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News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S. Attacked Iran-Linked Targets In Syria To Defend U.S. Personnel, Biden Says RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- U.S. air strikes this week targeted Iran-linked targets in Syria and were carried out to protect and defend American personnel, U.S. President Joe Biden said. The attacks came amid a significant uptick this week in fighting involving U.S. forces.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of the Army updates Total Army COVID-19 vaccination statistics US Army 26 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. Army updated COVID-19 vaccination rates and exemption requests for the Total Army as of August 25, 2022.
• Soldiers now have additional COVID-19 vaccine options Army News 26 Aug 2022 -- A new COVID-19 vaccine will be available to Soldiers as an alternative to the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccines, the Army recently announced.
• Providing a sense of security: USACE NATO Missions Army News 26 Aug 2022 -- for approximately 1,700 contract requirements in support of our partners in Europe," said Anne Kosel, Europe District, chief of Real Estate Division.
• US and Romania train together with helicopter sling load operations Army News 26 Aug 2022 -- U.S. Soldiers, assigned to Bravo Company, 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), practiced sling load and medical hoist operations with the Romanian Air Force, at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Aug. 23 - 24.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III DoD 26 Aug 2022 -- "One year ago today, in the closing hours of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, 13 of our bravest Servicemen and women—11 Marines, a Soldier, and a Sailor—were killed in a vicious attack at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan."
• US Navy Needs to Be Ready to Fight China by 2027 if Necessary, Commanding Admiral Says Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- The US navy needs to be prepared to fight China by 2027, although its current growth and modernization plans will not be completed until 2040, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said.
• US Industry Failing to Deliver Warships at Rate Navy Needs - Admiral Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- The US domestic industrial base is still falling far short of delivering new warships and keeping up a sufficient rate of tempo on the existing fleet that the US Navy needs, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Michael Gilday told an audience at the Heritage Foundation.
• SEACAT 2022 concludes, consistently developing regional cooperation and maritime domain awareness US Navy 26 Aug 2022 -- The 21st annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise concluded Aug. 26, 2022 following 10 days of in-person and at-sea engagements that enhanced collaboration among 21 Indo-Pacific partners and focused on shared maritime security challenges of the region.
• USS Sioux City (LCS 11) Arrives in Fredericia, Denmark US Navy 26 Aug 2022 -- The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) arrived in Fredericia, Denmark for a scheduled port visit, Aug. 24, 2022.
• US Air Force Orders $840Mln in Three Contracts for Geospatial Intelligence - Pentagon Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- Altamira Technologies Corporation, Radiance Technologies and Centauri have each been awarded a $280 million US Air Force modification contract worth $840 million in all for Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II support for geospatial intelligence research and development, the US Defense Department announced.
• Solomon Islands Denies Entry to US Coast Guard Ship Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- The authorities of the Solomon Islands has denied entry to US coast guard cutter (USCG) Oliver Henry for a routine logistics port call in Guadalcanal, near the country's capital city of Honiara, a spokeswoman for the 14th Coast Guard District in Honolulu said.
• Solomon Islands leaves US vessel's request to dock unanswered Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- A US Coast Guard vessel was unable to enter the Solomon Islands on Thursday for a routine port call as its government did not respond to a request for the vessel to refuel and provision, reports quoted a US official as saying.
• Establishing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region US Dept. of State 26 Aug 2022 -- "An Arctic region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative is of critical strategic importance to the United States and a priority for Secretary Blinken."
• U.S. To Establish Ambassador's Post For Arctic As NATO Homes In On Region's Defense RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- The United States is establishing a new ambassadorial position for the Arctic as NATO has stressed the strategic challenges Russia's increased activity in the increasingly competitive region poses for the military alliance.
• NATO Secretary General wraps up visit to Canada NATO 26 Aug 2022 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up a three-day visit focused on Canada's High North on Friday (26 August 2022) with a visit to the Royal Canadian Air Force base in Cold Lake.
• Stoltenberg Says NATO Interested in Arctic as Ice Melts, Area Becomes Accessible Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that climate change is making the High North, the Arctic region, more attractive for the alliance militarily and financially.
