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News Reports

Current Operations

• Russian Air Antics Helping Islamic State, Pentagon Says VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- The repeated harassment of U.S. drones by Russian fighter pilots in the skies over Syria is again drawing the ire of U.S. officials who now warn Russia's antics are serving to help save key terror leaders from almost certain death.
• Alaska Guard rescues 10 people across state US Air Force 10 Jul 2023 -- Rescue crews from the Alaska Air and Army National Guard navigated across 1,850 miles, saving 10 people in four civil search and rescue missions and one medical evacuation mission June 30-July 4.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Gaggle With Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary DoD 10 Jul 2023
• Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Commandant of the Marine Corps Relinquishment of Office Ceremony DoD 10 Jul 2023
• Senate Nominations Hold Stalls Hundreds of Military Leader Appointments DoD News 10 Jul 2023 -- With the current hold in the Senate on confirming general and flag officers, as many as 650 critical leadership positions might be vacant by year's end, said the deputy Pentagon press secretary during a briefing today.
• Austin Praises Outgoing Commandant, Underscores Marine Corps' Readiness DoD News 10 Jul 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III credited outgoing Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger's leadership in underscoring the Corps' adaptability in the face of a rapidly changing national security landscape.
• U.S. AND INDONESIAN MARINES CO-HOST PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM USMC News 10 Jul 2023 -- The Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Lt. Gen. William Jurney, and Indonesian Marine Corps Commandant, Maj. Gen. Nur Alamsyah, will co-host the 9th Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Bali, Indonesia, July 9-14. This is the first PALS to be co-hosted by the Indonesian Marine Corps, and is set to be one of the largest PALS since its inaugural gathering in 2015.
• U.S. Central Command and the Israel Defense Forces Begin Military Exercise CENTCOM 10 Jul 2023 -- U.S. Central Command and the Israel Defense Forces conduct military exercise this week during Juniper Oak 23.3 in Israel.
• KC-135 serves as platform for multiple missions over Germany, Netherlands US Air Force 10 Jul 2023 -- Aeromedical Evacuation technicians with the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron assigned to Ramstein Air Base, sharpened their skills during a routine refueling flight in a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 93rd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, June 27, over the skies of Germany and the Netherlands.
• Bataan ARG and 26th MEU(SOC) Marines, Sailors Set Sail for Deployment US Navy 10 Jul 2023 -- U.S. Marines and Sailors of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BAT ARG) / 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (Special Operations Capable) (SOC) departed Norfolk, Virginia, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 10, after completing a comprehensive, nine-month training program.
• U.S. Sixth Fleet, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO Kick Off Neptune Strike 2023-2 US Navy 10 Jul 2023 -- The U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet and NATO's Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) commenced Neptune Strike 2023-2 (NEST 23.2), the latest iteration of the Project Neptune series of enhanced vigilance activity, July 10, 2023.
• DOD Destroys Last Chemical Weapons in Arsenal DoD News 10 Jul 2023 -- Defense Department employees made history Friday by destroying the last chemical weapon in the U.S. military arsenal at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky.
• NATO Secretary General welcomes Türkiye's decision to forward Sweden accession protocols to parliament NATO 10 Jul 2023 -- Speaking in Vilnius on Monday (10 July 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's agreement to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification.
• Press statement following the meeting between Türkiye, Sweden, and the NATO Secretary General NATO 10 Jul 2023
• Statement from President Biden on President Erdoğan's Commitment to Advance Sweden's NATO Accession Process The White House 10 Jul 2023
• Biden Welcomes Sweden's Acceptance Into NATO as Summit Begins VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- President Joe Biden welcomed news late Monday that Sweden will be admitted to NATO, overcoming objections from the last holdout in the security alliance, Turkey, on the eve of a major summit of the security bloc in Lithuania's capital.
• Turkey Agrees To Back Sweden's Bid To Join NATO RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to forward Sweden's application to become NATO's 32nd member to Turkey's parliament for approval, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on the eve of a NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital.
• Turkey's President Erdogan gives green light to Sweden's NATO accession bid Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given the green light to Sweden's bid to become a member of the NATO military alliance, ending months of tug of war over the issue.
• Erdogan: Sweden's NATO membership linked to Turkey's EU accession Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey says Brussels should facilitate the country's accession to the European Union (EU) before Ankara moves to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO.
