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News Reports

Current Operations

• US Shoots Down Turkish Drone Over Syria VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- U.S. F-16 fighter jets shot an armed Turkish drone out of the skies Thursday over northeastern Syria after the drone flew too close to U.S. troops on the ground.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler DoD 05 Oct 2023
• After U.S. Downs Turkish Drone in Syria, Focus Remains on Defeat ISIS Mission DoD News 05 Oct 2023 -- An American F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle that had been observed conducting airstrikes in a U.S.-restricted operating zone about a kilometer from U.S. forces in Syria today.
• Officials say US downed Turkish drone after allies targeted Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- Officials say the US shot down an armed Turkish drone operating near its troops in Syria, the first time Washington has brought down an aircraft of NATO ally.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds an On-Camera Press Briefing DoD 05 Oct 2023
• GRFCSG Strengthens Interoperability with Italy US Navy 05 Oct 2023 -- The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) concluded a series of high-end training events with Italian naval forces in the Ionian Sea, Oct. 4, 2023, to increase interoperability as NATO allies and strengthen regional stability in the Mediterranean region.
• Army making significant strides in artillery production as fiscal year ends US Army 05 Oct 2023 -- The U.S. Army awarded contracts worth $1.5 billion in the last two weeks of September to increase production capacity and inventory of 155-mm artillery munitions. Each artillery round is assembled from components manufactured across the country, including the projectile or case, bulk energetics, propellant, primer and a fuze. The awards resourced each major component, material or required production process to maintain momentum for the goal of 80,000 projectiles per month by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025.
• SETAF-AF and North Dakota NG highlight National Guard SPPs in Africa Army News 05 Oct 2023 -- The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) will co-host a Warriors Corner presentation titled 'State Partnership Program: Twenty Years of Making a Difference in Africa' during the Association of the United States Army's Annual Meeting and Exposition Oct. 9-11 in Washington, D.C.
• Vermont Guard Partner North Macedonia Hosts Adriatic Conference Army News 05 Oct 2023 -- U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont adjutant general, and leaders from other U.S. states joined their partner nation chiefs of defense for the 26th U.S.-Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference in Skopje Sept. 27.
• Iowa Guard, Kosovo Partners Train in HAZMAT Exercise Army News 05 Oct 2023 -- The 71st Civil Support Team and two dozen members of the Kosovo Security Force trained together in a hazardous materials exercise in September.
• Remarks by Assistant Secretary Ely Ratner at Center for Strategic and International Studies Conference on "China's Power: Up for Debate 2023" DoD 05 Oct 2023
• DOD Remains Focused on Deterring Conflict in Indo-Pacific DoD News 05 Oct 2023 -- The U.S. remains fully committed to its strategy of integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific while keeping a close eye on China's provocations in the region, a senior Pentagon official said today.
• Forging the Future: How Advanced Manufacturing Is Revolutionizing Marine Corps Logistics USMC News 05 Oct 2023 -- As the United States Marine Corps continues to execute its strategic shift towards the Indo-Pacific, the importance of overcoming the logistical challenges of the modern battlefield has become increasingly evident. At the vanguard of this transformative landscape, Marine Corps Systems Command's Advanced Manufacturing Systems team, or AMS team, is innovating to overcome the logistical challenges of the modern battlefield.
• Energy Action Month highlights the critical role energy plays in strategic competition US Air Force 05 Oct 2023 -- In recognition of Energy Action Month, the Department of the Air Force is showcasing energy's critical role in great power competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific Region.
• Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie completes first flight USMC News Release 05 Oct 2023 -- The Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle successfully completed its first test flight October 3, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
• GRFCSG Strengthens Interoperability with Italy US Navy 05 Oct 2023 -- The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) concluded a series of high-end training events with Italian naval forces in the Ionian Sea, Oct. 4, 2023, to increase interoperability as NATO allies and strengthen regional stability in the Mediterranean region.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg DoD 05 Oct 2023
• NATO Allies and partners address Small Arms and Light Weapons control in Jordan NATO 05 Oct 2023 -- NATO and partner country Jordan co-hosted a conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control in Amman on 3 and 4 October 2023. The event was the first of its kind on SALW organised with partner countries, as part of NATO's defence and related security capacity building package for Jordan.