• Prime Minister and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Jens Stoltenberg visit Alberta and Nunavut Prime Minister of Canada 26 Aug 2022 -- The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, welcomed the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, to Canada from August 24 to 26.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Prime Minister of Canada 26 Aug 2022 -- Today, in 4 Wing Cold Lake, Canada's busiest fighter base and a key hub for continental defence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, on the last day of his three-day visit to Canada, which included his first visit to the Canadian Arctic.
• Lukashenka Says Belarusian Military Planes Ready To Carry Russian Nuclear Armament RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Belarus's authoritarian ruler, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, says his country's Su-24 military planes have been re-fitted to enable them to carry nuclear weapons.
• Lukashenko Says Belarusian Aircraft Re-Equipped for Carrying Nuclear Weapons Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- Belarusian aircraft has been re-equipped so that they can carry nuclear weapons, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday.
• China Announces Military Drills Near Taiwan as New US Delegation Arrives on Island Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday announced the launch of new military exercises in Taiwanese waters and airspace over reports of a new US delegation's visit to the island.
• 15 Chinese planes cross Taiwan Strait median line during U.S. Senator visit CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- A total of 35 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval ships were detected in areas around Taiwan on Friday, of which 15 warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• PLA conducts realistic combat exercise as US senator met with Tsai in Taiwan island Global Times 26 Aug 2022 -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) organized a multi-service and arms joint combat-readiness patrol and realistic combat exercise in the seas and airspace around the island of Taiwan, the Eastern Theater Command of the PLA announced on Friday afternoon, hours after US Senator Marsha Blackburn met with Taiwan's regional leader Tsai Ing-wen, discussing issues like regional security and semiconductor supply chains in a three-day visit.
• PLA Eastern Theater Command organizes joint security patrol and combat drills around Taiwan Island PLA Daily 26 Aug 2022 -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has in the past few days carried out joint combat-readiness security patrols and combat training exercises involving troops of multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island, according to the WeChat official account of the Eastern Theater Command on August 26.
• China conducts fresh military drills around Taiwan as tensions grow Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- China has reportedly conducted military exercises around Taiwan as tensions grow over US provocations, including visits by top American officials to Taipei.
• PLA exercises legitimate move to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity: spokesperson People's Daily 26 Aug 2022 -- A Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday that the recent military exercises and training of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) near the Taiwan Island are legitimate and just actions to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Taiwan, U.S. sign 6-year military helicopter maintenance deal CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- The Ministry of National Defense and the American Institute in Taiwan recently signed a six-year, NT$1.36 billion (US$45.03 million) deal for the maintenance of military helicopters in Tainan, according to a military source.
• Bill to provide Taiwan arms meant to "send a warning" to Beijing: Blackburn CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- United States Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is on a visit to Taipei, said Friday that a bill she introduced to the U.S. Congress in July was aimed at deterring Beijing from taking aggressive military activities against Taiwan.
• Pacific Partnership concludes in the Philippines Australia DOD 26 Aug 2022 -- As the Philippine phase of Pacific Partnership 2022 concluded, members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contingent farewelled the United States hospital ship USNS Mercy.
• India to Deploy Lightweight Tanks Along China Border to Seek Operational Dominance Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- The Indian Army deployed heavy T-90 tanks, weighing about 46 tones, and T-72 tanks, weighing around 45 tones, in the western sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). These vehicles were airlifted in in 2020 after China moved type 15/ VT-5 light tanks to forward areas.
• Soviet-Era Bomb Shelters To Be Restored In Kazakhstan's Largest City Amid Russia's Ukraine Invasion RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- The mayor of Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, says that all Soviet-era bomb shelters for civilians will be restored as security concerns grow across countries of the former Soviet Union after Moscow launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
• Pakistan Inducts China-Made Multi-Role Frigate to Balance Maritime Strength in Indian Ocean Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- The Indian Navy considers China's exports of ships and submarines to Pakistan a significant challenge to its naval dominance. Pakistan will receive four frigates and eight submarines by 2027.
• Defence Forces to procure ammunition for Leopard 2 battle tanks Finnish MoD 26 Aug 2022 -- The Defence Forces will procure ammunition for the main weapons of Leopard 2 battle tanks from Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH in Germany.
