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Defense Policy / Programs

• Joint Press Statement for the 23rd Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue DoD 18 Sep 2023 -- The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND) held the 23rd Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) on September 18, 2023 in Seoul.
• Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Concludes Singapore Visit DoD 18 Sep 2023
• DoD Launches Energy Storage Systems Campus to Build Domestic Capacity DoD 18 Sep 2023 -- The Department of Defense's Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) office, has awarded a three-year, $30 million project to establish an energy storage systems campus. The project will accelerate transition and scaling of next generation batteries, while reducing dependence on scarce critical materials.
• 5th ANGLICO Marines Conduct the Korean Maritime Exchange Program 23.3 (KMEP) USMC News 18 Sep 2023 -- From July to August 2023, U.S. Marines with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, participated in the Korean Marine Exchange Program 23.3.
• US military asks for public help in finding lost F-35 jet, after pilot ejected Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- In an unusual call, the US military has asked the public to help it locate a missing multimillion-dollar stealth jet after losing track of it somewhere over South Carolina.
• US Lawmaker Briefed on Missing F-35 Jet Says Marines Still Do Not Know Aircraft's Location Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- US Congresswoman Nancy Mace said on Monday that the Marines Corps still does not know the location of the F-35 aircraft that went missing over South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
• Air Force releases new memo, doctrine on mission command US Air Force 18 Sep 2023 -- The Air Force recently released two documents on mission command.
• SecAF announces Air Task Force model US Air Force 18 Sep 2023 -- Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announced the Air Task Force as the next step in the Air Force's Force Generation model during the Air and Space Forces Association's 2023 Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 11 in National Harbor, Maryland.
• Marine Corps orders aviation safety stand down USMC News Release 18 Sep 2023 -- Following three Class-A aviation mishaps over the last six weeks, Acting Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith, directed all Marine Corps aviation units to conduct a two-day stand down in operations this week to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices.
• Research Squadron VXS-1 Mobilizes Quickly to Track Hurricane Idalia US Navy 18 Sep 2023 -- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 mobilized a crew for a NP-3C Orion operation with less than 24 hours' notice to airdrop 18 SOFAR Spotter buoys in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Monday, August 28.
• USS Marinette (LCS 25) Commissions the Wright Way US Navy 18 Sep 2023 -- The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Marinette (LCS 25) September 16, 2023, in Menominee, Michigan.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps DoD 18 Sep 2023
• Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on September 11-17, 2023 Lithuania MND 18 Sep 2023
• Northern Fleet inaugurates an exercise with an expeditionary grouping of forces and troops Russia MoD 18 Sep 2023 -- Today, the Northern Fleet launched an exercise with an expeditionary grouping of forces and troops, which is part of one-year-long training cycle for the Northern Fleet's military command and control bodies.
• Russia Holds Drills to Protect Northern Sea Route Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- Military exercises to protect the Northern Sea Route are being held in northeastern Russia under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Adm. Nikolai Evmenov, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Statement by Russian Defence Ministry Russia MoD 18 Sep 2023 -- On 18 September 2023, Russian airspace control systems detected an aerial target approaching the State border of the Russian Federation over the Barents Sea.
• Russian MiG-31 Scrambled to Prevent Entrance of US Aircraft to Russian Airspace Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- A P-8A Poseidon aircraft of the US navy approached Russian airspace over the Barents Sea on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that a MiG-31 fighter was scrambled to prevent a border violation.
• Russian Forces to Test New Composite Kamikaze Drone in Special Op Zone Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- The Russian Armed Forces have been skillfully using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the special military operation to accomplish tasks without casualties.
• Russia Sentences First Woman For Skipping Mobilization Call-Up RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- A Russian court has for the first time sentenced a woman to prison for failing to report for active duty following the Kremlin's call-up of reserves last year.
• Ukraine fires six deputy defense ministers in major reshuffle Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- After Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was dismissed earlier this month, the Ukrainian government decided to dismiss six deputy defense ministers on Monday.
