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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• CENTCOM forces respond to attempted coordinated rocket attacks at Conoco, Green Village bases in northeast Syria CENTCOM 24 Aug 2022 -- U.S. forces responded today to rocket attacks at two sites in Syria, destroying three vehicles and equipment used to launch some of the rockets. Initial assessments indicate that two or three suspected Iran-backed militants conducting one of the attacks were killed during the U.S. response.
• US Airstrikes Hit Iran-Affiliated Groups in Syria VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. military said late Tuesday its forces carried out airstrikes in eastern Syria targeting "infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps."
• U.S. Strikes Iran-Linked Targets In Syria RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. military says it has carried out a strike in Syria's Deir al-Zor against infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
• U.S. launches airstrikes against Iranian-backed groups in Syria People's Daily 24 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. military on Tuesday launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed groups in eastern Syria, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
• US warplanes carry out airstrike in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr, bomb military infrastructure Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- American warplanes have conducted an airstrike in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, only a few days after the US military used dozens of tanker trucks to smuggle crude oil from the neighboring province of Hasakah to bases in Iraq.
• Iran condemns US military attack on Syrians IRNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned the US military's ongoing aggression against the Syrians and infrastructures as a violation of its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
• Iran slams US strikes as 'violation of Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity' Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- Iran has strongly denounced US airstrikes in eastern Syria, terming it the violation of the war-ravaged Arab country's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
• US Base in Syria Near Iraqi Border Hit by Rocket Fire, Iraqi Security Source Says Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The attack came less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden signed off on airstrikes against suspected 'Iranian-backed' forces operating in eastern Syria. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, a State Department spokesman warned that Washington would be prepared "to take action once again if it's necessary to advance our self-defense."
• Experts: Military Facilities Targeted by US in Syria Were Vital for Iran VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- Targets in Syria hit by U.S. airstrikes earlier this week were critical facilities for Iranian-linked groups operating in the country, experts said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Southern European Task Force, Africa commander visits Morocco, Tunisia Army News 24 Aug 2022 -- The commanding general for the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa made his first visit to Africa since taking command of the Italy-based headquarters in July. Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund visited military leaders in Morocco and Tunisia August 21-24 to discuss issues of mutual security interest.
• US Army Planning New Rotorcraft to Replace Kiowa, Blackhawk Helicopters - General Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The US Army is pushing ahead as a major priority the development of two new advanced rotorcraft to replace its now more than half-a-century old OH-58 Kiowa and UH-60 Blackhawk designs, US Army Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team Commander Walter Rugen said on Wednesday.
• Grey Wolf flies with all-Air Force crew for first time US Air Force 24 Aug 2022 -- Lt. Col. Mary Clark stepped out to the MH-139A Grey Wolf with confidence.
• Stronger Indo-Pacific: Australian Geo-Spatial Intelligence Visits Naval Oceanography US Navy 24 Aug 2022 -- Naval Oceanography hosted representatives from the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organization (AGO) for an in-depth tour of Naval Oceanography's global-reaching, environmental-information capabilities, Aug. 12, 2022.
• CSG 7 Visits Australia, Talks Interoperability US Navy 24 Aug 2022 -- Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group (CSG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 74, visited multiple sites in Australia as part of a visit to highlight the importance of interoperability between U.S. and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) forces to regional security, Aug. 14-16, 2022.
• Japan Joins Reagan CSG to Operate Underway in the Philippine Sea US Navy 24 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) concluded several days of at-sea bilateral training in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 18.
• Readout of the 5th Round of the U.S.-Brazil Strategic Defense Talks DoD 24 Aug 2022
• U.S. Air Forces Africa, Botswana Defence Force partner for LNO Working Group 2022 AFRICOM 24 Aug 2022 -- U.S. Air Forces Africa, along with the Botswana Defence Force, are co-hosting the 5th annual LNO Working Group in Kasane, Botswana, August 22-26, 2022.
• Stoltenberg Urges NATO States to Ramp up Defense Investment Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- NATO member states should contribute more than the baseline 2% of their GDP to defense, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Sky News broadcaster on Wednesday.
• Official: US Seeks Constructive Communication With China Amid Rising Tensions VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- The United States says diplomatic channels with China remain open even after Beijing said it was cutting cooperation with the U.S. in areas such as climate change and counternarcotics.
