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Defense Policy / Programs

• Nuclear deterrence only factor preventing West from waging full-fledged war on Russia: Medvedev Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- Russia's former president, Dmitry Medvedev, says the only thing that is preventing the West from seeking an all-out war with Russia is the country's nuclear arsenal.
• Putin: West refuses to negotiate over Ukraine, aims to 'tear apart' Russia Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready to negotiate with all parties involved in the war in Ukraine, but Kiev and its Western allies refuse to engage in talks.
• Putin: Our Geopolitical Opponents Triggered Conflict in Ukraine Sputnik 25 Dec 2022 -- Russia is open to a dialogue with all stakeholders on peaceful conflict settlement in Ukraine, but they have so far refused to negotiate, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.
• New improvements expected for China's J-20 stealth fighter jet Global Times 25 Dec 2022 -- Chinese military analysts said constant upgrades are expected for China's J-20 fighter jet, after foreign media reported recently that a new and more power
• US, Japan hiking defense budgets to target China is dangerous: experts Global Times 25 Dec 2022 -- The US and Japan both announced on Friday increases in their defense budgets for next year, naming Taiwan question among reasons for the spending hikes. This reflects that the two countries are preparing to interfere in the Taiwan question militarily, and it requires China to enhance combat readiness and be ready to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, experts said on Sunday.
• US lends Taiwan $2 billion to buy American defense equipment Radio Free Asia 25 Dec 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden may have made a Christmas gift to Taiwan by signing into law a defense bill, in which the U.S. is to loan the democratic island U.S.$2 billion to bolster its capabilities against threats from China.
• Saudi, Bahraini Naval Forces Mixed Bilateral Naval Exercise (Bridge 23) kicks off SPA 25 Dec 2022 -- The Mixed Bilateral Naval Exercise (Bridge 23) is kicked off in Bahrain today between the Royal Saudi Naval Forces represented by the "Eastern Fleet" and the Royal Bahraini Navy Forces, in the presence of the Commander of the Royal Bahraini Navy, Rear Admiral Mohammed Yousef Al-Asam, and the Military Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Bahrain, Brigadier General Fahad bin Ibrahim Al-Thunayan, and senior officers participating in the exercise.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• UN Human Rights Chief Slams Taliban's Ban on Women Working for NGOs as 'Blow' to Rights Sputnik 25 Dec 2022 -- The decision by the Taliban* to prohibit women from working in non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan is a "blow" to women's rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Sunday.
• Restricting female humanitarians from working and female students from access to education in Afghanistan is a 'blatant violation of fundamental human rights' UNICEF 25 Dec 2022 -- "UNICEF strongly condemns the recent decree issued by the Taliban de facto authorities banning all female humanitarian workers at national and international NGOs from working across Afghanistan. This decision is a blatant violation of obligations under international humanitarian law and the most fundamental human rights of women in Afghanistan. It comes just days after the decision to ban all women from access to higher education.
• UN Secretary-General 'deeply disturbed' by Taliban's reported ban on women working for NGOs in Afghanistan UN News 25 Dec 2022 -- Amid reports on Saturday that the Taliban had barred women from working for local and international NGOs, the United Nations said the decision would undermine the efforts of numerous organizations working throughout Afghanistan to help the most vulnerable, especially women and girls.
• Afghanistan: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the latest decisions by the Taliban on the participation of women in public life European External Action Service (EEAS) 25 Dec 2022 -- On 24 December, the Taliban reportedly issued an order banning women from working for national and international non-governmental organisations, and threatening such organisations with the withdrawal of their permits in case of non-compliance.
• Global Outrage Grows, Groups Suspend Operations After Taliban Bans Women NGO Staff In Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 25 Dec 2022 -- Worldwide condemnation against the Taliban decision to ban women from working at domestic and international NGOs heightened on December 25, with at least three foreign groups saying they will suspend operations in Afghanistan.
• Several international NGOs stop their work in Afghanistan after Taliban ban their female staff Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- Several international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have suspended their activities in Afghanistan after the country's Taliban-run government ordered them to stop female employees from working.
• UN says Taliban ban on women staff in NGOs hit humanitarian operations in Afghanistan Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- The United Nations says the Taliban's controversial decision to impose an indefinite ban on female staff working at local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Afghanistan will hamper humanitarian operations, calling for a meeting with Taliban leadership to seek clarity.
• Iran Ready to Assist Afghan Girls, Women in Receiving Higher Education Sputnik 25 Dec 2022 -- The Iranian authorities expressed their readiness to assist Afghan girls and women in receiving university degree after the Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorism) banned it in Afghanistan, Iranian Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs Ensiye Khazali said on Sunday.
• US Embassy Alerts Staff Amid Surging Militant Violence in Pakistan VOA 25 Dec 2022 -- The U.S. embassy in Pakistan warned its staff Sunday against visiting a top hotel in the capital, Islamabad, over the holidays, saying, "Unknown individuals are plotting to attack Americans."
• 100 Rohingya stranded at sea for weeks feared dead: UN refugee agency Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- The United Nations refugee agency says 100 Rohingya stranded at sea for weeks after leaving Bangladesh last month are now feared dead.
• Boat with 'dehydrated and exhausted' Rohingya refugees lands in Indonesia Radio Free Asia 25 Dec 2022 -- Dozens of "dehydrated and exhausted" Rohingya refugees - all males - landed on the coast of Aceh Besar regency in Indonesia on Christmas Sunday after being at sea for about a month, local officials said.
• At least 11 killed, 20 injured, during renewed clashes in Sudan's Darfur region Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- Nearly a dozen people have been killed and around 20 others injured in clashes between Arab and non-Arab groups in Sudan's restive Darfur region.
• Thousands Rally In Karabakh Against Azerbaijani Blockade RFE/RL 25 Dec 2022 -- Thousands of people rallied in Stepanakert on December 25 to demand that Azerbaijan unblock the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

