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News Reports

Current Operations

• US Coast Guard Cutter Seizes $1 Billion in Drugs VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- The U.S Coast Guard reports one of its cutters, the James, has offloaded $1.06 billion in illegal drugs seized during a 90-day patrol of the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of Defense Releases New Cyber Resilient Weapon Systems Body of Knowledge DoD 18 Feb 2022 -- The Department of Defense announced today the release of the Cyber Resilient Weapon Systems Body of Knowledge (CRWS-BoK) Portal Version 1.3. The Resilient Systems (RS) Directorate, under the leadership of Director Melinda Reed, launched the Portal and continues to guide Portal updates.
• Navy's V-22 Achieves Initial Operational Capability Designation US Navy Press Release 18 Feb 2022 -- The Navy announced initial operational capability (IOC) for the CMV-22B Osprey, confirming the platform's operational readiness following the successful completion of its maiden deployment, on Feb. 17, 2022.
• Gen. Townsend visits Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya to advance mutual security interests AFRICOM 18 Feb 2022 -- U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, concluded a multi-country trip to East Africa on Feb 17.
• USARCENT participates in exercise Protection Shield III CENTCOM 18 Feb 2022 -- The third iteration of military exercise Protection Shield concluded Jan. 27 following nine days of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) survivability training between the United States and Saudi Arabia at the 5th Air Defense Group Base.
• Austin Says Current Operations Give Hints of New National Defense Strategy DoD News 18 Feb 2022 -- People interested in the new National Defense Strategy can see some of it in play as the United States and its allies face Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in Warsaw today.
• Jungle Warfare Exercise 22: 7,500 Marines, Carrier Strike Group rehearse rapid deployment, joint operations during large-scale training exercise USMC News 18 Feb 2022 -- More than 7,500 U.S. Marines across III Marine Expeditionary Force teamed up with the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group during Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 in the vicinity of Okinawa, Feb. 13th to 18th.
• 5 US Navy personnel face charges over F-35 fighter jet crash Radio Free Asia 18 Feb 2022 -- The investigation into the unauthorized leak of an official video showing the crash of a F-35C fighter jet in the South China Sea last month has concluded with five navy personnel facing charges, the U.S. Navy said.
• Department of the Army announces updated COVID-19 vaccination statistics US Army 18 Feb 2022 -- The U.S. Army announced updated COVID-19 vaccination statistics and exemption requests as of Feb. 17, 2022.
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Holds a News Conference With Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak, Warsaw, Poland DoD 18 Feb 2022 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Polish President Andrzej Duda DoD 18 Feb 2022
• Defense Secretary Visits Polish Ally as Russia Continues Provocations in Ukraine DoD News 18 Feb 2022 -- As Russian troops continue to amass on the borders of Ukraine, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is visiting allies in Warsaw, Poland, and then moving to meet with U.S. and Polish troops working together at Powidz Air Base.
• Remarks by Vice President Harris, President Levits of Latvia, President Nausėda Of Lithuania, and Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia Before Multilateral Meeting The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Readout of Vice President Kamala Harris's Meeting with Baltic Leaders The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Remarks by Vice President Harris and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Background Press Briefing on the Vice President's Events in Munich, Germany The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Feb 2022
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III's Call With Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu DoD 18 Feb 2022
• Russia Announces New Drills Involving 'Strategic Forces' Amid Ukraine Crisis RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- Russia's Defense Ministry has announced new strategic military maneuvers for February 19, to be overseen by President Vladimir Putin, amid concerns that the Kremlin is possibly planning an invasion of Ukraine.
• Russia's Black Sea Fleet Says 10 Su-24 Bombers Relocated From Crimea During Exercises Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet said on Friday that 10 of its Su-24 bombers had been redeployed from the Crimean airfields to spare ones located in other regions of Russia as part of the drills.
• NATO Secretary General takes part in call with US President Biden NATO 18 Feb 2022 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday (18 February 2022) took part in a secure conference call organised by the President of the United States Joe Biden on Russia's continued military build-up in and around Ukraine and continued efforts to pursue diplomacy.
• Secretary General meets US Vice President Kamala Harris NATO 18 Feb 2022 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the security situation in Europe and the importance of strong transatlantic relations with the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference on Friday (18 February 2022).
• 40th Chinese naval escort taskforce completes first escort mission PLA Daily 18 Feb 2022 -- The guided-missile destroyer Hohhot (Hull 161) of the 40th Chinese naval escort taskforce escorted a Dutch bulk carrier to the safe sea area on February 14, local time.
