The IOSI Institute for Global Security Research and Analysis. 

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August 25, 2023

Today's Headlines - OSAC's daily selection of global security news

East Asia & Pacific

Australia / Philippines - Australia says it will conduct more joint patrols with Philippines in South China Sea (Reuters on MSN.com)

Australia has a security interest in the South China Sea and will work more closely with the Philippines on joint patrols, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Friday as he observed military exercises with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

China / India - Modi and Xi meeting: India and China agree to 'de-escalate' border tensions (BBC)

India and China have agreed to de-escalate tensions along their disputed border after a conversation between its leaders, a senior Indian official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping spoke on the sidelines of the Brics summit...

China / Japan - 'Talk Quietly': Japan Tells Citizens in China to Lie Low After Fukushima Release (U.S. News & World Report)

Japan told its citizens living in China to keep a low profile on Friday, including talking quietly in public, after Beijing blasted Tokyo for releasing treated radioactive water from a wrecked nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

China / Taiwan - China defence ministry urges US to stop 'arming' Taiwan (Reuters on MSN.com)

China's defence ministry on Friday urged the United States to stop "arming" Taiwan, after the U.S. State Department approved a possible $500 million sale to the island of infrared search and track systems for F-16 fighter jets.

Europe

Greece - Greece wildfires: 79 people arrested for arson (BBC)

The blaze is one of hundreds in the nation where wildfires have already killed at least 20 people this week. "You are committing a crime against the country," Mr Kikilias said. "Arsonist scum are setting fires that threaten forests,

Iraq / Turkey / Turkiye - Turkish airstrike in northern Iraq kills 4 Kurdish insurgents as Ankara's top diplomat visits region (ABC)

A Turkish airstrike in northern Iraq on Thursday killed three members of a Kurdish insurgent group, officials said, as Ankara's top diplomat visited the seat of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish regional government.

Russia - Intentional explosion downed Prigozhin’s plane, says US intelligence (Euronews on MSN.com)

A preliminary US intelligence assessment concluded that an intentional explosion caused the plane crash presumed to have killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin ... to-air missile took down the plane were inaccurate. He declined to say whether the US ...

Russia - ‘Highly likely’ Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead, says UK (The Guardian on MSN.com)

UK’s Ministry of Defence says, despite lack of definitive proof, it is likely the Wagner mercenary boss was on the crashed plane

Russia - Western Authorities Probe Possible Poisonings of Russian Activist and Journalists Abroad (The Wall Street Journal)

Three women, each based in the U.S. or Europe and critical of the Kremlin, say they suffered a sudden onset of unusual symptoms.

Middle East & North Africa

Iran - Iran Stages 'Electronic Warfare' Drills Against Mock Enemy Drones -State TV (U.S. News & World Report)

Iran has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes that bar it from importing many weapons. Tehran announced on Tuesday the building of an advanced, homemade drone named Mohajer-10 with an improved...

Iraq / Turkey / Turkiye - Turkish airstrike in northern Iraq kills 4 Kurdish insurgents as Ankara's top diplomat visits region (ABC)

A Turkish airstrike in northern Iraq on Thursday killed three members of a Kurdish insurgent group, officials said, as Ankara's top diplomat visited the seat of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish regional government.

South & Central Asia

Bangladesh - BNP, like-minded parties set to hold processions with black flags in Dhaka Friday (United News of Bangladesh (UNB) on MSN.com)

Dhaka, Aug. 24 -- minded parties are set to take out mass processions with black flags on Friday as part of their one-point simultaneous movement.This will be the fifth programme of the one-point movement of the opposition parties to mount pressure ...

China / India - Modi and Xi meeting: India and China agree to 'de-escalate' border tensions (BBC)

India and China have agreed to de-escalate tensions along their disputed border after a conversation between its leaders, a senior Indian official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping spoke on the sidelines of the Brics summit...

India / Pakistan - Pakistan lodges protest with India over killing of civilian along LoC (Radio Pakistan)

Foreign Office summoned the Indian Charge d’ Affaires in Islamabad today and registered Pakistan’s strong protest over the killing of a 60-year-old civilian. It is pertinent to mention that Ghias, resident of Oli village of Kotli district, was kille...

Pakistan - Old protest video resurfaced to claim new rally by ex-Pakistan PM's supporters after his sentencing (factcheck.afp)

After Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was jailed for three years in August 2023, a video was shared in multiple social media posts that falsely claimed it showed his supporters amassing on a road.

