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Defense Policy / Programs

• US Army's 12 CAB participates in V Corps-led Exercise Winter Strike 23 Army News 19 Dec 2022 -- U.S. Army Soldiers from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade participated in the scenario-based exercise Winter Strike 23, at the 7th Army Training Command's Joint Multinational Simulation Center in Germany, Dec. 11-15th.
• Readout From Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl's Meeting With Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov DoD 19 Dec 2022
• DoD Issues $24.8M Critical Minerals Award to Perpetua Resources DoD 19 Dec 2022 -- The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Industrial Base Policy, through its Defense Production Act (DPA) Investments Program and the Air Force Executive Agent, issued its first critical minerals award using Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations funds to Perpetua Resources Idaho, Inc. ("Perpetua") to secure an American source of critical minerals for missiles and munitions.
• 2nd Marine Division Marines Participate in Continuing Promise 2022 USMC News 19 Dec 2022 -- U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force deployed in support of Continuing Promise 2022 to provide humanitarian civic assistance to our partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America.
• AFRL launches wearable biomolecular sensors program for DoD, transfers technology to Sensate Biosystems US Air Force 19 Dec 2022 -- The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, has partnered with the Nano Bio-Materials Consortium, or NBMC, and Case Western Reserve University to create wearable sensors that measure biomarkers in Airmen and Guardians. The term "biomarker" refers to any physiological or molecular information that can be tracked for human health.
• Future USS Jack H. Lucas Embarks on First Sea Trials US Navy 19 Dec 2022 -- The Navy's first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) completed Builder's Trials on Dec 15, 2022.
• USS Milwaukee Visits Limón, Costa Rica US Navy 19 Dec 2022 -- The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) visited Limón, Costa Rica for a scheduled port visit from Dec. 14-16, marking the longest stay in the city by any U.S. Navy ship in years.
• USS Shoup Joins CTF 71/DESRON 15 US Navy 19 Dec 2022 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) arrived in its new forward-deployed location of Yokosuka, Japan Dec. 19, joining Commander, Task Force (CTF 71)/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15.
• Sweden's NATO Bid in Limbo as Top Court Slaps Down Turkish Extradition Request for 'Gulenist' Journo Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bid has been ratified by 28 of the bloc's 30 members, with Turkey and Hungary holding up the process. Ankara has given the Nordics a series of conditions for support for their membership in the bloc; observers in Stockholm and Helsinki have grumbled about the demands' implications for their sovereignty.
• Finland Mulls Relaxing Arms Export Rules to Turkey to Secure NATO Bid Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- Earlier this year, Finland and Sweden abandoned their policy of military non-alignment and rushed to become NATO members. They also abandoned their principle of not sending weapons to warring nations by arming Ukraine during Russia's ongoing special operation. However, Ankara's opposition has been the main stumbling block to their NATO bid.
• Wider Europe Briefing: In 2022, The EU And NATO Found Their Mojo Again RFE/RL 19 Dec 2022
• Putin Arrives in Minsk to Hold Talks With Belarusian President on Security, Other Issues Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Minsk on Monday to hold talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, and to discuss the issues of security in the region and joint measures to respond to challenges.
• Russian Ships Sail for Joint Drills With Chinese Navy Next Week: Defense Ministry Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- A detachment of ships from Russia's Pacific Fleet is headed toward the East China Sea to participate in Russian-Chinese naval drills from December 21-27, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Zelenskyy Requests More Military Aid After Latest Russian Attacks VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- At a meeting with the leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Latvia Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urgently requested more military and defense support.
• Ukraine's Zelensky wants more European air defense systems, arms Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked European leaders for more air defense systems, tanks and weapons, against the backdrop of the protracted war with Russia.
• The JEF-countries confirm their support for Ukraine's fight against Russia Danish Ministry of Defence 19 Dec 2022 -- The Minister of Defense Jakob Ellemann-Jensen attended his first meeting in the Regional defence corporation, Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). During the meeting, the countries confirmed their support for Ukraine's fight against Russia and an ambition to strengthen the defense corporation in the years to come.