• China establishes office to promote exports of the FC-31 stealth fighter Global Times 18 Feb 2022 -- China has established an office dedicated to promoting the country's independently developed FC-31 stealth fighter jet on the international market in an effort by the aircraft's manufacturer to actively find customers.
• PLA's Ka-28 chopper appears near Taiwan, 'indicates joint operation' Global Times 18 Feb 2022 -- A Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopter of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) was spotted for the first time near the island of Taiwan on Wednesday, apparently operating from a warship sailing in the region, as Chinese mainland experts said Thursday that the PLA's routine drills near Taiwan likely often feature joint operations of aircraft and vessels, but the defense authority on the island only reported aircraft but failed to track vessels.
• The Munich Security Conference: Dominated by the present crisis Germany Federal Foreign Office 18 Feb 2022 -- Foreign Minister Baerbock will attend the 58th Munich Security Conference from 18 to 19 February 2022. The conference is dominated by the Russian crisis, but also provides an opportunity to set new priorities, for example with respect to combatting the climate crisis.
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Munich Security Conference US Dept. of State 18 Feb 2022
• Saudi fighters escort U.S. B-52 strategic bomber SPA 18 Feb 2022 -- The Royal Saudi Air Force's F-15SA, F-15C and F-15S fighters carried out a mission of escorting the US Air Force's B-52 strategic bomber, while it was crossing the Red Sea.
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al Thani US Dept. of State 18 Feb 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 18 Feb 2022

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Feb. 18, 2022

Other Conflicts

• 18 February 2022 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Feb 2022
• The Massive, Costly Afghan Evacuation in Numbers VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- Three U.S. government agencies, the Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department, obligated more than $3.3 billion to support Operation Allies Welcome, the massive evacuation and resettlement of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan.
• Ukraine values life of every citizen and does not plan any aggressive actions, do not trust fakes - Oleksii Reznikov Ukraine MOD 18 Feb 2022 -- The command of the Russian occupation forces in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the representatives of the Russian occupational administrations actively spread fake information and started openly intimidate citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Speech of Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov during the hour of questions to the Government Ukraine MOD 18 Feb 2022
• Updated situation in the Joint Forces Operation area as of 11.00 February 18, 2022 Ukraine MOD 18 Feb 2022
• Update on the situation in the Joint Forces Operation area as of 07.00 February 18, 2022 Ukraine MOD 18 Feb 2022
• Remarks by President Biden Providing an Update on Russia and Ukraine The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Biden Believes Putin Has Made Decision to Invade Ukraine VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden says Russian President Vladimir Putin has made up his mind to invade Ukraine.
• Biden Says U.S. 'Convinced' Putin Has Made Decision To Invade Ukraine RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden has said he is "convinced" Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade Ukraine in the coming week but that he still held out hope a diplomatic solution could be reached.
• Biden Says He's 'Convinced' Putin Has 'Made the Decision to Invade Ukraine' in Coming Days Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- The self-declared people's republics of Lugansk and Donetsk announced on Friday plans to evacuate more than 700,000 civilians to western Russia amid a significant increase in bombardment of the area by Ukrainian forces.
• Readout of President Biden's Call with Transatlantic Leaders The White House 18 Feb 2022
• Joint Statement by the Foreign Minister of Germany, Annalena Baerbock and the Foreign Minister of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian on the situation in Donbas and at Ukraine's borders Germany Federal Foreign Office 18 Feb 2022 -- The increase in ceasefire violations along the line of contact in recent days is highly concerning. We condemn the use of heavy weaponry and indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, which constitute clear violation of the Minsk agreements.
• UN Chief Urges 'Serious De-escalation' on Ukraine VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday of Russian troops surrounding Ukraine, that it is "high time to seriously de-escalate."
• Time to 'seriously de-escalate' tensions over Ukraine, Guterres tells Munich conference UN News 18 Feb 2022 -- With tensions continuing to mount over the Ukraine crisis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday that he still believed military conflict in Europe "will not happen" - although if it did, "it would be catastrophic".
• Conflict in Ukraine disrupting entire generation of children, says UNICEF UN News 18 Feb 2022 -- Attacks on kindergartens and schools have been a sad reality for children in eastern Ukraine over the last eight years, the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, said on Friday. Since the beginning of the conflict, more than 750 schools have been damaged.
• Ukraine's Zelenskiy Scheduled For Munich Conference, But Appearance Uncertain RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's scheduled appearance at the Munich Security Conference on February 19 remains uncertain as his country faces rising tensions with Moscow amid a massive buildup of Russian troops on its border.