• Strengthened Nordic defence cooperation in focus at ministerial meeting in Finland Government Offices of Sweden 26 Aug 2022 -- On Thursday 25 August, the defence ministers of Sweden, Finland and Norway met at Gustaf Mannerheim's hunting lodge in southern Finland. During the day, they discussed Swedish-Finnish defence cooperation and cooperation between Sweden, Norway and Finland.
• U.S. Department of State Concludes Settlements of Alleged Export Violations by Ryan Adams, Marc Baier, and Daniel Gericke US Dept. of State 26 Aug 2022 -- The U.S. Department of State has concluded administrative settlements with Ryan Adams, Marc Baier, and Daniel Gericke, respectively, to resolve alleged violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 22 U.S.C. § 2751 et seq., and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130.
• Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure The White House 26 Aug 2022
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Bharat Ramamurti, August 26, 2022 The White House 26 Aug 2022
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Israeli Minister of Defense Benjamin Gantz The White House 26 Aug 2022

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Aug. 26, 2022

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 26 August 2022 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 26 Aug 2022
• A year on, Britain has much to learn from the fall of Kabul: article by Sir Laurie Bristow UK FCDO 26 Aug 2022 -- Writing in Times Red Box, former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan Sir Laurie Bristow reflects on last year's evacuation effort in Afghanistan.
• Britain remains committed to improving the lives of ordinary Afghans: article by Lord Ahmad UK FCDO 26 Aug 2022 -- Minister for South Asia Lord Ahmad writes in The Times that the UK government's commitment to Afghanistan and its people remains strong.
• Russian forces: Syria intercepted nearly half of Israeli projectiles during recent strike Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- Russian forces stationed in Syria say the Arab country's air defenses managed to intercept nearly half of incoming Israeli projectiles during a recent attack by the occupying regime against a western Syrian city.
• Azerbaijani Forces Take Over Strategic Town Linking Armenia With Nagorno-Karabakh RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev says his country's armed forces have taken control over the key town of Lachin, which links the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, that had been under the control of Russian peacekeepers since November 2020.
• No: 267, 26 August 2022, Press Release Regarding the Return of the City of Lachin and the Villages of Zabuh and Sus to Azerbaijan Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 26 Aug 2022
• U.S. Envoy Says Serbia, Kosovo Must Commit To Nonviolence RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- U.S. special envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, who is on a visit to the region, vowed Washington's support for the European Union's efforts to resolve an ongoing dispute between Kosovo and Serbia and urged both sides to refrain from violence as longstanding differences between Belgrade and Pristina flared again.
• Morocco Recalls Ambassador to Tunisia Over President's Meeting With Polisario Front Leader Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Tunisia for consultations after Tunisian President Kais Saied met with the leader of the rebel Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
• Children of Ethiopia are once again under attack UNICEF 26 Aug 2022 -- "UNICEF strongly condemns the air strike in Mekelle, the capital city of the Tigray Region, Ethiopia. The strike hit a kindergarten, killing several children, and injuring others. UNICEF calls on all parties to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities.
• Ethiopian Government Launches Airstrike on Tigray Capital Mekelle VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- An Ethiopian government airstrike hit the capital of the volatile Tigray region Friday, reportedly killing several people. The airstrike followed the collapse of a humanitarian cease-fire in northern Ethiopia that had halted fighting for five months.

News Reports

• US Justice Dept.: Trump papers included material on intelligence, sources Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- The US Department of Justice has released the court papers that justified the unprecedented FBI search of former President Donald Trump's home in Florida.
• New Mexico Man Indicted for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 26 Aug 2022 -- A New Mexico man was arrested today for allegedly attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and attempting to obstruct, influence and impede at least one official proceeding.
• Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 26 Aug 2022 -- Awais Chudhary, 22, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan and residing in Queens, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Brooklyn to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
• Kyrgyz Security Agency Detains Three Alleged Jihadists RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (UKMK) says its officers have detained three alleged jihadists in the Central Asian country's southern region of Batken.
• Russian Involvement Suspected In Cyberattack Targeting Montenegrin Government RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Montenegro suspects Russian involvement in a massive cyberattack targeting government websites and infrastructure, the second such attack on the Balkan country in less than a week.
• Few in US Receive Full Monkeypox Vaccine Regimen VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday that very few people in the United States have received a full series of monkeypox vaccinations.
