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Defense Policy / Programs

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Defence Aden Duale DoD 19 Apr 2024
• Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa Army News 19 Apr 2024 -- U.S. Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team recently deployed to Africa to support Special Operations Command Africa.
• Russian Defence Minister inspects fulfilment of state defence order by defence industry enterprise in Omsk region Russia MoD 19 Apr 2024 -- Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspected fulfilment of state defence order at a defence industry enterprise in Omsk region that produces tanks and heavy flamethrower systems.
• Zelenskyy appeals to NATO members for arms, aid for Ukraine VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to NATO members Friday to step up arms deliveries to Ukraine, which is struggling with diminished munitions while Russia has an air advantage and more ground forces.
• It is not fair to resist bombs merely with bravery - the President during the extraordinary meeting of the Ukraine - NATO Council President of Ukraine 19 Apr 2024
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Participation in Virtual NATO-Ukraine Council Meeting in Defense Ministers Format DoD 19 Apr 2024
• NATO-Ukraine Council Looks to Speed Aid to Besieged Country DoD News 19 Apr 2024 -- Ukrainian leaders briefed NATO defense ministers about the situation on the battlefield and the country's critical needs during a remote meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council today.
• Secretary General chairs meeting of NATO-Ukraine Council, Allies agree to step up support NATO 19 Apr 2024 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg chaired a virtual meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of defence ministers on Friday (19 April 2024), to address Ukraine's urgent need for air defences and other military aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed Allies on the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's urgent needs.
• Europe falters on boosting weapons supplies to Ukraine, as US military aid held up VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- European nations are struggling to agree on providing urgently needed weapons to Ukraine as Kyiv's forces struggle to hold ground against invading Russian forces.
• Chinese navy is operating out of Cambodia's Ream base: US think tank Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2024 -- Cambodia appears to have given the Chinese navy extended and exclusive access to its naval base in Ream despite official claims that they only arrived for training purposes, a U.S. think tank said.
• China rebukes US deployment of missiles in Indo-Pacific VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Beijing officials are decrying the deployment of U.S. medium-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time since the Cold War.
• Computer-aided Han Kuang war games to refer to recent conflicts CNA 19 Apr 2024 -- The computerized war games of this year's Han Kuang military exercises began Friday and will include lessons learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• Preparing Army to deny adversaries Australia DOD 19 Apr 2024 -- Littoral manoeuvre, land-based strike and battlefield aviation are among the Australian Army capabilities to receive large investment commitments under the newly released Integrated Investment Program.
• Continued Progress on AUKUS Defense Trade Integration US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- AUKUS partners are making significant strides toward creating an innovative ecosystem that supports our shared interests and deepens our defense and security cooperation.
• Update on AUKUS export reform progress UK MOD 19 Apr 2024 -- The UK warmly welcomes the significant progress made with our partners the US and Australia to advance the AUKUS trilateral partnership, working together for a free and open Indo-Pacific and thereby enhancing stability, security, and prosperity in the region.
• N.Korea Has Conducted Test of 'Super-large Warhead' for Strategic Cruise Missile - Reports Sputnik 19 Apr 2024 -- North Korea has conducted a power test of a "super-large warhead" for a strategic cruise missile, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported citing North Korea's KCNA.
• DRDO hands over first batch of indigenous Leading Edge Actuators & Airbrake Control Module to HAL for LCA Tejas Mk1A India PIB 19 Apr 2024 -- DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has handed over the first batch of the indigenous Leading Edge Actuators and Airbrake Control Module to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), marking a significant leap towards self-reliance in aeronautical technologies
• United States Imposes Sanctions on Suppliers Contributing to Ballistic Missile Proliferation US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- The United States is committed to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime by taking action to disrupt procurement networks supporting proliferation activities of concern.
• U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Suppliers to Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Program US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- The Department of State is designating four entities pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These entities have supplied missile‐applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program.
• EU financial support for increased ammunition production in Sweden Government Offices of Sweden 19 Apr 2024 -- The European Commission has decided to provide financial support to industrial projects aimed at increasing ammunition production capacity.
