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• Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. John F. Plumb Remarks at the Space Foundation's 38th Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, Colorado DoD 18 Apr 2023
• DOD General Counsel Remarks at U.S. Cyber Command Legal Conference Remarks By Hon. Caroline Krass DoD 18 Apr 2023
• North Dakota Army Guard Soldiers partner with Togo, Benin to counter IEDs Army News 18 Apr 2023 -- Two U.S. Army Soldiers from the North Dakota National Guard visited African countries Togo and Benin Feb. 6-17, 2023, to exchange best practices in countering improvised explosive devices with Togalese Armed Forces and Benin Armed Forces.
• DOD Officials Detail Progress With Indo-Pacific Allies, Friends DoD News 18 Apr 2023 -- Defense leaders will chart the progress made in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region and what more needs to be done during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee today.
• Leaders Detail U.S. Advantage in Indo-Pacific DoD News 18 Apr 2023 -- Foundational to U.S. strategic and integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region is its network of allies and partners. It's an asymmetric advantage that China doesn't have, said Navy Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in testimony today at a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
• Microelectronics Tops S&T, Protype Funding For Fiscal 2024 PB Request DoD News 18 Apr 2023 -- Microelectronics, integrated sensing and cyber, as well as integrated network systems-of-systems are prioritized in the DOD's fiscal year 2024 budget request for science and technology and prototyping sent to Congress last month by the president.
• Eglin's joint C-5M aircraft load exercise wraps US Air Force 18 Apr 2023 -- The 436th Airlift Wing, based out of Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, and the 96th Test Wing from Eglin AFB conducted unique training exercise recently where a 436th AW C-5M Super Galaxy flew to Eglin so base units could process and load their support vehicles onto the largest aircraft in the Air Force's inventory.
• DAF selects next locations for newest fighters US Air Force 18 Apr 2023 -- The Department of the Air Force selected the next bases to receive two of its newest fighters.
• Annual HURREX/CG Exercise Preps Naval District Washington Region for Hurricane Season US Navy 18 Apr 2023 -- As summer comes to the Atlantic, hurricane season comes with it.
• NATO Secretary General: we stand at a crossroads for international arms control NATO 18 Apr 2023 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg virtually addressed the 18th Annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation on Tuesday (18 April 2023), underscoring the continued importance of arms control for Allied security.
• Turkish NATO Envoy Calls Media Reports on Sweden's Compliance Misleading Sputnik 18 Apr 2023 -- The Turkish envoy to NATO said on Tuesday that Sweden was less in compliance with Ankara's requirements for its accession to the military alliance than foreign media let on.
• Sweden Hopes Turkey Approves NATO Membership After May Election VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- With Turkey and Hungary continuing to block Sweden's application to join the NATO military alliance, the Swedish government hopes for a swift ratification soon by both countries after Turkish elections scheduled for May 14.
• Russian Recruiters Target Central Asian Migrants At Mosques, Dorms To Join War In Ukraine RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- Tajik migrant Foziljon Umarov recently applied to renew his expiring Russian residency permit in Nizhny Novgorod Province, where he works as a bricklayer.
• War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine Germany - Federal Government 18 Apr 2023 -- Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.
• China's aircraft carrier Shandong holds intensive drills comparable with Liaoning in West Pacific Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- The second aircraft carrier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Shandong, is reportedly conducting intensive drills beyond the first island chain, reaching near Guam on the second island chain after completing Taiwan island encirclement drills last week.
• US agrees to upgrade Turkey's F-16 aircraft despite NATO row over Sweden accession Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- The United States has agreed to upgrade Turkey's F-16 aircraft despite a row with Ankara over Sweden joining NATO.
• MoD initiates reforms in AHSP to further promote ease of doing business India PIB 18 Apr 2023 -- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for bringing in industry-friendly reform related to Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP). The AHSP is the authority which is responsible for generating, maintaining, updating or declaring obsolete the entire history and technical information of defence products.
• Taiwan welcomes U.S. military instructor help with training CNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday said it welcomes the ongoing efforts of the United States to help the country train its troops after a source told CNA Monday that nearly 200 active duty American military instructors are currently in Taiwan training military personnel.
• US sends scores of military advisers to Taiwan as China threat continues Radio Free Asia 18 Apr 2023 -- Around 200 U.S. military advisers have been deployed to Taiwan, reportedly to train local troops against potential attacks from China, five times the number of American personnel based on the island at the end of last year.