• Monkeypox cases spike in Americas, fall in Europe: WHO People's Daily 26 Aug 2022 -- The Americas have replaced Europe as the region with the highest caseload -- more than two-thirds -- of newly confirmed monkeypox infections globally in the past few weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Thursday.
• Six Months Into The Ukraine War, Putin Ordered An Increase In Troops. It's Not Exactly What You Think. RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Six months in, Russia needs soldiers.
• Putin Associate Seeks Probe Of Journalist After Report On Vagner Recruiting Inmates For Battle RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, has asked the Investigative Committee to check a report by the newspaper Fontanka about the recruitment of inmates in penitentiaries to fight in the war launched against Ukraine.
• Meeting with Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky President of Russia 26 Aug 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky. They specifically focused on the company's current work in passenger transportation.
• Europe Will Not Receive Enough Gas If Russia's Arms Twisted - Medvedev Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- Russia is ready to supply Europe with gas in the volumes prescribed in the contracts, but if the EU twists Moscow's arms, refusing to supply repaired turbines for Nord Stream or to launch Nord Stream 2, then there will not be the volumes they are counting on, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said.
• EU Energy Ministers To Hold Emergency Meeting To Discuss Energy Crisis RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- The European Union will hold emergency talks to address the energy crisis brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Norway introduces additional sanctions against Russia Government of Norway 26 Aug 2022 -- The package of sanctions adopted by the EU on 21 July 2022 has been incorporated into Norwegian law and enters into force in Norway today.
• The Week In Russia: Sovereignty And Suffering RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Six months after the February 24 invasion, a deadly rocket attack on Independence Day throws the horror of Russia's war on Ukraine into stark relief -- again. A pair of apparent car bombings underscored the vulnerabilities of the state that's on the offensive, and the clampdown sweeping Russia continues.
• Letter says Chinese Communist Party is too powerful, warns against personality cult Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- As ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping prepares to seek an unprecedented third term in office, three veteran party members have spoken out against the ongoing centralization of power and signs of a personality cult around the general secretary.
• Criminal Case Filed in Argentina Over China's Treatment of Uyghurs VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- A number of governments, including the U.S., have described China's treatment of Uyghurs as genocide and crimes against humanity, but no official court in any country has ever assessed evidence of China's alleged rights abuses against the Uyghurs. In addition, Chinese officials have vehemently denied allegations of genocide as "lies" concocted by U.S.-led anti-China forces.
• China warns its Catholics to resist 'foreign infiltration' as faith app shuts down Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- China's top political adviser has warned the country's Catholics of the dangers of 'foreign infiltration,' as a helper app for Catholics said it was shutting down indefinitely.
• China's sub-orbital carrier makes 1st successful repeated-use flight, a great step forward in reusable space transportation technologies Global Times 26 Aug 2022 -- China's reusable sub-orbital space carrier made its first successful repeated-use experiment flight on Friday, the developer China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) announced. This is a great step forward of China's development in reusable space transportation technologies, the corporation said.
• U.S. politicians continue to visit Taiwan in the face of Chinese anger Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- Senator Marsha Blackburn became the latest senior U.S. politician to visit Taiwan in August despite protests and warnings from Beijing.
• Visiting U.S. senator calls for preserving Taiwan's independence CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- United States Senator Marsha Blackburn, a vocal critic of China's government, said at a meeting Friday with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) that it was important for other democracies to support Taiwan as it works to preserve its independence and freedom.
• Visiting U.S. senator hoping to strengthen partnerships with Taiwan CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Visiting United States Senator Marsha Blackburn said late Thursday that she is looking forward to learning more about the needs of Taiwan to better strengthen the partnerships between the U.S. and the island nation.
• KMT vice chairman meets with Chinese Taiwan affairs official CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (夏立言) met with a senior Chinese Taiwan affairs official Thursday in Shanghai, exchanging views on how to improve cross-strait relations, the KMT said Friday.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on US Senator's Visit to Taiwan PRC MofA 26 Aug 2022
• Taiwan's expanding defense budget only makes US arms dealers richer instead of really helping the island: expert Global Times 26 Aug 2022 -- Citing "threats" from the mainland, Taiwan island authorities have passed the largest yearly budget in 22 years on Thursday with the defense budget for the next year reaching NT$415 billion ($13.7 billion), showing a nearly 13 percent year-on-year increase. But experts warned that this could only make US arms dealers get richer instead of helping the island fight against the mainland as the military capacity gap is too big between the two sides.