• Minister Černochová met with Dutch Minister Ollongren to discuss ammunition initiative and sign MoU Czech Republic Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces 19 Apr 2024 -- The Ministry of Defence was the venue to a meeting between the Czech Minister Jana Černochová and Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The meeting focused on defence cooperation and aid to Ukraine. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries was signed on this occasion.
• Deputy Secretary Campbell's Meeting with Icelandic Foreign Minister Gylfadóttir US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Solo Press Availability US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024
• Joint Statement on the Fourth U.S. - Slovenia Strategic Dialogue US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Slovenia on the occasion of U.S. - Slovenia Strategic Dialogue.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre The White House 19 Apr 2024

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 19, 2024

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News


• 19 April 2024 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 19 Apr 2024

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• April 18: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Press TV 19 Apr 2024
• Number of Gaza martyrs exceed 34k IRNA 19 Apr 2024 -- The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip has increased to 34,012 since the start of the Zionist regime's aggression in this area.
• Palestinian death toll in Gaza nears 34,000: ministry People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 33,970, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday.
• UNRWA Situation Report #102 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 15-17 April 2024, is valid as of 17 April 2024 at 22:30 UNRWA 19 Apr 2024
• Over 14,000 kids killed in Israel's war on Gaza: UNICEF spokesman Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- A spokesman for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says more than 14,000 Palestinian children have so far been killed in Israel's ongoing war on Gaza.
• Blinken: Military operation in Rafah would have 'terrible consequences' for civilians VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- The Biden administration "cannot support a major military operation in Rafah," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a news conference Friday at the G7 meeting in Italy.
• Israel-Iran conflict eases pressure on Biden to condition aid VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- The threat of a wider war between Israel and Iran may give U.S. President Joe Biden more breathing room to provide military assistance to Israel without restrictions sought by progressive lawmakers of his own party.
• Designations Related to Destabilizing Activities Affecting the West Bank US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- The Department of State is today designating Ben Zion Gopstein, the founder and leader of Lehava, an organization whose members have engaged in destabilizing violence affecting the West Bank. Under Gopstein's leadership, Lehava and its members have been involved in acts or threats of violence against Palestinians, often targeting sensitive or volatile areas.
• Treasury Designates Entities Involved in Raising Funds for Violent Extremists in the West Bank US Treasury 19 Apr 2024 -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on two entities for their roles in establishing fundraising campaigns on behalf of Yinon Levi (Levi) and David Chai Chasdai (Chasdai), two violent extremists who were sanctioned on February 1, 2024 in connection with violence in the West Bank. The fundraising campaigns established by Mount Hebron Fund for Levi and by Shlom Asiraich for Chasdai generated the equivalent of $140,000 and $31,000, respectively.
• US sanctions entities for funding West Bank extremists targeting Palestinians VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- The United States on Friday sanctioned two entities accused of raising tens of thousands of dollars for extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
• U.S. votes against Palestinian request for full UN membership at Security Council People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- The United States on Thursday voted against a Palestinian request for full UN membership at the Security Council.
• U.S. votes against Palestinian request for full UN membership at Security Council People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- The United States on Thursday voted against a Palestinian request for full UN membership at the Security Council.
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant DoD 19 Apr 2024
• 'Irresponsible, unconstructive': Iran slams US veto of Palestinian bid for full UN membership Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the "irresponsible and unconstructive" US veto of a Palestinian request to the United Nations Security Council for full UN membership, blocking the world body's recognition of a Palestinian state.
• G7 Italy 2024 Foreign Ministers' Statement on the Situation in the Middle East US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.
• No: 65, 19 April 2024, Regarding the Recent Developments in Our Region Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Apr 2024
• OIC slams US for blocking Palestine's bid for full UN membership Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has slammed the United States for blocking Palestine's request for full membership in the United Nations, amid a genocidal Israeli war on Gaza.
• Update: History and people will remember this regressive action by US: Chinese FM on US veto of Palestine's full membership to UN Global Times 19 Apr 2024 -- China is very disappointed with the US decision, emphasizing that the urgency of accepting Palestine as a full member of the UN is now more apparent than ever. China will continue its efforts and play a constructive role to ensure that Palestine enjoys the same rights as all other UN member states, said China's permanent representative to the UN, following the US veto of Palestine's request for full UN membership.