• YU-20 aerial tanker to star in PLA Air Force's open day event Global Times 24 Aug 2022 -- The YU-20 aerial tanker, the force amplifier that recently entered service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and made frequent appearances in exercises around the island of Taiwan earlier this month, will be a star of the show at the upcoming PLA Air Force open day event with its first static display to the general public.
• Chinese defense chief delivers video speech at SCO defense ministers meeting PLA Daily 24 Aug 2022 -- The 19th meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on August 24, 2022. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe attended and addressed the meeting via video link.
• Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl Holds a Press Briefing on Security Assistance in Support of Ukraine DoD 24 Aug 2022
• Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine - August 24, 2022 DOD
• Statement from President Biden on Ukraine Independence Day The White House 24 Aug 2022
• US Announces Largest-Ever, $3B Ukraine Aid Package as War Hits 6-Month Mark VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- The White House announced its largest-ever security assistance package for Ukraine on Wednesday — six months to the day since Russia invaded — with a $3 billion commitment that brings the U.S. price tag for this 184-day conflict to $13.6 billion.
• Biden Praises Ukraine's 'Extraordinary Courage,' Sends New Military Aid VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- President Joe Biden on Wednesday praised the "extraordinary courage and dedication to freedom" of the Ukrainian people in fending off Russian fighters, six months into Moscow's invasion, while demonstrating continued U.S. support for Kyiv's forces with nearly $3 billion in new military aid.
• Nearly $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine DoD 24 Aug 2022 -- On August 24, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced approximately $3 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
• Aid Package Is Proof Putin Can't 'Wait Out' Ukraine, Partners DoD News 24 Aug 2022 -- The $2.98 billion package of military capabilities for Ukraine that President Joe Biden announced today is meant to demonstrate America's commitment to the beleaguered nation and prove to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he cannot outlast the determination of Ukraine and the West in opposing Russia's brutal invasion.
• U.S. Announces $2.98 Billion in Aid to Ukraine DoD News 24 Aug 2022 -- On the 31st anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the United States is reinforcing its long-term commitment to the nation with $2.98 billion to train and equip the Ukrainian armed forces for their struggle against the Russian invasion.
• Biden Pledges Nearly $3 Billion To Ukraine In Largest U.S. Military Aid Package Yet RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden has announced nearly $3 billion in new U.S. military aid for Kyiv as Ukraine marked its independence day six months after Russia invaded the country.
• Biden Announces $2.98 Bln in New Military Aid for Kiev to Mark Nation's Independence Day Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Ukraine has already received tens of billions in security and economic assistance from the US and its NATO allies over the past six months, with new aid announced regularly, notwithstanding recent reporting that as little as 30 percent of the military support actually reaches the front lines.
• US to announce additional $3 bln. in military aid for Ukraine Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- The United States plans to announce an additional roughly $3 billion in military aid for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing military operation in the ex-Soviet republic.
• War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine Germany Federal Foreign Office 24 Aug 2022 -- Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.
• Finland continued to support Ukraine through civilian material assistance during the summer Finnish Government 24 Aug 2022 -- On 8 July, Finland sent medical supplies and radiation safety equipment to Ukraine, and on 2 August, rescue service supplies, such as stretchers, defibrillators, first-aid kits and protective equipment. The material assistance was provided through the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism.
• Norwegian-developed drone to Ukraine Government of Norway 24 Aug 2022 -- Norway and Great Britain are joining forces to acquire the Norwegian micro-drone Black Hornet as a donation to Ukraine.
• Norway, UK to Donate Black Hornet Micro-Drones to Ukraine, Defense Ministry Says Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Norway and the United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with several Norwegian-made Black Hornet micro-drones as part of a joint aid package, the Norwegian defense ministry said on Wednesday.
• Prime Minister tells Ukraine "they will win" as he marks Independence Day: 24 August 2022 Gov.UK 24 Aug 2022 -- The Prime Minister travelled to Kyiv in a show of strength and solidarity with Ukraine.
