• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S. Strikes Underground Targets in Yemen DoD News 17 Oct 2024 -- Late Wednesday evening, the Pentagon announced that the United States had deployed B-2 Spirit bombers to the Middle East to destroy targets in Yemen. The target sites, controlled by the Houthis, were buried deep underground, said the Pentagon press secretary during a briefing today.
• Houthi vows no letup in anti-Israeli operations after US, UK bomb Yemen Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- The leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement says Yemen will continue its operations against Israel and its allies in support of the Palestinian and Lebanese nations.
• US, UK target Yemeni capital with 'stealth bombers' for first time Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- US and British warplanes have bombed Yemen's capital city of Sana'a and several other areas, amid the country's solidarity with the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and the Lebanese nation in the face of Israel's brutal aggression.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing DoD 17 Oct 2024
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Opening Remarks at the D-ISIS Ministerial in Brussels, Belgium DoD 17 Oct 2024
• Austin Highlights Key Lessons for Continued Success in Global Counterterrorism DoD News 17 Oct 2024 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today highlighted three lessons that he views as key to ongoing success against global terrorism while speaking at NATO's Ministerial of the force contributing members of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, or D-ISIS, in Brussels.
• US Army's 1st Cavalry Division trains Polish Cadets Army News 17 Oct 2024 -- Task Force Pegasus Troopers partnered with Polish instructors to train junior cadets at the Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis Junior Training Camp, held from Oct. 7 to 10, at the Jana Wendy Shooting Training Center in Tuchola, Poland. The camp, named in honor of fallen U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, focused on leadership, resilience, and basic military skills for Polish teenagers aged 14 to 17.
• Multi-domain test event Emerald Flag provides opportunity for XQ-58A to demonstrate tactical data link integration USMC News 17 Oct 2024 -- The Marine Corps' XQ-58A Valkyrie completed its latest test flight and first multi- service integration effort during Emerald Flag 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, this October.
• U.S., UAE Forces Begin Exercise Iron Defender in Arabian Gulf US Navy 17 Oct 2024 -- U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard forces joined the United Arab Emirates naval defense force for exercise Iron Defender 24, Oct. 14-24. This maritime exercise will take place in the UAE and its territorial and coastal waters.
• VP-10 Participates in Subject Matter Expert Exchange with Royal New Zealand Air Force US Navy 17 Oct 2024 -- The "Red Lancers" of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 participated in a subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) alongside the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) 5 Squadron, Sept. 21-28.
• USS Oak Hill arrives in Larnaca, Cyprus US Navy 17 Oct 2024 -- The Harpers Ferry-class amphibious landing dock ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC) arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus, for a scheduled port visit, Oct. 17, 2024.
• CNO Press Briefing: Atlantic Council US Navy 17 Oct 2024
• Update 2: Search Continues for VAQ-130 Aviators US Navy Press Release 17 Oct 2024 -- The U.S. Navy, along with local law enforcement and partner agencies, continue search and rescue efforts on the mountain where a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed on Oct. 15.
• NRO Official Discusses Agency's Focus on Maintaining U.S. Intelligence Edge DoD News 17 Oct 2024 -- The National Reconnaissance Office remains focused on maintaining the United States' intelligence advantage amid rapid technological advancements and evolving threats, a senior leader from the agency said today.
• DOD Simplifies Process for Defense Contractors to Comply With Cybersecurity Rules DoD News 17 Oct 2024 -- The Defense Department on Friday released for public inspection the final cybersecurity maturity model certification program rule. The rule includes changes which make it simpler for private sector companies to comply with the cybersecurity requirements which must be in place before they can bid on defense contracts.
• NATO Defence Ministers Meeting opens with a focus on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific NATO 17 Oct 2024 -- NATO Defence Ministers agreed on Thursday (October 17) to boost cooperation with their Indo-Pacific partners and to step up support for Ukraine.
• NATO launches five new multinational cooperation initiatives that enhance deterrence and defence NATO 17 Oct 2024 -- On Thursday (17 October 2024), NATO launched five initiatives designed to address some of the most critical areas for Allied deterrence and defence. These new multinational High Visibility Projects will involve a total of 26 Allies and will help deliver critical capabilities that will enhance interoperability among NATO forces.
• NATO steps up Alliance-wide secure data sharing NATO 17 Oct 2024 -- On Thursday (17 October, 2024), NATO launched a new initiative to foster secure data sharing at speed and scale to further enhance situational awareness and data-driven decision-making.
