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Defense Policy / Programs

• Austin: Listening to African Partners Critical to Development of Productive Relationships DoD News 14 Dec 2022 -- How the Defense Department approaches its activities on the African continent is remarkably similar to how it approaches its activities elsewhere in the world, the secretary of defense said on Tuesday.
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Remarks Welcoming Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Pentagon DoD 14 Dec 2022
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi DoD 14 Dec 2022
• Austin Welcomes Egyptian President to Pentagon for Talks DoD News 14 Dec 2022 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Pentagon today, saying Egypt is not only a leader in the Middle East and Africa, but on the world stage.
• U.S. Partnering with Benin to Combat Piracy in Gulf of Guinea Army News 14 Dec 2022 -- Piracy is a serious concern in the Gulf of Guinea along the southern coast of Western Africa and the United States is working with Beninese officials to increase their capacity to combat international piracy within their territorial waters there.
• Department of Defense Releases Annual Demographics Report — Upward Trend in Number of Women Serving Continues DoD 14 Dec 2022 -- While the overall size of our military remained steady, the percentage of women serving on active duty and in the Reserve component continues to grow in both the enlisted and commissioned ranks, according to the newly released 2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community.
• Southcom Capitalizes on Interagency Cooperation DoD News 14 Dec 2022 -- United States Southern Command has generations of interagency experience that other combatant commands can learn from, Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the U.S. Southcom commander, said.
• US Space Force Establishes First Foreign Command in South Korea as DPRK Ramps Up Launches Sputnik 14 Dec 2022 -- The US Space Force activated on Wednesday its foreign command in South Korea, its first on foreign soil, as North Korea steps up missile launches.
• USS Roosevelt, Leading the Way on Warfare Development US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- Five Officers trained as Warfare Tactics Instructors currently serve aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), demonstrating their continued commitment to elite tactical excellence and training onboard.
• Littoral Combat Ship Integrates with Marine and Unmanned Steel Knight 23 Assets US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) returned to Naval Base San Diego Dec. 12 after leading a manned-unmanned team and integrating with Marine Corps aviation assets during exercise Steel Knight 23.
• USNS John Lewis Answers Call For Help At Sea US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- The crew of Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205) gave an early holiday gift to a boater stranded at sea, when the ship answered a distress call off the coast of Southern California.
• Future USS Sam Nunn Marks Start of Fabrication US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- The Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) marked the start of fabrication for the future USS Sam Nunn (DDG 133) with a ceremony at HII's shipyard on Dec 12.
• New Zealand Receives First of Four P-8A Poseidons US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- New Zealand accepted its first P-8A Poseidon during a ceremony held in Seattle, Washington, Dec. 7. This is the first of four P-8A deliveries to the New Zealand Defence Force. The P-8A replaces New Zealand's current fleet P-3K2 Orions.
• Continuing Promise 2022 Team Continues its Promise to Haiti US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- Continuing Promise 2022 (CP 22) personnel will return to Wharf de Jeremie Dec. 14 to continue providing medical care following a one-day pause in operations to re-plan the mission to ensure we provide the best care to the great people of Haiti.
• Naval Postgraduate School Joins Consortium for Applied Hypersonics Research US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- The Navy's Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) 2022 features six force design imperatives that include investments in hypersonics that will play an important role in delivering capabilities at greater distance. In support of the development of the critical technology, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has recently been accepted into the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH), a collaborative network of academia, industry and laboratories that serves the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) through research and development in the field of hypersonics.
• Anchorage Arrives in Surabaya for CARAT Indonesia US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- Amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia, for a scheduled port visit, Dec. 12.
• U.S. Naval Forces and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Conduct Joint Mine Warfare Exercise US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- The U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), conducted Mine Warfare Exercise (MIWEX) 3JA 2022 off the coast of southeastern Japan, Nov. 10-20, 2022.
• USS Oakland Participates in Bangladesh IFR 2022 US Navy 14 Dec 2022 -- The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) participated in International Fleet Review (IFR) 2022 organized by the Bangladesh Navy in the waters off Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Dec. 6-9.
• READOUT: U.S. Central Command Engagement with Iraqi Leadership CENTCOM 14 Dec 2022 -- On Dec. 13, Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, visited Baghdad, where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Shia' Al-Sudani, Minister of Defense Thabet Mohammed Saeed, Chief of Defense Lieutenant Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, and commander of Joint Operations Command for Iraq Lieutenant Gen. Qais Al-Muhammadawi AI-Abbasi.