• Moscow Says US-South Korean Drills Exacerbate Tensions With North Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Russia is concerned about rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula following the resumption of field training by US and South Korean forces, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• SCO member states must fight together & eliminate terrorism in all its forms: Raksha Mantri during Defence Ministers' meet in Uzbekistan India PIB 24 Aug 2022 -- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to unitedly fight against terrorism and eliminate the menace in all its forms. Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on August 24, 2022, the Raksha Mantri asserted that terrorism in any form, including cross-border terrorism, committed by anyone and for whatever purpose, is a crime against humanity.
• India sacks military officers for 'accidentally' firing missile into Pakistan Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- Indian government has sacked three air force officers for the "accidental firing of a missile" into neighboring Pakistan in March.
• India Dismisses Three Air Force Officers For Accidentally Launching BrahMos Missile Into Pakistan Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- In March this year, the Pakistani military said that a "high-speed flying object" landed inside its territory near Mian Channu in the Punjab province, and it demanded an explanation from New Delhi. The Indian military said that a technical malfunction was behind the launch and that the incident was "deeply regretted".
• Iran army starts joint drone exercise IRNA 24 Aug 2022 -- The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran began a joint drone exercise on Wednesday morning.
• Drones have special place in improving combat power: Commander IRNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Commander of Iran's Army joint drone exercise said that drones have a significant status in improving combat power of armed forces.
• Iran Army stages large-scale exercise involving more than 150 new advanced drones Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Army has started a large-scale drone drill, which features scores of cutting-edge reconnaissance and combat drones, and covers strategic waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, all four corners of the country and its central part.
• Iran Starts Nationwide Drone Exercises Amid Growing Fears Of Sales Abroad RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- Iran's Islamic Republic Army has kicked off a series of drone exercises across the country amid fears that the country may look to export them to countries such as Russia.
• Armed Forces Minister meets UK troops in Estonia UK MOD 24 Aug 2022 -- James Heappey spoke with soldiers from the Royal Welsh and 2nd Battalion, the Rifles and met Estonia's newly appointed Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur
• UK's potential next PM says 'ready' to use atomic weapons if necessary Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is likely to rise to UK's premiership next month, has flatly declared her willingness to use nuclear weapons as needed, even if it meant global annihilation.
• Swiss Council Says No Public Vote on F-35A Jets Possible Before US Offer Expires Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Switzerland's Federal Council said on Wednesday that holding a referendum on the controversial purchase of F-35A fighters before the US sales offer expires on March 31, 2023 is impossible.
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Meeting with Israeli National Security Advisor Hulata US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2022
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Frédéric Bernard, Head of Cabinet to the President of the European Council The White House 24 Aug 2022
• Special Online Briefing with Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2022
• Department Press Briefing - August 24, 2022 US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2022
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice, and NEC Deputy Director Bharat Ramamurti The White House 24 Aug 2022

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Aug. 24, 2022
• Northrop Grumman, Terma in Denmark Sign Deal to Train NATO Pilots on 5th Generation Jets Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Northrop Grumman has signed an agreement with the Terma company in Denmark to cooperate on training NATO pilots to operate fourth and fifth generation aircraft in contested electromagnetic environments, the US defense contractor announced in a press release.
• BAE Systems Receives Over $107Mln Contract to Modernize Navy Destroyer - Release Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The US Navy announced in a press release that it has given BAE Systems a more than $107-million contract to modernize its guided missile destroyer Ross.

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 24 August 2022 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Aug 2022
• Senior Clerics Caught In The Crossfire Of The Taliban's Intensifying War With IS-K RFE/RL Gandhara 24 Aug 2022 -- As the Taliban intensifies its war against Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), religious clerics associated with the rival militant groups are being caught in the crossfire.
• Taliban Make Millions From Passports Issued to Fleeing Afghans VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- Since taking power last year, the Taliban have issued more than 700,000 passports to Afghan nationals inside the country, earning about $50 million in revenue, according to officials.
• More 'Unsafe' Encounters Between Australian and Chinese Forces Near Disputed South China Sea Region VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- Australia's new Air Force Chief has said surveillance missions would continue in the South China Sea despite a "recent spate of unsafe incidences" in the contested region.
• Defense ministry: Russian jets bomb terrorist positions in Syria's militant-held Idlib region Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- The Russian Defense Ministry says the country's fighter jets have carried out a series of airstrikes on positions of the Takfiri Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist outfit in Syria's northwestern province f Idlib, after the extremists shelled residential neighborhoods in the area.