• Taiwan's Navy commander appointed new chief of the general staff CNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Commander of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy Mei Chia-shu (梅家樹) will take office as chief of the general staff, the top commanding post in Taiwan's military, on May 1, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on Tuesday.
• Reported US anti-ship missile sales to island of Taiwan slammed as 'playing with fire' Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- The island of Taiwan will reportedly buy as many as 400 land-launched anti-ship Harpoon missiles from the US, a move Chinese mainland experts said on Tuesday is akin to playing with fire, and that the missiles could be destroyed before they have the chance to launch if a conflict breaks out.
• Taiwan to buy 400 anti-ship missiles from US amid tensions with China: Report Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Taiwan is reportedly in the process of buying 400 land-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles from the US in a move that is expected to draw condemnation from China which considers the self-ruled island part of its own territory.
• Australian and New Zealand armies sign Plan Anzac Australia DOD 18 Apr 2023 -- As we approach Anzac Day, the Australian and New Zealand armies will build on their history of cooperation with Plan ANZAC.
• 'Iranian ground forces receive over 1K pieces of new equipment' IRNA 18 Apr 2023 -- The Iranian Army Ground Forces Commander Brigadier General Kiumars Heidari has said that the force has reecived some 1,084 pieces of new equipment.
• Iran Army is 90% self-sufficient in defense equipment: Commander IRNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Deputy Commander of Iranian Army for Coordination Affairs Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has said that Iran's Army currently enjoys 90% self-sufficiency in defense equipment.
• 'Large number of drones' parade at Iran's Army Day event IRNA 18 Apr 2023 -- A large number of home-made military drones have paraded at a ceremony held by the Iranian Army in Tehran.
• Iran Army enjoys 90% self-sufficiency in manufacturing military equipment: Cmdr. Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- A senior Iranian Army commander says the armed forces enjoy high level of self-sufficiency in manufacturing military equipment, promising to deliver "good news" in the field of drones in the near future.
• Iran unveils new drones, missile systems in parade marking National Army Day Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Army units have unveiled a broad range of advanced gear such as homegrown missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, radar systems and air defense missile systems in a military parade marking the National Army Day.
• Iran 'fully prepared' to counter any illusion of power balance disruption: Army chief Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi says the country's armed forces are fully prepared to counter any power that harbors illusion about disrupting the balance of power or carrying out an act of aggression.
• Iran anchor of stability and security in region: IRGC Cmdr IRNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salaami has said that Iran is the anchor of stability and security in the West Asia region, adding that the country seeks to use its defense power to guarantee regional peace and tranquility.
• Iran's armed forces warmly shake any hand that wants to maintain regional security: President Raisi ISNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Emphasizing that the presence of Iranian armed forces is a security-building factor for the region, the President said, "The message of the Army Day ceremony is a message of peace and friendship for the countries of the region, and our armed forces warmly shake any hand that wants to maintain security for the region today".
• EP plenary: The way forward of EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, EU Battlegroups and Article 44 TEU European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Apr 2023 -- Speech delivered by Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, on behalf of High-Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell
• G7 Japan 2023 Foreign Ministers' Communiqué US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023 -- The text of the following communiqué was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.
• G7 Foreign Ministers Highlight Concerns About Russia, China VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and highlighted the need to engage with China to address global challenges as they closed their meetings in Japan on Tuesday.
• G7 foreign ministers promise tougher measures against Russia, call out China Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies have vowed to take a more unified stand against Russia and China.
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Cleverly US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken And UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General Descôtes US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Receives Phone Call from U.S. Secretary of State SPA 18 Apr 2023 -- Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, received a phone call today from Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with UAE Presidential Advisor Gargash US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press Availability US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Brazilian National Security Advisor Ambassador Celso Amorim The White House 18 Apr 2023
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre The White House 18 Apr 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 18, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News


• 18 April 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Apr 2023
• Top UN Official Proposes Meeting to Discuss Recognition of Taliban VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- The United Nations deputy secretary-general said Monday that the organization plans to arrange a conference in the coming days to discuss granting recognition to Afghanistan's Taliban, stressing the need for engagement with the fundamentalist authorities.
• Southern Afghan City Becomes De Facto Capital As Taliban Chief Tightens Grip On Power RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar is the historical birthplace and the political base of the Taliban. Now, the country's second-largest city appears to be becoming the de facto capital under the militant group's rule.