• Russian FM Accuses NATO of 'Escalation for Sake of Escalation' Amid Troop Accumulation Claims Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Even though Russia has provided evidence of pulling back some troops from Crimea and Belarus following the completion of drills, the North Atlantic alliance has continued to claim that Russian troop levels near the Ukrainian border are increasing.
• West, Russia Dispute Events in Eastern Ukraine VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- Western leaders and Russia maintained a withering war of words Friday in the weeks-long standoff over Ukraine and amid Kremlin threats to retaliate militarily unless NATO agrees to withdraw the small level of forces it has stationed in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe, now members of the Western alliance.
• Russia warns of 'alarming' situation in eastern Ukraine as Kiev continues to shell Donbass Press TV 18 Feb 2022 -- Russia has voiced serious concern about the unfolding situation in eastern Ukraine, as Kiev continues to shell the Donbass region for the second day running.
• Ukraine, rebels trade shelling accusations; US says Russia wants war 'pretext' Press TV 18 Feb 2022 -- Pro-Russia secessionists in eastern Ukraine have accused the West-backed Ukrainian government forces of launching an artillery barrage on a frontline village, with Moscow raising deep concern over the latest flare-up.
• 'Heading Towards War': DPR Head Warns Kiev Could Launch Full-Scale Offensive at Any Time Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- The head of the self-poclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, has warned the situation in Donbass is heading toward a full-scale war.
• Kiev Hopes for Trilateral Contact Group Meeting on Saturday Amid Donbass Escalation Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Kiev is ready to do everything necessary to restore the ceasefire in Donbass, counts on holding a trilateral contact group meeting on Saturday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk said.
• DPR Says Kiev Forces Fired 18 Rounds From 120-mm Mortars on Outskirts of Frontline Village Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Donbass militia leaders ordered an evacuation of civilians from the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on Friday, citing the threat of Ukrainian shelling and the danger of a full-scale invasion by Kiev. The escalation comes after months of claims by Western officials and media that it was Russia that was preparing to "invade" Ukraine.
• Ukrainian Forces Shell Sanzharovka Village in LPR Using 122mm Caliber Artillery, Lugansk Says Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- The Ukrainian armed forces on Friday shelled the Sanzharovka village in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) using a 122 mm caliber artillery system, the LPR representative office at the Joint Center on Control and Coordination (JCCC) told reporters.
• Putin Orders Aid to Russia's Rostov Region Amid Influx of Refugees From Donbass Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday instructed the Emergency Situation Ministry (EMERCOM) to provide assistance to the southern region of Rostov amid an unprecedented influx of refugees coming from eastern Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
• Donetsk People's Republic Starts Evacuation of Civilians as Shelling by Ukrainian Forces Intensifies Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Denis Pushilin, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on Friday that a mass evacuation of the population to Russia has been organised over the threat of Ukrainian invasion.
• Putin: Kiev Needs to Sit Down for Talks With Donbass Republics and Agree Measures to End War Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- As one of three guarantors to the 2015 Minsk Agreements on Ukrainian peace, Russia has regularly called on Kiev to implement the agreed upon measures in the peace plan, including amendments to the country's constitution to grant the breakaway Donbass regions broad autonomy.
• Lavrov: Russia 'Alarmed' by Escalation of Shelling, Use of Arms Banned by Minsk Accords in Donbass Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- The region was thrust into a civil war in the spring of 2014, in the aftermath of a US and EU-backed coup in Kiev.
• Lugansk Suburbs Shelled in Ukrainian Military Attacks Overnight, Self-Proclaimed Republic Says Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Ukrainian security forces fired again at the territory of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic, opening fire in the suburbs of Lugansk, the LPR mission to the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire Regime (JCCC) said.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger, and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and Deputy NEC Director Daleep Singh, February 18, 2022 The White House 18 Feb 2022
• CISA Releases New Insight to Help Critical Infrastructure Owners Prepare for and Mitigate Foreign Influence Operations CISA 18 Feb 2022 -- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a new CISA Insight today, Preparing for and Mitigating Foreign Influence Operations Targeting Critical Infrastructure, which provides critical infrastructure owners and operators with guidance on how to identify and mitigate the risks of influence operations that use mis-, dis-, and malinformation (MDM) narratives.
• UK assess Russian involvement in cyber attacks on Ukraine UK FCDO 18 Feb 2022 -- LizTechnical information analysis shows the GRU was almost certainly involved in disruptive DDoS attacks
• U.S., U.K. Say Russian Government Responsible For Cyberattack On Ukraine RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- The United States and Great Britain have accused Russia of being behind the February 15 cyberattacks on Ukraine's Defense Ministry and banking system.
