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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• US Navy Shoots Down Drone from Houthi Territory in Yemen VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- The United States Navy shot down a drone originating from a Houthi-controlled part of Yemen on Wednesday morning, U.S. officials said.
• U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon Transits Taiwan Strait US Navy 06 Dec 2023 -- A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on December 6 (local time).
• Operation against US occupation forces: Iraq's resistance says hit US-run al-Harir base Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- A US-run airbase in northern Iraq has again been attacked by anti-US groups in retaliation for Washington's unwavering support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
• Iraqi resistance hits US-run Ain al-Asad base in drone strike Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- A major US-run military base in Iraq's western province of Anbar has come under a drone strike over Washington's complicity in the Israeli regime's unrelenting onslaught against the Gaza Strip.
• US base in Iraq's Erbil attacked by drone IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The US Al-Harir Air Base near Erbil Airport in northern Iraq has come under a drone attack.
• Resistance forces launch fresh attack on US base in Iraq IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Iraqi resistance forces have launched a fresh attack on a US base in the Arab country amid efforts to force Washington to withdraw its support from the Israeli regime and its aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
• Shia Militant Groups Announce Another Attack on US Base in Western Iraq Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which includes Shia militant groups, announced on Wednesday another attack on the US's Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq's western Anbar Province in response to hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Four Russia-Affiliated Military Personnel Charged with War Crimes in Connection with Russia's Invasion of Ukraine US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023 -- War crimes charges against four Russia-affiliated military personnel were unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia. The charges include torture, inhuman treatment, and unlawful confinement of a U.S. national in Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
• Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks Announcing Four Russia-Affiliated Military Personnel Charged with War Crimes in Connection with Russia's Invasion of Ukraine US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023
• Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri Delivers Remarks Announcing Four Russia-Affiliated Military Personnel Charged with War Crimes in Connection with Russia's Invasion of Ukraine US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023
• U.S. Files War Crimes Charges Against Four Russians Accused Of Torturing American In Ukraine RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- The United States has charged four Russian soldiers with torture and other war crimes in connection with the alleged abduction and interrogation of an American during the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in April 2022.
• US Charges Russian-Affiliated Soldiers With War Crimes VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- The United States is charging four Russian-affiliated soldiers with war crimes for what American prosecutors describe as the heinous abuse of a U.S. citizen following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February of last year.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Singapore Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen DoD 06 Dec 2023
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Remarks Welcoming Singapore Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen to the Pentagon DoD 06 Dec 2023
• DOD Hosts Singapore Defense Minister for Security Discussions DoD News 06 Dec 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today welcomed Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen to the Pentagon for discussions on mutual security concerns.
• US signals plan for intermediate-range missiles in the North Pacific Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- The U.S. military's purported plan to station intermediate-range missiles in Guam is likely to heighten concerns among some Pacific island countries of a new era of militarization of their region, analysts said.
• AFIMSC plays critical role in fielding of B-21 US Air Force 06 Dec 2023 -- The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is playing a critical role in executing the multiyear beddown of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber for the Air Force. AFIMSC is leading broad program initiatives for Air Force Global Strike Command's three main operating bases and one support location.
• V-22 Osprey Grounding USMC News Release 06 Dec 2023 -- Out of an abundance of caution, following the AFSOC operational stand down, NAVAIR is instituting a grounding bulletin for all V-22 Osprey variants Dec. 6.
• AFSOC commander directs CV-22 operational standdown US Air Force 06 Dec 2023 -- Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC commander, directed an operational standdown of the Air Force CV-22 fleet Dec. 6, 2023, to mitigate risk while the investigation continues on the Nov. 29, 2023, CV-22 mishap near Yakushima, Japan.
• NAVAIR STATEMENT ON V-22 Osprey Grounding US Navy 06 Dec 2023 -- Out of an abundance of caution, following the AFSOC operational stand down, NAVAIR is instituting a grounding bulletin for all V-22 Osprey variants Dec. 6. This decision comes after the V-22 Osprey mishap on Nov. 29, off the shore of Yakushima, Japan.
• EODMU 8 Participates in NUSRET 2023 Invitational Exercise US Navy 06 Dec 2023 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 (EODMU 8) is participating in the Türkiye-led NUSRET 2023 invitational exercise from November 28 through December 6, 2023 in the northern Aegean Sea.
• Austin Welcomes Strengthened Defense Ties With Sweden DoD News 06 Dec 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed new steps to build upon the U.S.-Sweden defense relationship after meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson yesterday at the Pentagon.
• Defence Cooperation Agreement with the US signed Government Offices of Sweden 06 Dec 2023 -- Represented by Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Sweden and the US have signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA). This means that the countries have agreed on the conditions for US forces to operate in Sweden.