• Afghanistan: UN predicts restrictions on women's rights will worsen economic catastrophe UN News 18 Apr 2023 -- The draconian restrictions on women's ability to study and work have contributed to the calamitous socio-economic situation in Afghanistan, with devastating consequences for the population, according to a UN report released on Tuesday.
• UN envoy says Yemen at "critical juncture" for peace People's Daily 18 Apr 2023 -- One year on since the parties in Yemen agreed to a truce, the country is again at a critical juncture with unprecedented chance for peace, a United Nations envoy said on Monday.
• US, World Urge Sudan Combatants to Stop Fighting VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- U.S. officials in Congress and the White House on Tuesday urged Sudan's warring parties to stand down after four days of clashes in the capital, but analysts say Washington's leverage over Khartoum may be limited.
• Sudan Clash Hinders Aid Delivery by Humanitarian Agencies VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- United Nations and international aid agencies say it is almost impossible to provide humanitarian services in and around the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, because it is too dangerous for staff to move around without assurances of safety from the warring parties.
• Sudan Fighting Creates Humanitarian Issues VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- A third day of fighting between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces raged Monday in the capital, with both sides claiming control of strategic sites. A doctors' union says nearly 100 people have been killed in the clashes as calls for a cease-fire are growing.
• G7 Joint Statement Strongly Condemns the Fighting in Sudan VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- The Group of Seven has strongly denounced the ongoing fighting in Sudan between two military factions, urging all parties to "end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions."
• Sudan: UN rights chief calls for a return to talks, amid fragile ceasefire UN News 18 Apr 2023 -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the hostilities in Sudan and pleaded for the opposing sides in the military power struggle to return to the negotiating table, as reports emerged of a proposed 24-hour pause in the fighting, due to start at 1800 local time.
• Sudan Slips Into Chaos. Russia Lurks In The Background. RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- In the Sudanese capital, civilians cower behind interior walls, fearing flying window glass and stray bullets. Commerce in Khartoum has ground to a halt. Water and electricity outages are widespread. Pitched battles have broken out near the airport and other parts of the city of 5 million, with fighter jets roaring overhead.
• Norway conveys deep concerns to Sudanese authorities Government of Norway 18 Apr 2023-
• Sudan's warring generals agree to 24-hour truce Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Sudan's warring generals have agreed on a 24-hour truce, hours after the army rejected a call by rival paramilitary forces for the humanitarian ceasefire.
• US Top Diplomat Calls for Ceasefire in Sudan as Death Toll Nears 200 VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called the leaders of Sudan's two warring factions and urged them to agree to a ceasefire as the death toll nears 200.
• UN chief calls for dialogue to resolve crisis in Sudan People's Daily 18 Apr 2023 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease hostilities and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis in Sudan.
• No: 105, 18 April 2023, Press Release Regarding the Developments in the Republic of Sudan Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Apr 2023
• Libya's 'new dynamic': Bathily calls on partners to support momentum UN News 18 Apr 2023 -- Against the backdrop of a fragile human rights landscape, a "new dynamic" of cooperation among Libyan leaders provides much-needed momentum as the country prepares for elections later this year, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative told the Security Council on Tuesday.
• India shutters borders to Myanmar's Chin state after killing of three nationals Radio Free Asia 18 Apr 2023 -- India has locked the gates to key border crossings with Myanmar's Chin state after three Indian citizens were killed in the state last month, according to sources from the area.
• INTERVIEW: The attack on unarmed civilians in Myanmar 'is definitely a war crime' Radio Free Asia 18 Apr 2023
• Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Establishment of Joint Monitoring Committee in line with Ohrid commitments European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Apr 2023 -- The EU, as the Facilitator of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, together with Kosovo and Serbia, as parties to the Dialogue on normalisation of their relations, have today established a Joint Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of the Agreement on the path to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia and its Implementation Annex.
• West Africa and Sahel: Food insecurity, malnutrition, set to reach 10-year high UN News 18 Apr 2023 -- Food insecurity and malnutrition in West and Central Africa are on track to reach a 10-year high by June as the crisis expands to coastal countries, UN agencies warned on Tuesday, citing latest data.