• Palestine condemns U.S. veto of its full UN membership People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- Palestine condemned on Thursday "in the strongest terms" the U.S. veto on Palestine's full membership in the United Nations.
• Lebanon's Hezbollah missile attack on gathering of Zionist soldiers IRNA 19 Apr 2024 -- The Lebanese Islamic Resistance on Friday night announced that a missile attack was launched on the gathering of the Zionist soldiers on the border of occupied Palestine.
• Lebanon's Hezbollah continues its attacks on positions of Zionist regime IRNA 19 Apr 2024 -- The Lebanese Islamic Resistance has targeted the positions and military bases of the Zionist regime on five occasions since Friday morning.
• Tulkarm Brigade commander killed by Israeli forces in raid on refugee camp Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- The commander of a Palestinian resistance group affiliated with Saraya al-Quds, the military wing of the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad movement, has been killed in violent clashes with the Israeli regime's forces in the occupied West Bank.
• Iraqi resistance forces hit Israeli Ovda air base Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has said it carried out a strike on the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel.
• Hackers break into Israeli military's computers, access trove of documents Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- A decentralized hacker group says it has managed to break into the Israeli military's computers, accessing a trove of "top secret" documents.
• 'Anonymous' Hackers Claim to Have Pilfered Over 20 Gigabytes of IDF Files Sputnik 19 Apr 2024 -- Hacker collective known as Anonymous announced that it managed to breach the IDF's cyber defenses and abscond with a vast trove of data.

Other Conflicts

• Retaliatory spiral in Middle East must end, says UN chief after reported strikes on Iran UN News 19 Apr 2024 -- Following reports of alleged Israeli strikes inside Iran near a nuclear power station early Friday, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a new appeal to all parties to "stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East".
• Intl community calls for restraint amid Iran-Israel escalation fears Global Times 19 Apr 2024 -- With sounds of explosions reverberating around central Iran on Friday morning, concerns of an all-out war in the Middle East are growing all over the world, as media reported that it was Israel that launched the strike, just a few days after Iran's first direct attack in retaliation to Israel's bombing of its diplomatic mission in Syria on April 1.
• Tel Aviv, Tehran downplay Israeli airstrike on Iran VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Both Tel Aviv and Tehran downplayed Israel's predawn aerial strike inside Iran on Friday, suggesting neither side wants to see the situation escalate into a full-scale regional conflict.
• Situation normal after air defenses fire at 'suspicious objects' in Iran Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- The sound of explosions have been heard near the central Iranian city of Isfahan and Tabriz in the country's northwest after air defense systems fired at "suspicious objects" early Friday.
• Israel's Limited Attack On Iran Appears Aimed At De-Escalating Conflict RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Israel had vowed to make Iran pay for Tehran's unprecedented drone and missile attack on April 13.
• Air defense system activated as blast heard in Iran's Isfahan: Official IRNA 19 Apr 2024 -- Iran activated an air defense system in the early hours of Friday after the sound of an explosion heard near a major airbase in the central province of Isfahan, an Iranian official says.
• US not involved in Israeli strikes on Iran, says Blinken VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday the United States was not involved in Israel's predawn aerial strike inside Iran and declined to confirm reports that Washington was notified of Israeli plans shortly before the attack.
• Apparent Israeli Air Attack Strikes Near Iranian City Of Isfahan RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Israel's military reportedly struck targets inside Iran in retaliation for an unprecedented air attack Tehran launched last weekend on its sworn enemy, but the limited scope of the operation and a muted Iranian response appeared to indicate an escalation of the conflict had been avoided.
• Iran Has Strong Options For Retaliation Against Israel, Including Going Nuclear RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- If Iran decides to respond to a suspected Israeli strike on its territory on April 19, it might not have to pull its punches like it did the last time.
• Iran Versus Israel: Who Has The Military Edge? RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Iran and Israel have traded attacks and threats in recent weeks, increasing fears of a full-scale war between the archfoes.
• US Media Claims Israel Targeted Air Defense Radar at Iranian Nuclear Facility Sputnik 19 Apr 2024 -- An air defense radar at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility was the target of Israel's strike early on Friday, ABC News reported, citing a senior US official.