• Secretary General arrives in Vilnius ahead of NATO Summit, meets with Lithuanian President NATO 10 Jul 2023 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Vilnius on Monday (10 July 2023) and discussed final preparations for the NATO Summit with President Gitanas Nausėda.
• The President ahead of the NATO Summit: We need to take important decisions on forward defense President of the Republic of Lithuania 10 Jul 2023 -- On Monday, ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, President Gitanas Nausėda met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The Head of State and the NATO Secretary General discussed the final details of preparations and coordination of decisions.
• Baltic states to sign declaration on airspace extension for NATO activities Lithuania MND 10 Jul 2023 -- On July 11 Defence Ministers of the Baltic states Arvydas Anušauskas, Inara Mūrniecė and Hanno Pevkuras will sign a joint declaration on extension of the Baltic airspace for NATO activities.
• Wider Europe Briefing: Four Things To Watch For At This Week's NATO Summit In Vilnius RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023
• Pentagon Problem-Solver Talks About 'Bucharest 15.0,' NATO's Article 5, And Ukraine As 'An Asset' To The Alliance RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Walter "Rick" Landgraf is a strategic and international engagements chief at the Pentagon and a fellow in the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a Philadelphia-based think tank.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler DoD 10 Jul 2023
• "Türkiye has always supported NATO's open door policy" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 10 Jul 2023 -- Delivering remarks to reporters prior to his visit to Lithuania for NATO Summit, President Erdoğan said: "Türkiye has always supported the open door policy of NATO. Having acted in line with its commitments, Finland became an official member of the Alliance in April. The process concerning Sweden, on the other hand, still continues. Our relevant institutions maintain their talks with their Swedish counterparts with a transparent and well-intentioned approach."
• NATO Allies appoint investment team to manage billion euro deep tech fund NATO 10 Jul 2023 -- Twenty-three NATO Allies* have selected the investment team to run the Alliance's new 1 billion euro deep technology venture fund.
• Chair of the NATO Military Committee visits Lithuania in the run up to the Vilnius Summit NATO 10 Jul 2023 -- On 9-10 June 2023, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer was in Lithuania to observe the "Blauen Express" Field Training Exercise, upon invitation of the Lithuanian Chief of Defence, General Valdemaras Rupšys. Admiral Bauer also met with a number of high-level military and political officials, including the Minister of National Defence, Dr Arvydas Anušauskas, and the Lithuanian Armed Forces Component Commanders.
• Erdogan, Biden discuss Sweden's NATO bid ahead of summit People's Daily 10 Jul 2023 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed on Sunday Sweden's NATO bid with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden over the phone ahead of the alliance's summit this week.
• Prime Minister increases support for key NATO presence Prime Minister of Canada 10 Jul 2023 -- In 2014, when Putin invaded Ukraine for the first time, NATO countries came together to put into place assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Ukraine one key step closer to NATO membership amid Lithuania summit Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- Ukraine has taken a key step toward becoming a member of NATO after a high hurdle in its way to accession was lifted during the current two-day summit of the US-led military alliance in Lithuania.
• Biden: Ukraine cannot join NATO due to war, lagging in democratization Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- US President Joe Biden has ruled out Ukraine's membership in the US-led NATO military alliance, citing its raging war with Russia as well as the country's failure to meet other qualifications, including "democratization."
• £66 million contract awarded for new terminal at RAF Akrotiri UK MOD 10 Jul 2023 -- A £66 million contract has been awarded for the construction of a new Passenger Handling Facility at RAF Akrotiri in southern Cyprus.
• Ministry of National Defense issues a press release in response to media reports noting that "the United States is urging our country to develop biological warfare agents" ROC MND 10 Jul 2023
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh meets his Malaysian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur; Also calls on Prime Minister of the Southeast Asian nation India PIB 10 Jul 2023 -- To further boost India's 'Act East Policy' and strengthen bilateral ties with Malaysia, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held extensive discussions with his Malaysian counterpart Mr Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur on July 10, 2023
• Norway will continue to contribute Norwegian forces in Lithuania Government of Norway 10 Jul 2023 -- The Norwegian Government has now decided to extend the participation of Norwegian forces in NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Lithuania until the end of 2024. Norway has participated in the eFP since it was first deployed in 2017, and is contributing a company of up to 150 military personnel.
• Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on July 3-9, 2023 Lithuania MND 10 Jul 2023 -- On July 3-9 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled 3 times to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
• $1 billion defence agreement supports Australian jobs and industry Prime Minister of Australia 10 Jul 2023 -- The Albanese Government has agreed to a major defence export deal with Germany, signing an in-principle agreement for Australia to supply more than 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles, built in Brisbane.
• Australia Agrees to Near Record German Defense Deal VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- Australia has confirmed one of the largest defense export deals in its history selling armored combat vehicles to Germany. The $661million announcement was made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he arrived in Berlin ahead of talks at a NATO summit in Lithuania.
• German military commitment to Lithuania Germany - Federal Ministry of Defence 10 Jul 2023 -- After the illegal Russian Annexation of Crimea NATO Member States responded with the NATO Readiness Action Plan to the increasing threat from Russia. At the beginning of 2017, NATO began deploying robust land forces to Poland and the Baltic states. with The the mission of "enhanced Forward Presence", which serves to secure the Eastern European NATO member states.
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts an assistance measure in support of Ghana Armed Forces EC/CEU 10 Jul 2023 -- The Council today adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility worth €8.25 million to support the Ghana Armed Forces.
• Readout of President Joe Biden's Meeting with King Charles III The White House 10 Jul 2023
• Biden Meets Sunak Amid Differences on Cluster Munitions for Ukraine VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- U.S. President Joe Biden said relations with the U.K are "rock solid" as he visited 10 Downing Street in London to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of Tuesday's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• PM meeting with President Biden of the United States: 10 July 2023 Gov.UK 10 Jul 2023
• Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 10 Jul 2023
• Readout of President Joe Biden's Meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom The White House 10 Jul 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For July 10, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 10 July 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 10 Jul 2023
• Afghan acting FM downplays economic crisis People's Daily 10 Jul 2023 -- Afghan Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi has downplayed the reports on the economic crisis, saying the economy of Afghanistan has been moving on the right track, reported the state-run Bakhtar News Agency on Sunday.
• US Says It's Working to Hold Afghan Taliban to Anti-Terror Pledges VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- A senior U.S. official says the Biden administration is "working tirelessly every day" to ensure the Taliban stick to their pledges to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for transnational terrorists.
• UN: Oil Transfer From Decaying Supertanker off Yemen to Start Next Week VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- Preparatory work for the transfer of a million barrels of oil from a decaying floating supertanker onto a rescue vessel off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea has begun, the United Nations said.
• Yemen: Transfer of oil from decaying ship expected to start next week UN News 10 Jul 2023 -- Transfer of crude oil from the dilapidated tanker Safer stranded off the coast of Yemen, is expected to start early next week, a senior United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council on Monday.
• Syria says oil, gas production plunges due to U.S. sanctions People's Daily 10 Jul 2023 -- Syrian oil and gas production has dramatically decreased because of U.S. sanctions, the head of a state-run oil company said Saturday.
• UN: Sudan on brink of full-scale civil war that could destabilize entire region Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- The United Nations has warned that Sudan is on the brink of a full-fledged civil war, which may spill over into neighboring countries and threaten stability of the entire region.
• Jet attack kills 3 civilians in Myanmar's Chin state Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- Junta jets dropped bombs on a village in Chin state, in the west of Myanmar, killing three people including a nine-year-old girl, the Mindat township People's Administration Group told RFA Monday.
• Analysts: Jenin Violence Heralds New Era in Israel-Palestinian Conflict VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- The United Arab Emirates has promised $15 million in aid to support United Nations relief operations in Jenin after deadly violence turned the refugee camp's streets and houses into rubble and cut off power and water.
• Netanyahu claims trying to prevent collapse of Palestinian Authority Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's so-called security cabinet has claimed the regime will try to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA) following its incursion into areas controlled by the PA in the occupied West Bank.
• Israel releases senior Hamas leader after 20 months in jail Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- The Israeli regime has released Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, after keeping him in captivity for 20 months.
• Islamic Jihad blasts Palestinian Authority's crackdown on resistance Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- The Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad has condemned the crackdown launched by the Palestinian Authority (PA) on a number of resistance commanders and former prisoners in the occupied West Bank.