News Reports

• U.S. Citizens and Russian Intelligence Officers Charged with Conspiring to Use U.S. Citizens as Illegal Agents of the Russian Government US Dept. of Justice 18 Apr 2023 -- A federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, returned a superseding indictment charging four U.S. citizens and three Russian nationals with working on behalf of the Russian government and in conjunction with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to conduct a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States.
• Three Russians Among Seven People Indicted By U.S. Grand Jury Over Alleged Election Influence Campaign RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- A federal grand jury in the U.S. state of Florida has indicted four U.S. citizens and three Russian nationals over allegations that they took part in a "malign campaign" to influence U.S. voters.
• US Accuses 3 Russians, 4 Americans in 'Malign Influence' Campaign VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday indicted three Russian security agents and four Americans on charges of conducting "a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States" on behalf of the Russian government.
• FBI Investigating Ex-US Navy Officer Over Spread of Pentagon Leaks - Reports Sputnik 18 Apr 2023 -- The United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched an inquiry into former US navy officer Sarah Bils, who runs a social media account believed to be one of the places where the leaked Department of Defense documents were published, US media reported, citing officials.
• UN Expresses Concern to US Over Spying Reports VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- The United Nations has lodged a formal complaint with the United States over reports that Washington spied on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other senior U.N. officials.
• Cyber: towards stronger EU capabilities for effective operational cooperation, solidarity and resilience European Commission 18 Apr 2023 -- Today, the Commission has adopted a proposal for the EU Cyber Solidarity Act to strengthen cybersecurity capacities in the EU. It will support detection and awareness of cybersecurity threats and incidents, bolster preparedness of critical entities, as well as reinforce solidarity, concerted crisis management and response capabilities across Member States.
• Questions and Answers: Cyber: towards stronger EU capabilities for effective operational cooperation, solidarity and resilience European Commission 18 Apr 2023
• Targeting Hizballah Sanctions Evasion Network US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023 -- Today, the Department of State and the Department of Treasury are taking actions against a global sanctions evasion network that facilitates the payment, shipment, and delivery of cash, art, and luxury goods for the benefit of Hizballah financier and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Nazem Said Ahmad.
• Rewards for Justice - Reward Offer for Information on Hizballah Leader Ibrahim Aqil US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2023 -- Today, on the 40th anniversary of Hizballah's bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is announcing a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to the identification, location, arrest, and/or conviction of Hizballah key leader Ibrahim Aqil.
• Treasury Disrupts International Money Laundering and Sanctions Evasion Network Supporting Hizballah Financier US Treasury 18 Apr 2023 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated a vast international money laundering and sanctions evasion network of 52 individuals and entities in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
• Meeting with Pskov Region Governor Mikhail Vedernikov President of Russia 18 Apr 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Pskov Region Governor Mikhail Vedernikov. The Governor informed the President about the region's socio-economic development.
• Russia summons US, British, Canadian ambassadors over 'interference' in internal affairs Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Russia has summoned ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada to object to their "gross interference" in its domestic affairs.
• Press release on a diplomatic demarche to Canadian Ambassador Alison LeClaire Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Apr 2023
• Press release on a diplomatic demarche to US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Apr 2023
• Press release on UK ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert being summoned to the Foreign Ministry Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Apr 2023
• Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency and of the Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and Movement of Russian-Affiliated Vessels to United States Ports The White House 18 Apr 2023
• Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency and of the Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and Movement of Russian-Affiliated Vessels to United States Ports The White House 18 Apr 2023
• Russian Court Denies Release of Jailed US Journalist Accused of Spying VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- A Russian court on Tuesday refused to release U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich from jail while he awaits trial on accusations that he spied on Russia while on a reporting assignment last month.
• Russia court rejects US journalist's detention appeal Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- A Russian court has rejected an appeal by an American journalist against the decision to hold him in detention before his trial on charges of espionage.
• U.S. Reporter Gershkovich's Appeal Over Detention In Russia Denied RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- A Russian court has rejected the appeal of American journalist Evan Gershkovich to be released from pretrial detention at Moscow's Lefortovo prison as he is investigated on charges of espionage, which he denies.