• Turkish Drone Attack Kills 2, Injures 7 in Syria's North, Reports Say Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- A Turkish drone attack in the northern Syrian governorate of Aleppo has killed two people and injured seven others, including women and children, the Kurdish news agency ANHA reported on Wednesday.
• Marking Five Years Since the Genocide in Burma US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2022 -- "Five years ago, Burma's military launched a brutal campaign against Rohingya - razing villages, raping, torturing, and perpetrating large-scale violence that killed thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children."
• This Week Marks Five Years Since 700,000 Rohingya Refugees Fled Persecution in Myanmar VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- This week marks five years since more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled violence and persecution in Myanmar, joining hundreds of thousands of other Rohingya who sought refuge in Bangladesh in previous years.
• Myanmar/Bangladesh - Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell, Commissioner Lenarčič and Commissioner Urpilainen on the 5th Anniversary of the Rohingya crisis European Commission 24 Aug 2022 -- On 25 August 2017, the world witnessed the beginning of the forced displacement of more than 750 000 Rohingya people from Rakhine State in Myanmar, fleeing violence and persecution from the Myanmar military.
• Myanmar villagers left homeless and hungry after pro-junta forces' arson attacks Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- More than 4,000 villagers who lost their homes when the military torched their villages in strife-torn central region of Magway this month are suffering from a lack of food and are unsure how they will be able to rebuild their lives, the villagers told RFA.
• More than 200 houses torched in two days of junta raids on a Sagaing region township Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- Junta forces continued to raid villages in Myanmar's Sagaing region this week, killing a 60-year-old man and setting fire to hundreds of houses.
• Renewed Fighting Scuttles 5-Month-Old Ethiopia Cease-Fire VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- Tigrayan forces say Ethiopia's federal allies have launched an offensive against their southern positions in violation of a months-long cease-fire, but Ethiopia's government blamed Tigrayan rebels for the flare-up in violence.
• Five Months of a Humanitarian Truce in Ethiopia US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2022 -- "We are concerned by reports of renewed hostilities in Ethiopia. We call on the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to redouble efforts to advance talks to achieve a durable ceasefire without preconditions and ultimately bring a permanent end to the conflict."
• Ethiopia Says Shot Down Arms-Loaded Plane Bound for Tigray From Sudan as TPLF Breaks Ceasefire Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The Ethiopian conflict has generated a massive humanitarian crisis, with millions being internally displaced or threatened with hunger. The UN has struggled to get food aid to the affected regions, especially Tigray, due to the fighting. However, a five-month ceasefire allowed many shipments to arrive, partly alleviating the problem.
• Tigray Rebels in Ethiopia Accuse Gov't Forces of Launching New Offensive Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a paramilitary group designated terrorist by the Ethiopian authorities, said on Wednesday that the central government forces attacked their positions in the eponymous region.
• Drought, hunger and fighting leave Ethiopia in 'very difficult humanitarian situation' UN News 24 Aug 2022 -- Amidst deteriorating levels of malnutrition and Ethiopia's worst drought in 40 years, 17 million people are being targeted for humanitarian assistance, the UN spokesperson said on Wednesday.
• Somalia's President Vows 'Total War' Against al-Shabab VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- In a televised speech Tuesday night, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that his government will launch a "total war" against al-Qaida-affiliated militant group al-Shabab, after the group staged a deadly hotel siege in Mogadishu on Friday, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 100.
• Israeli suppression of Palestinian rights organizations 'illegal and unacceptable' UN News 24 Aug 2022 -- Twenty-four UN-appointed independent human rights experts condemned on Wednesday, Israel's escalating attacks against Palestinian civil society in the occupied West Bank, describing it as "illegal and unacceptable".
• Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad chiefs meet; discuss regional issues, closer cooperation Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- The secretary general of the Hezbollah resistance movement and the Islamic Jihad chief met on Wednesday and discussed the latest developments in the region, including in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, as well as future cooperation between the two groups.
• Calling on the Sudanese to immediately enhance their cooperation with the International Criminal Court UK FCDO 24 Aug 2022 -- Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser at the Security Council briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Darfur

News Reports

• US Justice Department Releases 2019 Memo Advising Against Charging Trump VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday released a confidential 2019 memo that advised then-Attorney General William Barr not to pursue criminal charges against then-President Donald Trump for obstructing the special counsel investigation of Russian election meddling.