• US Claims Russian Cyber Actors 'Likely' Targeted Ukrainian Gov't Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- The Biden administration believes Russian cyber actors recently targeted Ukrainian government entities, including its defense ministry, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger said on Friday.
• Foreign Secretary statement on Russia's failure to turn up to OSCE military build-up meeting for the second time UK FCDO 18 Feb 2022 -- Liz Truss gave a statement on Russia's failure to send a representative to an OSCE meeting about its military build-up on the border with Ukraine - for the second time.
• U.S. Statement for the Vienna Document Joint PC-FSC Chapter III Meeting U.S. Mission to the OSCE 18 Feb 2022 -- As delivered by Ambassador Michael Carpenter to the joint session of the Forum for Security Cooperation and Permanent Council, Vienna
• Spreading false information and hyping potential Russian invasion of Ukraine only adds obstacles to dialogue: Chinese FM Global Times 18 Feb 2022 -- Spreading false information and creating a tense atmosphere won't help solve the Ukraine crisis, while advocating for group confrontation and wielding the sanctions stick will only add obstacles to dialogue and negotiation, China's Foreign Ministry commented on the US' hyping of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Putin: Russia 'ready to work' with West on de-escalating tensions over Ukraine People's Daily 18 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow on Tuesday that he is "ready to work" with the West on de-escalating tensions, the latest signal that the prospect of war with Ukraine could be receding.
• Mali Demands French, European Troops Leave Country Immediately VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- The military government of Mali says France's decision to withdraw troops is a violation of bilateral accords. At the same time, the government says it wants French forces to leave Mali immediately.
• Africa's Sahel Region Faces Worsening Food Crisis VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- Africa's Sahel region is facing a perfect storm of disasters that are drastically diminishing the ability of people to feed themselves.
• Mali tells France to pull out troops 'without delay', cites 'flagrant violations' of bilateral accords Press TV 18 Feb 2022 -- The government of Mali has asked France to pull out its forces from the country "without delay," casting doubt on Paris' plans to withdraw troops over several months.
• European Troops to Be Relocated From Mali to Niger's Border Region, President Says Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- European forces, whose withdrawal from Mali was announced earlier yesterday, will be redeployed to regions of Niger along the border with Mali, Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum said.
• Hezbollah successfully flies reconnaissance drone over Israeli-occupied territories Press TV 18 Feb 2022 -- Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has flown a drone over the Israeli-occupied territories for a reconnaissance mission, adding that the aircraft returned untouched after completing the mission successfully.
• Israeli Military Launches Missile Interceptors After 'UAV From Lebanon Enters Israeli Airspace' Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- On 17 February, the Israeli military shot down a Hezbollah drone that allegedly entered from Lebanon and had violated Israeli airspace.
• Somalis on 'brink of death' in crowded camps amid worsening drought Press TV 18 Feb 2022 -- Hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia are arriving at overcrowded displacement camps in search of food and water as the African country experiences its worst drought in decades.
• China warns Tibetan monks ahead of March anniversaries Radio Free Asia 18 Feb 2022 -- A top Chinese official in Tibet visited monasteries in and near the Tibetan capital Lhasa this week to warn monks against behavior considered disloyal to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, state media sources said.
• Fate of Thousands of Eritrean Refugees in Afar Region Unknown VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- The U.N. refugee agency said Friday that the whereabouts of thousands of Eritrean refugees remained unknown two weeks after their camp came under attack in Ethiopia's northern Afar region.
• Ethiopia conflict: thousands of Eritrean refugees flee new deadly attack on camp UN News 18 Feb 2022 -- Thousands of Eritrean refugees sheltering at a camp in the Ethiopian Afar region, have fled following a deadly attack on the facility earlier this month, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday.

News Reports

• Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Offense US Dept. of Justice 18 Feb 2022 -- A Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Her husband pleaded guilty to the same offense on Monday, Feb. 14.
• Trial Begins In Germany Of Russian Charged With Passing Rocket Intelligence RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- A 30-year-old Russian man charged with espionage for allegedly passing information about a European rocket to Russian intelligence went on trial in Germany on February 17.
• DHS CWMD and Seattle Conduct a Biological Threat Preparedness Exercise DHS 18 Feb 2022 -- On January 25, 2022, the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), Seattle area emergency managers, public health officials, lab officials, and first responders conducted a virtual tabletop exercise of the BioWatch program.
• Prospect of War in Ukraine Raises Questions About Europe's Natural Gas Supply VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- One of the many unsettling questions raised by the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine is what an armed conflict in Eastern Europe would do to the energy supply of the countries of the European Union, which have become increasingly reliant on Russian natural gas for electricity generation, industrial applications, and commercial and residential use.