• Statement by the Spokesperson Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Sep 2023 -- Responding to media queries on the latest Intercept story alleging sale of Pakistani weapons to Ukraine to get IMF bailout package for Pakistan, the Spokesperson rejected the story as baseless and fabricated. She said: "the IMF Standby Arrangement for Pakistan was successfully negotiated between Pakistan and the IMF to implement difficult but essential economic reforms. Giving any other colour to these negotiations is disingenuous.
• Swiss Air Force to train with U.S. Air Force in Switzerland Federal Council - Swiss Government 18 Sep 2023 -- The Swiss Air Force and the U.S. Air Force will conduct a joint training exercise in Swiss airspace from 18-21 September 2023. The training is part of Switzerland's efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities through international cooperation.
• Australia and Indonesia strengthen defence ties during air combat exercise Australia DOD 18 Sep 2023 -- The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will be deploying six F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Indonesia for the first time, as part of Exercise Elang AUSINDO 23.
• Defence Minister Bill Blair meets with British Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps Canada 18 Sep 2023 -- Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, met with the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps in London.
• Coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag' conducted by Indian Coast Guard along the west coast India PIB 18 Sep 2023 -- 'Operation Sajag', a drill involving all stakeholders of the coastal security construct, was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard along the west coast on September 18, 2023
• Technical failure behind crash of defense system in north Iran IRNA 18 Sep 2023 -- The Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson has announced that the malfunction of a defense system in a city in the north of the country led to the crash of the military system under the test after diverting from its original path.
• 'Sacred Defense consolidated Iran's territorial integrity' IRNA 18 Sep 2023 -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri says no one dares to question Iran's territorial integrity, which he said was consolidated during the Sacred Defense in the face of Iraq's war of aggression.
• Demand for Iranian drones much greater than production: Top general Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- The chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says demand for the purchase of Iran's homegrown sophisticated drones is much greater than the country's production.
• Increased Chinese Military Maneuvers Prompt Japan to Appoint New Defense Personnel VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- China's increasing military manoeuvers near Taiwan and Japan are triggering changes in Japanese government attitudes.
• Exercise Ample Strike: smaller scale, same intensity Czech Republic Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces 18 Sep 2023 -- Called AMSE Lite 2023, this year's edition of the multinational air-land exercise Ample Strike has not been so extensive in terms of the number of trainees, but it does not diminish its importance.
• Southeast Asian nations to begin first ASEAN-only joint drills Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- All 10 ASEAN states will begin a joint military exercise Tuesday in Indonesia, the first time such an event will involve only the bloc's members even as Beijing asserts its sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea.
• Military Leaders of 3 West African Countries Sign a Security Pact VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- The military leaders of three West African countries - Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger - signed a mutual defense pact deal over the weekend.
• Biden Gears Up for UNGA, Central Asia Summit VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- President Joe Biden is in New York ahead of his speech at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, where he will attempt to convince leaders that his vision of American leadership and multilateral approach to foreign policy will help solve the world's most pressing problems.
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the Ministerial Meeting on Atlantic Cooperation US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Resettlement Diplomacy Network Ministerial US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken Before His Meeting with Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad al-Alimi US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Meeting with Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President al-Alimi US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Readout of President Biden's Call with King Mohammed VI of Morocco The White House 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Sept. 18, 2023
• Israel's Elbit Systems to Sell Kamikaze Drones Worth $95Mln to European Country Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- Israel-based international defense electronics company Elbit Systems said on Monday that it had signed a contract worth $95 million with a European country on supplies of SkyStriker loitering munitions.

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 18 September 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Sep 2023
• Taliban urged to uphold Afghan girls' right to education UN News 18 Sep 2023 -- The international community must ensure that every girl in Afghanistan has an opportunity to learn, the head of the UN fund for education in emergencies said on Monday - the second anniversary of the Taliban's edict banning secondary education for girls.