• Spokesperson denounces DPP's attempts to pursue "Taiwan independence" by soliciting external support People's Daily 26 Aug 2022 -- The attempts by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to pursue "Taiwan independence" by soliciting the support of external forces will not impede China's path to reunification and national rejuvenation, a mainland spokesperson said on Thursday.
• U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn arrives in Taiwan for 3-day visit CNA 26 Aug 2022 -- United States Senator Marsha Blackburn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, arrived in Taiwan Thursday night for a three-day visit that will include meetings with top Taiwan government officials.
• Iran FM says Iran in final stages of removing sanctions, urges US to be realistic IRNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Friday said that a lot of effort had been made by the 13th government to lift the sanctions on Iran, adding that the talks are close to the end if the Americans are realistic.
• FM: Iran serious on remaining safeguards issues, repetition of IAEA baseless claims unacceptable IRNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that the Islamic Republic is serious on remaining safeguards issues, and is at no cost ready to yield to IAEA baseless accusations, whenever they wish in collaboration with the Zionist regime.
• Sanctions removal talks in Vienna at final stages: FM Amir-Abdollahian Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and remove sanctions against Tehran are at the "final stages" but the United States needs to adopt a realistic approach.
• Iran slams NPT conf. for refusing to call on Israel to join treaty Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has criticized the ongoing Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference for refusing to call on the Israeli regime to join the treaty.
• France's Macron Says 'Ball Is In Iran's Court' For Reviving Nuclear Pact RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- French President Emmanuel Macron says it is now up to Iran to decide whether a 2015 nuclear pact can be revived amid signs of momentum toward an agreement is building.
• Germany Confirms One Of Its Nationals Arrested In Iran RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Germany's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the arrest of a German national in Iran for allegedly taking pictures in "prohibited areas."
• United States' presence in Syria is illegal: FM Spox IRNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani termed the presence of the United States in the Syrian territory and the aggression against the defenders of the independence and territorial integrity of Syria as illegal and condemned it.
• Iran's FM meets with president of Zanzibar IRNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Friday held a meeting with President of Zanzibar Hussein Mwinyi.
• Amirabdollahian leaves Tanzania for Zanzibar IRNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Iran foreign minister in continuation of his African countries' tour left Tanzania for Zanzibar late Thursday night.
• Sullivan Discusses Iran Nuclear Program With Israeli Defense Minister Gantz Sputnik 26 Aug 2022 -- US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met in Washington with Israeli Minister of Defense Benjamin Gants to discuss a range of security issues, including Iran's nuclear program, the White House said on Friday.
• Iran ready to increase oil exports with sanctions removed: Minister IRNA 26 Aug 2022 -- Tehran is ready to increase its oil exports immediately after the sanctions are removed, Iranian Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji said on Friday, noting that in the first year of the 13th Iranian Government, over $100 billion of oil and gas agreements have been signed.
• Former British Ambassador to Myanmar transferred from prison to police custody Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- Former British Ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman and her husband, artist Htein Lin, have been released from Yangon's notorious Insein Prison and are being held in separate police stations.
• Nearly 5 dozen monks detained in Myanmar since military coup Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- Authorities in Myanmar have detained at least 56 monks who spoke out against junta in the nearly 18 months since last year's coup, while many other religious leaders opposed to military rule face harassment and are on the run amid the threat of arrest, RFA Burmese has learned.
• French president visits Algeria as colonial wounds still fester Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in the country's former colony Algeria on a visit aimed at boosting the North African nation's gas deliveries to Europe amid a rapidly worsening energy crisis in the continent.
• Joint Action Plan for Future German-Danish Cooperation Germany Federal Foreign Office 26 Aug 2022 -- The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany adopted this Action Plan with the aim of further strengthening the ties between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Denmark.
• Cuba Asks US For Technical Help to Clean Up Oil Depot After Fire VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- Cuba has asked the United States for technical help in restoring a major oil storage plant after a massive fire at the facility, killing 16 people.