• NH Guard, Salvadoran Cyber Teams Strengthen Partnership Army News 14 Dec 2022 -- Backlit by the soft blue glow of nearly a dozen computer screens, a joint cyber team from the New Hampshire National Guard assessed El Salvador's burgeoning cyber unit during a State Partnership Program exchange Dec. 5-9.
• Defense Logistics Agency Powers NASA Orion Spacecraft DoD News 14 Dec 2022 -- After its historic 25-day, 1.4-million-mile journey that ventured beyond the Moon, NASA's Orion returned to Earth on Dec. 11.
• NATO agrees 2023 budgets, reflecting higher ambitions for the new security reality NATO 14 Dec 2022 -- Allies agreed NATO's civil and military budgets for 2023 at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday (14 December 2022). The civil budget is set at €370.8 million, and the military budget is set at €1.96 billion, representing a 27.8% and 25.8% increase, respectively, over 2022.
• NATO's multinational battlegroup in Bulgaria reaches full capability NATO 14 Dec 2022 -- NATO's multinational battlegroup in Bulgaria reached full operational capability on Wednesday (14 December 2022). The milestone was marked by a ceremony presided over by Bulgaria's Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, and the Commander of Italy's Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo.
• New equipment enhances smart border defense PLA Daily 14 Dec 2022 -- The Baketu border defense company of the PLA Xinjiang Military Command is stationed on China's northwest border guarding the 19.2km borderline with Kazakhstan. The border patrol team used to walk a whole day in snow while patrolling the borderline in winter, but this year, it was otherwise. In a recent patrol, the troops used the new type of all-terrain vehicle (ATV), handset radio, security camera with laser-assisted auto-focus, and other new devices.
• China's Yuanwang-7 back from missions PLA Daily 14 Dec 2022 -- At about 9:00 on December 13, China's spacecraft tracking ship Yuanwang-7 ended its 55-day voyage and docked at the home port of China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Control Department (CSMTC).
• U.S. barred Taiwan from buying parts for local missiles: Ex-military research chief CNA 14 Dec 2022 -- The former head of the Taiwan military's top research unit has disclosed in a recently published memoir that the United States had prevented Taiwan from obtaining some key components for domestic long-range missiles so that Taiwan would be forced to buy U.S.-made ones only.
• Taiwan cruise missile could reach Beijing: Ex-military research chief CNA 14 Dec 2022 -- The former head of Taiwan military's top research unit has disclosed in a recently published memoir that the nation's domestically developed supersonic land-attack cruise missile has a range of 1,000 kilometers, meaning it could reach as far as China's capital Beijing.
• US finalizing plans to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine: Report Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- The United States is reportedly finalizing plans to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, going against a warning by Russia against deployment of the weapons to the ex-Soviet republic, where Moscow is waging a war.
• Iranian DM says Ukraine presents no evidence for use of Iranian drones by Russia People's Daily 14 Dec 2022 -- Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said that Ukraine has not presented any evidence for its claim that Russia has used Iranian military drones in the Ukraine war, Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.
• Committee of German Parliament Approves $10Bln Purchase of F-35 Jets From US: Reports Sputnik 14 Dec 2022 -- The Budget Committee of the German parliament approved the contract with the United States on the purchase of F-35 fighter jets worth 10 billion euros ($10.6 billion), British news agency reported on Wednesday, citing sources in the committee.
• Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise "Kazind - 2022" to Commence at Umroi (Meghalaya) India PIB 14 Dec 2022 -- The 6th Edition of Indo - Kazakhstan joint training exercise "KAZIND-22" is scheduled to be conducted at Umroi (Meghalaya) from 15 to 28 December 2022. Joint annual training exercise with the Kazakhstan Army was instituted in 2016 as Exercise Prabal Dostyk, which was later upgraded to a company level exercise and renamed as Ex Kazind in 2018.
• The President: Allied military units are an essential part of our security President of the Republic of Lithuania 14 Dec 2022 -- On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nausėda met with the commanders of foreign military units deployed in Lithuania.