• UN Chief Urges Taliban to Lift 'Unjustifiable' Education Ban on Afghan Girls VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- The United Nations secretary-general Monday renewed his demand for Afghanistan's Taliban to allow teenage girls to attend high school.
• Philippine Coast Guard: China militia destroyed coral in our waters Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday blamed Chinese maritime militia ships for destroying coral reefs in Manila-claimed waters in the South China Sea.
• In meeting with UN envoy, top Saudi diplomat stresses Riyadh's commitment to political solution for Syria Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has underscored the necessity of finding a political solution for Syria, expressing Riyadh's commitment to the stability and territorial integrity of the conflict-ravaged Arab country.
• Myanmar military launches 20 airstrikes during ASEAN Air Chiefs conference Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- Myanmar's military kept up its campaign of airstrikes even during the controversial ASEAN Air Chiefs conference, to which four countries decided not to send a representative. There were 20 air attacks during the three-day event, locals and ethnic armed groups told Radio Free Asia on Monday.
• Ethiopia: Mass killings continue, risk of further 'large-scale' atrocities UN News 18 Sep 2023 -- In Ethiopia, war crimes have continued unabated almost a year after a ceasefire was agreed between the country's Government and forces from the northern Tigray region, UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Monday.
• Ethiopia: Nearly one year after ceasefire, UN experts warn of ongoing atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity OHCHR 18 Sep 2023 -- Nearly one year since the signing of an agreement to cease hostilities in Ethiopia, atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity are still being committed in the country and peace remains elusive, the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia warned in its latest report released today.
• Despite end to conflict, war crimes being committed in Ethiopia: UN Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Experts from the United Nations have warned that despite a peace deal to end violence in Ethiopia, war crimes are still being committed in the African country.
• Over 160 Ethiopian Soldiers Killed by Al-Shabaab Militants in Western Somalia Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- At least 167 Ethiopian soldiers were killed in an ambush by militants of the radical Islamist group Al-Shabaab in western Somalia, the Somali Guardian news portal reported on Sunday, citing the group.
• Tajikistan Summons Kyrgyz Ambassador Over Official's Statement About Disputed Border RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Kyrgyz ambassador to Dushanbe over a statement by the chairman of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee of National Security regarding the disputed border between the Central Asian neighbors.
• Statement on Humanitarian Assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Vital Humanitarian Aid Shipments Delivered To Nagorno-Karabakh RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Vital supplies were delivered on September 18 to Nagorno-Karabakh, the mainly ethnic Armenian breakaway region of Azerbaijan that has effectively been cut off from the outside world for months now.
• Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on humanitarian aid for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Sep 2023
• Activists Reject Sri Lanka's Proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- Human Rights Watch says its report issued Monday documents abuses by the Sri Lankan government that undercut its plans for a truth and reconciliation commission.

News Reports

• Twelfth Meeting of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group Focuses on Countering Hizballah's Global Terrorist, Financial, and Procurement Networks US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023 -- The U.S. Departments of State and Justice led the Law Enforcement Coordination Group (LECG), which convened in Europe on September 12-13 for a regional meeting focused on Hizballah's destabilizing activities in the Western Hemisphere. Governments from across North, South, and Central America participated in this session, along with Israel and Europol.
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Addressing the Public Health and Security Threat of Synthetic Drugs through Global Cooperation Event US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Son of Joaquin Guzman Loera aka "El Chapo" Arraigned on Federal Criminal Charges Following his Extradition from Mexico to the United States for International Drug Trafficking US Dept. of Justice 18 Sep 2023 -- Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 33, of Culiacan, Mexico, was arraigned in federal court in Chicago today after his extradition from Mexico to the United States on Sept. 15. In January, Guzman Lopez was arrested in Mexico pursuant to a U.S. request for his provisional arrest with a view toward extradition.
• Foreign National Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face International Cocaine and Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges US Dept. of Justice 18 Sep 2023 -- A Mexican national made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today to face international cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking and weapons charges.