• Navalny May Face New Charge After Provocation, Lawyer Says RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- Jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny may face a new charge, this time of "disrupting" activities at the correctional colony where he is incarcerated, according to his lawyer Vadim Kobzev.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on April 18, 2023 PRC MofA 18 Apr 2023
• China continues reconciliation efforts in Middle East despite US' meddling, shows greater role in global governance Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- After the successfully brokered deal between decades-old rivalries Iran and Saudi Arabia that saw the restoration of ties in March, China is continuing its reconciliation efforts in the Middle East in settling the Yemen crisis and promoting Israel-Palestine peace talks.
• China strongly opposes joint communiqué of G7 foreign ministers meeting Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- China expressed strong opposition and lodged stern representations to Japan, the host country of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, as the latest G7 joint communiqué reflects the group's arrogance, prejudice and deliberate desire to block and contain China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday in response to the document that highlights "concerns" over Russia and China.
• Chinese FM urges G7 countries to stop interfering in China's internal affairs Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged G7 countries to pay attention to their own domestic problems and stop interfering in China's internal affairs in response to China-related content in the G7 foreign ministers' joint statement.
• China cuts US Treasury holdings in Feb to near 13-year low, raises economic security Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- China further reduced its holdings of US Treasury debt in February to the lowest level in nearly 13 years, as other foreign holders cut their holdings by 4.7 percent year-on-year to $7.34 trillion, data from the US Treasury Department showed.
• US poisons ties with 'nonsense charges'; its China policy increasingly self-contradictory Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- US' China policy is becoming increasingly self-contradictory and ridiculous, experts said, as while Washington wishes to send senior officials to China to seek dialogue on key issues and US military officers complain about obstacles to engaging with their Chinese counterparts, the US recently arrested Chinese Americans and charged some Chinese officials under a nonsense pretext of running a "secret police outpost." The latest moves have further poisoned the atmosphere for bilateral ties by adding fuel to the fire of Sinophobia in the US.
• Beijing Confirms Entry Ban Against Lockheed and Raytheon Execs Over Taiwan Arms Sales Sputnik 18 Apr 2023 -- The restrictions complement measures imposed in February which labeled the US weapons makers as "unreliable entities" and prohibited them from carrying out a range of export/import activities, investing in China's economy, and having employees living or working there.
• EP Plenary: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on EU-China relations European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Apr 2023
• Bangladesh to pay Russian nuclear firm in yuan, further sign of de-dollarization Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- With the de-dollarization wave building as many nations seek alternatives to the greenback to reduce their dependence on the US, the internationalization of the yuan is gaining momentum.
• Rights group says banks are withholding pension pots from U.K.-based Hong Kongers Radio Free Asia 18 Apr 2023 -- London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch has accused banks of perpetrating a "brazen asset grab" by withholding up to U.S.$2.4 billion in the pension pots of Hong Kongers who have emigrated to the United Kingdom under its British National Overseas visa scheme.
• Chinese pandemic whistleblower tried in secret was given 3-year jail term Radio Free Asia 18 Apr 2023 -- Citizen journalist Fang Bin, who disappeared for three years after filming from hospitals and funeral homes early in the COVID-19 pandemic from the city of Wuhan, had been sentenced in secret to three years in prison, Radio Free Asia has learned.
• China's Q1 GDP expands 4.5%, a 'good start' to achieving a full-year strong recovery Global Times 18 Apr 2023 -- China's GDP expanded 4.5 percent year-on-year to 28.50 trillion yuan ($ 4.15 trillion) in the first three months this year, the fastest growth since the second quarter of last year, signalling a good start to achieving a strong full-year recovery.
• Visiting French lawmaker meets VP Lai, relays Macron message CNA 18 Apr 2023 -- A delegation from the French National Assembly met with Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in Taipei on Tuesday and brought with it a message from French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirming support for the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan April 18, 2023 ROC MND 18 Apr 2023
• US-South Korea State Visit Talks to Include Deterrence Against N. Korea VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will be in Washington later this month to discuss Seoul's efforts to upgrade extended deterrence against North Korea and Washington's goal of diversifying supply chain networks away from China, according to experts.
• Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Reply Message from President Xi Jinping KCNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a reply message from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, on April 12.
• New Wave Of Illnesses Renews Fears Of Possible Poisonings At Iranian Schools RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- Several Iranian cities have seen a new wave of suspicious illnesses mainly at girls schools sparked by what some have called poisonings, reigniting fears among families after a similar outbreak saw hundreds of students taken to the hospital.