• Germany Ready to 'Pay High Price' if Russia Invades Ukraine, Including End to Nord Stream 2, FM Says Sputnik 18 Feb 2022 -- Nord Stream 2, an energy mega-infrastructure project designed to deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters in additional gas from Russia to Germany via twin pipelines along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, was completed last fall and made fully ready for operation in December. It is now awaiting certification from German and European regulators.
• The Week In Russia: The 'New Normal' RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- New COVID-19 cases shot above 200,000 a day; Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny went on trial again, this time in prison; and tension over Russia's military buildup near Ukraine's borders receded briefly but returned swiftly -- and looks likely to remain high for a long time.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions during a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of the Hellenic Republic Nikos Dendias, Moscow, February 18, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Feb 2022
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from RT television channel Moscow, February 18, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Feb 2022
• Russia expels U.S. deputy chief of mission in retaliation People's Daily 18 Feb 2022 -- Bart Gorman, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, has been expelled from Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday.
• Russian-Belarusian talks President of Russia 18 Feb 2022 -- Vladimir Putin held a meeting with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin.
• Putin, Lukashenka To Meet Amid Joint Military Exercises RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- Belarus's authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 18 to discuss "further activities" regarding joint military forces as the two countries hold military exercises together.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on February 18, 2022 PRC MofA 18 Feb 2022
• Why a Russian Invasion of Ukraine Would Hurt China, Too VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- China's deepening ties with Russia will come with heavy geopolitical and economic consequences should the Ukraine crisis escalate, analysts say.
• Hong Kong postpones leadership election amid rising COVID-19 wave Radio Free Asia 18 Feb 2022 -- Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday announced the postponement of elections for the city's top job after ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping told her government to throw all of its resources at pursuing a "zero-COVID" strategy, as a wave of the omicron variant of COVID-19 infections started to take its toll.
• HK postpones Chief Executive Election amid epidemic, strives to meet mass testing, quarantine demands with mainland aid Global Times 18 Feb 2022 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) reported more than 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and another 7,600 cases with positive tests on Friday, pushing the total number of infections in the city to 50,000, which is approaching the accumulated confirmed cases in Wuhan - the first Chinese city to experience a coronavirus outbreak - which led to the postponement of the Chief Executive Election, and is estimated to be put under control after three months.
• HKSAR postpones Chief Executive Election to May, prepares for mass nucleic tests Global Times 18 Feb 2022 -- By citing the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Executive Council agreed to postpone the Chief Executive Election, which was originally scheduled for March 27, to May 8 as the Chinese city fights the COVID-19 outbreak, Carrie Lam, chief executive of the HKSAR government, announced on Friday.
• UN Chief 'Determined' Human Rights Chief Visit Xinjiang VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday he is "determined" that his human rights chief should conduct a "credible" visit to China's semi-autonomous Xinjiang province, where ethnic Uyghur and Turkic Muslim minorities live.
• Analysis: Should Biden Adopt Trump's Top-Down Approach to North Korea? VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- With denuclearization talks with North Korea stalled and missile tests accelerating, some experts are wondering whether Washington should offer high-level, person-to-person talks to re-engage Pyongyang to end the current stalemate and de-escalate tensions.
• Iran FM says he hopes JCPOA talks with P4+1 in Vienna will lead to 'good' agreement in 'near future' Press TV 18 Feb 2022 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says he hopes the ongoing talks between Tehran and the P4+1 group of countries on the revival of the 2015 deal in the Austrian capital of Vienna will lead to a "good agreement in the near future."
• Radio Farda Exposé On IRGC Corruption, Infighting Raises Ire Of Iranian Authorities RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- A leaked audio recording in which two former senior officials of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) discuss corruption that helps fund the powerful force and its secretive military operations abroad has shed light on infighting and graft that extends to the hierarchy of the country's clerical regime.
• Haiti's challenges require unified support for Haitian-led solutions UK FCDO 18 Feb 2022 -- Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Haiti
• Haiti remains in 'acute political and institutional crisis', Security Council hears UN News 18 Feb 2022 -- Despite some signs of progress in ending the political, economic and humanitarian crisis that has worsened across Haiti since the assassination of its president last year, the situation there remains "fraught and highly polarized", the UN envoy to the country told the Security Council on Friday.
• Tanzania Court Says Leader of Main Opposition Party Must Stand Trial VOA 18 Feb 2022 -- A Tanzanian court has ruled the leader of the opposition Chadema party and three other defendants must stand trial on terrorism charges. The party says the allegations are politically motivated.