- Azerbaijan. A mass grave has been discovered in the Saricali village of Azerbaijan’s liberated city of Agdam, authorities said on Wednesday. “On November 22, human bones were found as a result of the excavation work carried out with the participation of police, prosecutor’s office and security officials in the Saricali village of Agdam city, which was liberated from occupation,” said a statement from the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry. The remnants of the people killed and buried are estimated to be from 1992, according to the statement. Mass grave discovered in Azerbaijan’s liberated Agdam city (aa.com.tr)
- China-Huawei-International Telecommunication Union. Chinese tech giant Huawei has joined the Partner2Connect (P2C) digital coalition of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), company chairman Liang Hua said Wednesday. Huawei is committed to helping 120 million people in remote areas connect to the digital world by 2025, Liang said at the 2022 Sustainability Forum. Chinese tech giant Huawei joins global digital coalition-Xinhua (news.cn)
- China-NATO. When more European leaders are looking for closer interactions with China amid a difficult time and analysts criticized NATO and the US for kidnapping the EU to serve US strategic goals, the NATO chief intensified rhetoric, hyping China’s “growing” efforts to control Western infrastructure and key industries with the purpose to strengthen inner unity. During a visit to Spain, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned about “growing Chinese efforts to control” critical infrastructure, supply chains and key industrial sectors and he also said Western countries must be careful not to create new dependencies on China as they are weaning themselves off Russian energy supplies amid the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Reuters reported. NATO chief hypes ‘China control’ as Europe debates policy direction – Global Times
- Collective Security Treaty Organization. The joint meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council, Defense Ministers Council, the Committee of Security Council Secretaries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the session of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO on Wednesday adopted several statements by foreign ministers, including a statement on the issues of the reinforcement of the architecture of international and regional security and arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, which had been developed at the initiative of Minsk, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said. CSTO adopted statement on reinforcement of security architecture, says Minsk – World – TASS
- Cybersecurity. The inner workings of yet another ransomware group have been laid bare after internal messages were leaked online, suggesting the Yanluowang group was actually run by Russian speakers. Threat intelligence firm Trellix analyzed close to 3000 messages shared by Twitter user @yanluowangleaks, revealing some interesting tidbits. Yanluowang Ransomware’s Russian Links Laid Bare – Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
- Cybersecurity. The head of the UK’s data protection watchdog has defended a contentious new policy of scaling back fines levied at government entities, claiming that more constructive approaches improve compliance. Information commissioner, John Edwards, argued during a speech at the National Association of Data Protection Officers (NADPO) annual conference yesterday that government fines create a “money-go-round” of funds. UK’s Privacy Tsar Defends Controversial Enforcement Strategy – Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
- Cybersecurity. Security researchers have warned of a password-theft epidemic after revealing that Russian groups are using off-the-shelf info-stealing malware to devastating effect. Group-IB said its analysis revealed 34 Telegram groups used by threat actors to organize their efforts, and that they’d infected over 890,000 user devices and stolen over 50 million passwords in the first seven months of 2022 alone. Dozens of Russian Groups Steal 50 Million User Passwords – Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
- Egypt-Russia. The agreement between Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, part of Russia’s TVEL, and the Egyptian Atomic Energy Agency, is for supplies of low-enriched fuel components for the ETRR-2 research reactor. TVEL to supply Egypt research reactor fuel components : Corporate – World Nuclear News (world-nuclear-news.org)
- Europe-Russia. The European Parliament on Wednesday designated Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, arguing Moscow’s military strikes on civilian targets such as energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools and shelters violated international law. European Parliament declares Russia a state sponsor of terrorism | Reuters
- Europe-USA. The EU is in emergency mode and is readying a big subsidy push to prevent European industry from being wiped out by American rivals, two senior EU officials told POLITICO. Europe is facing a double hammer blow from the U.S. If it weren’t enough that energy prices look set to remain permanently far higher than those in the U.S. thanks to Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden is also currently rolling out a $369 billion industrial subsidy scheme to support green industries under the Inflation Reduction Act. EU officials fear that businesses will now face almost irresistible pressure to shift new investments to the U.S. rather than Europe. EU industry chief Thierry Breton is warning that Biden’s new subsidy package poses an “existential challenge” to Europe’s economy. EU plans subsidy war chest as industry faces ‘existential’ threat from US – POLITICO