Western Hemisphere

Colombia - Colombia's Total Peace One Year On: Less State Violence, Stronger Criminal Groups (Insight Crime)

One year into Colombian President Gustavo Petro's “Total Peace” project, a report describes how violence against the state has decreased while the country’s criminal groups have grown in strength.

Ecuador - Spanish police make record cocaine bust in Ecuadorean banana shipment (Reuters)

Spanish police have made a record cocaine seizure, finding 9.5 tonnes of the drug hidden among boxes of bananas in a shipping container from Ecuador in the southern port of Algeciras.

Guatemala - Guatemala president-elect, deputy facing death threats says IACHR (Reuters)

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asked Guatemala to provide more protections for President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, it said on Thursday, citing "serious and urgent" risks to their wellbeing.

Mexico - A decade after vigilante uprising, extortion and threats against lime growers return to west Mexico (AP News)

The kind of mass threats and extortion of lime growers in the western Mexico that sparked a civilian vigilante uprising a decade ago have returned, and growers say they can’t get their crops to market.

Mexico - Official leading search for Mexico’s disappeared resigns as critics worry government may rig numbers (AP News)

The head of Mexico’s commission leading the search for tens of thousands who have disappeared over past decades of violence has stepped down as critics accuse the government of trying to undermine the true numbers of the missing in the run-up to pre...

Panama - Panama eyes new measures as flow of migrants through Darien Gap hits 300,000 so far this year (AP News)

The government of Panama said Thursday it will launch a new campaign to stem the flow of migrants through the dangerous, jungle-clad Darien Gap, after crossings hit 300,000 so far this year.

OSAC Analysis - Unclassified OSAC analytical reports and other resources

East Asia & Pacific

Australia / New Zealand - OSAC Summary: FIFA Women’s World Cup

Published: August 21, 2023

This final report provides a summary of issues and incidents that were of interest to OSAC members during the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Western Hemisphere

Argentina / Ecuador / El Salvador / Guatemala / Mexico - Americas Election Snapshot

Published: August 18, 2023

Several key elections will be held this weekend and over the coming months in Latin America. This report summarizes key issues at stake in upcoming elections, and links to other OSAC reports about specific operational concerns. For any questions abo...

Haiti - Kraze Barye Expansion & A Changing Security Landscape in Haiti

Published: August 22, 2023

On July 27, U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince went on ordered departure for all non-emergency personnel and eligible family members following the expansion of the Kraze Barye gang into a neighborhood adjacent to the embassy. Since then, Kraze Barye has...

Consular Messages - Department of State travel advisories and alerts

Europe

Bulgaria - Demonstration Alert: Sofia (Bulgaria), Multiple Events on August 24 with Logistical Disruptions

Published: August 24, 2023

Event: The following events will occur today in downtown Sofia:  16:00 - Gathering in the city garden for Ukraine's Independence Day. There is a procession planned for 19:00 to 20:30, starting from “Vazrazhdane” garden, along “Alexander Stamboliyski...

Western Hemisphere

Haiti - Security Alert: Tabarre (Haiti), Temporary Travel Restrictions Lifted

Published: August 24, 2023

The gang activity and gunfire in the area around the Stecher-Roumain residential compound has been resolved by the HNP. As a result, the temporary travel restriction has been lifted.

Haiti - Security Alert: Tabarre (Haiti), Temporary Embassy Travel Restrictions

Published: August 24, 2023

Due to gang activity in the area of the U.S. Embassy and residential compounds, all Mission personnel are restricted to the Embassy and residential compounds until further notice. This restriction prohibits travel between the compounds.

Events - Upcoming OSAC meetings, webinars, and training courses

Global

Country Chapter Meeting: Santiago, Chile (September 6)

Event Start Date: August 24, 2023

The OSAC Santiago Chapter will host a meeting on Wednesday, September 6 at 10:00 at the W Santiago Hotel. Participants unable to attend in person can join virtually via Google Meet using the below details.

VIRTUAL ESC Coffee Chat Series: The Risk Proposition of Drone Technology (August 31)

Event Start Date: August 31, 2023

Join the OSAC Energy Sector Committee (ESC) on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 11:00 AM EDT for the next session of the ESC’s “coffee chat” series on the Risk Proposition of Drone Technology.