• Tbilisi Condemns Moscow's Reported Plan To Establish Naval Base In Breakaway Abkhazia RFE/RL 05 Oct 2023 -- Georgia's Foreign Ministry has condemned reports that Russia plans to establish a naval base in the breakaway region of Abkhazia, calling it a "blatant violation" of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Russian Navy to Create Permanent Base in Abkhazia Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- A permanent base for Russian naval forces will be created in Ochamchire bay in Abkhazia, and the corresponding agreement has already been signed, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania said on Thursday.
• Russia Sets Up Security Council Commission to Counter Modern Biosecurity Threats - Decree Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the establishment of an interdepartmental commission of Russia's Security Council to counter modern threats to biological security, which will take over the tasks of a now-disbanded commission that dealt with the creation of a national system for protection from new infections.
• Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin meets with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Myanmar to Russia U Lwin Oo Russia MoD 05 Oct 2023 -- The Deputy Head of the Russian Defence Ministry congratulated U Lwin Oo on his appointment as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and thanked him for his substantial contribution to the development of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation during his leadership of the Myanmar diplomatic mission in Moscow.
• Russian Defence Minister General of the Army holds meeting at Joint Group of Forces Headquarters Russia MoD 05 Oct 2023 -- At the end of the meeting, the head of the military department drew attention to the issues of organisation and provision of combat training for servicemen and volunteers in reserve units.
• Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspect organisation of combat training of servicemen and volunteers at Southern MD's firing ranges Russia MoD 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspected organisation of combat training of contract servicemen and BARS units volunteers at Southern MD's firing ranges.
• All Instructors in Russian Armed Forces Have Combat Experience - Shoigu Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- All instructors in units of the Russian Armed Forces have combat experience, and there are also those who have returned to service after being wounded, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
• We have strong solutions for strengthening Ukrainian Armed Forces - Volodymyr Zelenskyy after European Political Community Summit President of Ukraine 05 Oct 2023
• Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed Forces US Dept. of Justice 05 Oct 2023 -- On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement.
• Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise commences in South East Asia Australia DOD 05 Oct 2023 -- Australia has commenced its contribution to Exercise Bersama Lima 2023 with the exercise opening in Malaysia yesterday.
• Thirst for knowledge in Bangladesh visit Australia DOD 05 Oct 2023 -- Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) returned to Bangladesh in September with a range of engagement activities that broadened and deepened defence relationships following the ADF's inaugural IPE visit to the country last year.
• Supers in Singapore Australia DOD 05 Oct 2023 -- At the invitation of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), 1 Squadron deployed F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and supporting personnel to the country last month, operating from Changi East Air Base.
• Iran among top powers in homegrown drone technology: Cmdr. IRNA 05 Oct 2023 -- Deputy Chief of the Iranian Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has emphasized that Iran is one of the world's leading drone powers.
• Japan's quickened procurement of Tomahawks from US could backfire if used to target other countries' homeland, say Chinese military experts Global Times 05 Oct 2023 -- Japan will start procuring Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US in fiscal year 2025, a year earlier than initially planned, Japan's defense minister Minoru Kihara announced on Wednesday at a press event in Washington after holding his first face-to-face talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin, the Kyodo News reported.
• Japan Reportedly Fast-Tracking Purchase of US Tomahawk Missiles As It Boosts Military Reserves Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- Despite Japan being constitutionally opposed to war, with an official pledge that its armed forces' role should be purely one of self-defense, Tokyo, under Western influence, has been on a military spending spree of late, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowing to boost defense spending by about 60 percent over the next five years.
• OSCE supports visit to an air base and military facility in Kazakhstan under Vienna Document 2011 OSCE 05 Oct 2023 -- On 3 and 4 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana together with the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan supported a visit of representatives from the verification centres of 25 OSCE participating States to the 604th Air Base and 37th Air Assault Brigade in Taldykorgan city.
• Servicemen of Russian grouping of forces in Syria organise joint comprehensive drills with Syrian special forces units Russia MoD 05 Oct 2023 -- The Syrian Arab Army 25th Special Forces Division undergo joint comprehensive airborne drills under supervision of Russian instructors.