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Foreign Ministers Dinner US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Remarks by President Biden and President Sall of the Republic of Senegal at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner The White House 14 Dec 2022
• Readout of the National Security Advisor to the Vice President's Strategy Session with Partnership for Central America Leadership The White House 14 Dec 2022
• Remarks by President Biden at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum The White House 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum Lunch US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Mozambican President Nyusi US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken And Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Egyptian President El-Sisi US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Tunisian President Kais Saied Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with President Saied of Tunisia US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Southern African Development Community Organ Troika Members US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Beninese President Patrice Talon and Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum At the Regional Compact Signing US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022
• Department Press Briefing - December 14, 2022 US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Dec. 14, 2022

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 14 December 2022 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Dec 2022
• Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council Open Debate on Multilateralism UN Secretary-General 14 Dec 2022
• 'Dramatically' evolving conflict highlights importance of multilateralism, Security Council hears UN News 14 Dec 2022 -- Inter-State wars, terrorism, divided collective security, and peacekeeping limitations remain the same challenges facing multilateralism as when the UN was founded7 6 years ago, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Wednesday.
• Taliban Publicly Flog 27 Afghan Men, Women Convicted of 'Moral' Crimes VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan publicly flogged 27 people, including two women Wednesday, for allegedly committing theft, adultery and other crimes.
• China 'deeply shocked' at Kabul hotel attack injuring five Chinese nationals, firmly opposes any terrorism Global Times 14 Dec 2022 -- China felt deeply shocked about the attack on a hotel in Afghanistan's capital Kabul that wounded five Chinese nationals, and expressed strong opposition against any forms of terrorism. China has asked the Afghan authorities to make all-out efforts to search for and rescue Chinese nationals and punish the perpetrators, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at Tuesday's press briefing, after the extremist militant group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the terror attack.
• Israeli military chief admits hand in strike on Lebanon-bound Iranian fuel convoy Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- The Israeli military chief of staff has confirmed that the Tel Aviv regime was behind an early November attack on an Iranian fuel convoy heading to Lebanon near the Syria-Iraq border, saying that the airstrike was carried out by the Israeli Air Force.
• South Sudan: UN rights chief appeals for end to 'senseless violence' in Upper Nile state UN News 14 Dec 2022 -- Perpetrators behind deadly violence in South Sudan's Upper Nile state must be brought to justice, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said on Wednesday.
• UNHCR welcomes Kenya's decision to end statelessness for the Pemba people UNHCR 14 Dec 2022 -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, commends the steps the Government of Kenya is taking to resolve the long-term problem of statelessness for the Pemba people in Kenya.
• Minister: Pakistan Sharing with UN 'Indisputable' Evidence Linking India to Terrorism VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- A top foreign ministry official said Wednesday that Pakistan has traced "undeniable" and "indisputable" links between India and acts of terrorism on Pakistani soil, and that the evidence is being formally shared with the United Nations.

News Reports

• Issuance of Intelligence Community Directive 126: Implementation Procedures for the Signals Intelligence Redress Mechanism under Executive Order 14086 Director of National Intelligence 14 Dec 2022 -- Today, ODNI released to the public Intelligence Community Directive 126: Implementation Procedures for the Signals Intelligence Redress Mechanism under Executive Order 14086.
• People's Republic of China Citizen Arrested for Stalking U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts 14 Dec 2022 -- A Berklee College of Music student, who is citizen of the People's Republic of China (PRC), has been arrested and charged with stalking in connection with threatening and harassing communications he allegedly made towards an individual who posted fliers in support of democracy in China.
• Readout of Second Joint Ransomware Task Force Meeting CISA 14 Dec 2022 -- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) co-chaired the second meeting today of the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF), an inter-agency body established by Congress to unify and strengthen efforts against the ongoing threat of ransomware. The first JRTF meeting was held in September 2022.
• Treasury Sanctions Major Drug Trafficker in the Dominican Republic US Treasury 14 Dec 2022 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Jose Calderon Rijo, a.k.a. "La Araña" (Calderon Rijo), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the international interparty conference Eurasian Choice as a Basis for Strengthening Sovereignty, Moscow, December 14, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 14 Dec 2022
• Press release on statements by German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz President of Russia 14 Dec 2022 -- "We noted yet another anti-Russia attack by German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholtz in his speech at the gala event devoted to the 70th anniversary of the German Economy Eastern Committee on December 12, 2022."
• Prime Minister Marin at EU-ASEAN summit: Russian terror calls for global response Finnish Government 14 Dec 2022 -- Prime Minister Sanna Marin attended the first summit of the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN in Brussels today.
• Canada Revokes Sanctions Waiver for Maintenance of Nord Stream 1 Turbine - Statement Sputnik 14 Dec 2022 -- Canada has revoked the sanctions waiver given to German industrial giant Siemens Energy to maintain the Nord Stream 1 turbines in Montreal, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said.
