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Defense Policy / Programs

• Soldiers continue to strengthen ties with allies during Swift Response 23 Army News 11 May 2023 -- In a world of constant uncertainty, one facet of life that most can agree on is teamwork can lead to mission success. Throughout history and with training, military alliances have been a strong factor in determining the path forward and learning valuable lessons over the course of generations.
• New software to enhance battlefield mission command tested at Ft. Bragg Army News 11 May 2023 -- A new Army software package tested here by airborne troopers may impact mission command at all levels on the modern battlefield.
• U.S., Israel Complete Unmanned Naval Exercise in Gulf of Aqaba CENTCOM 11 May 2023 -- Forces from U.S. 5th Fleet completed a four-day exercise with Israel in the Gulf of Aqaba, May 11, that focused on unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration into maritime operations.
• U.S. Navy Completes Participation in Oman-led Naval Exercise CENTCOM 11 May 2023 -- U.S. naval forces completed participation in a weeklong Oman-led naval exercise in and off the coast of Oman, May 11, with forces from France and the United Kingdom.
• Opening Testimony by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Hearing (As Delivered) DoD 11 May 2023
• Milley Says Investments in Military Capabilities Are Paying Off DoD News 11 May 2023 -- The U.S. military is the most lethal and capable armed force in the world because previous administrations and Congresses made the investments needed, Army Gen. Mark A. Milley told the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee today.
• Austin Says Budget Request Protects U.S. Today and in Future DoD News 11 May 2023 -- The president's fiscal 2024 defense budget request is a strategy-driven document ensuring the U.S. military is the strongest in the world now and into the future, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee today.
• US F-22 Raptor Fighters Reportedly Begin Training Flights in Estonia Sputnik 11 May 2023 -- US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jets have begun training flights in Estonia, a local broadcaster reported on Wednesday.
• 19th Airlift Wing completes Green Flag Little Rock 23-07 US Air Force 11 May 2023 -- The 19th Airlift Wing successfully completed the Green Flag Little Rock 23-07 exercise hosted by the 34th Combat Training Squadron at Alexandria International Airport, Louisiana, April 19-27.
• CSG 5 Hosts Tri-Lateral Meeting with Japan and Australia US Navy 11 May 2023 -- Information Warfare Community (IWC) leaders from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 hosted a tri-lateral meeting with officers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN), May 8.
• Memorandum on Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 The White House 11 May 2023
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Meeting with NATO's Deputy Secretary General Geoană US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Small antisubmarine ship Onega enters the White Sea to take part in regular drills Russia MoD 11 May 2023 -- On 11 May 2023, the Russian Northern Fleet White Sea naval base small antisubmarine ship Onega has entered the regular combat drills area.
• Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov leaves the Russian Pacific Fleet headquarters for antisubmarine drills Russia MoD 11 May 2023 -- Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov left Vladivostok for antisubmarine exercises.
• Sanctioned Russian Cargo Ship Loaded With Weapons After Docking In South Africa, U.S. Ambassador Says RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- The U. S. ambassador to South Africa has accused the country of providing weapons to Russia in a possible breach of South Africa's declared neutrality in the war in Ukraine.
• US Accuses South Africa of Shipping Arms to Russia VOA 11 May 2023 -- The U.S. on Thursday accused South Africa of supplying arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in a three-day covert naval operation near Cape Town in early December.
• West Mulls Designating Russia's Wagner Group as Terrorists VOA 11 May 2023 -- Britain is preparing to designate the Wagner Group — a Russian private army that is deeply involved in the invasion of Ukraine — as a terrorist organization, according to The Times of London newspaper, citing government sources.
• EU Trains More Than 17,000 Ukrainian Soldiers - Borrell Sputnik 11 May 2023 -- The European union has trained over 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers already and plans that this number will reach 30,000 by the end of the year, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday.
• Defence Secretary oral statement on war in Ukraine UK MOD 11 May 2023 -- The Defence Secretary made a statement to Parliament updating members on the UK's continued programme of military aid to Ukraine, including long-range precision strike capability.