• IRGC spokesman: Claim on Dimona power plant being damaged in Iran's attack on Zionist regime is false IRNA 19 Apr 2024 -- Spokesman of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) called the publication of news from a Zionist media that the building of the Dimona power plant was damaged in Iran's punitive attack against the Zionist regime false and called it a malicious act in line with the enemy's psychological operations.
• Iran's response to Israel will be 'immediate, at maximum level', FM tells CNN Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says his country's military reaction would be "immediate and at a maximum level" in case the Israeli regime commits folly again and decides to take a measure against the Islamic Republic.
• Next response to Zionist regime will be immediate, severe: Iran FM warns IRNA 19 Apr 2024 -- Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian has warned that the Zionist regime will be met with a quick and severe response in case of its another mischief following the Islamic Republic's retaliatory strikes on the Israeli positions in the occupied territories.
• Raeisi: Operation True Promise 'a necessary response' to Israel Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has commended the Islamic Republic's retaliatory strikes on the Israeli-occupied territories on April 13, stressing that the military operation showcased the country's power and was a necessary response to the illegal regime.
• Operation True Promise yields four 'historic' achievements, says top commander Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Haydari says Iran's recent retaliatory operation against Israel constituted four historic achievements, noting that the operation changed the balance of power in the region.
• Israel Reportedly Launches Retaliatory Attack On Iran RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Israel has launched an attack in Iran, U.S. media reported quoting U.S. government officials, in what appears to be retaliatory strikes for the unprecedented air attack Tehran launched last weekend on its sworn enemy.
• Iran retaliation against Israel ensured no aggression would go unanswered: Houthi Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement praises Iran's recent retaliatory strikes against the Israeli regime.
• Israel Attacked Air Defense Objects in South Syria, Causing Damage - Syrian Defense Ministry Sputnik 19 Apr 2024 -- Israel has carried out strikes on air defense facilities in southern Syria, causing material damage, the Syrian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
• Israeli warplanes, Daesh terrorists attack Syria, Iraq Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- Israeli military aircraft have carried out a string of airstrikes against positions in Syria's southwestern provinces of Daraa and As-Suwayda as well as neighboring Iraq.
• The Azadi Briefing: Taliban Deals Another Blow To Afghan Media RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024
• High-profile Afghan Taliban religious scholar assassinated in Pakistan VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Afghanistan's Taliban government confirmed Friday that one of its leading religious scholars was assassinated by unknown assailants in neighboring Pakistan.
• Thai leaders ready to increase humanitarian aid in Myanmar Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2024 -- The Thai government is looking to expand humanitarian aid to Myanmar as fighting between junta forces and rebels intensifies across the border in Kayin state, a senior spokesman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Friday.
• 5,000 flee military raids on villages in Myanmar's Sagaing region Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2024 -- Nearly 5,000 villagers in central Myanmar's Sagaing region have fled their homes after junta troops conducted raids in Monywa township, home to the region's largest city, residents told RFA Burmese.
• Myanmar: Rohingyas in firing line as Rakhine conflict intensifies UN News 19 Apr 2024 -- The UN's top human rights official on Friday raised alarm over the escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state between junta and opposition forces amid reports of the military regime forcing members of the minority Muslim Rohingya community to join their ranks.
• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Borg and Secretary General Schmid respond to recent political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina OSCE 19 Apr 2024 -- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid made the following statement regarding the actions taken by the Republika Srpska National Assembly to unilaterally transfer competences from the State to the entity level with the aim of creating a parallel electoral system within the entity.
• Srebrenica Genocide Must Be Condemned, Denial Banned, 2 Members Of Bosnian Presidency Tell UN RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- The 1995 genocide in Srebrenica must be globally condemned, support for victims must be expressed, and denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals be banned to prevent future similar tragedies, two members of the tripartite presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina told a UN session on April 19.
• Armenia Agrees To Return 4 Villages To Azerbaijan As First Step To Define Borders RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Armenia has agreed to return four abandoned border villages that it has controlled since the early 1990s to Azerbaijan as the initial step in defining the frontier between the two bitter South Caucasus rivals, the countries said in identical statements on April 19.