• First two Slovak Air Force pilots return to Slovakia after completing F-16 conversion training in U.S. Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 05 Oct 2023 -- The first two Slovak Air Force pilots completed their conversion training on the F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in the U.S. at the end of this summer.
• Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis: "Germany's decision to permanently deploy a brigade in Lithuania is a true example of Zeitenwende" Lithuania MFA 05 Oct 2023 -- On 5 October, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis met with the Prime Minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst, to discuss the importance of security issues in Central and Eastern Europe and the role of Lithuania and Germany in supporting Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.
• UN and Red Cross call for restrictions on autonomous weapon systems to protect humanity UN News 05 Oct 2023 -- The UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are calling on political leaders to urgently establish new international rules on autonomous weapon systems, to protect humanity.
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Mexican President López Obrador US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland, White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, Mexican Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection Rosa Icela Rodriguez Velázquez, And Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena At a Joint Press Availability US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2023
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre The White House 05 Oct 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Oct. 5, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 5 October 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 05 Oct 2023
• Pakistani, Afghan FMs meet amid growing tensions over deportation of refugees Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan have met in Tibet at a time when relations between the two countries have hit a new low.
• Pakistan Turns Up Heat Over Cross-Border Attacks VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- A senior Pakistani diplomat said Thursday that while the Taliban had brought peace and security to Afghanistan, increased terrorist attacks from the neighboring country threatened stability in Pakistan, putting strains on an already difficult bilateral relationship.
• Syria: Deadly military academy attack 'horrific reminder' of need to de-escalate UN News 05 Oct 2023 -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Thursday appealed for restraint following a deadly drone attack on a military graduation ceremony in Homs, and amid rising violence in the war-ravaged country.
• Scores of Syrians Killed, Hurt in Drone Strike on Army Graduation Ceremony VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- Scores of Syrians were killed or wounded Thursday when drones struck a graduation ceremony for army officers in Homs, according to reports by a war monitoring organization and a statement from Syria's defense ministry. It was unclear who was responsible for the carnage.
• Terrorist attack on Syria military academy IRNA 05 Oct 2023 -- A terrorist drone attack on a graduation ceremony of Syrian officers left at least seven killed and several others injured.
• Drone attack on Syrian military academy kills scores in Homs Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- A drone attack on a Syrian military academy in the country's western city of Homs has killed scores of people and left many others wounded.
• Drone Attack on Syrian Military College Kills at Least 80 People - Health Ministry Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- A drone attack on a military college in the city of Homs in western Syria on Thursday killed at least 80 people and injured approximately 240 others, Syrian Health Minister Hassan Muhammad Al-Ghabash said.
• Lebanon Reacts to Surge in Migration from Syria VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- Lebanon is pushing back on the European Union's calls for the country to assist migrants and refugees from Syria. There are growing concerns that Lebanon's collapsing economy is fueling anti-immigrant sentiment and putting the country on a dangerous course.
• Thousands flee Sagaing region townships after Myanmar junta raids Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- Almost 5,000 people have fled their homes after two days of raids on villages in Sagaing region's Salingyi township, locals told RFA on Thursday.
• Kachin rebels press villagers to move to make way for jade mining Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- Ethnic Kachin rebels are pressuring more than 600 people to move out of a village so they can take over gold and jade mining in the area to fund their fight against Myanmar's ruling junta, residents told Radio Free Asia.
• European Leaders Offer 'Unwavering Support' For Armenia, Invite Rival Leaders For Talks RFE/RL 05 Oct 2023 -- The leaders of France, Germany, and the EU expressed their "unwavering support" to Armenia as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian stepped up his diplomatic push at a European summit in Spain, even as Yerevan and Baku traded accusations of attacks on each other's forces near border regions.
• Human Rights Watch Calls for Reintegrating Armenians Into Nagorno-Karabakh VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- Human Rights Watch has called on governments working the facilitate peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh region to ensure the right of ethnic Armenians to return to the region.
• Karabakh crisis: UN response continues UN News 05 Oct 2023 -- UN teams on the ground in Armenia are providing vital support to help address the needs of over 100,000 refugees who recently fled the Karabakh region.