• Britain Confirms Supplying Ukraine With Long-Range Missiles As Moscow Fumes RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- Britain says it is supplying long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving Kyiv the capability to hit Russian troops well behind front lines as it prepares for a long-expected counteroffensive against Russia's occupying forces.
• UK Confirms Sending Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles to Ukraine Sputnik 11 May 2023 -- UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has verified that Britain will transfer its Storm Shadow Long-Range Missiles to Kiev, calling it London's "calibrated and proportionate response" to the crisis.
• Latest in Ukraine: Britain Shipping Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv VOA 11 May 2023 -- Britain is sending Ukraine long-range cruise missiles to help it fight off the 14-month Russian invasion, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Thursday.
• PLA flotilla spotted in waters near Japan after Tokyo's provocative remarks on Taiwan question Global Times 11 May 2023 -- China will not tolerate Japan interfering in its internal affairs, Chinese experts said, as a flotilla of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy was spotted in waters near Japanese islands after Japan's recent provocative remarks concerning China's Taiwan island.
• Female reservist training program shows world Taiwan's resolve: Tsai CNA 11 May 2023 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) inspected day four of the first ever voluntary female reservist training program at a military camp in Yangmei District, Taoyuan, Thursday, expressing hope that more retired female military personnel will attend reservist training programs to demonstrate Taiwan's resolve to defend itself.
• U.S. Sen. Rubio introduces bill to beef up air bases that would defend Taiwan Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- U.S. Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill Thursday that seeks to strengthen American air bases in the Indo-Pacific region to better respond to mainland Chinese aggression against Taiwan.
• RSNF Launches 2nd, 3rd Medium Couach-Class High-Speed Patrol Boats in Western Fleet SPA 11 May 2023 -- The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) in the Western Fleet Command launched on Wednesday the second and third French Couach-class medium high-speed patrol vessels.
• Saudi-Tunisian Military Exercise Kicks Off SPA 11 May 2023 -- Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) represented by paratroopers units and the special forces, and the Tunisian army have started the military exercise "Kairouan 23" at the Special Forces Training Center in the Tunisian city of Kairouan.
• Defense chief: Iran ready to help Syria develop defense infrastructure Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Iran's defense minister says Tehran is ready to assist Syria with its reconstruction process and development of its defense infrastructure in the post-conflict era.
• Iran vows to strengthen Syrian army's resistance axis against Israel Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Top Iranian General has vowed that the Islamic Republic will help further strengthen the Syrian army and stand up to the Israeli regime alongside the Arab country.
• Germany - CH-47F Chinook Helicopters DSCA 11 May 2023 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters, and related equipment for an estimated cost of $8.5 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Vice Minister G. M. Tučkutė and European policy and business leaders discussed solutions for strengthening European defence Lithuania MND 11 May 2023 -- On May 11 Vice Minister of National Defence Greta Monika Tučkutė attends the 5th European Defence and Security Summit in Brussels which brings together European Union policy and business leaders with the academic community to share thoughts on the European defence identity in the wake of the war Russia started in Ukraine.
• The President and Portuguese Prime Minister discussed security reinforcement ahead of NATO Summit President of the Republic of Lithuania 11 May 2023 -- President Gitanas Nausėda is on a working visit to Portugal. On Thursday, the President met with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa to discuss preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius, security and defense issues, and EU sanctions against Russia.
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Amna Nawaz of PBS NewsHour US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Al Sabah US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al Sabah Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General Descôtes US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas The White House 11 May 2023
• Online Press Briefing with Ambassador Michael R. Carpenter, U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Special Online Briefing with Tim Lenderking, U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• Department Press Briefing - May 11, 2023 US Dept. of State 11 May 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For May 11, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 11 May 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 11 May 2023
• Number of Internally Displaced People Hits Record High VOA 11 May 2023 -- The number of people internally displaced globally hit a record 71.1 million at the end of last year, according to a report released Thursday by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.