• G7 Urges Armenia, Azerbaijan To Stay 'Fully Committed' To Peace Process RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- The Group of Seven (G7) nations have called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to remain "fully committed" to the peace process as the group's foreign ministers issued a communique after their meeting in Capri, Italy, on April 19.
• The Kazakh-Uzbek 'Tandem': Good For Central Asia, Not So Good For Karakalpak Activists RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- The relationship between the two most-populous countries in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, has arguably never been better.
• War in Sudan is 'a crisis of epic proportions' as atrocities abound UN News 19 Apr 2024 -- The year-long ongoing war in Sudan is "a crisis of epic proportions", and the world must rethink the way it supports the Sudanese people amid rampant atrocities against civilians and no end in sight, top UN and African Union officials warned the Security Council on Friday.
• Sudan: Famine risk is real, FAO warns UN News 19 Apr 2024 -- Millions are on the brink of famine in Sudan but "a window of opportunity" exists for the international community to act now as the main planting season approaches, a senior official with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday.
• Sudan is now in the grip of the world's worst hunger and displacement crisis: UK statement at the UN Security Council UK FCDO 19 Apr 2024 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.
• Security Council Hears Briefers on Situation in Sudan UN Security Council 19 Apr 2024
• UN: Growing fears of rebel attack on Darfur's El Fasher VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Two senior United Nations officials raised the alarm Friday that an attack on the North Darfur capital of El Fasher could be imminent and may trigger a deadly intercommunal conflict across Darfur.

News Reports

• Swiss Armed Forces to take part in world's largest cyber exercise Federal Council - Swiss Government 19 Apr 2024 -- In April, the Swiss Armed Forces Cyber Command is taking part in 'Locked Shields 2024', the world's largest cyber defence exercise, along with national and international partners. The exercise will provide practice in warding off cyber attacks on a country's critical infrastructure, by training on the virtual infrastructure of a fictitious country. The exercise is largely conducted in a decentralised manner on a virtual training platform.
• Chief of National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section Matthew F. Blue Delivers Remarks at EU Network Meeting on Battlefield Evidence in The Hague US Dept. of Justice 19 Apr 2024
• Readout of Justice Department and EU Network Meeting on Battlefield Evidence US Dept. of Justice 19 Apr 2024
• Dark Web Vendor Sentenced for Distributing Narcotics and Ordered to Forfeit $150M US Dept. of Justice 19 Apr 2024 -- An Indian national was sentenced today to five years in prison for selling controlled substances on dark web marketplaces and ordered to forfeit approximately $150 million.
• Rising Rivers Force More Evacuations in Kazakhstan, Russia RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Water levels are still rising in rivers crossing Kazakhstan and Russia as floods continue to wreak havoc and force the evacuation of thousands from towns and cities.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with the radio stations Sputnik, Govorit Moskva, and Komsomolskaya Pravda, Moscow, April 19, 2024 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Apr 2024
• Two Florida Steel Traders Sentenced for Money Laundering and Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violations US Dept. of Justice 19 Apr 2024 -- John Can Unsalan, aka Hurrem Can Unsalan, the president of Orlando, Florida-based steel trading firm Metalhouse LLC, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering to promote violations of U.S. sanctions against Sergey Kurchenko, a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch. Unsalan's former business associate, Sergey Karpushkin, a Belarusian national residing in Miami, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on April 19, 2024 PRC MofA 19 Apr 2024
• Japan, China bicker over Beijing's actions in Indo-Pacific VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- China is challenging Japan's latest analysis of the threat posed to the Indo-Pacific region by Beijing as a hyped-up threat and false accusation.
• Taiwan protests China's expanded use of controversial flight paths CNA 19 Apr 2024 -- Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) on Friday reiterated its objection to the decision by the Chinese authorities to expand the use of controversial flight paths close to the airspace of Taiwan-controlled islands off the coast of China which went into effect that day.
• Mainland says flight route adjustment benefits both sides of Taiwan Strait People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- The initiation of the west-to-east operation of W122 and W123 routes that connect with M503 route, effective Friday, benefits both sides of the Taiwan Strait, said a Chinese mainland spokesperson.