• UN General Assembly adopts declaration to accelerate SDGs UN News 18 Sep 2023 -- Now is the time for a global plan to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are woefully off-track halfway towards their 2030 deadline, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday in New York.
• Secretary-General's remarks to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development UN Secretary-General 18 Sep 2023
• Meeting on draft federal budget for 2024-2026 President of Russia 18 Sep 2023 -- The President held a videoconference meeting on the federal budget for 2024 and for the 2024-2026 planning period.
• Russia's Economy Recovers, Country Withstands Sanctions Pressure - Putin Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- The Russian economy has recovered, and the country has successfully withstood sanctions pressure, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi, Moscow, September 18, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Sep 2023
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's talks with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Sep 2023
• Foreign Ministry statement on Russia's withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Sep 2023
• Russian International Money Launderer Arrested for Illicitly Procuring Large Quantities of U.S.-Manufactured Dual-Use Military Grade Microelectronics for Russian Elites US Dept. of Justice 18 Sep 2023 -- Maxim Marchenko, 51, a Russian citizen who has resided in Hong Kong, was charged today in connection with conspiring to defraud the United States and with smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering offenses based on his alleged participation in a scheme to unlawfully procure U.S.-sourced, dual-use microelectronics with military applications on behalf of end users in Russia.
• Moscow slams European Union's 'absurd' travel restrictions against Russians Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Moscow has denounced the European Union for enforcing a set of restrictions on Russians seeking to travel to the 27-nation bloc, describing the move as absurd.
• Russian Gorchakov Fund, Sanctioned By The EU, Holds Conference In Republika Srpska RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- The Russian state-financed Aleksandr Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, which was sanctioned by the West for its ties to the Kremlin, will hold a conference in Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• Renewed anti-espionage efforts to encourage public to safeguard national security, not a witch hunt against foreign entities in China: experts Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- Since the new Counter-Espionage Law was enacted in July, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), whose work is usually classified and covert, is now stepping into the public limelight as the top national security authority announced a slew of detailed espionage cases over the last two months, as part of ratcheted up efforts to crack down on espionage.
• EU-China: Commission and China hold second High-level Digital Dialogue European Commission 18 Sep 2023 -- Today, the Commission held its second High-level Digital Dialogue with China. Co-chaired by Vera Jourova, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, and Vice-Premier of China, Zhang Guoqing, this dialogue hosted in Beijing covered key issues such as platforms and data regulation, Artificial Intelligence, research and innovation, cross-border flow of industrial data, or the safety of products sold online.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on September 18, 2023 PRC MofA 18 Sep 2023
• Top US Diplomat Meets Chinese VP at UN VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- Leaders and top officials from around the world were arriving at the United Nations Monday in advance of the annual General Assembly session, providing opportunities for high-level contacts between allies and rivals alike.
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with People's Republic of China (PRC) Vice President Han Zheng US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and People's Republic of China Vice President Han Zheng before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023
• Senior Chinese official Wang Yi meets U.S. Sullivan People's Daily 18 Sep 2023 -- Senior Chinese and U.S. officials held multiple rounds of meetings in Malta on Saturday and Sunday, agreeing to maintain high-level exchanges and hold consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs, maritime affairs as well as foreign policies.
• China, US continue high-level engagement momentum Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- Momentum on high-level engagement between the US and China is being maintained as senior Chinese and US officials held multiple rounds of meetings in Malta over the weekend, serving as candid, substantive and constructive strategic communication on stabilizing and improving bilateral relations. Some experts believed that the latest interaction opens possibilities for future interactions between the heads of state of the two countries after Washington made some tactical adjustments in engaging with China by showing some positive gesture and enhancing communication.
• Wang-Sullivan talks last more than 12 hours; Taiwan question takes up longest time, Chinese FM official told GT Global Times 18 Sep 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 held multiple rounds of meetings in Malta from Saturday and Sunday. A senior official from Chinese ministry of foreign affairs who participated in the talks told the Global Times that the two sides held multiple discussions on topics including China-US relations, Taiwan, the Asia-Pacific situation, and the Ukraine crisis, for over 12 hours. The talks were candid, substantive and constructive.