• UNICEF responds to protect and support children and families following declaration of new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo UNICEF 24 Aug 2022 -- Following the confirmation of a new Ebola case in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UNICEF teams are working to provide support for affected communities.
• U.S. reports over 15,000 monkeypox cases in all 50 states People's Daily 24 Aug 2022 -- The United States has confirmed over 15,000 monkeypox cases across all 50 states, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Interview: How Russia's Intelligence Agencies Have Adapted After Six Months Of War RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- It was supposed to be a lightning strike that could see Russian forces in Kyiv after three days of fighting, but six months after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin instead finds itself locked in a grinding war that has left its military and intelligence services humiliated.
• Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan President of Russia 24 Aug 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, at the Armenian side's initiative.
• Demolition of War Memorial in Riga Leads to Degradation of Russia-Latvia Ties - Moscow Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The destruction of the monument to the soldiers-liberators of Riga and Latvia is unacceptable for a civilized country and leads to further degradation of relations between Moscow and Riga, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
• Aleksei Navalny Says He's Again Been Sent To Solitary Confinement At Prison Facility RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- Aleksei Navalny, the imprisoned Russian political activist and anti-corruption crusader, says he has been moved again to solitary confinement in the prison colony where he is being held.
• Superyacht Linked To Russian Tycoon Pumpyansky Auctioned Off In Gibraltar RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- A $75 million superyacht owned by sanctioned Russian steel tycoon Dmitry Pumpyansky has been sold at an auction in Gibraltar, the first sale of a Russian oligarch's assets seized since Moscow launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in late February.
• Former Russian Mayor, Outspoken Kremlin Critic, Arrested For Criticism Of Ukraine War RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- Yevgeny Roizman, a former mayor of Yekaterinburg and outspoken Kremlin critic, was detained on charges of "discrediting the armed forces," a charge that Russian authorities have used broadly to silence critics of the Ukraine invasion.
• US threatens NATO member Turkey with sanctions over ties with Russia Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- The United States has threatened fellow NATO member Turkey with sanctions over its growing ties with Russia, as Moscow's military operation in Ukraine enters its seventh month.
• China steps up domestic censorship, overseas propaganda ahead of party congress Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is stepping up propaganda and censorship efforts ahead of its 20th national congress, tightening control of domestic internet users and spreading its official narrative overseas.
• Macau to broaden reach of national security law in response to Pelosi's Taiwan trip Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- Plans by authorities in Macau to amend the city's national security law were likely sparked by the recent visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the democratic island of Taiwan, and could result in a crackdown on civil society and the criminalization of speech, analysts told RFA.
• US report details China's efforts to manipulate public opinion on Xinjiang Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- China is actively trying to rewrite the global narrative on its far-western Xinjiang region through a variety of digital tools it uses to try to discredit accusations of genocide and crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs who live there, according to a report issued by the U.S. State Department on Wednesday.
• China's Youth Unemployment Nearly 20% VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- In 1999, fewer than 1 million people graduated from college in China. This year, a record-breaking 10.7 million new college graduates joined the Chinese job market.
• China's top procuratorate orders arrest of former senior provincial legislator People's Daily 24 Aug 2022 -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has ordered the arrest of Wang Minghui, a former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, for suspected bribe-taking and power abuse.
• Sichuan issues emergency notice about heavy rainfall, natural disasters following extreme heat Global Times 24 Aug 2022 -- Local authorities in Southwest China's Sichuan Province issued another emergency notice on Wednesday, urging all cities in the province to prepare for short-term heavy rainfall. It comes after high temperatures that have lasted for more than a month and that reached a record 44 C on Wednesday.
• HK students studying in mainland prioritized at border crossing: HK govt Global Times 24 Aug 2022 -- Priority will be given to Hong Kong students who study in mainland universities to enter the Chinese mainland, Secretary of Education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Christine Choi Yuk-lin announced on Tuesday.
• Harmful online information removed in nationwide campaign to crack down on cyber violence Global Times 24 Aug 2022 -- More than 65.41 million pieces of harmful information have been deleted and more than 78,000 illegal accounts have been shut down for cyber violence in an annual special campaign to regulate internet activities, said Sheng Ronghua, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), at a press conference on Tuesday.
