-reform colonial era in the mid-20th century, analysts said on Monday.
• China Clamps Down on Homegrown Tech Giants Amid Nationalization Drive Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2021 -- China's internet regulators are continuing to crack down on the country's top tech companies, with ByteDance's Toutiao suspending new accounts and investigators moving in to ride-sharing app Didi's headquarters.
• China's space-tracking ship leaves for new Pacific mission PLA Daily 19 Jul 2021 -- Space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 departed from a port in east China's Jiangsu Province on Monday for a maritime monitoring mission in the Pacific Ocean.
• Concern About Fate of 50 North Korean Escapees Sent Home by China Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2021 -- China has repatriated about 50 North Korean escapees, including air force pilots and others who could face severe punishment including the death penalty, sources on the Chinese side of the border told RFA.
• FM Spox blames delay in nuclear deal revival on US IRNA 19 Jul 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday that the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) was delayed because of the US approach, adding that the talks on the issue would continue after the new administration in Iran took office.
• Iran begins loading crude from new terminal outside Strait of Hormuz Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Iran has started loading crude from a new oil export terminal built just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway which accommodates a fifth of the global oil supply.
• Anti-coup activists in Myanmar expand demonstrations nationwide Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- Anti-coup activists in Myanmar have expanded demonstrations nationwide, demanding the return to power of the democratically elected government.
• Detained Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Excluded From Martyrs' Day Observance Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2021 -- Detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was excluded by the military junta from annual Martyrs' Day observances Monday honoring her father, Gen. Aung San, who led Myanmar to independence from British rule, while opponents of army rule staged protests in several big cities.
• Myanmar: 'Brute force terror campaign' targeting rights defenders, UN experts say UN News 19 Jul 2021 -- Human rights defenders in Myanmar are being targeted under a "brute force terror campaign" by the military junta, United Nations independent experts said on Monday, calling again for a stronger international response to the coup.
• State Department Meetings with Leader of the Democratic Opposition of Belarus Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya US Dept. of State 19 Jul 2021
• Belarus Continues Media Crackdown, Detains Three More Journalists RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Belarusian authorities have raided the headquarters of an independent newspaper and taken into custody three of its journalists as part of a continuing crackdown on media outlets and civil society activists.
• More Belarusian Activists Sentenced To Lengthy Prison Terms As Crackdown Intensifies RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- A court in Belarus has handed lengthy prison terms to 11 activists as authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's crackdown against pro-democracy activists, the independent media, and civil rights groups continues to intensify.
• EU Agency To Help Monitor Lithuanian Border Amid Surge In Migrants From Belarus RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- The European Union's border agency says it will deploy 60 guards next week to monitor Lithuania's frontier amid an influx of migrants crossing illegally from Belarus, a move seen as revenge by Minsk after the bloc imposed a new round of sanctions on Alyaksandr Lukashenka's repressive regime.
• Tsikhanouskaya Meets Blinken, Senior U.S. Officials, Calls For Support For 'Repressed' Belarusians RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has held high-level talks in Washington on the second day of a U.S. trip aimed at rallying support for the pro-democracy movement against authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
• Belarusian Opposition Leader Hopes to Spur Action During Washington Visit VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- In her first official visit to the U.S., Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya hopes to spur Washington to act in support of democratic activists and civil society groups in her country.
• South Africa's ex-leader Zuma seeks further delay in corruption trial Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The long-running corruption trial of South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has resumed with the proceedings held online, despite the deadly violence that rocked the country following his imprisonment over another case a week ago.
• Corruption Trial of South Africa's Zuma Resumes VOA 19 Jul 2021 -- The corruption trial of former South African President Jacob Zuma resumed with a hearing Monday, following several days of deadly riots linked to his imprisonment in a separate case.
• Northern Ireland Protocol "Is Not Sustainable" – Britain's Brexit Minister Sputnik 19 Jul 2021 -- UK Brexit Minister and key negotiator David Frost said on Monday that the Northern Ireland Protocol "can only be made sustainable if the barriers on trade GB-NI can be reduced."
• OPEC+ countries agree to boost oil production People's Daily 19 Jul 2021 -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries, known as OPEC+, agreed in an online meeting on Sunday to boost oil production by 400,000 barrels a day as demand increases.
• UK refuses to return Venezuelan gold at start of Supreme Court hearing Press TV 19 Jul 2021 -- The battle for control of Venezuela's gold reserves in the Bank of England (BOE) has reached the final stage where the Supreme Court will get to decide if the British government's recognition of Venezuela's self-styled opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, justifies freezing the reserves indefinitely.
• Serbia-Kosovo Talks Make No Progress, Each Side Blames The Other RFE/RL 19 Jul 2021 -- The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have traded barbs in a round of talks that highlighted the differences between the two former Yugoslav entities and failed to bring them closer to resolving one of Europe's thorniest territorial disputes.