Country Chapter Meeting: Recife, Brazil (August 31)

Event Start Date: August 31, 2023

Please join the OSAC Recife Chapter at Accenture Recife Innovations Center for its next chapter meeting and Happy Hour on Thursday, August 31, from 16:00 to 19:00 hours local.

International Development Sector Committee (IDSC) Annual Conference (September 27-28)

Event Start Date: September 27, 2023

OSAC IDSC members are invited to register for the IDSC's 1.5-day Annual Conference hosted at the Education Development Center in Washington, DC September 27-28, 2023.

REGISTER NOW: Academia Sector Committee (ASC) Health, Safety, and Security International Seminar (October 18-20, 2023)

Event Start Date: October 18, 2023

OSAC Academia Sector Committee (ASC) members are invited to save the date for the College and University Health, Safety, and Security International Seminar at the CET Academic Programs in Prague, Czech Republic on October 18, 19, and 20.

Save the Date: OSAC ISRAEL Chapter Meeting - Wednesday September 13, 2023

Event Start Date: September 13, 2023

We are happy to invite you to the OSAC Israel Chapter meeting When? Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 10:00am to 14:00pm Where? Amdocs New Campus – Dolev st 4, Raanana. Subject? AI (Artificial Intelligence) – Security Challenges and Opportunities...

Country Chapter Meeting: Recife, Brazil (August 31)

Event Start Date: August 31, 2023

Please join the OSAC Recife Chapter at Accenture Recife Innovations Center for its next chapter meeting focusing on the Prevention of Targeted School Violence and Happy Hour on Thursday, August 31, from 16:00 to 19:00 hours local. The event will ...

REGISTER NOW: Aviation Sector Committee 2023 Q3 Meeting (September 6-7)

Event Start Date: September 06, 2023

All OSAC AVSC members are invited to attend the Q3 Meeting hosted by Qantas in Sydney, Australia!

Registration Closed: Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) Fall Conference (September 6)

Event Start Date: September 06, 2023

Registration has closed for the OSAC Latin America Regional Committee Fall Conference at Florida International University on September 6, 2023.

REGISTER NOW: OSAC Energy Sector Committee (ESC) Fall Meeting (September 21)

Event Start Date: September 21, 2023

OSAC Energy members are invited to register now for the OSAC Energy Sector Committee (ESC) Fall Meeting hosted at the Smith Centre (Science Museum) in London, UK on September 21, 2023.

East Asia & Pacific

PARC Fireside Chat: Leadership in Crisis (September 13)

Event Start Date: September 13, 2023

OSAC Full-Access members are invited to join the Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 for a hybrid fireside chat on "Leadership in Crisis" at Booz Allen's flagship center for innovation, The Helix.

Japan - Country Chapter Meeting: Tokyo, Japan (September 21)

Event Start Date: September 21, 2023

Join the OSAC Japan Country Chapter at U.S. Embassy Tokyo for the next chapter meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM local time.

Europe

Serbia - Country Chapter Meeting: Belgrade, Serbia (September 6)

Event Start Date: September 06, 2023

Please join the OSAC Belgrade - Serbia Chapter at U.S. Embassy Belgrade for its upcoming chapter meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 3:30 PM Belgrade local.

Middle East & North Africa

Iraq - Country Chapter Meeting: Erbil, Iraq (September 17)

Event Start Date: September 17, 2023

All OSAC members are invited to attend the next OSAC Iraq-Erbil Chapter meeting on Sunday, September 17th. Additional details are forthcoming.

Israel - OSAC Israel Meeting: Tel Aviv, Israel (September 13)

Event Start Date: September 13, 2023

OSAC Israel will hold a meeting on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 10am to 2pm Tel Aviv local (3am-7am Eastern).

South & Central Asia

PARC Fireside Chat: Leadership in Crisis (September 13)

Event Start Date: September 13, 2023

OSAC Full-Access members are invited to join the Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 for a hybrid fireside chat on "Leadership in Crisis" at Booz Allen's flagship center for innovation, The Helix.

Western Hemisphere

Chile - PanAmerican Games Security Planning

Event Start Date: September 06, 2023

Join us to hear from the Director of Operations for the 2023 PanAmerican Games, Gustavo San Martin Castillo, and Special Agent, Heath Ward!

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State or any affiliated organization(s). Nor have these opinions been approved or sanctioned by these organizations. This product is unclassified based on the definitions in E.O. 13526. OSAC’s full disclaimer and copyright policy is available on our site.



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