• No: 245, 5 October 2023, Press Release Regarding the Resolution Titled "On the Situation in 'Nagorno-Karabakh' after Azerbaijan's Attack and the Continuing Threats Against Armenia" Adopted by the European Parliament Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Oct 2023 -- The non-binding resolution titled "On the situation in 'Nagorno-Karabakh' after Azerbaijan's attack and the continuing threats against Armenia" adopted by the European Parliament (EP) today (5 October) is a symbol of irresponsibility, prejudice, bias and ignorance.
• Azerbaijan says detains separatist president of Nagorno-Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- Azerbaijan has confirmed that it has detained Arayik Harutyunyan, former president of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, while Armenia denounced the move.
• Iran FM urges enhanced cooperation for promotion of peace, economic development in Caucasus Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says regional countries should open a new chapter in their ties aimed at promoting peace and economic development in the Caucasus region.
• Statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Michel of the European Council, President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany. Élysée - President of France 05 Oct 2023 -- The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz underlined their unwavering support to the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of Armenia.
• Joint Statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, 5 October 2023 European Commission 05 Oct 2023
• Concern regarding situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia: UK statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 05 Oct 2023 -- Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown says the UK remains seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and significant refugee flows into Armenia.
• Sudan conflict creates world's fastest-growing displacement crisis: UN aid official UN News 05 Oct 2023 -- As heavy fighting continues in Sudan, the UN's top aid official in the country warned on Thursday that the conflict has created "the world's fastest-growing displacement crisis" which threatens to outstrip the Organization's best efforts to help those most in need.
• Killing of displaced civilians is unacceptable - Statement by Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan UNOCHA 05 Oct 2023
• Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Ms.Clementine Nkweta-Salami UNOCHA 05 Oct 2023
• UN Accuses South Sudan Government of Widespread Rights Abuses VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is accusing the government of suppressing opposition voices, restricting media freedom, and interfering with civil society. The commission says these violations weaken the country's accountability and democratic process. The commission blamed South Sudan's intelligence agency for violating human rights and meddling with people's lives, employing tactics reminiscent of the methods used by Sudan's security agencies against the South prior to its secession.
• South Sudan: UN Inquiry's report finds that entrenched repression imperils prospects for peace, human rights and credible elections OHCHR 05 Oct 2023 -- As South Sudan considers the prospect of national elections in December 2024, its Government must urgently cease unlawful media censorship, end intolerable restrictions on civic and political activities, and halt attacks on journalists and human rights defenders, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said in a new report today.

News Reports

• Soft power billions seek 'consent' Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- Amid ongoing efforts by the Taiwanese authorities to stem a roiling tide of Chinese money and disinformation aimed at influencing Taiwan's January presidential elections, the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office on Tuesday indicted members of the Taiwan People's Communist Party.
• Biden Says He Can't Stop New Border Barrier Plan VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- President Joe Biden said Thursday he was unable to legally divert money away from a plan to build several miles of new barriers along the southern border - directly contradicting his campaign vow to build "not another foot of wall" and drawing harsh criticism from Mexico's president.
• Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue Joint Press Availability US Dept. of Justice 05 Oct 2023
• Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Opening Remarks at the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue US Dept. of Justice 05 Oct 2023
• Remarks by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson at the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue US Treasury 05 Oct 2023
• Biden Insists Walls Don't Work as DHS Reverses Course on Trump's Border Barrier Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- Biden nixed finishing construction on his predecessor's signature border wall immediately after coming into office in January 2021, sparking a historically unprecedented wave of illegal immigration into the US via the southern border with Mexico.
• Valdai International Discussion Club meeting President of Russia 05 Oct 2023 -- Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the 20th anniversary meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
• G7 Nations Seek Ban on Russian Diamonds VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- The G7 group of industrialized nations is expected to ban diamonds mined in Russia, the world's biggest producer, following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.
• Putin's Valdai Speech: Multipolar Future Has Arrived and Russia is Here to Stay Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- The multipolar world that Russian President Vladimir Putin has referred to over the past several years has finally taken shape, international observers told Sputnik.
• Putin Tells Valdai Discussion Club Goal Is Creation of 'New World' Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the plenary session of the 20th meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi.