• Activation of M503's connecting routes to benefit passengers across Straits Global Times 19 Apr 2024 -- The M503 flight path's connecting routes of W122 and W123 from west to east have been activated starting Friday, a move that safeguards the rights and interests of passengers and is beneficial for people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council said on Friday.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Apr. 19, 2024 ROC MND 19 Apr 2024
• Negotiation Held between Vice Foreign Ministers of DPRK and Belarus KCNA 19 Apr 2024 -- A Negotiation was held between Im Chon Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Yevgeny Shestakov, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, who is on a visit to the DPRK, on Friday.
• Press Statement of DPRK Vice Foreign Minister KCNA 19 Apr 2024 -- Kim Son Gyong, vice-minister for International Organizations of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, Friday released the following press statement "The Asian trip by the U.S. representative to the UN indicates the present state of the U.S. which has lost its existence in the international arena":
• Khamenei steps up pressure to enforce 'Islamic standards' across Iran VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Over last weekend, as Iran began its air assault against Israel, at home it announced new enforcement of the mandatory wearing of the hijab. The initiative is called the Nour (Light) Plan.
• U.S. sanctions Iran's drone program, steel industry, automaker in response to attack against Israel People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Iran on Thursday targeting Tehran's drone program, steel industry and an automobile company, a move he said was aimed at "holding Iran responsible" for its recent attack against Israel.
• Junta troops kill 4 in post-amnesty Myanmar prison riot Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2024 -- Prison and junta authorities killed four inmates following a protest in northern Myanmar jail, a resident told Radio Free Asia on Friday.
• Voting begins in India for first phase of general elections People's Daily 19 Apr 2024 -- Voting for the first phase of India's general elections began Friday, kicking off a seven-phased process lasting until June 1.
• Voters begin casting ballots in weeks-long election in India Press TV 19 Apr 2024 -- India's mammoth general elections have begun, marking the start of a seven-phase democratic exercise for the world's largest democracy that will span over six weeks with a billion people eligible to vote.
• With Modi as frontrunner, India's mammoth election gets underway VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- From remote states tucked in the Himalayan mountains in the north to the deep south, millions of Indians lined up at polling booths Friday at the start of a phased election in which the country's populist prime minister, Narendra Modi, is widely seen as the frontrunner.
• Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Friday, 19 April 2024 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Apr 2024
• Terrorist Attack in Karachi Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Apr 2024 -- The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns today's heinous terrorist attack in Karachi's Landhi Area. All necessary measures will be taken to bring the perpetrators to justice. Such dastardly acts only strengthen the resolve of the Government and the people of Pakistan to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.
• 5 Japanese nationals narrowly survive Karachi suicide attack, police say VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- Police in Pakistan's port city of Karachi said Friday two suicide bombers attacked a van carrying five Japanese autoworkers, but they all escaped unhurt.
• Former Bulgarian PM Blasts Powerful Oligarch Peevski As The Country's 'Biggest Evil RFE/RL 19 Apr 2024 -- Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov is clear on who was to blame for the recent collapse of his government: the U.S.-sanctioned oligarch Delyan Peevski.
• Elections in the Solomon Islands US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2024 -- The United States offers its congratulations to the people of Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force on successfully executing an orderly and efficient election day.
• World News in Brief: Green light for new cholera vaccine, Ukraine attacks condemned, action against racism call, Brazil rights defenders alert UN News 19 Apr 2024 -- A new oral vaccine for cholera has been given the green light for manufacture by the UN health agency allowing for the massive scale-up of lifesaving immunisation in the world's most vulnerable communities.
• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 'an Indispensable Partner, Inclusive Platform for Dialogue', Speaker Tells Security Council UN Security Council 19 Apr 2024 -- During an era of "profound uncertainty" and as the international rules-based order "is being rigorously tested", the Head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) told the Security Council today that belief in the multilateral system is at the core of the regional group's agenda for 2024, as it focuses on resolving conflicts in the region including the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine.
• US calls for transparency from Cambodia over China-backed canal VOA 19 Apr 2024 -- The United States is urging Cambodia to be transparent over a proposed $1.7 billion canal financed by China that is worrying Vietnam due to its potential impact on water resource management.