• China Protests US Meeting With Dalai Lama in India VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- China has protested a weekend meeting between the Dalai Lama and the U.S. coordinator for Tibetan affairs, saying on Monday that "no external forces have the right to interfere" in the affairs of Tibet.
• Dalai Lama says Chinese officials want to contact him over Tibet issues Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- Tibet's foremost spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has revealed that Chinese officials have sought contact with him, either "officially or unofficially" to discuss Tibet issues.

News Reports

• Co-Director of Think Tank Indicted for Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking in Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, and Making False Statements to Federal Agents US Dept. of Justice 10 Jul 2023 -- A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who serves as the co-director of a Maryland-based think tank was indicted today for allegedly engaging in multiple international criminal schemes. According to court documents, Gal Luft, 57, is charged in an eight-count indictment with offenses related to willfully failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), arms trafficking, Iranian sanctions violations and making false statements to federal agents. Luft was arrested on Feb. 17 in the Republic of Cyprus based on the charges in the indictment. Luft subsequently fled after being released on bail while extradition proceedings were pending and remains a fugitive.
• Meeting with Head of Udmurtia Alexander Brechalov President of Russia 10 Jul 2023 -- The President held a working meeting with Head of the Republic of Udmurtia Alexander Brechalov. Mr Brechalov briefed Vladimir Putin on the region's socioeconomic development, including healthcare, construction and transport. Special attention was paid to assistance provided to the participants in the special military operation and their families.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions during a joint news conference with Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Badr Albusaidi and GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi, Moscow, July 10, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Jul 2023
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Jul 2023
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Jul 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the Sixth Round of Russia-GCC strategic dialogue, Moscow, July 10, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Jul 2023
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Jul 2023
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Jul 2023
• Kremlin Says Putin Met With Prigozhin In Russia On June 29, Days After Mutiny RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the private Wagner mercenary group, on June 29, just five days after the group had marched to within 200 kilometers (120 miles) of Moscow in a short-lived mutiny.
• Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of Russia 10 Jul 2023 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
• Deputy Chief Of Mobilization In Krasnodar Shot Dead While Jogging, Russian Media Reports RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- A deputy chief of the department for mobilization in Krasnodar has been shot dead in the southern Russian city, Russian media reported on July 10.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on July 10, 2023 PRC MofA 10 Jul 2023
• China, Solomon Islands ink comprehensive strategic partnership Global Times 10 Jul 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon met with visiting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing. The two sides jointly announced the official establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era, with experts saying that China's successful relations with the Solomon Islands have set an example to guide future cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries.
• HKSAR chief executive signs District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 People's Daily 10 Jul 2023 -- John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), has signed the District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo).
• Yellen hails China visit as 'productive' Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has left Beijing after what she described as a "direct" and "productive" 10 hours of bilateral meetings with senior Chinese officials.
• Xi Jinping Meets with Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko PRC MofA 10 Jul 2023 -- On July 10, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko at the Great Hall of the People.
• Hong Kong politicians in exile call for international response to electoral changes Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- Hong Kong's "last elected district councilors" have called on the international community to withdraw recognition for the city's legislature after it voted to slash the number of directly elected district council seats.
• More than 2 dozen bodies of Uyghur inmates released in Kashgar prefecture Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- Authorities at a prison in the Xinjiang region released the bodies of at least 26 Uyghur inmates before the Eid al-Fitr holiday in late April, police in various towns have told Radio Free Asia.
• Nearly one fourth of China's young people report mental health problems Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- The death of Hong Kong singer and Disney "Mulan" voice actress Coco Lee on July 5 has left many mourning an international star who struggled with depression to the extent of wanting to take her own life at a relatively young age.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Jul.10, 2023 ROC MND 10 Jul 2023
• Press Statement of Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of C.C., WPK KCNA 10 Jul 2023 -- Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), issued the following press statement on Tuesday:
• Press Statement of Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of C.C., WPK KCNA 10 Jul 2023 -- Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), issued the following press statement on Monday:
• Press Statement by Spokesman for DPRK Ministry of National Defence KCNA 10 Jul 2023 -- A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Monday issued the following press statement:
• DPRK condemns U.S. plan to send strategic nuclear submarine to Korean Peninsula People's Daily 10 Jul 2023 -- A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) condemned the U.S. plan to send a strategic nuclear submarine to the Korean Peninsula in a press statement on Monday.