• Statement by Vladimir Yermakov, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at the General Debate in the First Committee of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, New York, 4 October 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Oct 2023
• Iran is 'strategic partner' of Russia: Senior Duma official IRNA 05 Oct 2023 -- Senior member of the Russian State Duma, Maxim Topilin, has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the "strategic partner" of Russia.
• Putin says Russia relations with Iran 'very good' IRNA 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has described his country's relations with Iran as "very good", and said that Moscow will make every effort to enhance the ties.
• Putin lauds relations with Iran as 'very good', voices Russia's determination to further develop bilateral ties Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin lauds relations with Iran as "very good," voicing Moscow's determination to further develop ties with Tehran.
• Putin: Hand Grenades on Board May Have Downed Prigozhin Plane VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Thursday that the detonation of hand grenades inside the aircraft, not a missile attack, caused the August plane crash that killed Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
• China launches new remote sensing satellite People's Daily 05 Oct 2023 -- China on Thursday successfully launched a new remote sensing satellite into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
• China-US ties show positive signs despite severe challenges: Chinese Ambassador to the US Global Times 05 Oct 2023 -- China-US relations have recently shown some positive signs of stabilizing under the joint efforts of both sides, despite bilateral ties still facing serious difficulties and severe challenges, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng said when meeting with a delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai).
• China bans Mongolian-medium classes, cuts language hours in schools Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- Chinese authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia have cut the number of weekly Mongolian language classes from schools across the region, Radio Free Asia has learned.
• Xi congratulates Muizzu on election as Maldives president People's Daily 05 Oct 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Mohamed Muizzu on his election as president of the Maldives.
• US Warns China Cost for Blockading Taiwan to Be 'Very High' VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- The United States is casting doubt on China's willingness to launch a blockade of Taiwan as part of any effort by Beijing to take the island by force.
• China space rocket 'near' Taiwan ADIZ no cause for alarm: MND CNA 05 Oct 2023 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Thursday said that a Chinese space rocket detected passing "near" Taiwan's air defense identification zone (AIDZ) did not pose a threat to national security.
• MOEA begins probe into 4 firms accused of helping Huawei build IC plants CNA 05 Oct 2023 -- The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has begun an investigation into four Taiwanese companies which were accused in a Bloomberg report of helping China's Huawei Technologies Co. build semiconductor plants to determine whether they have been involved in illegal business activities.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Oct. 5, 2023 ROC MND 05 Oct 2023
• Seoul, Tokyo reopen strategic diplomatic channels amid nuke threats Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- The foreign ministries of South Korea and Japan held their first "strategic dialogue" in nine years, and agreed to strengthen ties to deal with the common threat of Pyongyang's nuclear provocations, a development indicating that the bilateral collaboration is extending beyond the military, finance to diplomacy.
• S Korean spy agency warns shipbuilders of N Korean hacking attempts Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- South Korea's spy agency announced late Wednesday that it has identified numerous instances where North Korean hacking groups targeted key shipbuilding firms in the South. This is seen as an attempt by the North to bolster its naval capabilities, potentially deepening the existing tensions between the two Koreas.
• Iran pillar of stability, security in region: FM Amirabdollahian IRNA 05 Oct 2023 -- Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs has underscored that despite enemies' hybrid warfare to induce insecurity in the Islamic country and tarnish the image of the strong guardians of security, the Islamic Republic continues to be the pillar of stability and security in the West Asia region.
• South Pars Phase 11 inauguration ended 22-year procrastination: MP IRNA 05 Oct 2023 -- Iranian Member of Parliament Alireza Abbasi has hailed the recent inauguration of Phase 11 of the South Pars Gas Field in the Persian Gulf, saying that the move put an end to 22-year "procrastination" by foreign contractors.
• Classmates Of Hospitalized Iranian Teen Reportedly Under Pressure, Mother Detained RFE/RL 05 Oct 2023 -- An Iranian labor group says teachers and classmates of Armita Garavand, a high-school student reportedly in a coma after being assaulted by morality police for not wearing the mandatory head scarf, are being pressured and threatened by security authorities for commenting on the situation surrounding the 16-year-old.
• Rights Group: Iran Police Arrest Mother of Hospitalized Teenager VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- An Iranian rights group says authorities have detained the mother of a teenage girl who remains hospitalized following what activists call a confrontation with police for not wearing a hijab.