• Agreement on defense cooperation between Sweden and the United States of America (pdf 218 kB)
• US to Get Access to 17 Swedish Military Facilities After Inking New Defense Deal Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- According to a press release from the State Department, the United States and Sweden have reached a defense cooperation agreement. This deal will be in effect both before and after Stockholm's NATO entry is finalized.
• NATO's Deputy Secretary General meets with Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia NATO 06 Dec 2023 -- NATO's Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană welcomed Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, to the NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (6 December 2023).
• The Turkish Air Force Began NATO Enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Defence 06 Dec 2023 -- Türkiye deployed fighter jets to Romania to participate in NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission.
• UK hits military suppliers propping up Russia's war machine UK FCDO 06 Dec 2023 -- The UK government announces new sanctions targeting people and groups that are supplying and funding Putin's war machine.
• U.K. Announces Sanctions Targeting Businesses, Individuals Seen As Aiding 'Putin's War Machine' RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- The United Kingdom has imposed new sanctions on 46 groups and individuals in countries ranging from Serbia to China that it says are supplying and financing Russia's war against Ukraine by helping it circumvent international sanctions.
• Commerce Adds 42 Entities to the Entity List for Supporting Russia's Military, Including Co-Production of Drones with Iran Commerce Department - Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 06 Dec 2023 -- Yesterday, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added 42 entities to the Entity List. These entities contributed to Russia's military and defense industrial base.
• Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine - December 6, 2023 DOD
• Biden Administration Announces New Security Assistance for Ukraine DoD 06 Dec 2023 -- Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced new security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs that uses the limited resources that remain available to help Ukraine.
• Biden Administration Announces Additional U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023 -- The United States is today announcing a new package of weapons and equipment to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia's aggression.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov DoD 06 Dec 2023
• Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Conference DoD 06 Dec 2023
• Austin Meets With Ukrainian Minister of Defense at Pentagon DoD News 06 Dec 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today hosted bilateral discussions at the Pentagon with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The meeting comes on the heels of the Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Conference today in Washington, D.C., and also aligns with today's announcement of another security assistance package for Ukraine.
• Austin Ushers in U.S.-Ukrainian Defense Industrial Base Partnership DoD News 06 Dec 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underscored today the importance of bolstering Ukraine's long-term sustainment of key capabilities to deter Russian aggression through the development of its domestic industrial base.
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Hosted Bilateral in Honor of His Excellency Rustem Umerov, Minister of Defence for Ukraine at the Pentagon DoD 06 Dec 2023
• FACT SHEET: The White House Announces New Actions to Strengthen Cooperation and Co-Production between U.S. and Ukraine's Defense Industrial Bases The White House 06 Dec 2023
• Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on President Biden's National Security Supplemental Request The White House 06 Dec 2023
• Remarks by President Biden Urging Congress to Pass His National Security Supplemental Request, Including Funding to Support Ukraine The White House 06 Dec 2023
• Ukraine Aid Stalls Hours After Biden Implores Congress to Approve It VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked $110 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel, as well as some security measures for the U.S. southern border to curb surging, unchecked migration from Mexico into the U.S.
• U.S. Senate Blocks Ukrainian Aid Package Despite Pleas From White House RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- The U.S. Senate on December 6 blocked a White House request for $106 billion in emergency aid primarily for Ukraine and Israel as Republicans objected to the bill's lack of immigration reforms.
• 'Great Risk' Ukraine Could Lose, US Can't Afford Such a Scenario - White House Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- The United States' national security interests cannot afford losing the conflict in Ukraine, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday amid the lack of agreement from Congress to provide additional tens of billions of dollars to Kiev.
• Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at the Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Conference US Dept. of Commerce 06 Dec 2023 -- Good morning. Welcome to the members of the Ukrainian Government, U.S. and Ukrainian industry, as well as our guests from NATO. And thank you to the National Security Council, the Departments of Defense and State, and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council.
• PLA Navy completes 1,600th escort mission, making concrete efforts to safeguard peace Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently completed its 1,600th escort mission amid emerging signs of danger in the Gulf of Aden, making concrete efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the world as it strides to become a blue-water navy, experts said on Wednesday.
• MND backs listing of Taiwan military technologies to be controlled CNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The six defense-related technologies listed by the government as being among Taiwan's 22 key core technologies to face stringent controls were backed by the military for national security reasons, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.