• UK to support NATO space launch capabilities and artillery supplies UK MOD 17 Oct 2024 -- Defence Secretary agrees to range of initiatives from boosting ease of access to space and virtual training to developing cutting-edge drones.
• NATO exercise Iron Wolf underscores multinational force collaboration, interoperability Army News 17 Oct 2024 -- U.S. Army helicopter pilots played a crucial role in exercise Iron Wolf, an annual NATO multinational military exercise designed to strengthen partnerships, enhance readiness, and improve interoperability with Allied forces.
• Russian and Chinese warships enter Qingdao port after completing joint patrol in Asia-Pacific region Russia MoD 17 Oct 2024 -- A ship detachment of the Russian and Chinese navies entered the Qingdao port of the People's Republic of China after completing the fourth joint patrol in Asia-Pacific region.
• Baltic Fleet's guard ship Neustrashimy makes business call to port of Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo) Russia MoD 17 Oct 2024 -- The Baltic Fleet's guard ship Neustrashimy made a call at the port of Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo).
• Australia to provide Abrams tanks to Ukraine Australia DOD 17 Oct 2024 -- The Albanese Government underlined its steadfast support for Ukraine announcing the gifting of 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. This will bolster the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion.
• The arms and military equipment Germany is sending to Ukraine Germany - Federal Government 17 Oct 2024 -- Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.
• Ukraine Deserves to Become NATO's 33rd Member - Volodymyr Zelenskyy During Meeting with Mark Rutte President of Ukraine 17 Oct 2024
• Greece Will Provide Additional Resources to Accelerate F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots - Bilateral Agreement President of Ukraine 17 Oct 2024
• Targeting Russian Attack Drone Production Used in War Against Ukraine US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2024 -- The United States is today imposing sanctions on three entities and one individual involved in the development and production of Russia's Garpiya series long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which has been deployed in Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.
• Treasury Targets Actors Involved in Drone Production for Russia's War Against Ukraine US Treasury 17 Oct 2024 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is targeting three entities and one individual for their involvement in the development and production of Russia's Garpiya series long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Garpiya has been deployed by Russia in its brutal war against Ukraine, destroying critical infrastructure and causing mass casualties. Designed and developed by People's Republic of China (PRC)-based experts, the Garpiya is produced at PRC-based factories in collaboration with Russian defense firms before transferring the drones to Russia for use against Ukraine.
• US sanctions Chinese entities for building, shipping Russian Garpiya drones used in Ukraine VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- The United States on Thursday announced fresh sanctions targeting Chinese and Russian entities for their role in designing, building and shipping attack drones that have resulted in mass casualties in Ukraine.
• Chinese Drone Companies Targeted By Latest U.S. Sanctions RFE/RL 17 Oct 2024 -- The United States on October 17 imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies and an affiliated Russian company involved in making and shipping drones that Russia has used in its full-scale war in Ukraine.
• 2024 Australia-China Defence Coordination Dialogue Australia DOD 17 Oct 2024 -- On 17 October, the Australia-China Defence Coordination Dialogue was held in Beijing, China. Mr Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary International Policy, Department of Defence led the Australian delegation. Major General Ye Jiang, Deputy Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation, led China's delegation.
• Canadian Armed Forces and Partner Nations gather at CFB Gagetown for Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER Canada 17 Oct 2024 -- Over 400 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), alongside soldiers from nine partner nations, are participating in Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER 2024, a Canadian Army-led international counter-explosive exercise, at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick.
• New debate ignited over Seoul's right to nuclear reprocessing VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- As North Korea escalates tensions on the Korean Peninsula, a new debate has ignited in Seoul over whether South Korea should have the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel — a step that would allow for the extraction of a fissile material that can be used to build nuclear weapons.
• The United Kingdom has designated a brigade for the defence of Estonia and will send Challenger 3 tanks to Estonia Estonia MoD 17 Oct 2024 -- Today in Brussels, on the sidelines of the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and the United Kingdom's Defence Secretary John Healey signed a bilateral Defence Roadmap.
• Britain bolsters NATO's eastern flank with new pact with Estonia and new cooperation on missile defence UK MOD 17 Oct 2024 -- The Defence Secretary will sign new defence roadmap with Estonia, underlining key NATO commitment and will begin cooperation with Allies on missile defence.