• 'All Their Flags Are Stained With Blood': Zelenskiy Urges 'Complete Isolation' For Russian Athletes RFE/RL 14 Dec 2022 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has argued strongly against allowing Russian athletes to compete in international sporting events even under a neutral flag.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on December 14, 2022 PRC MofA 14 Dec 2022
• China recalls six diplomats asked to waive immunity over Manchester consulate attack Radio Free Asia 14 Dec 2022 -- China has withdrawn six of its diplomats from the United Kingdom, including a consul general who admitted to assaulting a Hong Kong protester inside the Chinese consulate in Manchester, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Wednesday.
• FM slams new US bill targeting Chinese tech firms, vows to protect rights Global Times 14 Dec 2022 -- China firmly opposes the US' generalization of the concept of national security and its abuse of state power inunreasonably suppressing Chinese firms, and will take necessary measures to protect its own legitimate rights and interests,a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, in response to reports of new US sanctions on Chinese tech firms.
• Taiwan urged to diversify Southbound Policy target nation strategies CNA 14 Dec 2022 -- As Taiwan's government continues to promote its New Southbound Policy (NSP), it needs to develop different approaches for the 18 nations targeted by the policy, Indian scholar Sana Hashmi said Wednesday at a speech in Taipei.
• Record PLA bomber group trains near Taiwan island, deterring collusion between secessionists, external forces Global Times 14 Dec 2022 -- The defense authority on the island of Taiwan on Tuesday reported the activities of a whopping 18 H-6 bombers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), a record high in terms of PLA bomber sorties in drills around the island in a single day.
• China sends 21 aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone Radio Free Asia 14 Dec 2022 -- China has sent a record number of nuclear-capable strategic bombers into Taiwan's air defense identification zone in what analysts say could be a warning against "foreign support" to the island.
• This Year's Power Production Goal Attained in DPRK KCNA 14 Dec 2022 -- Officials and workers in the power industrial sector of the DPRK have made signal progress in the drive to glorify this year with proud labor achievements.
• Iran removed from UN Commission on the Status of Women UN News 14 Dec 2022 -- The 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Wednesday adopted a resolution to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the remainder of its four-year term ending in 2026.
• Iran Voted Off UN Group Focused on Women's Rights VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- Iran was voted off a U.N. women's body Wednesday for its ongoing crackdown against peaceful protests and its repressive and discriminatory policies toward women and girls.
• UN Removes Iran From Women's Rights Body Over Crackdown On Protests RFE/RL 14 Dec 2022 -- The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has voted to expel Iran from the UN's premiere global body for gender equality over Tehran's brutal crackdown on women-led protests.
• Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on UN Vote to Remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women The White House 14 Dec 2022
• Removal of Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2022 -- "Today's vote by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to remove Iran from the UN's Commission on the Status of Women sends an unmistakable message of support from around the world to the brave people of Iran, and in particular to Iranian women and girls, who remain undaunted despite the brutality and violence perpetrated against them by the Iranian regime."
• UK statement at the UN vote on ending Iran's membership on the Commission on the Status of Women UK FCDO 14 Dec 2022 -- Ambassador Barbara Woodward delivered a statement to the UN Economic and Social Council
• Iran says US "unlawful request" will undermine rule of law at United Nations IRNA 14 Dec 2022 -- Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said on Wednesday that an "unlawful request" of the US government for termination of Iran's membership in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will undermine the rule of law at the UN system.
• US resorts to anti-Iran show to cancel Iran membership in CSW IRNA 14 Dec 2022 -- The United Nations will witness another show by the Biden administration, which attempts to pursue a dangerous path at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to pave the way for the cancellation of the Islamic Republic's membership in the international body.
• Iran says US 'in no position' to advocate women's rights after sham UN vote Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- Iran's deputy envoy to the United Nations hit out at the US-backed move to oust the country from the UN women's body saying Washington and its allies are in no position to advocate women's rights while supporting Israeli crimes against Palestinian women.
• Russia, China denounce US-led move to oust Iran from UN women's body Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- The move to oust the Islamic Republic of Iran from the United Nations women's rights body at the behest of the United States on Wednesday has been strongly censured by a number of countries.
• UN Economic Council Expels Iran From Commission on Status of Women After Amini's Death Sputnik 14 Dec 2022 -- The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has voted to expel Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women, a 45-member body which meets annually, amid the unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini.