• Former vice president of China Development Bank stands trial for multiple offenses People's Daily 24 Aug 2022 -- He Xingxiang, former vice president of China Development Bank, stood trial on Tuesday at a court in Beijing on charges of taking bribes, issuing financial bills and granting loans illegally, and concealing overseas bank deposits.
• Australian PM Expresses Concern Over China's Potential Purchase of 21 Islands Near Papua New Guinea Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Concerns have been expressed in Australia that Chinese ownership of the Conflict Islands would present Beijing with an opportunity to project power at Canberra's doorstep. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has urged the government to buy the privately-owned islands, which fall under the jurisdiction of Papua New Guinea.
• Army confirms authenticity of Kinmen photo taken by Chinese drone CNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Taiwan's Army on Wednesday confirmed that a close-range aerial photograph of two soldiers manning a guardhouse in Kinmen County's Lieyu Township was taken by a Chinese civilian-operated drone.
• Taipei Detects 13 Chinese Aircraft, 4 Vessels in Taiwan Strait Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The Taiwanese armed forces pm Wednesday detected 13 Chinese aircraft and four military vessels in the eastern part of the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait, the island's defense ministry said.
• KMT denies vice chair meeting with China's top Taiwan affairs official CNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (夏立言), who is on a multi-city visit to China to meet with Taiwanese who live and work there, will not meet with Liu Jieyi (劉結一), director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said Wednesday.
• Taiwan is China's Taiwan and Taiwan question is China's domestic affairs: China's Defense Minister Global Times 24 Aug 2022 -- Taiwan is China's Taiwan and the Taiwan question is China's domestic affairs, said China's State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe during a video speech at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on Wednesday, noting that China appreciates the more than 170 countries and international organizations that support China's condemnation of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan island earlier this month.
• Taiwan Straits has entered a more dangerous and fragile new stage featuring long-term confrontation, but windows of peaceful reunification are not completely closed: experts Global Times 24 Aug 2022 -- In the context of the great power game between China and the US, the situation across the Taiwan Straits has entered a more dangerous and fragile new stage featuring long-term confrontation, experts on the Taiwan question said. They noted that the new stage would also be a preparation and transition period for the mainland to further create conditions for the final settlement of the Taiwan question.
• Taiwan's Kinmen serves as a reminder of China's aggression Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- Taiwan's frontline island of Kinmen was once again in the headlines when President Tsai Ing-wen paid tribute this week to the soldiers and civilians who "operated in solidarity and safeguarded Taiwan" 64 years ago.
• US Will Continue to Support Taiwan, Seeks Constructive Dialogue With China - State Dept. Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- The United States will continue supporting Taiwan in accordance with the One China policy, while seeking an "open and constructive" dialogue with Beijing, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.
• Chairman Kim Jong Il Strengthens KPA into Invincible Army KCNA 24 Aug 2022 -- It has been 62 years since Chairman Kim Jong Il provided his first field guidance to the revolutionary armed forces.
• Heavy rain, salt scarcity in North Korea may complicate kimchi season Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- A salt shortage in North Korea made worse by heavy rains this summer could disrupt the country's kimchi-making season this autumn, sources in the country told RFA.
• A billion dollar a year prize for breaking their commitments? PM Lapid on the bad Iranian nuclear deal. Israel - Prime Minister 24 Aug 2022
• Spox: Iran studying US responses received via EU Coordinator IRNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Wednesday that Iran is studying the US responses received via the EU coordinator.
• Iran's all operations under IAEA inspection: AEOI Chief ISNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Iranian Head of Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency cannot claim Iran's operations are not based on the rules of the Agency.
• Iran receives US response to EU nuclear deal text, review underway: FM Spox Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- Iran has received a response from the United States on its comments to the European Union's draft proposal aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal and lifting draconian US sanctions, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
• No deal to be implemented until IAEA drops baseless anti-Iran case: Advisor Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- An advisor to the Iranian negotiating team in the Austrian capital, Vienna, says no agreement with parties to the 2015 Iran deal will be implemented unless the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors closes its case of baseless claims against Iran.
• Iran Receives US Response on Draft Deal to Restore JCPOA Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Iran has received a response from the United States on Tehran's comments regarding a draft deal to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Wednesday.