• IAEA Confirms Tritium Level Far Below Japan's Operational Limit in Second Batch of ALPS Treated Water Released Today IAEA 05 Oct 2023 -- The tritium concentration in the second batch of diluted ALPS treated water, which Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) started discharging today, is far below the country's operational limit, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at the site confirmed.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on Japan's Start of Second Round of Ocean Discharge of Fukushima Nuclear-contaminated Water PRC MofA 05 Oct 2023
• Japan starts 2nd release of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into ocean despite protest People's Daily 05 Oct 2023 -- Japan on Thursday started the second round of release of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.
• China bashes Japan press for hyping inbound Chinese tourist figures Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- As Japan releases the second batch of treated radioactive water from Fukushima, Chinese state media and social media users have lashed out at the Japanese press for inflating Chinese tourist numbers during the Golden Week holidays, a move seen as Beijing's way to exert political pressure on Japan.
• Japan to Start Releasing Second Batch of Fukushima Water on Thursday Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- Japan will begin releasing the second batch of radioactive water into the ocean from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Thursday.
• US senators express concern over Saudi security demands for possible normalization with Israel Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- A group of US senators have expressed concern over the security guarantees Saudi Arabia is reportedly demanding from Washington in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel.
• Junta enlists China in changing Myanmar IDs to biometric smart cards Radio Free Asia 05 Oct 2023 -- Myanmar's junta is updating the country's antiquated paper identification system with smart electronic cards and asking China - no stranger to keeping tabs on its citizens - for technical assistance.
• PM meeting with the Prime Minister of Albania: 5 October 2023 Gov.UK 05 Oct 2023
• PM meeting with the Irish Taoiseach: 5 October 2023 Gov.UK 05 Oct 2023
• PM meeting with Chancellor Scholz of Germany: 5 October 2023 Gov.UK 05 Oct 2023
• Transcript of the Weekly Media Briefing by the Spokesperson Thursday 5 October 2023 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Oct 2023
• Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (October 05, 2023) India MEA 05 Oct 2023
• High-Profile Kazakhs Linked To Road-Project Corruption Escaping Prosecution, Investigation Finds RFE/RL 05 Oct 2023 -- The bumpy highway between the dusty Kazakh towns of Qalbatau and Maiqapshaghai in the remote province of East Kazakhstan has been under construction for six years.
• Guatemala: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the situation after elections EC/CEU 05 Oct 2023 -- The European Union (EU) has been closely following developments in Guatemala since the second round of the Presidential election held on 20 August.
• European Political Community: Press remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell before the meeting in Granada European External Action Service (EEAS) 05 Oct 2023 -- Check against delivery!
• The Foreign Minister underlines the importance of objectives set out in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Latvia MFA 05 Oct 2023 -- On 5 October 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, opened the 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), Safe and Sustainable Baltic Sea Region for Future Generations.
• Amid Coups, Public Anger, Lessons for West African Leaders and Allies VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- A string of coups and heightened anti-French sentiment sweeping across West and Central Africa hold important political and military lessons for African governments and their international partners, analysts tell VOA.
• France says to begin withdrawing troops from Niger this week Press TV 05 Oct 2023 -- French army says it will begin pulling out troops from Niger this week, amid a swell of anti-France sentiment in the Sahel region that saw the country's troops recently leave Mali and Burkina Faso as well.
• Putin Says Construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh Going on Schedule Sputnik 05 Oct 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the construction of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh is proceeding according to the schedule.
• Bangladesh Receives First Shipment of Russian Uranium VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- The first shipment of Russian uranium was officially delivered Thursday to Bangladesh to fuel the nation's only nuclear power plant, currently under construction.
• World News in Brief: 'Horrifying' attack on Ukrainian village, autonomous weapons ban, Sudan crisis UN News 05 Oct 2023 -- The top UN humanitarian official in Ukraine has condemned a Russian strike on Thursday that ripped apart the small rural village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region, killing dozens of civilians.
• US Government to Resume Deportations to Venezuela VOA 05 Oct 2023 -- The Biden administration announced Thursday it will resume the deportation of migrants back to Venezuela in hopes of decreasing the numbers of Venezuelans arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.