• Iran Sentences Belgian Aid Worker To 20 Years, Brussels Says He's Innocent RFE/RL 14 Dec 2022 -- The family of a Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran says that he has been sentenced to 28 years in prison by the Iranian judiciary for "espionage," a charge Brussels called "fabricated."
• Iran Publishes 'Confessions' Of Protesters, Fears Rise Of Heavy Sentences For Athletes RFE/RL 14 Dec 2022 -- Iran has made public the forced "confessions" of several protesters, raising concerns among rights groups that more death sentences will be issued and carried out after "sham" trials.
• Number Of Reporters Arrested In Iran Rises 'Alarmingly,' Says International Federation Of Journalists RFE/RL 14 Dec 2022 -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says at least 58 journalists in Iran have been arrested during the nationwide unrest sparked by the death of a 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody.
• IRGC Comdr: Iranians have chosen strength IRNA 14 Dec 2022 -- Commander in Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salaami said that the Iranians have chosen to be powerful.
• 'Arrest warrant likely for ex-Iraqi PM over US assassination of Gen. Soleimani' Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- A senior Iraqi lawmaker says the country's judiciary is likely to issue an arrest warrant against former prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi over his complicity in the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and his associates.
• China must compensate IRNA 14 Dec 2022 -- Iranian Government's self-restraint and refraining from taking a hasty stance towards the recent visit of the Chinese President to the region, was a symbol of wisdom in the principles of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran's objection to compensating for the mistake of ignoring Iran's national interests is an example of honor in these principles. When it comes to territorial integrity, there is no difference between a strategic partner and a long-standing rival.
• Iran eyeing to launch heavier satellites IRNA 14 Dec 2022 -- Head of Iranian Space Agency Hassan Salariyeh said on Wednesday that the agency already has the required facilities for launching satellites up to 200 kg and is seeking to promote these facilities to launch heavier under-one-ton satellites.
• Kazakhstan plans to swap more oil to Iran IRNA 14 Dec 2022 -- Kazakhstan plans to swap more oil to both Iran and China, the country's Energy Minister Bulat Aqchulaqov has said, according to Inbusiness.kz.
• Kazakhstan to increase oil supply to Iran under swap deal Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- Kazakhstan plans to ramp up its supply of crude oil to Iran under a swap deal that allows the former Soviet state to diversify its oil export routes away from Russia.
• Brazil's Lula accuses Bolsonaro of inciting violence in capital after election loss Press TV 14 Dec 2022 -- Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accused far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro of inciting violence following violent pro-Bolsonaro demonstrations in the capital Brasilia where vehicles were torched and clashes took place with police.
• South Africa's Parliament Votes Against Ramaphosa Impeachment Over 'Farmgate' Scandal Sputnik 14 Dec 2022 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been facing calls to step down after he was accused in a report of corruption and breaching the constitution. Lately, the parliament postponed a vote on his impeachment as leaders of the governing party voiced support for the president, recommending that the corruption charges be dismissed.
• South Africa's President Faces ANC Vote After Parliament Decides Against Impeachment Inquiry VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa survived a vote in parliament that could have threatened his presidency — but can he survive another to keep his position as head of the ruling party? He finds out this weekend when the African National Congress party meets to elect its new leader.
• EU, ASEAN parliamentarians call for release of Southeast Asian rights activists Radio Free Asia 14 Dec 2022 -- Parliamentarians from ASEAN and the European Union called for the immediate release of three Vietnamese, one Indonesian, and four Lao prisoners of conscience ahead of Wednesday's Inaugural EU-ASEAN summit in Brussels.
• Imprisoned Former Georgian President Saakashvili Stops Hunger Strike Hours After Launching It RFE/RL 14 Dec 2022 -- Imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has stopped a hunger strike just hours after he launched it to protest his incarceration.
• Somalia Inches Toward Famine Amid Extreme Drought VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- The record-breaking drought in the Horn of Africa has affected half the population of Somalia, including in the breakaway region of Somaliland. The United Nations says if more aid does not arrive soon, Somalia will suffer its worst famine in half a century.
• Will African Nations Get Debt Help from IMF and China? VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- Long-running tensions between the major international lenders and China were aired at a meeting in China's Anhui province, where participants sought agreement on a way forward for some of the world's most indebted countries, many of them in Africa.
• Zimbabwe Says It's Food Secure, Needs No Imports Until Next Harvest VOA 14 Dec 2022 -- President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government says Zimbabwe is now food secure and will not import food until next year. As The government claims are in sharp contrast to aid organizations saying that millions are food insecure.