• Afghanistan: Rights experts alarmed over Taliban use of 'brutal' punishments UN News 11 May 2023 -- "Brutal and undignified" forms of punishment in Afghanistan and the use of capital punishment coupled with a lack of fair trial guarantees, violate international law and must stop immediately, a group of UN-appointed independent human rights experts said on Thursday.
, including the current upsurge in violence.
• Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Yemen The White House 11 May 2023
• Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Yemen The White House 11 May 2023
• Briefing with Senior State Department Officials on the Situation in Sudan US Dept. of State 11 May 2023
• On the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan US Dept. of State 11 May 2023 -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America are pleased to announce that on May 11, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.
• Sudan violations in spotlight at UN Human Rights Council UN News 11 May 2023 -- Sudan's descent into violent conflict and humanitarian catastrophe came under the scrutiny of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, as Member States called an emergency session of the body in Geneva. Member States adopted a resolution including a request for detailed monitoring and reporting of all alleged rights abuses, to be carried out by the designated expert for the country
• Sudan's Warring Sides Sign Commitment to Secure Humanitarian VOA 11 May 2023 -- Sudan's warring parties signed a commitment late Thursday on guidelines for allowing humanitarian assistance, U.S. officials said.
• UN Experts Urge Accountability for Atrocities Against Sudanese VOA 11 May 2023 -- United Nations experts who attended an emergency session on Sudan at the U.N. Human Rights Council Thursday were thwarted in their appeal for independent investigations into atrocities allegedly committed against Sudanese civilians by two rival armed forces.
• UN Calls for Effort to Push Sudan's Warring Sides Toward Resolution VOA 11 May 2023 -- United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk urged countries with influence in Africa to encourage Sudan's warring sides to end the fighting that began last month.
• Sudan Special Session 36: Intro statement by UK UK FCDO 11 May 2023 -- 36th Special Session: draft resolution delivered by the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Simon Manley, at the Human Rights Council.
• 36th Special Session: UK Statement for Special Session on Sudan UK FCDO 11 May 2023 -- The UK Minister for International Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, delivered a speech at the Special Session on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council.
• Human Rights Council Asks Designated Expert of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in Sudan to Document All Allegations of Human Rights Violations since 25 October 2021, including those Arising from the Current Conflict UN Human Rights Council 11 May 2023 -- The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its thirty-sixth special session on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, adopting a resolution in which it decided that the mandate of the designated Expert of the High Commissioner on human rights in Sudan should, with immediate effect, also include detailed monitoring and documentation of, and reporting to the Human Rights Council on, all allegations of human rights violations and abuses since 25 October 2021, including those arising directly from the current conflict.
• High Commissioner for Human Rights Strongly Condemns Wanton Violence in Sudan as Human Rights Council Opens Special Session on the Human Rights Impact of the Ongoing Conflict in Sudan UN Human Rights Council 11 May 2023 -- The Human Rights Council this morning opened a special session on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, hearing the High Commissioner for Human Rights strongly condemn the wanton violence taking place in the country in which both sides had trampled international humanitarian law.
• Sudan violence forces at least 450,000 children to flee their homes UNICEF 11 May 2023 -- UNICEF is stepping up humanitarian support for children on the move affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. As violence continues, an estimated 82,000 children have fled to neighbouring countries and approximately 368,000 more are newly displaced inside the country.
• WFP calls for urgent funding to provide emergency food assistance to over two million people in Chad including new Sudanese refugees WFP 11 May 2023 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) urgently requires US$162.4 million to support the Government of Chad in assisting 2.3 million people in urgent need of food assistance, including newly arrived refugees from Sudan as well as the 600,000 refugees already in Chad, communities hosting displaced people, internally displaced people, and severely food insecure people in Chad during the June-August lean season.
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs Minister and Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Hussein Al-Sheikh Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11 May 2023
• Severe funding shortfalls could leave 200,000 Palestinians hungry UN News 11 May 2023 -- Grave funding shortages could cut assistance to more than 200,000 Palestinians, the UN food agency warned on Thursday.Grave funding shortages could cut assistance to more than 200,000 Palestinians, the UN food agency warned on Thursday.
• Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on the latest escalation of violence European External Action Service (EEAS) 11 May 2023 -- The European Union is deeply concerned by the grave escalation of violence in recent days in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
• Munich Group Ministerial Meeting on the Middle East Peace Process - Joint Declaration Germany Federal Foreign Office 11 May 2023 -- The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan met today (11 May) in Berlin within the Munich Group mechanism and consulted on measures needed to achieve a just and lasting peace.
• Statement on the escalation between Israel and groups in Gaza Government of Norway 11 May 2023
• Israel assassinates fifth Islamic Jihad commander, rocket fired from Gaza kills one in central Israel Press TV 11 May 2023 -- A high-profile commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement has been killed when the Israeli military carried out airstrikes against targets in the besieged Gaza Strip, hours after the group announced the death of one of its military leaders in a pre-dawn strike carried out by the regime.
• Commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Killed by Israeli Airstrike - IDF Sputnik 11 May 2023 -- A commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Islamist paramilitary movement, was killed as a result of an air strike in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday.
• WFP operations in Palestine risk suspension due to funding shortfall WFP 11 May 2023 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that by next month 200,000 people - 60 percent of the people the agency assists in Palestine - will no longer be receiving food assistance due to a severe funding shortage. By August, WFP will be forced to completely suspend operations in the West Bank and Gaza if no funding is received.
• Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill 21 Palestinians: Health Ministry People's Daily 11 May 2023 -- At least 21 Palestinians were killed and 64 were injured in the continuing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, said the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza on Wednesday.
• Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza Strip VOA 11 May 2023 -- Israel carried out airstrikes overnight in the Gaza Strip, including one early Thursday the Israeli military said killed the head of Islamic Jihad's rocket squad.
• Repeated raids force more than 3,500 villagers to flee Sagaing region township Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- Junta raids over the past five days have forced more than 3,500 villagers to flee their homes in Khin-U township, locals told RFA Thursday.
• ASEAN's Myanmar peace plan has been ineffective, bloc chair Indonesia acknowledges Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- The president of 2023 ASEAN chair Indonesia warned the Burmese military on Thursday that human rights violations "cannot be tolerated," even as he acknowledged the bloc has made no progress in implementing its Myanmar peace plan.
• Indonesian President Says Regional Leaders Have Made No Progress in Myanmar Peace Efforts VOA 11 May 2023 -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo Thursday acknowledged that no progress has been made to end the deadly violence in Myanmar.
• 'The ICC is important to deliver justice for Libya': UK at UN UK FCDO 11 May 2023 -- Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.
• New arrest warrants seek justice for victims in Libya, ICC prosecutor says UN News 11 May 2023 -- New technology and strategies are helping to deliver justice to victims of grave violations of human rights in Libya, including fresh arrest warrants, but "we can do better", the chief prosecutor of the UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) told the Security Council on Thursday.
• U.S. Urges Armenia, Azerbaijan To Seize Peace Initiatives After Deadly Border Clashes RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- The United States on May 11 urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to seize peace initiatives after the two sides reported fresh gunfire exchanges along their common border.
• The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan requires US$ 407.3 million to support 2.7 million most vulnerable people in Cameroon UNOCHA 11 May 2023 -- The Government of Cameroon and the humanitarian community in Cameroon jointly launched the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) to address the immediate and urgent needs of 2.7 million of the most vulnerable people in Cameroon.

News Reports

• Justice Department Seizes 13 Domains Used by Lebanese Hezbollah and its Affiliates US Dept. of Justice 11 May 2023 -- The Justice Department today announced the seizure of 13 domains used by Specially Designated Nationals (SNDs), Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), and their members associated with Lebanese Hezbollah.