• Pakistan Blames Climate Change for Deadly Floods, Declares Emergency VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- Officials in Pakistan said Friday that weeks of flooding triggered by historic monsoon rains had killed nearly 1,000 people and "badly affected" 33 million others, and they appealed for international help to deal with the calamity.
• Pakistani City's Decision To Close Women's Park Following Islamist Protests Sparks Uproar RFE/RL Gandhara 26 Aug 2022 -- The Jinnah Family Park was a rare recreational area reserved for women and girls in Pakistan's conservative northwestern city of Bannu.
• IMF to Meet Monday to Decide on Pakistan Bailout VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- The executive board of the International Monetary Fund is slated to convene Monday to decide whether to disburse over $1 billion in loans to Pakistan. The move will unlock critically needed additional foreign funding as the country struggles to avoid economic collapse amid high inflation and low foreign exchange reserves.
• The Permanent Joint Mechanism between Türkiye, Finland and Sweden met in Finland Finnish Government 26 Aug 2022 -- In the Trilateral Memorandum signed in Madrid in June 2022, Türkiye, Finland and Sweden agreed on establishing a Permanent Joint Mechanism to follow up on the implementation of the Memorandum and to enhance cooperation on common security.
• Chinese firm defies US sanctions, ships Venezuelan oil to offset debt Press TV 26 Aug 2022 -- Defying US sanctions against Caracas, China has assigned a defense firm to ship millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil as part of a deal to offset the sanctions-battered Latin American country's debt to Beijing.
• UN official says Cambodia faces 'severe' human rights issues Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- Cambodia's government should remove restrictions on political participation and introduce other democratic reforms to address "severe human rights challenges," a U.N. rights monitor said Friday, following his first official visit to the country.
• Bangladesh halts construction of elevated bus line following deadly collapse Radio Free Asia 26 Aug 2022 -- Bangladesh's government announced Friday that it had ordered a halt to the construction of an elevated bus line until the Chinese contractor could ensure safety on the project plagued by recent deadly incidents, including a section collapse that killed five people this month.
• Mirziyoev Approves New Leader Of Uzbekistan's Autonomous Region Following Deadly Unrest RFE/RL 26 Aug 2022 -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has approved a new leader for the Central Asian nation's Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, where 21 people were killed last month during unrest sparked by a move to curtail the region's autonomy.
• Devastating crisis for children in Sri Lanka is a cautionary tale for South Asia UNICEF 26 Aug 2022 -- "As the economic crisis continues to rattle Sri Lanka, it is the poorest, most vulnerable girls and boys who are paying the steepest price.
• Sri Lanka: Devastating crisis for children, a 'cautionary tale' for South Asia UN News 26 Aug 2022 -- Staple foods have become unaffordable, warned UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, George Laryea-Adjei on Friday, who pointed out that severe malnutrition in crisis-wracked Sri Lanka was already among the highest in the region.
• Chad: Unprecedented flooding affects more than 340,000 people UN News 26 Aug 2022 -- Torrential rainfall has triggered unprecedented flooding in Chad, affecting more than 340,000 people living in 55,000 households - surpassing last year's figure of more than 250,000 impacted, according to a report released on Friday by the UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA.
• WMO: Greater Horn of Africa drought forecast to continue for fifth year UN News 26 Aug 2022 -- As millions of people in the Greater Horn of Africa have already "suffered the longest drought in 40 years," parts of the region are bracing for a fifth consecutive failed rainy season, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported.
• Fifth Consecutive Year of Drought Forecast for Horn of Africa VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- The World Meteorological Organization warns millions of people in the greater Horn of Africa will likely face a fifth consecutive season of insufficient rains. According to the U.N. weather agency the terrible four-year long drought in the Horn of Africa is set to continue for another year.
• Drought Forcing New Arrivals in Somali Relief Camps to Eat Animal Skins VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- Somali authorities say a record drought has created near-famine conditions in South West state. New arrivals at relief camps say they are eating animal skins to survive.
• Angola's President Retains His Seat Following a Tight Election VOA 26 Aug 2022 -- Results from Angola's election show the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA will maintain its nearly half-century in power by a slim majority.