- Haiti. Children account for roughly 40 per cent of the confirmed cholera cases in Haiti, or two in five, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday, appealing for $27.5 million to save more lives from the disease. UNICEF seeks $27.5 million to step up cholera response in Haiti | UN News
- Iran. United Nations Human Rights Council member countries should vote to establish an independent fact-finding mission to investigate Iran’s deadly crackdown on widespread protests as a first step toward accountability, Human Rights Watch said today. On November 24, 2022, the council will hold a special session on ongoing human rights violations in Iran. Iran: UN Rights Council Should Create Fact-Finding Mission | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
- Israel. Aryeh Shtsupak, 16, was killed this morning in Jerusalem as two explosions hit bus stops. More than 20 people were wounded, two critically, at the Givat Sha’ul entrance to Jerusalem and at the Jerusalem Ramot Junction in the two attacks that took place between 7 and 8 a.m. local time, a peak commuter hour. Israeli police consider the incidents a coordinated double Palestinian terror attack. According to preliminary investigations, both explosions were caused by remotely detonated explosive devices packed with nails and left in bags either inside or next to buses. For the moment, no terror group had taken responsibility for the attacks. Bomb kills Israeli teen in Jerusalem – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East
- Israel-Palestine. Palestinians fear that the next Israeli government, most likely led by Benjamin Netanyahu and including extreme-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, will inflame the situation on the ground in the Palestinian territories. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said during a cabinet session on Nov. 21 that the next Israeli government is preparing to declare war on the Palestinians, under the leadership of the settlers. PA prime minister warns of Israeli action vs. Palestinians – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East
- Japan-Poland. A new agreement between the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and Polish National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) has added the basic design of a research reactor to their ongoing collaborative R&D on high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology. Japan and Poland to begin work on high-temperature reactor design : New Nuclear – World Nuclear News (world-nuclear-news.org)
- Libya-Morocco. Foreign Minister Najla al-Manqoush has hailed Morocco’s approach in addressing the Libyan crisis, saying it plays a positive role in supporting stability and the Libyan government’s efforts to arrive at a free and fair electoral process accepted by the Libyan people. Manqoush: Morocco plays a positive role in supporting Libya’s stability | The Libya Observer
- Libya-Sahel Countries. The Deputy Head of the Presidential Council, Mossa Al-Koni, called for the formation of joint committees between Libya and the Sahel countries to find solutions to the common threats to the region, stressing that the desert is an area that unites not divides. Al-Koni calls for forming threat-solving committees between Libya and Sahel countries | The Libya Observer
- Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Tuesday he would “urge” parties of Astana Peace Talks to focus on the political process and protect civilians, calling for restraint and respecting Syria’s sovereignty. Pedersen made his words in a tweet hours before the Astana Peace Talks meeting. Round 19 of the Astana talks began on Tuesday in the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan. It is scheduled to be held on the 22nd and 23rd of November. Pedersen stressed he would engage with all parties of the Astana talks, urging them all to contain the situation in Syria, protect civilians, preserve de-escalation and focus on the political process. Pedersen to Urge Astana Parties to Focus On Political Process in Syria – The Syrian Observer
- Syria-India. India has provided credit lines worth US$280 million to Syria to build a power plant and steel plant in the country. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad detailed the agreement, during an interview with India’s WION TV during a visit to New Delhi. “I will not list the areas where India is helping Syria, but I can tell you directly that India has spared no effort to help Syria in this difficult time and move forward in the economic and cultural relations that bind Syria and India,” Mekdad commented on the agreement. He stressed that “we agreed to increase economic cooperation,” noting that “India is providing scholarships to rebuild our education system, rebuild destroyed schools and other facilities and work together.”. India Offers Syria $200 Million Credit Lines – The Syrian Observer
- Syria-Turkey. Turkey plans to start a new cross-border operation at the most opportune time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. “Air strikes against terrorists in Syria and Iraq are just the beginning. We have never been so serious about securing our borders. We will launch the operation at the most appropriate time for us. Administrations in Syria and Iraq should not feel threatened. We intend to ensure the territorial integrity of these countries,” he said during a speech in parliament. Turkey to start cross-border operation at proper time — Erdogan – World – TASS
- Syrians-Denmark. “We live in a prison. Everything hurts,” 25-year-old Syrian Einas Mustafa wrote to The New Arab from inside the Kærshovedgaard deportation camp. Danish resident since 2019, Einas, who studied to become a fashion designer in Damascus, had her residence permit revoked on June 30th and was subsequently sent to the camp. Like her, more than a hundred Syrians have been told to leave Denmark since March 2021, when the country declared that the Damascus area was safe. As of August 2022, 137 Syrians had definitively lost their rights to remain in Denmark; many more fear it will happen soon. In Denmark, Syrian Refugees Stuck in Camps with Rapists, War Criminals – The Syrian Observer