• With Leaders Locked Up, Proud Boys Embrace New Cause: Anti-LGBTQ Activism VOA 11 May 2023 -- Four leaders of the far-right extremist Proud Boys group are facing decades behind bars after a jury found them guilty of seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
• The Snake, The FBI, And Center 16: Why The Takedown Of A 'Most Sophisticated Cyber-Espionage Tool' Is Important RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- For more than a decade, a unique bit of malicious computer code was burrowed in the deepest corners of Internet servers in more than 50 countries, secretly gathering data and even records of what a person might be typing on a keyboard. Important information was extracted and covertly sent via a network of other infected computers, hiding its tracks from easy detection, back to the code's creators.
• Representatives of public authorities and energy companies trained at crisis management Exercise Cyber Shield STRATEX 2023 lithuania-mnd 11 May 2023 -- Representatives of the Office of the Government, all Ministries and major energy companies of Lithuania train at strategic table-top exercise Cyber Shield STRATEX 2023 on May 11. The exercise is designed to test their ability to properly respond to a large-scale cyber incident.
• OSCE and UNODC support North Macedonia in preventing terrorist financing through targeted financial sanctions OSCE 11 May 2023 -- A three-day training course on strengthening North Macedonia's capacity to implement targeted financial sanction regimes concluded today in Veles, North Macedonia. The training was jointly organized by the OSCE Secretariat's Transnational Threats Department and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje.
• Mpox public health emergency declared over UN News 11 May 2023 -- The head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared that the multi-country outbreak of the mpox virus which began around a year ago was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
• WHO Declares Mpox No Longer Global Health Emergency VOA 11 May 2023 -- The World Health Organization on Thursday declared mpox — formerly known as monkeypox — no longer poses a global public health emergency.
• Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on the confiscation of Konstantin Malofeyev's assets in the US Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11 May 2023
• Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Uzbek and Azerbaijani news websites publishing the article by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11 May 2023
• Meeting with Tyumen Region Governor Alexander Moor President of Russia 11 May 2023 -- Vladimir Putin and Tyumen Region Governor Alexander Moor discussed the current issues of the region's socioeconomic performance, including support measures for participants in the special military operation and their families, the development of road and social infrastructure, road safety, housing and relocation of residents from dilapidated buildings.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's video address to the participants in the 13th session of the Arctic Council, May 11, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11 May 2023
• Russian Lifting Of Visas, Flight Ban Highlight Georgia's Precarious Relations With Moscow RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- Reactions in Georgia have been mixed after Russia announced it was abolishing visas for Georgian nationals and lifting a ban on direct flights to the South Caucasus nation, with members of the government welcoming the announcement while the president and others denounced it, highlighting the complicated, and often rocky, relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.
• Russia Never Weaponized Energy, But Won't Take Asset Seizure Lying Down - Kremlin Sputnik 11 May 2023 -- Russia has never used energy for political purposes, but while the West turns up the heat, Moscow won't take the US-led West's seizure of its assets lying down, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized on Thursday.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 11, 2023 PRC MofA 11 May 2023
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi The White House 11 May 2023
• Senior White House Official Meets With China's Top Diplomat in Europe VOA 11 May 2023 -- U.S. officials say White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, held discussions in Vienna from May 10-11th. The meetings come as Washington and Beijing prepare for more in-person engagements between senior officials and as the U.S. seeks open lines of communication with China amid a strained relationship.
• China's top diplomat meets US national security advisor for talks on bilateral ties Global Times 11 May 2023 -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan conducted candid, in-depth, substantive and constructive discussions on bilateral ties in Vienna, Austria on Wednesday and Thursday, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.
• FM Qin stresses Europe's strategic autonomy when visiting France Global Times 11 May 2023 -- France's proposition to stick to strategic autonomy has set up a model for healthy China-Europe ties, and will inject rationality into a Europe that is still bickering about a unified China policy, observers said after Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang stressed that the China-Europe relationship is not targeted at any third party, nor is it subjugated to or controlled by any third party.
• Canada's accusation of China's interference in others' internal affairs is akin to 'a thief crying stop thief': Chinese Embassy in Canada Global Times 11 May 2023 -- Canada's accusation of China's interference in others' internal affairs is akin to "a thief crying sop thief," the Chinese Embassy in Canada said on Thursday, urging Canada to stop attacking China but reflect on its own interference of others' domestic affairs after the country expelled a Chinese diplomat and kept hyping "Chinese interference."