• Joint exercise Sama Sama in South China Sea enters key phase Radio Free Asia 17 Oct 2024 -- Joint exercise Sama Sama, led by the Philippines and the United States, entered a crucial phase that simulated realistic scenarios in the South China Sea on the same day that China held military drills around Taiwan.
• Defence: "From fragmentation to common action". Keynote address by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the European Defence & Security Conference European External Action Service (EEAS) 17 Oct 2024
• We need to promote a 3% Alliance-wide defence spending, says L. Kasčiūnas at the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting Lithuania MND 17 Oct 2024 -- Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas is attending the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels. The meeting is dedicated to the most pressing NATO security and defence issues, particularly the new NATO defence plans, air defence and assistance to Ukraine.
• Joint Statement on Arctic Security and Defence Canada 17 Oct 2024 -- Under the auspice of the Northern Defence Dialogue meeting held on the margins of the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting on 17 October 2024, the defence ministers of Canada, Denmark together with the Foreign Minister of the Faroe Islands and a representative from Greenland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and representatives from Iceland and the United States reaffirm their shared commitment to enhanced collaboration on security and defence in the Arctic.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Qatari Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2024
• Remarks by President Biden After Air Force One Arrival | Schönefeld, Germany The White House 17 Oct 2024
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan En Route Berlin, Germany The White House 17 Oct 2024
• Background Press Call on the President's Travel to Berlin, Germany The White House 17 Oct 2024
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2024

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Oct. 17, 2024

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 17 October 2024 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 Oct 2024

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• Oct. 16: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Press TV 17 Oct 2024
• Death of Hamas leader brings hope, peril VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar after what appears to have been a chance encounter with Israeli forces has sparked renewed hope in Washington that the conflict that has ravaged Gaza and set the Middle East on the brink of a regional war could give way to a potentially peaceful resolution.
• Israel says it killed Hamas leader who masterminded October 7 terror attack VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Israel announced Thursday it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the militants' October 7, 2023, terror attack that sparked the Gaza war.
• Yahya Sinwar: Israel's most wanted man VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli military operation, was Israel's most wanted man.
• Death Of Hamas Leader Sinwar Prompts Calls For Cease-Fire In Gaza War RFE/RL 17 Oct 2024 -- Yahya Sinwar, considered to be the mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in Gaza between Israel and the militant group Hamas, has been killed in southern Gaza in a major victory for the Israeli military.
• Who Was Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar? RFE/RL 17 Oct 2024 -- Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, is dead, according to Israel.
• Hamas Leader's Death Makes Israeli 'Hit List' Shorter But Might Not Alter Gaza War RFE/RL 17 Oct 2024 -- The death of Yahya Sinwar just months after he was named the top leader of Hamas highlights the difficulties the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group has in protecting high value targets from Israel, but it might not have a major effect on the course of the war in the Gaza Strip.
• Dozens killed, 160 injured in Israeli bombing of school in northern Gaza Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- In one of the deadliest attacks, dozens of people were killed after Israeli warplanes targeted the Abu Hussein School, housing displaced Palestinians in the Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza.
• Zionist regime once again claims assassination of Yahya Sinwar IRNA 17 Oct 2024 -- The Zionist regime has once again claimed to have assassinated Yahya Sinwar, the new political bureau chief of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, in the Gaza Strip.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Says IDF Attacks on UN Peacekeepers 'Mistake' Sputnik 17 Oct 2024 -- The Israeli army's shelling of the positions of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was a "mistake," and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the country's Foreign Ministry are negotiating to prevent similar incidents, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said.
• Israel attacks Lebanon's Bekaa Valley shortly after evacuation order Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- The Israeli military has conducted aerial assaults on areas in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley shortly after ordering residents to leave the region.
• Sirens blare amid Hezbollah attack on Israeli targets overnight IRNA 17 Oct 2024 -- Sirens were heard across occupied Palestine as Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement carried out the widespread rocket attack on Israeli targets overnight.
• Total of 48 Lebanese Localities Hit by Israeli Bombings During Day - Reports Sputnik 17 Oct 2024 -- Israeli aircraft and artillery struck 48 settlements in southern and eastern Lebanon on Wednesday, Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported.
• Lebanon: Drone brought down by UNIFIL ship as cross-border fire intensifies UN News 17 Oct 2024 -- The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on Thursday that one of its Maritime Task Force vessels off the southern Lebanese coast intercepted an approaching drone.
• Threat of famine persists in Gaza, experts warn VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- A United Nations-backed food security report warned Thursday that most of the residents of the Gaza Strip will face emergency levels of hunger in the coming months and that the threat of famine persists as aid dwindles and winter approaches.
• Over 1.8 million in Gaza face extreme hunger UN News 17 Oct 2024 -- More than 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing "extremely critical" levels of hunger, with 70 per cent of crop fields destroyed and livelihoods decimated during the ongoing Israeli military offensive, a UN-backed food security assessment released on Thursday has revealed.
• Lebanon: Cholera fears for communities uprooted by war UN News 17 Oct 2024 -- The UN health agency has warned that a first case of highly infectious cholera virus has been detected in northern Lebanon, raising fears that those displaced by Israeli bombardment may already be at risk from the potentially deadly disease.
• UN humanitarian aid convoy reaches Lebanon from Jordan UNRWA 17 Oct 2024 -- A joint UN convoy including UNRWA has successfully delivered urgently needed aid to Lebanon for the first time since violence escalated there at the end of September.
• Secretary-General's solidarity message to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) UN Secretary-General 17 Oct 2024
• WHO in Lebanon working to stop cholera spread amid conflict WHO 17 Oct 2024
• New Gaza food security assessment sees famine risk persisting amid ongoing fighting and restricted aid operations WFP 17 Oct 2024 -- The risk of famine will persist throughout Gaza this winter unless fighting stops and more humanitarian aid reaches families, according to a new food security assessment by experts from 16 UN agencies and NGOs. Twelve months of fighting have decimated livelihoods, drastically reduced food production and severely restricted both commercial and humanitarian supply lines, the report said.
• Readout of President Joe Biden's Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel The White House 17 Oct 2024
• Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Death of Yahya Sinwar The White House 17 Oct 2024
• Statement from President Joe Biden on the Death of Yahya Sinwar The White House 17 Oct 2024
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli President Herzog US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2024
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Killing of Yahya Sinwar of Hamas DoD 17 Oct 2024 -- "The killing today of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, by Israeli forces is a major achievement in counterterrorism."
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant DoD 17 Oct 2024
• On the Death of the Terrorist Yahya Sinwar US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2024 -- "Yahya Sinwar was a vicious and unrepentant terrorist responsible for the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust."
• US Hopes Hamas Will Return to Ceasefire Negotiations With Israel Sputnik 17 Oct 2024 -- Washington hopes that Hamas is still willing to engage in truce negotiations with Israel given the fact that the Jewish state had agreed to the previously proposed deal, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday.
• US extends immigration protections to Lebanese nationals VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday new guidelines offering temporary immigration protection to some Lebanese nationals in the United States, allowing them to remain and work in the country.
• Foreign Minister Baerbock on the death of Yahya Sinwar Germany Federal Foreign Office 17 Oct 2024
• EU nations in UNIFIL agree to exert "utmost" pressure on Israel People's Daily 17 Oct 2024 -- Sixteen countries of the European Union (EU) contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have agreed to increase political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to avoid further incidents involving the mission.
• Foreign Secretary statement on aid to Gaza UK FCDO 17 Oct 2024 -- David Lammy's statement on aid to Gaza, on eve of government commitment to aid match DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.
• Northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south: UK statement at the UN Security Council UK FCDO 17 Oct 2024 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
• DFA Statement to the status of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) Philippines DFA 17 Oct 2024 -- The Philippines strongly condemns any action that endangers the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers as they fulfill their mandate in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Other Conflicts

• Nearly half the world's 1.1 billion poor live in conflict settings UN News 17 Oct 2024 -- More than a billion people worldwide live in acute poverty and 40 per cent are in countries exposed to violent conflict, according to a UN-backed study published on Thursday.
• China says coast guard expelled Japanese vessel for 'illegal' entry into territorial waters Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- China says its coast guard has expelled a Japanese fishing boat for illegal entry into its territorial waters near contested islands in the East China Sea.
• Two civilians injured in Israeli strike on Syria's Latakia Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- Israel has carried out a new air raid on Syria, injuring at least two civilians in the western port city of Latakia.
• Statement by David Carden, Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, on the escalation of hostilities in north-west Syria, 17 October 2024 UNOCHA 17 Oct 2024
• Border town 'out in the open' as ethnic army captures Myanmar junta camp Radio Free Asia 17 Oct 2024 -- Insurgent forces in eastern Myanmar captured a junta base close to the Thai border on Thursday morning, a Karen National Union spokesperson told Radio Free Asia.
• Suicide bomber kills 7 in Somali capital VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Police in Somalia say a suicide bomber killed at least seven people Thursday when he detonated an explosives-laden vest in front of a crowded restaurant in the capital, Mogadishu.

News Reports

• UK strikes at the heart of Russian energy revenues funding Putin's war UK FCDO 17 Oct 2024 -- The UK has today unleashed the largest package of sanctions to date against Putin's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
• Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and EU Special Envoy for Sanctions David O'Sullivan: we must keep enforcing the existing sanctions and eradicate "the shadow fleet" Latvia MFA 17 Oct 2024 -- Russia's access to dual-use goods and technologies that can be used for military purposes has been significantly reduced. While Russia is actively looking for ways to circumvent sanctions, it becomes slower, more complex and more expensive to do that. Oil and gas exports are one of Russia's main sources of income. The Shadow Fleet plays a major role in providing Russia with trade opportunities.
• How Does Central Asia Fit Into Russia's Nuclear Energy Diplomacy? RFE/RL 17 Oct 2024 -- With the result of Kazakhstan's controversial nuclear power referendum being a resounding "yes," attention now turns to which country will build the facility.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on October 17, 2024 PRC MofA 17 Oct 2024
• China and Russia Hold A New Round of Consultations on Foreign Policies PRC MofA 17 Oct 2024
• Hong Kong plans patriotic events to boost nationalism Radio Free Asia 17 Oct 2024 -- Hong Kong's government wants to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II next year, a sign that the administration of Chief Executive John Lee may further step up efforts to spread patriotic fervor among the city's seven million residents, commentators said.
• Much of China's military drill 'livestream' pre-recorded: Defense minister CNA 17 Oct 2024 -- A significant portion of China's "livestream" of the Joint Sword-2024B military drills it staged around Taiwan on Oct. 14 was pre-recorded, Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Thursday.
• China coast guard 'patrols' around Taiwan military in nature: Minister CNA 17 Oct 2024 -- Chinese coast guard ships deployed in conjunction with Chinese Navy vessels in military exercises held near Taiwan should be seen as part of the drills and not just law enforcement, Taiwan's defense minister said Thursday.
• Taiwan rebukes China for 'diehard separatists' tip-off claims CNA 17 Oct 2024 -- Taiwan called on Beijing to "turn back before it's too late" following an announcement on Wednesday by China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) that it has received hundreds of "tip-offs" for "diehard Taiwan independence separatists."
• China lodges solemn representations with India, urging India to handle Taiwan question with caution Global Times 17 Oct 2024 -- China firmly opposes any form of official interactions with China's Taiwan region by countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including the mutual establishment of representative offices. China has lodged solemn representations with India, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday, in response to a question related to an alleged new representative office established by the island of Taiwan in Mumbai, India.
• Taiwan's status as part of China remains unchanged, will never change: mainland spokesperson People's Daily 17 Oct 2024 -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reaffirmed that Taiwan's status as part of China has never changed and will never change.
• Mainland slams DPP's collusion with U.S. in turning Taiwan into "porcupine for war" People's Daily 17 Oct 2024 -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday sternly warned Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan that seeking "Taiwan independence" through U.S. support or military means is a dead-end path that will only lead to their own destruction.
• Further measures following Taiwan trade barrier investigation "necessary": mainland spokesperson People's Daily 17 Oct 2024 -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday said that further measures following the conclusion of a trade barrier investigation into Taiwan are a necessary response to the erroneous actions and unrepentant stance of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC MND 17 Oct 2024
• DPRK confirms complete block of road, railway connections to S. Korea People's Daily 17 Oct 2024 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Thursday that the roads and railways connecting South Korea in the eastern and western parts of the DPRK southern border have been completely blocked, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
• North Korea defines South as 'hostile state' after blowing up key road, rail links Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- North Korea has officially declared South Korea as "a hostile state" in its revised constitution, a move that comes just two days after Pyongyang blew up the key road and railway links with its neighbor.
• US, allies to monitor North Korea sanction violations with new body Radio Free Asia 17 Oct 2024 -- Eleven countries, including the United States, South Korea and Japan, will launch a new joint body to monitor North Korea sanctions violations, the South's foreign ministry said.
• New body to monitor North Korea sanctions enforcement faces doubts about legitimacy VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- A question of legitimacy surrounds a new body created to monitor the enforcement of sanctions on North Korea in the absence of a U.N. experts panel with authority to track Pyongyang's expanding illegal military transfers to Moscow.
• IRGC chief warns Zionist regime of 'painful' retaliation if attacks Iran IRNA 17 Oct 2024 -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami has warned the Zionist regime of a "painful" response if they conduct any aggression against Iran.
• Op. True Promise II just warning to Israel, only small part of our power, IRGC chief says Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- Chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami says Operation True Promise II served just as a warning to Israel, stressing that it was only a small part of Iran's power.
• FM strongly condemns meddlesome EU-GCC statement against Iran Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemns an irrelevant and meddlesome statement issued against Iran at the end of a joint meeting of the heads of state of the European Union (EU) and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
• U.S. Sanctions on Houthi Shipping Network US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2024 -- The United States is today imposing sanctions on five companies and five individuals and identifying eight vessels as blocked property for their ties to the network of Iran-based, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force-backed, U.S.-designated Houthi financial operative Sa'id al-Jamal.
• Treasury Sanctions Network for Shipping Oil on Behalf of Iran-Backed Houthi Financier US Treasury 17 Oct 2024 -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned eighteen companies, individuals, and vessels for their ties to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF)-backed Houthi financial official Sa'id al-Jamal (al-Jamal) and his network. Included in this action are the captains of vessels transporting illicit oil as well as the companies that managed and operated these ships. The revenue from al-Jamal's network continues to enable Houthi attacks in the region, including missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks on Israel and commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.
• Russia warns Israel against attacking Iran's nuclear sites IRNA 17 Oct 2024 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned the Israeli regime against attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.
• Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (October 17, 2024) India MEA 17 Oct 2024
• Georgian groups defy 'foreign agent' law, team up to monitor crucial election VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- An uneasy calm has descended on the streets of Tbilisi ahead of a crucial election on October 26, widely seen as a referendum on Georgia's future.
• Russian meddling threatens Moldovan election, EU referendum VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Moldovan analysts are warning of a Russian "large-scale hybrid war" against their country as it moves toward a presidential election on Sunday, when a referendum on future relations with the European Union will also be held.
• Moldovan Police Arrest 'Provocateurs' Trained In Russia, Balkans RFE/RL 17 Oct 2024 -- Moldovan authorities say they have exposed a network of more than 100 people trained in Russia and the Balkans to provoke post-election unrest in the southeastern European country and have arrested several suspects.
• World News in Brief: Famine in Sudan, 400,000 now in Syria from Lebanon, women in the military, olive farmers in Palestine UN News 17 Oct 2024 -- A staggering 97 percent of Sudan's internally displaced along with civilians who've remained, are facing severe levels of hunger UN independent experts warned on Thursday, accusing Government troops and their rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of using "starvation tactics" against 25 million civilians in the country.
• Speech by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during the agreed debate in the German Bundestag on the National Security Strategy Germany Federal Foreign Office 17 Oct 2024
• Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for former PM Sheikh Hasina Press TV 17 Oct 2024 -- A local court in Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in exile in India since her ousting during a student-led uprising in August.
• Life sentence for Vietnamese tycoon already facing death penalty Radio Free Asia 17 Oct 2024 -- Businesswoman Truong My Lan was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday in relation to a multi-billion-dollar fraud for which she already faces the death penalty, Vietnamese media reported.
• European Council: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell ahead of the meeting European External Action Service (EEAS) 17 Oct 2024
• Kenyan lawmakers impeach deputy president, remove him from office VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Kenyan lawmakers voted Thursday to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office over accusations of gross misconduct, irregular acquisition of wealth, undermining of the president and ethnic division, among other charges.
• Oil production rises as Nigeria intensifies clampdown on theft VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Nigeria is ramping up efforts to curb crude oil theft, citing notable progress in key oil-producing areas.
• Botswana's electoral body warns opposition about rigging claims VOA 17 Oct 2024 -- Botswana's election commission is warning opposition parties against what it calls "reckless" claims of poll rigging ahead of the October 30 general election, even as some opposition leaders insist that cheating is happening.