• US in no position to point finger at China's counter-narcotics efforts: Chinese FM Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- China has made serious démarches to the US and strongly opposed its so-called "designation," which has no basis in facts and is a malicious smear against China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at Monday's routine press briefing, in response to the latest designation submitted to the US Congress in which US President Joe Biden identified China as a "major drug source country."
• Chinese, Russian Diplomats Open Talks in Moscow VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- China's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, hailed his country's "strategic cooperation" with Russia as he opened talks Monday in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and other officials.
• Chinese top diplomat to start strategic security talks in Russia; channel vital to smooth high-level exchanges, ensuring mutual support Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday began his four-day trip to Russia to attend the 18th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation, with a range of bilateral and multilateral issues related to security expected to be discussed, following his two-day meeting with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Malta over the weekend.
• China FM heads to Russia after meeting with US national security adviser Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi heads to Russia to hold security talks in Moscow after meeting with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
• China's Wang Yi heads to Russia as North Korea's Kim wraps up visit Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday began a four-day trip to Russia during which both sides could shore up their strategic ties, a day after Beijing's ally and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un concluded a six-day visit to Russia's Far East.
• China, Russia Bear Special Responsibility for Global Strategic Stability - Wang Yi Sputnik 18 Sep 2023 -- Russia and China bear special responsibility for maintaining strategic stability in the world, with their bilateral cooperation not aimed against anyone, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
• Beijing's envoy warns Hong Kong police graduates of 'hostile forces' Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- China's envoy to Hong Kong has reviewed a police graduation ceremony for the first time, warning new officers of 'hostile foreign forces' trying to make a comeback, a sign that analysts said shows that Beijing is now firmly in control when it comes to security matters.
• State security police guard dissident sculptor in Beijing hospital Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- Prominent Chinese dissident and performance artist Yan Zhengxue is unconscious in the hospital under heavy guard by state security police, Radio Free Asia has learned.
• As China slows, Southeast Asian economies face woes Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- Concerns over China's real-estate sector have grown to anxiety over the country's overall economic health and the viability of its investment-led development model. Nowhere have those concerns reverberated more than in Southeast Asia.
• G77+China summit concludes with emphasis on empowering Global South Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- The two-day Summit of the Group of 77 (G77) and China concluded on Saturday with a call for more participation and say of the Global South in the global governance system.
• Taiwan reports record number of military incursions, urges China to stop 'harassment' CNA 18 Sep 2023 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Monday called for China to immediately halt its "unilateral military harassment," after a record 103 Chinese military aircraft were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period that ended earlier in the day.
• Over 100 PLA warplanes set new record in drill around Taiwan island Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- A record-breaking more than 100 aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) were spotted around the island of Taiwan within 24 hours on Sunday and Monday. The sightings, which came after 20 PLA vessels, also broke their respective record last week. Experts say this shows that PLA exercises around the Taiwan island have reached a new level.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Sep. 18, 2023 ROC MND 18 Sep 2023
• Top diplomat Wang Yi meets with US' Sullivan, emphasizing Taiwan question as 'the first red line' Global Times 18 Sep 2023 -- Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on Sunday held several rounds of meetings in Malta with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
• Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Various Objects in Vladivostok of Russia KCNA 18 Sep 2023 -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), visited Far Eastern Federal University, the Maritime Territorial Aquarium and the Arnika Bio-Feed Mill on September 17.
• Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Concludes His Visit to Russian Federation KCNA 18 Sep 2023 -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), left Vladivostok City on September 17 after successfully completing the schedule of his official goodwill visit to the Russian Federation.
• Joint Statement on Iran's De-Designation of Experienced IAEA Inspectors - September 2023 UK FCDO 18 Sep 2023 -- France, Germany, the UK and the US have issued a joint statement following Iran's decision to withdraw the designation of several IAEA inspectors.