• 16th edition of India-Germany Military Cooperation Sub Group meeting held in New Delhi India PIB 06 Dec 2023 -- The 16th edition of the India-Germany Military Cooperation Sub Group (MCSG) meeting was conducted from 05-06 Dec 2023 in New Delhi
• US supplied Israel with 10,000 tons of military equipment since Gaza war: Tel Aviv Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The United States has supplied Israel with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment since the beginning of the occupying regime's war on the besieged Gaza Strip, says Tel Aviv, which ceaselessly drops bombs on the densely-populated Palestinian territory.
• Finland, Estonia and Sweden emphasise the importance of resilient European submarine infrastructure Finnish Government 06 Dec 2023 -- The telecommunications ministers of Finland, Estonia and Sweden stress that the resilience of critical underwater infrastructure is now more important than ever. The ministers underlined the importance of resilient infrastructure at the Telecommunications Council in Brussels 5 December 2023.
• Vilnius hosts round-table discussion on Lithuanian-German defence cooperation Lithuania MND 06 Dec 2023 -- On Wednesday a round-table discussion on the Lithuanian-German defence cooperation took place in Vilnius. Retired Generals of the Bundeswehr, experts and specialists of the Ministry of National Defence discussed changes in Germany's security and defence policy, links with Lithuania and geopolitical challenges.
• Lithuanian defence budget: to strengthen Lithuanian Armed Forces fighting power and further modernization Lithuania MND 06 Dec 2023 -- Tuesday the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania passed draft Government Budget 2024 with EUR 2 billion 91.7 million, including 134.8 million in Solidarity Contribution, earmarked for national defence. The Defence Budget will reach 2.75% of GDP and most of it will be dedicated for strengthening Lithuanian Armed Forces capabilities.
• A look at the Defence news 27 November - 3 December Netherlands Ministry of Defence 06 Dec 2023
• Belgian National Charged with Crimes Related to Scheme to Illegally Procure Critical U.S. Technology for End Users in China and Russia US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023 -- In two separate indictments unsealed yesterday, Hans Maria De Geetere, 61, of Knokke-Heist, Belgium, is charged with crimes related to a years-long scheme to unlawfully export sensitive, military-grade technology from the United States to end users located in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation.
• Readout of President Biden's Virtual Meeting with G7 Leaders The White House 06 Dec 2023
• G7 Leaders' Statement The White House 06 Dec 2023
• Remarks by President Biden After Marine One Arrival The White House 06 Dec 2023
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Gayle King and Charles Barkley of CNN's King Charles US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby The White House 06 Dec 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Dec. 6, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 6 December 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Dec 2023

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari December 6th, 20:15 Israel Defense Forces 06 Dec 2023
• The IDF is Publishing a List of Area Numbers to Guide Gazan Residents in Evacuating High Risk Areas Israel Defense Forces 06 Dec 2023
• Statement by PM Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister 06 Dec 2023
• Israel-Hamas War: House-to-House Fighting in Khan Younis in Southern Gaza VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Israeli troops and Hamas militants battled Wednesday in house-to-house fighting for control of Khan Younis, Gaza's second-biggest city, as Palestinian civilians faced increasing difficulty finding shelter and access to humanitarian aid.
• Israel-Hamas War Intensifies in Southern Gaza VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Israeli troops and Hamas militants battled Wednesday in the Gaza Strip with the war putting increasing pressure on Palestinian civilians who are facing more difficulty finding shelter and access to humanitarian aid.
• Resistance repels IOF in Gaza and targets Israeli settlements ISNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The Resistance is confronting the incursion of Israeli occupation tanks and vehicles on several axes across the Gaza Strip, most notably in the area northeast of Deir al-Balah, in the center of the Strip, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.
• Resistance fighters intensify attacks on Zionists across Gaza IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Amid escalation of ground confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli forces, resistance fighters succeeded in targeting a hideout of Israeli troops in Khan Yunis city, destroying 12 cars, one armored vehicle and a tank belonging to the Israeli army.
• 73 martyrs, 123 injured brought to Al-Aqsa hospital over past 24 h IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced that 73 martyrs and 123 injured people were brought to the Al-Aqsa hospital over the past 24 hours.
• Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced to southern Gazan city to escape Israeli attacks People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- The United Nations said on Tuesday that it has monitored a record number of Palestinians who have been displaced to the city of Rafah, in the far south of the Gaza Strip, to escape Israeli attacks.
• Aqaba Process Joint Statement on Gaza's Humanitarian Situation UNRWA 06 Dec 2023
• Statement of UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini at the Virtual Follow-up Conference to the International Humanitarian Conference for the Civilian Population in Gaza UNRWA 06 Dec 2023
• Gaza: Guterres invokes 'most powerful tool' Article 99, in bid for humanitarian ceasefire UN News 06 Dec 2023 -- Invoking a rarely used article of the UN Charter, Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called on the Security Council to "press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and unite in a call for a full humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants.
• UN's Türk urges probe into alleged sexual violence during Hamas terror attacks UN News 06 Dec 2023 -- UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Wednesday condemned serious sexual violations allegedly carried out by Hamas militants during their terror attacks in southern Israel on 7 October, while humanitarians in Gaza said conditions for civilians there had hit "rock bottom", amid continued bombardment and mass displacement in the south.
• UN Chief Warns Gaza Could Face Breakdown of Public Order VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his call for a humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, warning that public order could completely break down soon, and the humanitarian system there is at "severe risk" of collapse.
• UN chief calls for Security Council action to avert Gaza humanitarian catastrophe IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has invoked a rarely used article of the UN Charter, calling on the Security Council to help "avert a humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.
• UN refutes U.S. claim about safe places in Gaza People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- A UN spokesman on Tuesday refuted the U.S. claim that civilians in Gaza should seek refuge in UN-designated safe places.
• UN warns of 'apocalypse' in Gaza amid Israel's unrelenting bombardment Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The UN human rights chief says Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living in "utter, deepening horror" as he pleaded for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the ongoing Israeli aggression on the besieged Palestinian territory.
• UNICEF denounces Israeli crimes in Gaza, says 'silence is complicity' Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has denounced the months-long Israeli genocidal mass-killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, urging the global community not to turn a blind eye to the continued tragedy in the Palestinian land.
• WFP warns Israeli war to intensify 'catastrophic hunger crisis' in Gaza as aid delivery 'impossible' Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned that Israel's resumed war on the Gaza Strip will intensify the "catastrophic hunger crisis" for more than two million Palestinian civilians in the besieged territory.
• Readout of National Security Advisor to the Vice President Phil Gordon's Travel to the West Bank The White House 06 Dec 2023
• Iran's security chief urges global effort to stop Israel's killing machine IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Akbar Ahmadian has called for international efforts to stop the Zionist regime's war machine which is killing oppressed Palestinian people.
• Israel can't cope with prolonged war in Gaza Strip, says IRGC chief Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Israel cannot withstand a prolonged onslaught against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the regime's prime minister is intent on continuing the war solely for personal interests.
• Iran's top security official hails China's support for oppressed people of Palestine Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- Iran's top security official has hailed the role China has played in the United Nations Security Council to support the oppressed people of Palestine.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan Prime Minister of Canada 06 Dec 2023 -- Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.
• Erdogan warns Israel of 'heavy price' if it targets Hamas members in Turkey Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Israel of a "heavy price" if the Tel Aviv regime carries out its alleged plot to target members of the Palestinian Hamas resistance group on Turkish soil.
• No: 308, 6 December 2023, Press Release Regarding Israel's Illegal Settlement Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 06 Dec 2023
• Top Hamas official: We have drawn up major defensive plan; over 50 Israeli armored vehicles destroyed Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- A senior Hamas official says the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement has worked out a major defensive plan in the face of the Israeli onslaught, stressing that the unison among resistance factions during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm left Israeli military commanders baffled.
• Hamas: Israel 'sinking deeper and deeper' into swamp of Gaza Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- A senior official of the Hamas resistance movement says Israel is "sinking deeper and deeper into the swamp of Gaza", stressing that the occupying regime failed to achieve a single victory after 60 days of the war in the besieged enclave.
• Hamas blasts Biden for repeating Israel's allegations Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- Hamas has taken the US president to task for waging a smear campaign against the Palestinian resistance movement following the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel on the seventh of October.
• Israel 'taken by surprise' in Gaza battlefield, suffered heavy losses: Islamic Jihad Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The Islamic Jihad resistance movement says Palestinian fighters have "taken Israel by surprise" on the battlefield across the Gaza Strip by inflicting heavy losses on the occupying regime.
• Lebanon's Hezbollah targets four Zionist bases in occupied lands IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Lebanon's Hezbollah has reportedly targeted four Zionist bases in the northern parts of the occupied lands, Yemen's Almasirah reported.
• Lebanon to bring complaint to UN Security Council over Israeli killing of its soldier Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- Beirut says it will file a complaint at the UN Security Council over the recent killing of one of its soldiers in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon.
• Yemen says ballistic missiles fired at Israeli regime positions IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- A spokesman for the Yemeni armed forces has announced yet another military operation by the Arab country against Israeli positions in response to the regime's continuous onslaught in the Gaza Strip, saying that ballistic missiles have hit military posts in Israel.
• Yemen threatens to close Bab al-Mandab Strait IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The Yemeni government has warned that the Arab country's army could close the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait in response to US threats to form a task force for operations in the Red Sea.
• Yemen says fired batch of ballistic missiles into Israeli-occupied territories in support of Gaza Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- Yemen's Army says it has fired a batch of ballistic missiles at Israeli military positions in support of Gaza's resistance.

Other Conflicts

• Secretary-General's remarks at the High-Level Event for the Central Emergency Response Fund UN Secretary-General 06 Dec 2023
• Guterres urges greater support for UN emergency relief fund UN News 06 Dec 2023 -- Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the UN's core humanitarian response fund to deploy quick and strategic resources to global crises globally.
• Countries uphold commitment to UN Peacekeeping at 2023 Ministerial in Ghana UN News 06 Dec 2023 -- More than 90 countries underlined their commitment to UN Peacekeeping during a two-day conference in Accra, Ghana, that concluded on Wednesday.
• Statement by Members of the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations Contact Group on the margins of the 2023 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Canada 06 Dec 2023
• Canada bolsters support and commitments to peacekeeping at 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Canada 06 Dec 2023 -- The Honourable Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs), today concluded her participation in the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial (UNPKM) meeting hosted by Ghana.
• Backgrounder: Canada's commitments at the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Canada 06 Dec 2023 -- On December 5 and 6, 2023, the Honourable Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented Canada at the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial (UNPKM), in Accra, Ghana, where she announced that the Government of Canada will provide over $20.4 million in new projects and contributions to continue supporting UN peace operations and peacebuilding and a pledge of up to an additional $6.2 million in support of protection of civilians.
• China refutes wrong remarks on South China Sea issue at UN General Assembly Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- China respects all countries' freedom of navigation in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, but firmly opposes any country using this as a pretext to undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a plenary meeting of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, on Tuesday, replying to several other countries' representatives' incorrect remarks on the South China Sea issues.
• At-Risk Afghans Who Fled To Pakistan Face Deportation, Despite Being In U.S. Immigration Pipeline RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- Pakistan is turning over every stone as it continues its push to deport over 1 million undocumented Afghan migrants, and in the process expelling those who have been flagged for protection.
• Pakistan Says 450,000 Undocumented Afghans Returned Home VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- A Pakistani diplomat said Wednesday that nearly 450,000 Afghan nationals returned to their home country since his government announced two months ago that it would deport all undocumented foreigners.
• Malala Yousafzai Says Women in Afghanistan Living Under 'Gender Apartheid' VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has made an impassioned plea for what she calls "gender apartheid" to be made a crime under international law. Speaking at an event in South Africa, Yousafzai called on the world to pay attention to what's happening to girls and women under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
• 7 injured in blast outside school in NW Pakistan People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- Seven people including four children were injured in a blast outside a school in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, rescue teams said.
• Indonesia faces criticism over plan to deport Rohingya to Myanmar Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- Human rights activists and observers on Wednesday criticized a plan by the Indonesian government to return nearly 1,500 Rohingya to their home country of Myanmar, where they have faced persecution and violence, according to a report from BenarNews, a news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.
• Myanmar's dead and wounded civilians trapped in battlezone Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- Fighting between the junta and three allied resistance groups in Myanmar's north has trapped over 500 civilians, a rescue team told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.
• DEVELOPMENT IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR India PIB 06 Dec 2023 -- The Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism
• Iran terms claim on trio islands as interference in territorial integrity IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has said that Iran considers any claim regarding the trio islands as interference in its territory, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
• After Victory In Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani Government Takes Aim At Journalists -- And The U.S. RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- In mid-November, authorities arrested three journalists from Abzas Media, a rare creature in Azerbaijan's heavily repressed media landscape: a Baku-based outlet publishing hard-hitting investigations, in particular into corruption by senior officials.
• Bosnian Serb Leader's Trial Postponed As Defense Requests Venue Change RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- A court in Bosnia-Herzegovina on December 6 postponed the start of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's trial on charges related to his efforts to ignore decisions by an international envoy at the request of his lawyers, who want the trial moved.
• Nigeria's Probe of Drone Strike Not a Guarantee of Accountability VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered security agencies and state authorities to investigate a bombing that reportedly killed at least 120 Muslim worshippers in northern Kaduna state on Sunday.
• Military Drone Attack Kills 85 People in Nigerian Village VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is calling for an investigation into a weekend military drone attack that killed 85 people.
• War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Ethnic Cleansing Determination in Sudan US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023 -- Since the outbreak of fighting on April 15, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have unleashed horrific violence, death, and destruction across Sudan.
• Sahel: Major EU funding to WFP helps crisis-affected people during hunger crisis WFP 06 Dec 2023 -- With a Euro 48.5 million contribution from the European Union (EU) received through its Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), WFP was able to respond to the severe food crisis in eight countries of West and Central Africa during the 2023 hunger gap and beyond.

News Reports

• Secretary Blinken's Call with Guyanese President Ali US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023
• Venezuelan President Orders Immediate Oil and Gas Exploration in Disputed Territory VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered state-owned oil, gas and mining companies to "immediately" begin operations in a wide territory controlled by neighboring Guyana.
• Maduro announces Esequiba as the 24th state of Venezuela ISNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the establishment of a new High Commission for the Defense of Guyana Esequiba, with coordination led by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
• Maduro Eyes Creating '24th Venezuelan State' on Disputed Territory of Neighboring Guyana Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- The border between Guyana and Venezuela, which runs through the Guyana-Essequibo region, has been a source of territorial dispute for several decades. The two countries are at loggerheads over the exact location of the boundary, giving rise to tensions and sporadic border skirmishes.
• Naval Commander Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense Information US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023 -- Gregory Edward McLean, 39, of Jacksonville, Florida, today pleaded guilty to one count of distributing videos depicting the sexual assault of children and one count of unlawful retention of classified national defense information.
• U.S. Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan on Countering Foreign Information Manipulation US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023 -- On December 6, 2023, in Tokyo, U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Liz Allen and Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary, Assistant Minister, Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy Kobayashi Maki signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to counter Foreign Information Manipulation, an increasing threat in the region and beyond.
• Readout from CISA's 2023 Fourth Quarter Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Meeting CISA 06 Dec 2023 -- Yesterday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) held its fourth and final 2023 quarterly Cybersecurity Advisory Committee (CSAC) meeting.
• The United States Disrupts Beltran Leyva Organization's Drug Trafficking Through Sanctions US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023 -- In close coordination with the Government of Mexico and pursuant to President Biden's National Drug Control Strategy , today the United States Government designated fifteen Mexican nationals and two Mexico-based entities linked to the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO).
• Secretary Yellen Announces Treasury Sanctions Against New Generation of Violent Drug Trafficking Beltrán Leyva Organization US Treasury 06 Dec 2023 -- Today, Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen announced during her travel to Mexico that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned 15 Mexican individuals— several of whom are U.S. fugitives—and two Mexico-based companies linked, directly or indirectly, to the Beltrán Leyva Organization (BLO). The BLO continues to be one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world and is heavily involved in the transportation and distribution of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, to the United States.
• Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on New Treasury Actions to Counter Illicit Financing Tied to Fentanyl in Mexico City, Mexico US Treasury 06 Dec 2023
• Sixty Foreign Nationals Charged with International Drug Trafficking US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023 -- Eight indictments were unsealed in the District of Columbia, Southern District of California, Central District of California, and Northern District of Illinois charging 60 Mexican and foreign nationals with international heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana trafficking.
• Annual conference of drug control networks: from drug design and AI to online gaming platforms as new drug marketplaces Council of Europe 06 Dec 2023 -- The Council of Europe's drug policy network (the Pompidou Group) is hosting the first Annual Conference of Drug Control Networks. Some 170 experts from 40 countries, five international organisations, academia and the private sector are attending the conference from 6-8 December.
• Suburban Chicago Man Admits Trafficking Fentanyl and Attempting to Support ISIS US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023 -- A suburban Chicago man admitted in federal court today that he trafficked fentanyl and other drugs and attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, aka ISIS.
• Founder and Majority Owner of Cryptocurrency Exchange Pleads Guilty to Unlicensed Money Transmitting US Dept. of Justice 06 Dec 2023 -- Bitzlato Ltd. Processed More Than $700M Worth of Illicit Funds and Was Primary Counterparty of Notorious Drug Bazaar Hydra Market; Advertised Lax Identification Procedures
• Support for West African states in their fight against terrorism Germany - Federal Government 06 Dec 2023 -- On Wednesday the Federal Cabinet agreed on a training mission for police forces in West African states as part of an EU Mission. The goal of the mission is to help security forces in Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast to combat terrorism. Questions and answers about the deployment.
• Excerpts from the briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, December 6, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 06 Dec 2023
• Russian-Saudi talks President of Russia 06 Dec 2023 -- A meeting between Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud took place in the Saudi King's al-Yamamah Palace.
• Russia, Saudi Arabia Have Good Relations in All Sectors, Including Economy - Putin Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- Russia and Saudi Arabia have good relations in all sectors of cooperation, including economy, and it is important to exchange views on the regional situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
• Russia-UAE talks President of Russia 06 Dec 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
• Russia-UAE Relations Reach Unprecedented High Level - Putin Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- Relations between Russia and the United Arab Emirates have reached an unprecedented high level, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
• NATO Statements on Preventing Clash With Russia Attempt to Whitewash Leaders - Moscow Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- NATO statements about need to prevent a "direct clash" with Russia is a distraction, aimed at whitewashing alliance leaders before their votes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
• Minister Joly announces ban on direct import of Russian diamonds and related products Canada 06 Dec 2023 -- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada, in coordination with its G7 partners, is imposing new import restrictions on Russian diamonds and diamond jewellery related products.
• China restarts COVID-19 testing in hospitals, airports Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- Authorities in China have started testing people for COVID-19 again in hospitals and transportation hubs as a wave of respiratory disease tears through the country, according to local residents and government directives.
• China, Egypt sign deals to boost lunar exploration, spacecraft launching Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- China and Egypt have signed cooperation documents in space exploration in Beijing on Wednesday to boost deep space exploration, spacecraft development and construction of space infrastructure, which is of great significance to foster a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
• China urges efforts from certain countries to prevent outer space arms race Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- China hopes that relevant countries will demonstrate the political willingness to correct their erroneous practices and actively participate in the negotiation of legal documents on outer space arms control, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated on Wednesday, given that some countries are unwilling to have their own space military capabilities constrained and have long denied negotiating legal instruments on technical grounds.
• Chinese rocket Smart Dragon-3 launches test satellite People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- China on Wednesday used a Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) carrier rocket to launch a test satellite into planned orbit, where it will test satellite internet technologies.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on December 6, 2023 PRC MofA 06 Dec 2023
• Secretary Blinken's Call with People's Republic of China (PRC) Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi US Dept. of State 06 Dec 2023
• Wang Yi talks with Blinken over Taiwan, Israel-Palestine conflict Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the phone at the latter's invitation on Wednesday. The current important task for both sides is to extend the positive effects of the San Francisco meeting, implement the consensus of the two countries' leaders, consolidate the stabilization of China-US relations, and promote the development of China-US relations toward a healthy, stable, and sustainable direction, Wang said.
• EU Leaders Set For High-Stakes China Summit Focused On Trade, Ukraine RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- The EU's top leaders will meet in China with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang for their first in-person summit since 2019 amid rising geopolitical and economic tensions between Beijing and Brussels.
• Chinese FM highlights engagement in talks with UK's Cameron, 'a positive signal' for mending ties Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the importance of a stable and healthy China-UK ties and cooperation, expressing the hope that the British side will establish a correct understanding of China, during a phone call with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Tuesday, ahead of Cameron's US trip starting on Wednesday.
• Italy Tells China It's Leaving Belt and Road Initiative VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Italy officially told China that it will leave the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, the first country to do so since the project was launched a decade ago. Despite the decision, Rome still plans to maintain good relations with Beijing, government sources said on Wednesday.
• Hong Kong protester shot by police appears in video 'confession' Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- A protester who was jailed for "rioting" after being shot in the chest by police during the 2019 protest movement has appeared in a mainland Chinese-style televised "confession," as part of a series of propaganda films made by the Hong Kong police in praise of a draconian security law.
• Jimmy Lai's lawyer says rape threats precede public events Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai's legal team and son are being harassed with death and rape threats to discourage advocacy for the jailed pro-democracy businessman, his lawyer said Wednesday.
• Moody's politically biased credit outlook cut won't affect China's long-term upward growth trend: experts Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- China has confidence and capability to achieve long-term stable development, and continuously bring new impetus and opportunities to the world, the country's top economic planner said on Wednesday after US ratings agency Moody's politically-biased move that cut its outlook on China's government credit ratings to negative from stable on Tuesday.
• Chinese giant commercial rocket pulls off country's first long-distance sea-based launch Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- China's Smart Dragon-3 - one of the country's largest solid propellent rockets - thundered into the sky from waters in the South China Sea off the coast of South China's Guangdong Province at 3:24 am on Wednesday, placing a satellite for internet technology experiments into its intended orbit, marking a full success of the rocket model's first operational launch as well as that of the country's first long-distance sea-based launch, the Global Times learned from the rocket developers.
• HKSAR govt says it disagrees with Moody's downgrade decision Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has said it disagrees with a Moody's report that changes its outlook to negative from stable, saying linkage with the Chinese mainland should not be a rating constraint as it is a source of strength for Hong Kong.
• Moody's cut to outlook is flawed, ministry says People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- The cutting of China's credit outlook by rating agency Moody's is unwarranted and flawed, as the move overlooks the solid growth potential of the world's second-largest economy and exaggerates the financial risks facing it, officials and experts said on Tuesday.
• China's Counter-Espionage Law won't impact foreign enterprises' legitimate operations: ministry Global Times 06 Dec 2023 -- China's newly revised Counter-Espionage Law puts its target on only a few espionage activities that threaten the national security. The law is not aimed at normal business activities and won't impact foreign enterprises' legitimate investment and operations in China, the Ministry of State Security said on Wednesday, in a response to some misunderstanding about the law.
• China to keep creating top-notch business environment for foreign firms: official People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- China will unswervingly pursue high-standard opening up and continue to create a first-class business environment for foreign companies, including European firms, a senior official with China's top economic planner said on Tuesday.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Dec. 6, 2023 ROC MND 06 Dec 2023
• Iran sends into space biological capsule aboard indigenous launcher Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- Iran has successfully put into orbit its newest bio-space capsule with the domestically-built Salman launcher.
• Iran successfully fires indigenous bio-capsule: minister IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The Iranian minister of information and communications technology has announced a successful test fire of an indigenous bio-capsule to send astronauts into space.
• IRGC Navy seizes vessels with 4.5 mln liters of smuggled fuel in Persian Gulf, arrests crew Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has confiscated two tanker ships carrying millions of liters of smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf waters, and arrested the entire crew members.
• Iranian court orders US govt., entities to pay $50bn over Gen. Soleimani assassination Press TV 06 Dec 2023 -- An Iranian court has ruled that the United States government and a number of individuals and entities should pay nearly $50 billion in compensation for their roles in the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport more than three years ago.
• Iranian Court Rules US Must Pay $50 Bln in Compensation for Soleimani's Murder Sputnik 06 Dec 2023 -- The January 3, 2020 assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani briefly brought Iran and the United States to the brink of all-out war, with Tehran threatening a tit-for-tat response only to discover that it could not find any American official of equal value.
• Iran criticizes IAEA chief for 'peculiar' stance on JCPOA talks IRNA 06 Dec 2023 -- The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has criticized Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his "peculiar and unexpected" comments concerning negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.
• Rape, Sexual Abuse Used Against Iranian Protesters, Says Amnesty International RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- Iranian security forces have used rape and other types of sexual abuse to intimidate protesters during the crackdown on nationwide protests that started in September last year under the banner of "Women, Life, Freedom," Amnesty International said in a report published on December 6.
• Iran and Russia sign Declaration to counter sanctions ISNA 06 Dec 2023 -- Iran and Russian foreign minister sign on Tuesday a declaration on the Ways and Means to Counter, Mitigate and Redress the Adverse Impacts of Unilateral Coercive Measures.
• Gunmen kill head of right-wing group in India's Rajasthan People's Daily 06 Dec 2023 -- Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday shot dead Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, the head of a right-wing fringe group Karni Sena, and wounded two others in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, police said.
• Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra Prime Minister of Australia 06 Dec 2023
• Repression without borders: autocratic governments try to silence reporters Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- Autocratic governments have been attempting to silence journalists in the U.S. and other Western nations through a campaign of coercion and intimidation that includes physical assaults, the Freedom House, a Washington-based organization that studies global democracy, said in a report released on Wednesday.
• UN envoy to assess Cambodia's human rights protections Radio Free Asia 06 Dec 2023 -- A U.N. official is in Cambodia for a five-day visit to assess its protection of human rights and freedom of expression ahead of this weekend's International Human Rights Day.
• U.S. Senator Calls On Tajik President To 'Immediately Stop Repressions' RFE/RL 06 Dec 2023 -- The chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Ben Cardin, has urged Tajik President Emomali Rahmon "to immediately end" the repression of peaceful demonstrators, community leaders, journalists and activists in Tajikistan, as well as "all forms of transnational repression."
• World News in Brief: Nigeria airstrikes condemned, supporting Venezuelan migrants and refugees, weapons in Myanmar UN News 06 Dec 2023 -- Authorities in Nigeria must investigate a string of deadly airstrikes over the past six years and hold those responsible to account, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Wednesday.
• Zimbabweans Reacting Angrily to US Visa Restrictions Announced by Blinken VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party is reacting angrily to a new visa restriction policy which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced this week, aimed at people accused of undermining democracy in the southern African nation. The opposition is berating the United States for the latest move.
• Gabon Coup Leader Visits Cameroon to Press for End to CEMAC Sanctions VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Gabon's military leader, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, visited Cameroon on Wednesday, asking central African states to lift economic sanctions on his country before the 2025 elections.
• Vietnam's Upgraded Ties With Japan 'Do Not Bode Well' for China VOA 06 Dec 2023 -- Beijing should be concerned about Hanoi's upgraded ties with Tokyo because the two countries share a common perspective on regional security matters, say experts.