• Italy Reconsidering Investment Pact With China VOA 11 May 2023 -- Italy is having second thoughts on renewing a controversial investment pact with China.
• Australian Trade Minister Seeks End to Chinese Import Restrictions VOA 11 May 2023 -- Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell arrives in Beijing Thursday to urge China to ease sweeping import restrictions.
• Doing business in Hong Kong is 'risky,' Jimmy Lai's son warns investors, companies Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- The suppression of Hong Kong's promised freedoms under Chinese rule should serve as a warning to the international community that Beijing will continue to export its authoritarian rule far beyond its borders, says the son of jailed Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai.
• Hong Kong newspaper axes political comic strip after government criticism Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- A Hong Kong newspaper has axed a regular cartoon strip by political satirist Zunzi following an onslaught of public criticism from government officials.
• Blinken remarks on mass DNA collection in Tibet, Xinjiang spark backlash from China Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern over the collection of DNA from Tibetans and Uyghurs by Chinese authorities, sparking a vehement reply from Beijing.
• Chinese FM Qin Gang meets France's Colonna, says China-Europe relations should not be subject to third-party influence. Global Times 11 May 2023 -- China has always regarded Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner and advocated that the China-Europe relationship is not targeted at any third party, nor is it subjugated to or controlled by any third party, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his French counterpart Catherine Colonna in Paris on Wednesday.
• Blinken's remarks on Xinjiang, Xizang absurd: Chinese FM spokesperson Global Times 11 May 2023 -- US' allegations that China is collecting people's DNA and other biometric information in the Xinjiang and Xizang regions are absurd and pointless except for fabricating sensational news, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at Wednesday's routine press briefing.
• Anti-spy actions send warning to anti-China forces, not legitimate foreign businesses Global Times 11 May 2023 -- A detailed report by China Media Group (CMG) detailing Chinese national security and other authorities' recent law enforcement action against consultancy Capvision has drawn widespread attention from foreign media outlets and representatives of certain Western business groups in China. But instead of focusing on the facts and merits of the case against Capvision, they resorted to the type of hyperbolic, biased and vicious rhetoric aimed at smearing China, with which we have become all too familiar.
• China's cargo craft Tianzhou-6 docks with space station combination People's Daily 11 May 2023 -- The cargo craft Tianzhou-6 completed its status setting and docked with the orbiting Tiangong space station on Thursday, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.
• China's national reunification must be realized: FM People's Daily 11 May 2023 -- The post-war international order must be safeguarded and China's national reunification must be realized, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Wednesday.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan May 11, 2023 ROC MND 11 May 2023
• Scarce drinking water in North Korea during severe spring drought Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- Drinking water is becoming more difficult to obtain for many North Koreans as the country is in the midst of one of the worst droughts since the government began keeping records in 1981, sources in the country told Radio Free Asia.
• Iran, Iraq sign petroleum deal that puts gas first Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Iran and Iraq have signed a major petroleum cooperation agreement amid expanding ties between the two energy-rich neighbors.
• Tehran slams Sweden's IRGC blacklisting as aggression against Iran's sovereignty Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Iran has strongly condemned Sweden's blacklisting of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), saying the designation violates international law and amounts to an aggression against the Islamic Republic's sovereignty and national security.
• Iranian Supreme Court Upholds Deaths Sentences Of Three Protesters RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of Majid Kazemi, Saeed Yaqoubi, and Saleh Mirhashemi, all three of whom were arrested during the recent nationwide protests and charged with "waging war against God," a crime often applied to political dissidents.
• Activists burn Chinese flag amid growing anger its support for junta Radio Free Asia 11 May 2023 -- Young activists in central Myanmar burned a Chinese flag on Thursday amid growing anger at Beijing's unwavering support for the military junta.