- Thailand. A car bomb planted by alleged separatist insurgents at a housing compound for police officers and their families in Thailand’s southern Narathiwat province showed grave disregard for civilian lives and violated international humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said today. Thailand: Car Bombing at Police Apartments in South | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
- Turkey. Türkiye on Wednesday welcomed its membership to the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), approved a day earlier along with Argentina, Senegal, and Serbia. “As a founding member of the OECD, a NATO ally, and a G-20 member with a rapidly developing artificial intelligence ecosystem, Türkiye actively contributes to international cooperation in this field,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Türkiye will actively engage in GPAI’s activities and promote the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, it said. Türkiye welcomes inclusion in global artificial intelligence group (aa.com.tr)
- Turkey. Türkiye’s defense minister said Tuesday that the S- 400 missile defense system acquired from Russia is ready for action and will be utilized if the country is threatened. Speaking to the Turkish parliament’s planning and budget committee in the capital Ankara, Hulusi Akar said “the S-400 is in place and ready for use.”. “If any threats arise, we will decide where and how to use it,” Akar added. Türkiye says its S-400 air defense system ready for use if needed (aa.com.tr)
- Ukraine. Following the shelling which caused damage in and around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Mariano Grossi has met Rosatom’s director general to discuss the situation, and possible safety measures. IAEA’s Grossi holds ‘candid’ talks with Rosatom over Zaporizhzhia : Regulation & Safety – World Nuclear News (world-nuclear-news.org)
- Ukraine. The United States continues to support Ukraine with additional military assistance to help defend itself, including from the Kremlin’s relentless attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure. Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, today I am authorizing our twenty-sixth drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine since August 2021. This $400 million drawdown includes additional arms, munitions, and air defense equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories. This drawdown will bring the total U.S. military assistance for Ukraine to an unprecedented level of approximately $19.7 billion, since the beginning of the Administration. $400 Million in Additional U.S. Military Assistance for Ukraine – United States Department of State
- Ukraine. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a financing package worth EUR 372 million to support Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian government-run operator of the national power grid. EBRD-led package allocated to repair energy infrastructure in Ukraine (ukrinform.net)
- USA. The first transuranic waste has been placed in a new panel at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. Meanwhile, the capacity of a landfill disposal facility for waste and radioactively contaminated debris from decontamination and demolition work at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is to be increased. US facilities mark waste disposal progress : Waste & Recycling – World Nuclear News (world-nuclear-news.org)
- USA. New York will instate a two-year moratorium on new fossil fuel-powered cryptocurrency mining operations as the state works to balance its economic development and climate goals. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday signed the controversial measure into law that would create the first-in-the-nation temporary pause on new permits for fossil fuel power plants that house proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining, which is a process used in the transaction of digital money. Hochul, who had punted on the issue for months after the Legislature passed the bill in June, was elected to a full term Nov. 8. Hochul signs partial cryptocurrency mining ban into New York law – POLITICO
- Uzbekistan-France. The presidents of Uzbekistan and France pledged to enhance bilateral ties and cooperation on regional issues at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday evening. During wide-ranging discussions at the Elysee Palace, Emmanuel Macron and Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed on “strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of security, effectively countering emerging challenges and threats,” according to a statement from the Uzbek president’s office. Uzbekistan, France eye stronger bilateral, regional partnership (aa.com.tr)
- Yemen-China. A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on relevant parties in Yemen to restore truce and ease tension on the ground as soon as possible. “The six-month truce has brought significant peace dividends to the Yemeni people,” Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a UN Security Council meeting on Yemen. On April 2, the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia agreed upon a two-month truce brokered by the United Nations, which was later renewed twice through Oct. 2. However, Yemen’s warring sides have failed to reach an agreement on further extension. Chinese envoy to UN calls for restoration of truce in Yemen-Xinhua (news.cn)
Media room (23 novembre 2022)
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