• UK set to announce new package of 'lethal' arms aid to Ukraine Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- The UK government is set to announce a major new artillery package for Ukraine as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepares to meet with his Nordic, Baltic and Dutch counterparts in Latvia to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
• Aircraft carrier Liaoning hosts fighter jet drills in West Pacific Global Times 19 Dec 2022 -- After sailing across the Miyako Strait on Friday, the aircraft carrier Liaoning of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly started to host fighter jet exercises in the Philippine Sea, with analysts saying on Monday that the ongoing drills could feature more sophisticated and realistic combat-oriented courses than last time in May.
• At Least Three Chinese Naval Task Forces Reported Entering Philippine Sea for Drills Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- A large number of Chinese naval vessels have been spotted entering the Philippine Sea in recent days, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, leading to what analysts are saying could be the most powerful deployment ever by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
• ADV Reliant supports Pacific partners Australia DOD 19 Dec 2022 -- Continuing her inaugural journey, Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant has berthed at Nuku'alofa, Tonga, to discuss disaster relief needs at the start of the Pacific's high-risk weather season.
• HMAS Hobart home for the holidays Australia DOD 19 Dec 2022 -- Navy's lead ship for the latest regional presence deployment has returned to Fleet Base East, capping a successful three and a half months away.
• Lukashenka, Putin Pledge Further Military Cooperation As Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Falters RFE/RL 19 Dec 2022 -- Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed during talks in Minsk that their countries will continue holding joint military exercises and will maintain military cooperation in other areas.
• Belarus Completes Snap Inspection of Combat Readiness of Armed Forces: Defense Ministry Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- The Belarusian military has completed a snap inspection of its combat readiness which started last week at the instruction of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Status of Country's Defence Exports India PIB 19 Dec 2022 -- Department of Defence Production issues authorisation for export of Munitions List items covered in Category 6 of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET).
• Self Reliance in Defence Sector India PIB 19 Dec 2022 -- The Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment, thereby promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing & technology in the country.
• New Sainik Schools in the Country India PIB 19 Dec 2022 -- There is no provision for allocation of fund for opening of a new Sainik School by Ministry of Defence under the new initiative to set up 100 Sainik Schools in the Country.
• Construction of Roads in Border Areas India PIB 19 Dec 2022
• Import and Export in Defence Sector India PIB 19 Dec 2022 -- Details of net Budget provided to Ministry of Defence (All four Grants) in Budget Estimates (BE), Revised Estimates (RE) from 2017-18 to 2022-23 are tabulated below:
• Thai Navy searching for missing sailors from sunken warship Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- Thai aircraft and ships were searching for dozens of missing sailors after a Royal Thai Navy ship capsized and sank in rough seas off Prachuap Khiri Khan province, officials said Monday.
• Thai Royal Navy Vessel Sinks in Adverse Weather as Search Continues for Missing Sailors Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- The Thai Royal Navy vessel - HTMS Sukhothai - had been patrolling 20 nautical miles offshore from Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, when it got caught in a storm.
• Air exercise "Tuwaiq 3" concludes SPA 19 Dec 2022 -- The joint and mixed Air Exercise maneuvers "Tuwaiq 3" were concluded at Prince Sultan Airbase in the Central Sector, with the participation of ten countries including host Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, UAE, United Kingdom, and the USA.
• UK completes deployment supporting Qatar World Cup security UK MOD 19 Dec 2022 -- MOD support to the 2022 FIFA World Cup has successfully completed.
• The President to JEF leaders: Regional defense cooperation is an irreplaceable element of strengthening our security President of the Republic of Lithuania 19 Dec 2022 -- At the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit in Riga today, President Gitanas Nausėda, together with the leaders of the United Kingdom, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, discussed the security situation in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe in the context of Russia's war in Ukraine, support for Ukraine, the increasing hybrid threats and the response to them, as well as the challenge of protecting critical infrastructure.
• PM opening remarks at JEF Summit: 19 December 2022 Gov.UK 19 Dec 2022 -- The Prime Minister addressed the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Leaders' Meeting in Riga, Latvia.
• PM meeting with Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia: 19 December 2022 Gov.UK 19 Dec 2022
• PM meeting with Prime Minister Kariņš of Latvia: 19 December 2022 Gov.UK 19 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Maltese Foreign Minister Borg US Dept. of State 19 Dec 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 19 Dec 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Ebrard US Dept. of State 19 Dec 2022
• Readout of President Biden's meeting with President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador The White House 19 Dec 2022
• Remarks by President Biden and President Lasso of Ecuador Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 19 Dec 2022
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre The White House 19 Dec 2022
• Department Press Briefing - December 19, 2022 US Dept. of State 19 Dec 2022

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Dec. 19, 2022

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• Secretary-General's opening remarks at End-of-Year Press Conference UN Secretary-General 19 Dec 2022
• Afghan Taliban Announce New Round of Public Floggings VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- Afghanistan's Taliban have announced fresh public floggings of convicts, both women and men, in defiance of renewed United Nations calls for the Islamist rulers to immediately halt the practice.
• Japan on high alert as PLA Navy vessel enters its territorial waters Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- Japanese forces have been put on high alert after a large number of Chinese warships including an aircraft carrier were spotted in the West Pacific.
• Philippine Coast Guard recovers wreckage from another Chinese space rocket Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- The Philippine Coast Guard says it has recovered suspected debris in Manila-claimed waters from the launch of another Chinese space rocket.
• U.S. Support for the Philippines in the South China Sea US Dept. of State 19 Dec 2022 -- The United States supports the Philippines' continued calls upon the People's Republic of China (PRC) to respect the international law of the sea in the South China Sea, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its legal obligations pursuant to the 2016 arbitral ruling.
• Chinese vessel sails through territorial strait for international navigation rather than entering Japan's territorial waters: expert Global Times 19 Dec 2022 -- A Chinese Navy survey ship sailed through the Tokara Strait, a strait for free international navigation, rather than Japan's territorial waters, the Global Times learned on Monday after Japan had accused the Chinese vessel of entering its territorial waters.
• Yemeni forces prepared to thwart US, Israeli plots against national resources, islands: Top council Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- The Yemeni Supreme Political Council says the country's Armed Forces are prepared to stand up to any bids by the US and the Israeli regime that would be directed at Yemen's resources, islands and waterways.
• Two policemen killed as Taliban militants take hostages in northwest Pakistan Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- At least two policemen were killed and many others injured when Pakistani Taliban militants seized a counter-terrorism centre and took some people hostage in the Bannu district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
• Hostage Crisis Persists in Pakistan Counterterrorism Prison VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- Authorities in Pakistan continued Monday to negotiate a resolution to the overnight hostage crisis at a counterterrorism police detention center where dozens of suspected militant inmates have taken multiple officers hostage.
• Israel launches fresh missile attack on Syrian capital in new act of aggression Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- The Israeli regime has launched a new missile attack on the Syrian capital, Damascus, in a new act of aggression against the Arab country.
• Bomb blast injures 17 people on ferry crossing the Yangon River Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- A suspected mine blast on a crowded ferry in Yangon injured 17 passengers over the weekend, many of them seriously, according to the junta's information group.
• Armenia: EU Monitoring Capacity completes its mandate, new planning team launched EC/CEU 19 Dec 2022 -- Today the EU Monitoring Capacity in Armenia (EUMCAP), launched in October, completes its mandate.
• UN envoy reports 'sharp increase' in violence this year in Israel-Palestine conflict UN News 19 Dec 2022 -- More than 150 Palestinians and over 20 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank and Israel so far in 2022 - the highest number of deaths in years, UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland told the Security Council on Monday.
• Meaningful dialogue must end the cycle of violence across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories UK FCDO 19 Dec 2022 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council Briefing on the Middle East
• Egypt Draws Maritime Border, Ignites Tensions Among Regional Gas Alliances VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- Vast undersea natural gas resources and the right to drill in waters off the coast of Egypt and Libya are prompting recriminations between regional governments after economic interests led Egypt to unilaterally delineate its maritime border with Libya last week.
• Ethiopians Voice Hopes and Fears About Peace Process VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- As Ethiopians around the world anxiously watch to see if a fragile peace agreement will hold, a group of people from the diaspora gathered at VOA headquarters in Washington for a town hall discussion.

News Reports

• US Capitol Riot Panel Urges Trump Be Prosecuted VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- The congressional committee that investigated last year's January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol recommended Monday that the Justice Department criminally prosecute former President Donald Trump for trying to illegally scheme to upend his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden and promote violence to stay in power.
• US Capitol violence: Jan. 6 panel to vote on Trump criminal referrals Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- The House of Representatives committee probing last year's deadly attack on the US Capitol will wrap up an 18-month investigation and vote on whether to recommend criminal charges against former president Donald Trump and some of his closest aides.
• Jan. 6 Panel Unveils Four Criminal Charges Against Donald Trump, Allies Over Capitol Riot Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol was formed on July 1, 2021 to investigate the role former President Donald Trump and his allies played in the attack. The full report is scheduled to release on December 21.
• Three MS-13 Gang Members Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy US Dept. of Justice 19 Dec 2022 -- A federal jury in the District of Maryland convicted three members of La Mara Salvatrucha - a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13 - on Dec. 16 for racketeering conspiracy.
• Russia-Belarus talks President of Russia 19 Dec 2022 -- Russian-Belarusian talks in expanded format took place in Minsk. They were followed by a bilateral conversation between the leaders of Russia and Belarus.
• News conference following Russian-Belarusian talks President of Russia 19 Dec 2022 -- Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held a joint news conference following Russian-Belarusian talks.
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Aleinik Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Dec 2022
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a question from Belarus 1 television channel, Minsk, December 19, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Dec 2022
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from Channel One, Minsk, December 19, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Dec 2022
• Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question on Jordan's restrictions on the use of its airspace by some Russian airlines Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Dec 2022
• Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question in connection with State Department Spokesperson Ned Price saying Russia is guilty of making Russia-US relations worse Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Dec 2022
• Russia: EU gas price cap violation of market price-setting, unacceptable Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- The Kremlin has lashed out at a decision by the European Union to put a price cap on natural gas in order to supposedly deprive Russia of funds to continue the war against the neighboring Ukraine.
• Canada starts first process to seize and pursue the forfeiture of assets of sanctioned Russian oligarch Canada 19 Dec 2022 -- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada will seize and pursue the forfeiture of US $26 million from Granite Capital Holdings Ltd., a company owned by Roman Abramovich—a Russian oligarch sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on December 19, 2022 PRC MofA 19 Dec 2022
• Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People's Republic of China Prime Minister of Australia 19 Dec 2022 -- "This week marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People's Republic of China."
• Australia Appoints First Woman to Lead its Foreign Spy Agency VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- A former senior public servant is the first woman to be appointed to lead Australia's foreign spy agency. Kerri Hartland will become the director-general of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) in February.
• NADA Conducts Important Test for Development of Reconnaissance Satellite KCNA 19 Dec 2022 -- The National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) of the DPRK conducted an important final-stage test for the development of reconnaissance satellite at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on December 18.
• North Korea Confirms Normal Operation of Cameras, Communication Devices of Trial Satellite Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- North Korea's Sunday test confirmed the reliability of cameras and data transmission units of the reconnaissance satellite that is being developed by Pyongyang, North Korean state news agency reports.
• Statement by the Federal Foreign Office on reports of the latest series of ballistic missile tests by North Korea Germany Federal Foreign Office 19 Dec 2022 -- The Federal Government strongly condemns the latest illegal tests of ballistic missiles by North Korea.
• DPRK conducts "final-stage" test for 1st military reconnaissance satellite People's Daily 19 Dec 2022 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has conducted a final-stage test for developing its first military reconnaissance satellite, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday.
• Senior S. Korean Official Says North's Latest Launches Aimed at Ousting US Military Bases Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- Missile launches conducted by North Korea are a provocation intended to break up the South Korean-US alliance and oust US military bases from the Korean Peninsula, Chung Jin-suk, leader of South Korea's ruling party, said on Monday.
• Iran enriching 'worrying quantities' of uranium, in further blow for nuclear deal UN News 19 Dec 2022 -- No progress has been made on the implementation of a high profile 2015 Security Council resolution (2231), aimed at ensuring that Iran's nuclear facilities be used only for peaceful purposes, in return for the lifting of sanctions, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told the Security Council on Monday.
• Some Iranians Move Their Protests To Rooftops, Windows As Demonstrations Enter Fourth Month RFE/RL 19 Dec 2022 -- Iranian protesters have opened a new front as their demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini enter a fourth month, taking to windows and rooftops to show their anger at the government as they push for more freedoms.
• EU, Iran officials pursue JCPOA talks seriously: FM Amirabdollahian IRNA 19 Dec 2022 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that diplomats of the European Union and Iran seriously follow up on consultations on the resumption of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
• E3 Statement after UN Security Council Meeting on Iran: 19 December 2022 UK FCDO 19 Dec 2022 -- The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on the JCPoA.
• Iran's continued nuclear escalation is a threat to international peace and security: UK statement at the Security Council UK FCDO 19 Dec 2022 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council Briefing on Iran
• IRGC officer, three Basij members killed in clashes with terrorists in southeast Iran Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- A senior officer of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and three members of the Basij volunteer force have been killed in clashes with terrorists, who opened fire on them in an area in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan close to the border with Pakistan.
• IRGC Says Four Security Officers Killed In Southeastern Iran RFE/RL 19 Dec 2022 -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says four security forces have been killed in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, where intense anti-government protests have rocked the region in recent months.
• Iran's daily energy use equivalent of over 1 bn liters of fuel: Official Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- A top Iranian Oil Ministry official says the country's daily use of energy has reached the equivalent of 1.05 billion liters of fuel.
• Iran responds to claims by US spy agency's chief ISNA 19 Dec 2022 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has rejected as baseless the claims made by the US spy agency's chief about Iran's cooperation with Russia and his accusations against the Islamic republic of Iran regarding the Ukraine war.
• Iran slams CIA director's claims about Tehran-Moscow cooperation as "propaganda war" People's Daily 19 Dec 2022 -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman slammed Sunday the "baseless claims" by the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) about military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow as part of the U.S. "propaganda war" against Iran.
• Iran busts Mossad spy network planning to target its defense industry Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry has identified and arrested members of a spy network who were planning to sabotage the country's defense industry through front companies and security marketing.
• Space Station Crew Inspects Russian Capsule For Possible Meteoroid Damage RFE/RL 19 Dec 2022 -- Russia's space agency said crew members on the International Space Station were inspecting a Russian capsule that may have suffered damage from a meteoroid strike.
• South Africa's Ramaphosa Faces Challenges Despite Re-Election to Top ANC Spot VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- With Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected as leader of South Africa's ruling party on Monday, he now has a clear path to winning another term as the country's president in 2024. But analysts say Ramaphosa has been weakened politically by a corruption scandal and intra-party rivalries.
• Ramaphosa Re-elected Head of Ruling ANC Party VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa won a battle for the leadership of his African National Congress party (ANC) on Monday, beating his only rival by a large margin.
• South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa Re-elected as ANC President Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- The 55th National Conference of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is taking place from 16 to 20 December. As part of the conference, the party elects its leader for the next five years.
• Peru: Statement by the Spokesperson on the ongoing protests European External Action Service (EEAS) 19 Dec 2022 -- The European Union reaffirms the importance of ensuring Peru's political stability to address the ongoing social and political crises, in full respect of the constitutional order, the rule of law, and human rights. The EU supports the ongoing political efforts led by President Dina Boluarte.
• Sudan's forces use tear gas, stun grenades to disperse rally against post-coup deal Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- Sudanese security forces have clashed with protesters in the capital Khartoum during a rally against a much-criticized deal purportedly aimed at ending the crisis provoked by the 2021 military coup.
• Vietnamese legal expert arrested for providing information to 'foreign entities' Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- A Vietnamese legal expert has been arrested for providing classified information to "foreign entities" in a move possibly linked to his support for personal property rights in the one-party communist state, RFA has learned.
• Can Central Asian Cities Resolve Their Big, Ugly Smog Problems? RFE/RL 19 Dec 2022 -- It's that time of the year again. Coal-powered plants and the stoves of residential homes in Central Asia's largest cities are pumping toxins into the sky, icy roads are thick with slow moving, aging vehicles, and social media chatter is full of talk about how bad the air is and where to buy the best air purifier.