• Moscow Mechanism expert report to OSCE Permanent Council on Belarus OSCE 11 May 2023 -- Today the OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur Professor Hervé Ascensio presented his findings to the OSCE Permanent Council, collected in his report entitled 'Report on the serious threat to the OSCE human dimension in Belarus since 5 November 2020'.
• Moscow Mechanism Report on Belarus: joint statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 11 May 2023 -- Invoking States welcome the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report and call for the Belarussian authorities to uphold their international obligations.
• Moscow Mechanism Report on Belarus: UK statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 11 May 2023 -- At OSCE Permanent Council UK says the extent of repression and the number of political prisoners in Belarus is staggering.
• Pakistan's top court orders release of ex-PM khan, declares his arrest 'invalid' Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Pakistan's top court has ordered the anti-graft agency to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan from its custody amid violent and widespread protests sparked by his detention.
• Pakistan Supreme Court Deems Ex-PM Khan's Arrest Illegal, Orders His Immediate Release RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan after ruling as illegal his arrest that has sparked deadly protests across the country and has prompted the government to deploy the military to restore order.
• Supreme Court of Pakistan Orders Release of ex-PM Imran Khan - Reports Sputnik 11 May 2023 -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan illegal and ordered his immediate release, Pakistani broadcaster reported on Thursday.
• Pakistani military deployed to cities, arrests Khan's party leaders amid rising unrest Press TV 11 May 2023 -- The Pakistani army has deployed troops in the country's major cities and arrested senior politicians from former prime minister Imran Khan's party amid persisting political tensions and clashes between police forces and protesters.
• Transcript of the Media Briefing by the Spokesperson on Thursday 11 May 2023 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11 May 2023
• Turkish candidate drops out in boost to Erdogan's main challenger Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince has withdrawn from the presidential election in a move that would bolster President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main challenger and raise the chances of a first-round victory by the opposition.
• Erdogan Could Lose The Election In Turkey. It Would Be A Blow To Putin. RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- As Russia's invasion of Ukraine ground on last month, President Vladimir Putin joined his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, via video link to celebrate the loading of fuel into the NATO member state's first civilian nuclear project.
• Ankara slams US efforts to influence Turkish elections Press TV 11 May 2023 -- Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has lashed out at the United States for leading a Western media campaign to manipulate the country's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
• Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Was Targeted In A Bomb Attack. But Not Everyone Believes It's True. RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- Shortly before noon on May 1 on the rugged outskirts of Sofia, an explosive device went off near the heavily armored car carrying Bulgarian Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev. No one was hurt and there was minimal damage. Geshev's motorcade continued the 30 or so kilometers to its destination in the capital, apparently without stopping.
• Is Conflict With The President The End Of The Line For Kyrgyzstan's Vodka King? RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- For much of the last 20 years, Kyrgyz alcohol magnate Sharshenbek Abdykerimov was known to many as "a wallet," a term used to describe a wealthy figure who finances political activity to help secure power and better treatment.
• Bosnia Approves Negotiations For Construction Of Two Pipelines To Deliver Gas From Russia, Azerbaijan RFE/RL 11 May 2023 -- The Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina on May 11 approved negotiations on building two new pipelines to supply gas from Russia and Azerbaijan via Serbia and Croatia.
• Armed violence plunging children into severe acute malnutrition in Haiti UNICEF 11 May 2023 -- Armed violence has intensified the number of children in Haiti suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), also known as severe wasting, which has skyrocketed in the country by 30 percent compared to 2022, UNICEF has warned today.
• Vo Van Thuong Begins Vietnam Presidency With Foreign Trips VOA 11 May 2023 -- Vo Van Thuong, elected as Vietnam's new president on March 2, has begun his tenure with a series of diplomatic trips overseas.
• Youth Party Seeks to Move Thailand Forward from Army Control VOA 11 May 2023 -- At a Bangkok intersection, 34-year-old human rights lawyer Jammy shouts over the traffic through a megaphone urging commuters to vote for Move Forward, Thailand's most radical party, which is hoping the youth vote in Sunday's election rewards it with a role in a coalition government.