News Reports

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a question from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin television programme, December 25, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25 Dec 2022
• Russia Rules Out Possibility of Supplying Oil at Forced Prices Set by West Sputnik 25 Dec 2022 -- Russia will look for new markets and logistics even at higher costs so as not to supply oil at prices set by the West, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Sunday.
• China navigates complex international issues, striking balance in major-country diplomacy in 2023 Global Times 25 Dec 2022 -- China has greatly advanced its diplomatic agenda in 2022 with head-of-state diplomacy setting the pace for the country's overall diplomatic work, which was highlighted by one home-ground event, two major initiatives and three important visits, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday in reviewing the country's diplomatic work for 2022. Chinese experts believe that the overall successful diplomatic work helped China navigate complex global and regional issues, consolidate consensus and strike a balance in maintaining strategic stability in relations with other major countries such as the US and Russia.
• China vows to maintain a global vision and write a new chapter in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics: FM Wang Yi Global Times 25 Dec 2022 -- In the new global context, any attempt of conflict, confrontation, containment and decoupling runs against the prevailing trend of the times and is doomed to fail; peace, development, cooperation and win-win represent the popular will of the people and are an international trend, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday during a symposium on the international situation and China's foreign relations.
ful variant of the stealth aircraft has appeared.
• China-Russia relations 'strong as monolith': Chinese FM Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has praised Sino-Russia relations, saying ties between the two countries are "strong as a monolith" and do not change under the influence of the unstable international circumstances.
• PLA holds fire strike drills around Taiwan island after US defense bill provokes China Global Times 25 Dec 2022 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Sunday organized cross-service joint combat alert patrols and joint fire strike exercises in maritime and aerial areas around the island of Taiwan after the US continued down a provocative and dangerous path of playing the "Taiwan card" to suppress China with its latest defense bill, including $10 billion in security assistance and fast-tracked weapons procurement for the island.
• PLA conducts joint combat-readiness security patrol and joint firepower striking exercise around Taiwan Island PLA Daily 25 Dec 2022 -- On December 25, the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted the joint combat-readiness security patrol and joint firepower striking exercise involving troops of multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island, said Army Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command (ETC), on Sunday.
• China stages 'strike drills' around Taiwan, citing 'provocation' by US Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- China has conducted fresh "strike drills" in the sea and airspace around Taiwan in response to "provocation" from the self-ruled island and the United States.
• Czechia deputy foreign minister affirms support for Taiwan's democracy CNA 25 Dec 2022 -- The Czech Republic will do its utmost to support Taiwan's democracy, the country's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jiří Kozák told CNA in a recent interview.
• Iran among world's top five drone powers: Senior general Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- Iran's top general has commended the joint efforts made by the armed forces, universities, and knowledge-based companies to improve the country's drone power, saying the Islamic Republic is currently among the world's top five powers in the unmanned aerial vehicles industry.
• Iran riots: IRGC arrests seven ringleaders of UK-linked criminal network in Kerman Province Press TV 25 Dec 2022 -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has arrested seven ringleaders of a UK-linked criminal network who played a key role in the recent wave of riots across the country.
• Iran's IRGC Says Arrested 7 Leaders of Group Linked With UK Intelligence Sputnik 25 Dec 2022 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that it identified and arrested seven leaders of a group allegedly involved in subversive activities and linked with UK secret services during recent mass protests in the country.
• Turkmenistan Builds New $1.5 Billion City, Far Removed From Grinding Poverty RFE/RL 25 Dec 2022 -- Turkmenistan, one of the world's most repressive and isolated countries, is stricken by widespread poverty.
• Nigeria's Central Bank Raises Criticized Cash Withdrawal Limits Sputnik 25 Dec 2022 -- The bank launched new banknotes in a bid to curb counterfeiting in November. Later, the bank announced a new cash policy that limited withdrawals to 100,000 naira ($225) a week instead of 2.5 million naira ($5,638). The policy drew public outrage.