• Iran, US Complete Prisoner Swap VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- The United States and Iran on Monday carried out a high-stakes prisoner swap that included freeing five Americans the U.S. government says were unjustly detained by the Tehran government.
• Uncertainties Emerge in Statuses of 3 Iranians Granted Clemency by US in Prisoner Exchange VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- As Washington and Tehran implemented a prisoner exchange Monday, new details emerged about the status of three of the five Iranians who were granted clemency by Washington and remained on U.S. soil as the prisoner transfers got underway.
• Statement from President Joe Biden on the Return of American Detainees from Iran The White House 18 Sep 2023
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on the Return of American Detainees from Iran The White House 18 Sep 2023
• Treasury Designates Former President of Iran US Treasury 18 Sep 2023 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, for having provided material support to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), an entity concurrently designated by the Department of State. These actions are being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14078, "Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained U.S. Nationals Home," which expands the tools available to deter and impose tangible consequences on those responsible for, or complicit in, hostage-taking or the wrongful detention of a United States national abroad.
• Designating Iranian Persons Connected to Wrongful Detentions US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023 -- "While we celebrate the release of Emad Shargi, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other U.S. citizens from their unjust detention in Iran, we are also taking action to hold the regime accountable for its abhorrent practice of unjustly detaining other countries' citizens and to deter future wrongful detention by Iran and other regimes."
• On Iran's Release of Unjustly Detained U.S. Citizens US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2023 -- Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other U.S. citizens who wish to remain private have departed Iran and are on their way back to the United States to be reunited with their families.
• U.S. Prisoners Fly Out Of Tehran As Part Of Prisoner Swap RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Five U.S. detainees flew out of Iran on September 18 as part of a swap between the United States and Iran after months of talks to clinch a deal.
• Five Iranians held in US prisons to be released Monday: Rights official Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Five Iranians held in US prisons for years will be released on Monday and two of them will arrive in Tehran via the Qatari capital, secretary general of Iran's High Council for Human Rights Kazem Gharibabadi says.
• Prisoner swap with US merely humanitarian measure: Raisi IRNA 19 Sep 2023 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the prisoner swap that took place between Iran and the US was purely done on humanitarian grounds, adding that Tehran and Washington could have conducted their prisoner swap sooner if the American officials had not made miscalculations.
• Iran's President Raeisi: Prisoner swap with US purely humanitarian measure Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says the prisoner swap that took place between Iran and the United States was purely carried out on humanitarian grounds.
• Foreign ministry releases statement on frozen Iranian assets in South Korea, exchange of prisoners IRNA 19 Sep 2023 -- The Iranian foreign ministry in a statement announced that the freed financial resources are available to the Central Bank of Iran, and deemed the US government's policy in preventing Iran from having free and legitimate access to its financial resources in other countries as illegal and inhumane.
• Chief banker confirms deposit of some $6 billion in unfrozen funds into Iran accounts in Qatar Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Central Bank of Iran Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin has confirmed that the Islamic Republic's released funds totaling some $6 billion have now been transferred to Qatari banks.
• '€5.573bn of Iran's blocked assets wired into 6 Iranian accounts' IRNA 18 Sep 2023 -- The governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), Mohammad-Reza Farzin, has announced that €5.573 billion from Iran's blocked assets have been deposited into six Iranian bank accounts in two Qatari banks.
• Iran to receive frozen funds on Monday: FM spox IRNA 18 Sep 2023 -- Iran expects to receive on Monday all of its assets frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.
• Foreign Ministry: US preventing Iran's access to foreign financial resources illegal, inhumane Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry has slammed different American administrations for barring the Islamic Republic's access to its foreign assets in other countries, describing the move as both illegal and inhumane.
• Iran to access assets frozen in South Korea as of Monday: FM spox Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Iran's frozen funds in South Korea, worth nearly $6 billion, will be fully accessible to the Iranian government as of Monday, says Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani.