• US Completes Review of Possible Iran Nuclear Deal Revival VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- The United States said Wednesday it has completed its review of a European Union proposal to revive an international agreement to restrain Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief.
• Iran, Russia to sign gas swap deal 'very soon': Minister Press TV 24 Aug 2022 -- Oil Minister Javad Owji says Iran will "very soon" sign a major deal with Russia to import gas from the country for domestic consumption and deliver the same amount to customers at other parts of the Iranian borders.
• Iran despite enduring sanctions manages to successfully continue its scientific, economic progress: FM ISNA 24 Aug 2022 -- The Iranian Foreign Minister, in continuation of his meetings with the political and economic officials of the Republic of Mali, met with the president of the transitional government in Mali Assimi Goita and discussed bilateral relations and some international issues.
• Water Cuts In Iran Spark More Protests As Crisis Grows RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in the western Iranian city of Hamedan to protest against a complete cut in water supplies that has lasted several days.
• Iran FM meets head of Mali interim gov't IRNA 24 Aug 2022 -- Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian met and conferred with Head of the Malian interim government Assimi Goita late on Tuesday night.
• Bank shake-up seen as bid by junta to control Myanmar's financial sector: experts Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- A junta shake-up of Myanmar's Central Bank leadership announced last week is part of a bid by the military regime to assume control of the country's financial sector and extend its grip on power, experts warned Wednesday.
• Iraq: Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest developments European External Action Service (EEAS) 24 Aug 2022 -- The obstruction of the work of crucial state institutions in Iraq, caused by continued protests in Baghdad, is a matter of concern.
• PM Lapid Holds Briefing for Foreign Correspondents Israel - Prime Minister 24 Aug 2022
• Japan Mulls Building New Nuclear Plants in Policy U-Turn, Reports Say Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered on Wednesday the development of next-generation nuclear power plants to address rising energy costs, in a major shift from the policy of no new nuclear energy, news media reported.
• Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency Ends Investigation Into Nazarbaev's Detained Nephew RFE/RL 24 Aug 2022 -- Kazakh anti-corruption officials have closed their investigation into the detained nephew of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev, accusing him of embezzling millions from state telecom and transport companies.
• Rights Watchdog Urges Pakistan To Criminalize Torture RFE/RL Gandhara 24 Aug 2022 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Pakistani lawmakers to speed up the adoption of a bill that criminalizes the use of torture, a practice that the rights group said was widespread in the South Asian country.
• Pakistani Politician Alleges Torture, Abuse in Police Custody VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- A detained opposition politician in Pakistan, facing sedition charges, alleged Wednesday that his genitals were electrocuted while he was being subjected to torture in police custody to extract a confession.
• Venezuelan Businessman Charged in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme US Dept. of Justice 24 Aug 2022 -- A federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment today charging a Venezuelan national for laundering the proceeds of substantially inflated procurement contracts obtained by making bribe payments to senior officials at Petropiar, a joint venture between Venezuela's state-owned and state-controlled energy company and an American oil company.
• Foreign embassies in Hanoi issue joint statement on religious freedom Radio Free Asia 24 Aug 2022 -- Seven embassies in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi have issued a joint statement marking Monday's "International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence based on Religion or Belief."
• Sri Lanka Urges China to 'Dramatically Change' Its Stance on Debt as Talks With IMF Begin Sputnik 24 Aug 2022 -- Sri Lankan government data suggests that out of $51 billion in foreign debt, loans from China constitute around 10 percent. In comparison, Western-led financial institutions and venture capital hold approximately 80 percent of the debt. The island nation of 22 million people has been facing a severe fuel and food crisis for months.
• Court Suspends Thai PM Prayuth, Creating Political Vacuum in Turbulent Kingdom VOA 24 Aug 2022 -- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha was suspended from his job by a Thai court Wednesday, after eight years in office, which has sunk the kingdom deep into authoritarianism and brought widening inequality. The former army chief had seized control in a 2014 coup.
• With higher food prices and pressing needs, UN team in Algeria calls for support for Sahrawi Refugees WFP 24 Aug 2022 -- Faced with a deteriorating nutrition situation in the Sahrawi refugee camps, including over 75 percent cuts in food rations, the United Nations team in Algeria appeals for the international community's increased support for lifesaving food and nutrition assistance to refugees risking serious food insecurity and malnutrition.