• North Korea threatens to shoot down US reconnaissance planes if its airspace violated Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- North Korea has threatened to shoot down the United States' reconnaissance planes in the event that they violate its airspace and cross into its territory.
• North Korean police complain to Pyongyang about uncooperative state security agents Radio Free Asia 10 Jul 2023 -- Police in North Korea's Ryanggang province have sent a formal complaint to the central government after their coworkers, agents of the ministry of state security, refused to share data on criminal cases, officials in the province told Radio Free Asia.
• European troika should be accountable for not fulfilling commitments under JCPOA ISNA 10 Jul 2023 -- Stressing that Iran believes the European troika (France, Germany, and the UK) are responsible for not fulfilling their commitments under the JCPOA as much as the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said, "These three European countries must be accountable for their failure".
• IRGC foiled 'risky' US attempts to prevent seizure of foreign tanker smuggling Iran oil: Cmdr. Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- The United States made "unprofessional and risky" attempts to impede the seizure of a foreign oil tanker smuggling Iranian fuel in the Persian Gulf last week, but the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully confiscated the vessel, according to an IRGC commander.
• Iran launching $1.43bn petrochemical plant in Gachsaran Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- Iran is launching a major petrochemical plant that relies on home-grown equipment for more than 80% of its needs, according to a senior official in the state-controlled Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC).
• Europeans in no position to make accusations, must be held accountable for shortcomings on JCPOA: Tehran Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has slammed the irresponsibility of the three European signatories to the JCPOA agreement with the Islamic Republic, saying they must be held accountable for failing to fulfill their own obligations.
• Iranian Activist Dies In Custody At Urmia Detention Center, Second In Two Days RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- Human rights activists say Peyman Golvani, a Kurdish political activist, has died while in custody at the Intelligence Detention Center at the northwestern Iranian city of Urmia, where another political prisoner, Mousa Esmaili, died less than 24 hours earlier.
• Iran Sentences Rapper Salehi To Lengthy Prison Sentence For Supporting Protests RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- Prominent Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, considered by many as the voice of the unrest that has rocked the country's Islamic leadership for almost a year, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of "corruption on Earth" over tweets he posted supporting protesters.
• Iranian Rapper Sentenced Over Last Year's Protests VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was arrested during last year's nationwide protests, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison, his Twitter account managed by supporters announced Monday.
• 'US tried to assist oil-smuggling tanker seized by IRGC in Persian Gulf' IRNA 10 Jul 2023 -- The United States Navy made "unprofessional and risky" attempts to intervene as the naval forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) seized a foreign oil tanker involved in smuggling Iranian fuel in the Persian Gulf last week, according to a senior commander.
• We are closer than ever to resolving the threat posed by the Safer oil tanker: UK statement at the Security Council UK FCDO 10 Jul 2023 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.
• Iran cuts gas flow to Iraq amid heavy arrears Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- Iran has reportedly cut gas supplies to Iraq in a renewed attempt to force the Arab country to pay its debts for previous energy imports.
• 'Israel not a star in US flag': Israeli minister hits back after Biden calls Netanyahu cabinet 'most extreme' Press TV 10 Jul 2023 -- An Israeli minister has lashed out at US President Joe Biden after the latter stated that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition administration has some "of the most extreme members" he has seen.
• Press conference - Berlin, Germany Prime Minister of Australia 10 Jul 2023
• Uzbek Leader Mirziyoev Reelected In Scripted Election RFE/RL 10 Jul 2023 -- Shavkat Mirziyoev was overwhelmingly reelected on July 9 for a third term as president of the repressive Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan in a snap poll that an international monitoring mission said was "lacking genuine competition."
• Right-Wing Victory in Spain Could Bolster Catalan Independence Drive VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- Analysts say a right-wing victory may bolster the Catalan independence movement in the north-eastern corner of the country when voters go to the polls in Spain this month.
• Nigeria President Is New Chair of Regional Bloc ECOWAS VOA 10 Jul 2023 -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has been named to lead the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Tinubu said he would focus on fighting growing insecurity and terrorism in West Africa and promoting democracy among member states after a series of military coups.