• Iranian President Raeisi in New York for UN General Assembly session, key talks Press TV 18 Sep 2023 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has arrived in New York to take part in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and hold key talks with senior officials attending the event.
• Iranian Cinematographer Among Those Detained Trying To Mark Amini's Death RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Cinematographer Leila Naghdipari was one of hundreds of Iranians arrested over the weekend for attempting to mark the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody for allegedly breaking the country's mandatory head-scarf rule.
• Iran Again Threatens Persian-Language Media Abroad RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib has issued a stark warning to Persian-language media outlets operating outside of Iran, saying that support from other countries will not deter Tehran from "aggressive" actions against them.
• Kurdish armed groups handed over heavy weapons, will be relocated to camps: Iraq's foreign minister Press TV 19 Sep 2023 -- Iraq's foreign minister says Kurdish armed groups along the border with Iran have handed over their heavy weaponry as the deadline for their disarmament and relocation approaches based on a security deal between Tehran and Baghdad.
• READOUT: Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson's Meeting with Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani US Treasury 18 Sep 2023
• Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Welcoming Constructive Dialogue Between The Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government The White House 18 Sep 2023
• Junta ambassador asks China to share advanced nuclear technology Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- The Myanmar junta's ambassador to Beijing asked Chinese officials at a weekend ASEAN forum to share advanced nuclear technology, according to a statement from the junta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Netanyahu Prepares for Much-Anticipated Meeting With Biden VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the U.S. Monday for a meeting later in the week with President Joe Biden amid unprecedented demonstrations in Israel against a planned overhaul of Israel's judicial system. Also on the agenda is a possible U.S.-brokered deal for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
• Libya floods aftermath: Response continues amid the wreckage UN News 18 Sep 2023 -- UN teams are working tirelessly to deliver vital assistance to communities devastated by the unprecedented floods that hit eastern Libya.
• Statement from President Joe Biden Announcing Additional Humanitarian Support to Libya After Floods The White House 18 Sep 2023
• "We are pleased with the development of our cooperation with the U.S." Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 18 Sep 2023 -- Speaking at a meeting with think tank representatives in the U.S., President Erdoğan said: "We are pleased with the development of our cooperation with the U.S."
• "The Turkish-US relations improve each passing day" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 18 Sep 2023 -- Speaking at the dinner held by the Turkish American National Steering Committee in New York, President Erdoğan said: "The Turkish-US relations improve each passing day. Our bilateral trade volume reached a record high last year, having exceeded 32 billion dollars. We will further enhance our cooperation on the basis of common interests in the upcoming period."
• Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Sep 2023 -- Check against delivery!
• Malaysia to double palm oil exports to China amid EU restrictions Radio Free Asia 18 Sep 2023 -- Malaysia's deal to double palm oil exports to China annually is a move to offset potential revenue losses from the European Union's ban on commodities that are linked to deforestation, analysts said on Monday.
• Wider Europe Briefing: What Von Der Leyen's Big Speech Means For Ukraine And Other EU Hopefuls RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023
• 'It's Like The Army': Strict Rules For Workers At Chinese Mining Company In Serbia Spark Backlash RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Strict new rules enforced at a Chinese-operated mine in eastern Serbia have sparked controversy and pushback in the Balkan country over concerns that the company is violating local labor laws.
• Another Karakalpak Activist Facing Extradition To Uzbekistan Released From Kazakh Detention RFE/RL 18 Sep 2023 -- Kazakh authorities have released from detention another Karakalpak activist who faces extradition to Uzbekistan, where supporters say she would be at serious risk of politically motivated prosecution and torture over last year's mass protests in Uzbekistan's Karakalpakstan region.
• Can Civil Society and Private Organizations Combat Russian Propaganda in Africa? VOA 18 Sep 2023 -- As Russia makes significant gains in its disinformation campaigns in Africa, experts say civil society groups and private organizations may hold the key to counter such propaganda.