• Leader: Enemy seeking to polarize Iranian nation; demands should be realistic Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the enemy has always sought to polarize the Iranian nation, calling on the country's student community to adhere to the principles of realism in its demands.
• Group Says Court Review Cuts Sentences For Those Convicted In Iranian Militia Member Killing RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- An Iranian rights group says three people sentenced to death in the case of the November 3 killing of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian in Karaj have had their penalties changed to prison time, while several others had their punishments cut as well after a Supreme Court-ordered review of the case.
• Gas production at Iran's South Pars up by 6% IRNA 18 Apr 2023 -- South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC) produced 17.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas over the winter, an increase of 6% compared to the quarter to late March 2022, according to SPGC's deputy managing director Hossein Shamshiri.
• 'Downing Ukrainian plane in Jan 2020 was human error, not system malfunction' IRNA 18 Apr 2023 -- Head of the Tehran Judiciary Organization of the Armed Forces Ali Eftekhari says that Iran's air defense system was not defective when it downed a Ukrainian plane in January 2020, adding that the tragedy occurred due to a human error.
• Joint Statement from the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 on the criminal trials in Iran Canada 18 Apr 2023 -- The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752, representing Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, today issued the following joint statement:
• Chinese Companies Reportedly Halt Rare Earth Mining in Myanmar After Protests VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- Chinese companies mining rare earth minerals in Myanmar's Kachin State have promised to halt activities after more than 1,000 local residents protested, acknowledging the environmental damage caused by extracting the elements key to the production of many everyday tech-heavy devices such as smartphones.
• Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Outlines Vision for Peace in the Indo-Pacific VOA 18 Apr 2023 -- Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has outlined her government's ambition to "avert war and maintain peace" in the Indo-Pacific region. Wong addressed the National Press Club in Canberra, saying Australia wants to ensure there is a "strategic equilibrium" in Asia where "no country dominates, and no country is dominated."
• Saudi Arabia's FM arrives in Syria, meets President Assad as two countries move to restore ties Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and met with President Bashar al-Assad as part of efforts to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries.
• Foreign Minister Arrives in Damascus on Official Visit SPA 18 Apr 2023 -- Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister for Foreign Affairs, today arrived in the Syrian Arab Republic within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's concern and interest to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis to end all its repercussions and preserve Syria's unity, security and stability, and Arab identity, and bring Damascus back to the Arab fold to realize the best for its brotherly people.
• President of Syria Receives Foreign Minister SPA 18 Apr 2023 -- President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar Al-Assad today received Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, as part of his official visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus.
• Syrian President Assad, Saudi Foreign Minister Hold Talks in Damascus Amid Push to Restore Ties Sputnik 18 Apr 2023 -- The devastating earthquakes which rocked northern Syria in February resulted in an unprecedented outpouring of humanitarian support from the country's neighbors, as well as a concerted diplomatic effort to end the region's involvement in the decade-long US-led dirty war against the Syrian state.
• Tunisian president meets Syrian FM to strengthen ties People's Daily 19 Apr 2023 -- Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Tuesday with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as the two countries moved to resume diplomatic relations, said a statement released by the Tunisian presidency.
• Qatar, UAE to reopen embassies as two countries set to restore ties Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are working to reopen their long-closed embassies more than two years since the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt lifted a blockade on Doha and ended a rift in diplomatic relations that began in 2017.
• High-ranking Hamas delegation in historic visit to Saudi Arabia to mend ties Press TV 18 Apr 2023 -- A delegation of high-ranking officials from the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has traveled to Saudi Arabia as the two sides seek to revive relations.
• EU Lawmakers Approve Visa-Free Travel For Citizens Of Kosovo RFE/RL 18 Apr 2023 -- The European Parliament on April 18 approved a decision on visa liberalization that will allow citizens of Kosovo to travel to most European countries without a visa by January 2024 at the latest.
• Food insecurity and malnutrition in West and Central Africa at 10-year high as crisis spreads to coastal countries WFP 18 Apr 2023 -- Acute food insecurity is on track to reach a 10-year high in West and Central Africa by June of this year - a new study shows - with a worrying expansion of food insecurity into coastal countries, and catastrophic levels of hunger hitting conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso and Mali where humanitarian assistance is severely hindered by insecurity.
• Iraq: Speech in EP Plenary on behalf of the HR/VP Borrell on bilateral relations with the EU European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Apr 2023 -- Speech delivered by Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, on behalf of High-Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell