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Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• March 8 USCENTCOM, Royal Jordanian Air Force combined humanitarian aid drop CENTCOM 08 Mar 2024 -- U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on March 8, 2024, at approximately 1:30 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict.
• Aid airdrop kills five Palestinians in Gaza Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- Five Palestinians have been killed by aid packages airdropped on the besieged Gaza Strip by the US and its allies with the Gaza authorities slamming the airdrop as a "flashy propaganda" rather than a humanitarian service.
• DOD to Construct Pier to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza DoD News 08 Mar 2024 -- The Department of Defense will undertake an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza to deliver up to 2,000,000 humanitarian aid meals per-day, the Pentagon announced today.
• March 7 Red Sea Update CENTCOM 08 Mar 2024 -- Between the hours of 3:35 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. (Sanaa time), United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted self-defense strikes against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Biden Rips Trump In High-Stakes Speech, Says Won't 'Bow Down' To Putin RFE/RL 08 Mar 2024 -- In a high-profile televised address, U.S. President Joe Biden ripped his likely Republican challenger Donald Trump for "bowing down" to Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged Congress to pass aid for Ukraine, warning democracy around the world was under threat.
• Biden Issues Wake-Up Call for Americans on Threats to Democracy DoD News 08 Mar 2024 -- President Joe Biden used the State of the Union speech last night to wake up Americans to the challenges against democracy abroad and at home.
• Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing DoD 08 Mar 2024
• Department of Defense to Expand Manufacturing of Printed Circuit Board Assemblies for Hypersonic Weapons DoD 08 Mar 2024 -- The Department of Defense announced an award of $11.7 million via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program to Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD) that will provide additional printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) production capacity at their Simsbury, CT location.
• DoD Announces Participation in Florida Power & Light's SolarTogether Program to Power Six Installations with Emissions-free Solar Energy DoD 08 Mar 2024 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) announced its participation in Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL) SolarTogether program. DoD will be subscribing for approximately 75 megawatts of emissions-free solar energy as part of its Carbon Free Electricity (CFE) goal to help build a robust, clean, and domestically based electricity supply chain by 2030.
• Readout of Under Secretary of Defense Dr. William LaPlante's Visit to New York City DoD 08 Mar 2024
• Readout of U.S.-Serbia Bilateral Defense Consultations DoD 08 Mar 2024
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Remarks for International Women's Day DoD 08 Mar 2024
• Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder on the Historical Record Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, Volume 1 DoD 08 Mar 2024 -- Last week, the Department of Defense delivered to Congress the initial volume of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office's Historical Record Report, which reviews the record of the United States government pertaining to unidentified anomalous phenomena, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
• DOD Report Discounts Sightings of Extraterrestrial Technology DoD News 08 Mar 2024 -- The Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office today released a report detailing its review of nearly 80 years of reports on government offices and special access programs related to unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP—a new term for what was once referred to as unidentified flying objects.
• DoD Announces Release of FY24 Investment Strategy for the Office of Strategic Capital DoD 08 Mar 2024 -- In December 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III launched the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) to attract and scale private capital in support of national security. This week, Secretary Austin announced the release of the first Investment Strategy for the Office of Strategic Capital.
• Navy Clears Return to Flight for V-22 Osprey Aircraft DoD News 08 Mar 2024 -- Naval Air Systems Command has cleared the tiltrotor V-22 Osprey to return to flight.
• Nordic Response 24 showcases unmatched interoperability on land, sea, air EUCOM 08 Mar 2024 -- Nordic and Allied forces will demonstrate a unique level of cooperation and interoperability as they cross national borders on land, sea and air during Exercise Nordic Response 24 this weekend, March 9-10, 2024.
• DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force US Air Force 08 Mar 2024 -- Just days before releasing the proposed defense budget for fiscal year 2025, Department of the Air Force senior leaders emphasized the need for on-time appropriations and provided their perspective on the priorities and needs current and future budgets must fulfill during the 15th Annual McAleese Defense Programs Conference on March 7.
• Marine Corps Returns MV-22 to Flight Status USMC News Release 08 Mar 2024 -- The Marine Corps returned its MV-22s to flight on March 8, following Naval Air Systems Command's (NAVAIR) announcement that deemed the aircraft safe to fly.
• Bamboo Eagle, first-ever US, UK, AUS C2-Driven, live-Fly, Simultaneous LVC Exercise US Navy 08 Mar 2024 -- Airmen from the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Nellis Air Force Base, and Kirtland AFB executed the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center's first-ever C2-driven, live-fly and simultaneous live, virtual, and constructive exercise Bamboo Eagle for more than 3,000 U.S. service members and nearly 300 allied partners from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
• Under Secretary Raven Visits United Kingdom and Norway to Discuss Regional Security, Highlights Importance of Interoperability US Navy Press Release 08 Mar 2024 -- The Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven visited the United Kingdom and Norway, March 3-8, to meet with partner navies, government and military leaders, Sailors and Marines, and to observe a NATO arctic exercise.
• Navy Announces CMV-22 Return to Flight Status US Navy Press Release 08 Mar 2024 -- The U.S. Navy returned its CMV-22 Osprey fleet to flight status March 8, 2024, following NAVAIR's announcement that issued clearance for the V-22 to fly.
• NAVAIR returns V-22 Osprey to flight status US Navy Press Release 08 Mar 2024 -- Effective March 8, 2024 at 7 a.m. EST, Naval Air Systems Command is issuing a flight clearance for the V-22 Osprey thereby lifting the grounding. This decision follows a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews.
• DOD Remains Committed to Protecting Health of Service Members, Learning From Effects of COVID-19 DoD News 08 Mar 2024 -- Four years removed from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, a pair of Defense Department health officials on Thursday testified that DOD remains committed to protecting service members' health, while also continuing to monitor and learn from the effects of COVID-19.
• DOD Report Discounts Sightings of Extraterrestrial Technology DoD News 08 Mar 2024 -- The Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office today released a report detailing its review of nearly 80 years of reports on government offices and special access programs related to unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP—a new term for what was once referred to as unidentified flying objects.
• Russia has 'no more red lines' for France, Medvedev warns Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has warned France that Moscow has "no more red lines" for the country after French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed unlimited support for Ukraine against Russia.
• Indians Lured by Fake Job Offers Face Dangers in Russian Army VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- When Mohammed Asfan, 30, left his home in Hyderabad last November, he told his family that he was going to Russia to work as an "army helper" and earn many times more than what he made as a salesman at a garment shop in the south Indian city.
• Sending NATO Troops to Ukraine Not Under Discussion - French Defense Minister Sputnik 08 Mar 2024 -- The issue of sending NATO troops to Ukraine is not under discussion now, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Friday, adding that other options of assisting Kiev are being considered.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy inspected corvettes being built for Ukrainian Navy, met with Ukrainian military personnel in Istanbul President of Ukraine 08 Mar 2024
• Military urged to strengthen innovation People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China's military should improve its strategic capabilities in emerging spheres, during a meeting with lawmakers from the nation's armed forces.
• Defense ministry reiterates Taiwan's right to self-defense CNA 08 Mar 2024 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reiterated the right to self-defense in its statement released Friday, in response to media reports that the MND has adjusted its modus operandi for a self-defensive counterstrike.
• Minister Blair announces $850 million investment in Canadian Forces Base Trenton and welcomes new aircraft to the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet Canada 08 Mar 2024 -- Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, visited Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, the home of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) air mobility operations in Canada. Minister Blair announced an investment of $850 million to upgrade CFB Trenton, so that it can host Canada's new fleet of CC-330 Husky Strategic Tanker Transport Aircraft.
• Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Guides Artillery Firing Drill of KPA Large Combined Units KCNA 08 Mar 2024 -- The large combined units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) conducted an artillery firing drill at a time when the high fighting spirit of the entire army has been boosted day by day to dynamically usher in a new heyday of bolstering up the military capability for self-defence.
• Republic of Korea - Engines and Sustainment for MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters DSCA 08 Mar 2024 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of Engines and Sustainment for MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $350 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• North Macedonia - Joint Light Tactical Vehicles DSCA 08 Mar 2024 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of North Macedonia of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $111 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024
• Deputy Secretary Campbell's Meeting with the ASEAN Committee of Washington US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024
• Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure | Joint Base Andrews, MD The White House 08 Mar 2024
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Philadelphia, PA The White House 08 Mar 2024
• Deputy Secretary Campbell's Meeting with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Akcapar US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024

Defense Industry

• Contracts For March 8, 2024

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News


• 8 March 2024 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Mar 2024

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• Israel Welcomes Biden Plan to Increase Gaza Aid VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- President Joe Biden announced the U.S. military will establish a temporary pier on the Gaza coast to deliver aid. Biden also pushed Israel to do more to help the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• Gaza Aid Corridor Through Cyprus Could Open by Sunday VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said Friday an initiative to get aid into Gaza through a Cyprus maritime port — outlined Thursday night by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union speech — could be up and running by Sunday, if not sooner.
• Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 30,800: ministry People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday.
• Gaza: Kaag working closely with partners on new maritime aid lifeline UN News 08 Mar 2024 -- An international maritime aid corridor to Gaza could be in operation as early as Sunday, according to the head of the European Commission, working closely with the UN's Senior Humanitarian Coordinator and other international partners.
• Gaza: Rafah ground assault would increase risk of atrocity crimes UN News 08 Mar 2024 -- Any assault by Israeli forces on the densely populated city of Rafah where 1.5 million have sought shelter following mass displacement, will hugely increase the risk of atrocity crimes, the UN High Commissioner for Human rights warned on Friday.
• UNRWA Situation Report #87 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 5-6 March 2024, is valid as of 6 March 2024 at 22:30 UNRWA 08 Mar 2024
• Rafah offensive to push Gaza 'deeper into the abyss', UN warns Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned against an Israeli offensive in Gaza's border city of Rafah, saying the "catastrophic" situation in the besieged strip may "slide deeper into the abyss."
• UN rights chief slams Israel for drastically accelerating illegal settlements Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- The United Nation's human rights top brass, Volker Turk, says the Israeli regime is expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories by unprecedented amounts, posing a significant threat to the viability of a future Palestinian state.
• Blinken Says Cease-Fire in Gaza Depends on Hamas VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that it is up to Hamas whether a cease-fire takes place in Gaza in the near future.
• US in Process of Preparing Forces to Deploy in Gaza Pier Mission - Pentagon Sputnik 08 Mar 2024 -- The United States is in the process of preparing to deploy forces for the Gaza pier mission to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, Defense Department spokesperson Pat Ryder said on Friday.
• Biden to announce U.S. military to build temporary port in Gaza for humanitarian aid People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- U.S. President Joe Biden will announce in his State of the Union address that the U.S. military will build a temporary port in Gaza for the delivery of additional humanitarian aid to civilians, senior U.S. administration officials said Thursday.
• EU Pushes to Open Maritime Aid Corridor to Gaza VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- The European Commission president said a maritime corridor to Gaza could be operational as soon as this weekend, part of an international effort to deliver humanitarian relief to the besieged territory.
• Joint Statement from the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the United Kingdom Endorsing the Activation of a Maritime Corridor to Deliver Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza European Commission 08 Mar 2024 -- The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic necessities.
• Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on further settlement expansion European External Action Service (EEAS) 08 Mar 2024 -- The European Union condemns Wednesday's approval by the Israeli High Planning Committee of plans for advancing over 3.426 housing units, further expanding illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank particularly in this charged environment
• Canada announces continued assistance for people in Gaza Canada 08 Mar 2024 -- Canada is deeply concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza that is worsening by the hour. Help must reach civilians as quickly as possible. Canada is working to overcome challenges related to humanitarian access and the delivery of life-saving relief so that more assistance can reach those in need.
• Activation of a maritime corridor to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza: joint statement UK FCDO 08 Mar 2024 -- The UK, European Commission, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates and United States gave a joint statement on activating a maritime corridor to deliver aid to Gaza.
• Resistance missile attack on the positions of the Zionist regime in the north of the Gaza Strip IRNA 08 Mar 2024 -- Palestinian resistance forces targeted the Zionist settlements located in the north of Gaza Strip with a missile attack.
• Hamas fighters attack Israeli command center, kill 7 Israeli forces: Statement Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- Fighters with the Gaza Strip-based resistance movement of Hamas announce attacking an Israeli command center in the northern part of the coastal sliver, and killing as many as seven Israeli forces elsewhere across the Palestinian territory.
• Iraqi resistance launches drone attack on Israel's military base IRNA 08 Mar 2024 -- The Islamic Resistance of Iraq announced on Thursday night that it targeted a military base of the Zionist regime in the "Rash Pina" airport located in the Al-Jalil region.
• Iraqi resistance targets Israel military barracks, oil refineries Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has launched new attacks against Israeli targets in the occupied territories in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Other Conflicts

• Readout of White House Meeting with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict The White House 08 Mar 2024
• China discovers oil field of proven reserve of 102 million tons in South China Sea: CNOOC Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- China has discovered its first deep-water, deep-reservoir oil find in the South China Sea, state-owned oil giant CNOOC announced on Friday.
• The Azadi Briefing: Taliban Appears Split Over Women's Education Ban RFE/RL 08 Mar 2024
• Afghan Women, Lives Upended, Demand Taliban End Bans And Restrictions RFE/RL 08 Mar 2024 -- Afghan women on International Women's Day demanded the country's hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers end bans and restrictions that have turned their lives upside down since the militants seized power in August 2021 as international troops withdrew.
• Kachin army storms northern Myanmar, taking 14 camps Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- A rebel army in Myanmar seized over a dozen junta camps in the north and forced the surrender of an entire battalion, officials told Radio Free Asia on Friday.
• Gunmen abduct over 250 children from school in Nigeria Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- Gunmen have kidnapped more than 250 school children, including at least 100 children aged 12 or under, after raiding a school in a town in northwest Nigeria.
• Bougainville says PNG police appointment in breach of peace agreement Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- The Bougainville region of Papua New Guinea, which voted unambiguously for independence in 2019, has refused to recognize the central government's appointment of a senior police officer in the latest sign of tensions over the autonomous territory's future.
• Amid escalating violence in Mozambique, 60,000 children displaced within a month UNICEF 08 Mar 2024 -- "In the past month, attacks and fear of attacks in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, have triggered the displacement of almost 100,000 people, including more than 60,000 children.
• UN Security Council Calls for Peace in Sudan During Ramadan VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution Friday calling for a Ramadan cease-fire in Sudan, where the U.N. secretary-general warned this week that the humanitarian crisis has reached "colossal proportions."
• Security Council calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan UN News 08 Mar 2024 -- The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a key resolution on Sudan, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the war-torn country during the month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday.
• Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on children in Sudan at risk of famine UNICEF 08 Mar 2024 -- "The brutal war in Sudan is pushing the country toward famine and a catastrophic loss of life, especially among children. In what is now the world's largest child displacement crisis, severe malnutrition among young children is intensifying beyond the worst projections, and there are outbreaks of cholera, measles and malaria.
• The UK calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan in Sudan: UK statement at the UN Security Council UK FCDO 08 Mar 2024 -- Explanation of Vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

News Reports

• ODNI and CIA Release the Intelligence Community OSINT Strategy for 2024-2026 Director of National Intelligence 08 Mar 2024 -- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) today released the Intelligence Community (IC) Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Strategy for 2024-2026.
• US Army analyst arrested for selling military secrets Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- A U.S. Army intelligence analyst with "top secret" clearance was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sending troves of sensitive military planning documents related to China - including plans to defend Taiwan in case of an invasion - to a person in Hong Kong.
• Juan Orlando Hernández, Former President of Honduras, Convicted in Manhattan Federal Court of Conspiring to Import Cocaine into the United States and Related Firearms Offenses US Dept. of Justice 08 Mar 2024 -- A federal jury convicted Juan Orlando Hernández, also known as JOH, 55, of Honduras, on all three counts in the indictment, which included cocaine-importation and weapons offenses. Hernández is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26.
• Designating Entities Linked to Russia's Malign Activities in Africa US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024 -- The United States is today designating one Russia-based entity and one Central African Republic-based entity for their efforts in advancing malign activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group in Africa.
• Treasury Sanctions Companies and Individuals Advancing Russian Malign Activities in Africa US Treasury 08 Mar 2024 -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two companies - one in Russia and one in the Central African Republic (CAR) - for their efforts in advancing Russia's malign activities in CAR. Today's targets have played an important role enabling the Private Military Company 'Wagner' (Wagner Group) and, by extension, the activities of the Russian Federation. Those designated sought monetary gain from illicit natural resource extraction and provided material and financial support to the Wagner Group and other organizations associated with the enterprise of Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the former Wagner Group owner who died in August 2023 in a plane explosion in Russia.
• OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media condemns further crackdown on media freedom in Russia OSCE 08 Mar 2024 -- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, has condemned the imprisonment of Roman Ivanov, a journalist with RusNews, an online media outlet, and expressed concern regarding other setbacks related to freedom of expression and media freedom in the Russian Federation.
• Targeting of dissent in the Russian Federation is alarming and fundamentally undermines human rights and democracy, human rights office ODIHR says OSCE 08 Mar 2024 -- Targeted campaigns of arrest and prosecution as well as imprisonment of many of those who express dissent continues to intensify, raising fears for the safety of those imprisoned and growing concerns for the democratic future of the Russian Federation, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.
• In Mixed Message On International Women's Day, Putin Says Motherhood Is Women's 'Preordination' RFE/RL 08 Mar 2024 -- President Vladimir Putin sent a mixed message to Russia's women to mark International Women's Day, lauding their contribution in the war against Ukraine while emphasizing that the most important duty for women is the "relentless care of children."
• China's top legislature vows rule of law to defend national sovereignty, security Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- China's top legislature vowed on Friday to use rule of law to solve disputes involving foreign-related affairs, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Experts believe that defending national safety and sovereignty has increasingly become an important part in pushing for rule of law in China, and the country will continue improving legislature process in relative areas.
• Xi stresses deepening reform to comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the armed forces to forge a stronger sense of mission, deepen reform and promote innovation, so as to comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on March 8, 2024 PRC MofA 08 Mar 2024
• Biden Targets China During State of Union Speech VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized China's "unfair economic practices" and insisted he has done a better job standing up to Beijing than did former President Donald Trump, his rival in this year's presidential election.
• Safeguarding National Security Bill introduced into HKSAR LegCo for 1st, 2nd reading People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Legislative Council (LegCo) on Friday convened a meeting for the first and second reading of the Safeguarding National Security Bill.
• Hong Kong reveals new security law with harsher penalties Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- Hong Kong's government on Friday tabled a draft national security bill that proposes life sentences for anyone who "endangers national security," with sentences of up to 10 years' imprisonment for "illegally disclosing state secrets."
• US lawmakers call for release of Uyghur prisoners Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has called on the Biden administration to press China harder over the jailing of Uyghur activists and to focus on securing the release of four high-profile prisoners.
• China starts drafting law to boost confidence of private sector, vitality for high-quality growth Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- The work report of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Friday pledged to accelerate the formation of a law aimed at promoting the development of the private sector, sending a strong, fresh signal on policymakers' commitment to making continuous improvements in the business environment and boosting the high-quality development of the private sector for Chinese modernization.
• Chinese women largely excluded from highest echelons of power Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- Addressing an annual parliamentary session in Beijing, ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping extended "festive" greetings in honor of International Women's Day, which falls Friday, to women delegates to the world's biggest legislature earlier this week.
• Q&A: Former MI6 Official Talks of Turmoil at the Top in China and 'Partyfication' of Foreign Ministry VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- Nigel Inkster is the senior adviser for China at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and boasts a three-decade career at the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6. VOA's Natalie Liu recently spoke with him about the turmoil among China's political elite over the past year, most notably the removal of both Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
• Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- Senior Chinese leaders Wang Huning and Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday attended deliberations at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.
• China's top political advisory body holds 2nd plenary meeting of annual session People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- China's top political advisory body on Thursday held its second plenary meeting of the annual session.
• So-called forced labor in Xinjiang is "sheer nonsense": NPC deputies People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- The so-called forced labor in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was debunked by deputies of the Xinjiang delegation during an open panel discussion at the ongoing second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).
• Hong Kong fast-tracks the Article 23 legislation, lists offences and penalties in draft bill Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) fast-tracked the Basic Law Article 23 legislation by gazetting the draft bill on Friday and tabling it to the Legislative Council for the first reading and second reading on the same day. The draft bill listed a series of offences and penalties including new offences like treason, insurrection, acts with seditious intention, foreign interference and theft of state secrets and espionage.
• Prominent economist Justin Lin debunks 'peak China' claims, highlights China's potential to surpass US Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- A prominent Chinese economist and a national political advisor has debunked various negative claims about the Chinese economy, including suggestions about "peak China" and "Japanification," while highlighting China's unique advantages and its potential to surpass the US to become the world's biggest economy.
• Biden says U.S. supporting peace, stability across Taiwan Strait CNA 08 Mar 2024 -- United States President Joe Biden touched on security in the Taiwan Strait during his State of the Union address Thursday and also took aim at what he called "China's unfair economic practices."
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Mar. 8, 2024 ROC MND 08 Mar 2024
• Iran reserves right to respond Israeli threat: Envoy IRNA 08 Mar 2024 -- Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its legitimate and inherent right to take all necessary measures to respond to any threat or attack originating from the Israeli regime against its national security and interest and its people.
• Iran reserves legitimate right to respond to Israeli threats: UN ambassador Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations has warned against Israel's "military adventurism" in the region, noting that Tehran reserves the "inherent" right to respond to threats and attacks originating from the regime.
• Iranian Government 'Bears Responsibility' For Amini's Death, Brutal Crackdown, UN Mission Says RFE/RL 08 Mar 2024 -- The Iranian government "bears responsibility" for the physical violence that led to the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman who died in police custody in 2022, and for the brutal crackdown on largely peaceful street protests that followed, a report by a United Nations fact-finding mission says.
• Activists Demand International Boycott Of Iran To 'Delegitimize The Regime' RFE/RL 08 Mar 2024 -- Dozens of Iranian activists at home and abroad have called on the international community to boycott the Islamic republic for committing "gender apartheid."
• Canada imposes new sanctions against two individuals for their participation in violent repression of Iranian women and girls Canada 08 Mar 2024 -- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. This is the 17th package of sanctions imposed by Canada against Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini in October 2022.
• Raisi opens exploitation of two oil fields in Ahvaz IRNA 08 Mar 2024 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has inaugurated two oil fields, namely Sepehr and Jofeir, in Khuzestan province and the western Karun region.
• Pakistan: No ground for US objection to gas pipeline project with Iran Press TV 08 Mar 2024 -- Pakistan has dismissed the United States' objection to its decision to start work on a joint pipeline project between the country and Iran.
• Turkey, Somalia Announce Agreement to Explore for Oil and Gas VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- Somalia and Turkey have announced the signing of a deal to explore for oil and gas that further strengthens cooperation between the two countries, according to officials from both countries.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Haitian Prime Minister Henry US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024
• Government of Zimbabwe Forcibly Removed USAID Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Assessment Team US Dept. of State 08 Mar 2024 -- Last month, Zimbabwean officials abruptly detained and deported USAID officials and contractors, who were conducting an assessment of the development and governance context in Zimbabwe.
• World News in Brief: Rights violations in Iran, Haiti chaos grows, prison reform in face of pandemic threat UN News 08 Mar 2024 -- Violent repression of peaceful protests and pervasive institutional discrimination against women and girls has led to serious human rights violations by Iran - many amounting to crimes against humanity - the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the country said in its first report issued on Friday.
• Cambodia Ends Probe Into Abduction of Thai Activist VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- Authorities in Cambodia say they have closed a probe into missing Thai pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who was allegedly abducted in Phnom Penh four years ago.
• Nigeria's Constitution Review Makes Women's Inclusion a Priority VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- Nigeria's constitution is getting a revamp, and this time a committee tasked with the responsibility says women's inclusion in political offices is a priority.