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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Trump authorized Soleimani's assassination 7 months ago: Report Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- US President Donald Trump had authorized the American military to assassinate Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani seven months ago if Tehran's actions led to the death of Americans in the region, according to US media reports.
• Esper contradicts Trump on intel that led to Gen. Soleimani's assassination Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has made remarks that clearly contradict earlier comments by President Donald Trump who alleged Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani had been plotting attacks against four US embassies before he was assassinated in an American airstrike.
• Report: Damage from Iran strikes 'much greater' than US admits Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- A report by a correspondent for Danish TV 2 who has interviewed Danish soldiers positioned at Iraq's Ain al-Assad airbase, which was the target of a retaliatory attack from Iran against US forces, shows that the damage done to the base has been "much greater" than the US officials acknowledge.
• Trump Authorised Killing of Soleimani in June - Reports Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- US President Donald Trump approved the assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani seven months ago, NBC News reported on Monday, citing five current and former senior administration officials.
• US Attorney General Calls Imminence of Iranian Threat 'a Red Herring' VOA 13 Jan 2020 -- U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Monday offered a vigorous defense of President Donald Trump's decision to order a drone strike that killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, saying Trump had the legal authority to act and that the question of whether Soleimani posed an imminent threat was a "red herring." ((something intended to be misleading or distracting))"
• Trump: 'Doesn't really matter' if there was imminent threat from Soleimani Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has doubled down on the insanity of the assassination of the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), saying Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani should have been killed 20 years ago.
• Iraqi officials warn of economic 'collapse' if US cuts off access to oil revenues Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Iraqi officials have warned of economic "collapse" if the United States makes good on its threat to cut off its access to a US-based key bank account where oil revenues are kept.
• U.S. Secretary Of State Pompeo Says Iraqi Leaders Privately Want U.S. Troops RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo maintains that various sectarian leaders in Iraq support the presence of U.S. forces in the country, despite public demands for them to leave.
• US to Work With Iraq on Possible Troop Reduction – Pompeo Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The United States will work with Iraqi leaders to possibly reduce the Pentagon's military footprint in the country while preserving American interests, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested on Monday.
• Pompeo Calls On Iraqi Gov't to Punish Those Responsible For Attack on Air Base in Iraq Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the Iraqi government to take all possible measures to protect its military bases and hold accountable those responsible for the recent shelling of the Balad military airbase, which houses US troops.
• O'Brien Says US Ready to Reach Deal With Taliban, Reduce Contingent in Afghanistan This Year Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said that US President Donald Trump could reach a deal with the Taliban movement already this year and even if there was no deal, Washington would still reduce its contingent in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• More deployments, stronger presence set for Pacific, says SecArmy Army News 13 Jan 2020 -- Later this year, Soldiers will initiate five-month extended rotations to countries like Thailand, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy said at the Brookings Institution Friday.
• Keel Laid for Future USS John Basilone NNS 13 Jan 2020 -- The keel of the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) was ceremoniously laid at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard, Jan. 10.
• Navy awards contract for new Advanced Helicopter Training System NNS 13 Jan 2020 -- The U.S. Navy announced on Jan. 13, 2020 that AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation (Leonardo) was awarded a contract for $176.5M for the production of 32 TH-73A helicopters in support of the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) program.
• NATO Chief Stoltenberg Reveals How Alliance Will 'Respond' to Russia's Iskander-M Missiles Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The Russian military upgraded its tactical missile units with Iskander-M launchers throughout 2019, with the systems replacing the older Tochka-U missile systems. Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads, the mobile, high-precision systems have an operational range of up to 500 km.
• Chinese Navy Commissions Asia's Largest Missile Cruiser Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The Chinese navy is now in possession of the largest missile destroyer in Asia and the second-largest in the world, following the commission of the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang on Sunday.
• Indian Air Force to Get Additional 200 Fighter Jets: Defence Official Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing a shortage of fighter squadrons amid potential aerial threats from Pakistan and China. The IAF has gradually been phasing out its MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27 fighter aircraft and replacing them with newer aircraft.
• Israeli Military Admit They Failed to Prevent Costly Flood Damage to Jets Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Israel has been hit by torrential rains over the past week, resulting in the death of at least five people and extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Bret Baier of Fox News Special Report US Dept. of State 13 Jan 2020
• Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker US Dept. of State 13 Jan 2020 -- Special Briefing
• Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure The White House 13 Jan 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 13, 2020
• General Dynamics Boasts About Capabilities of Anti-Ship Missile Amid Pentagon Fears of China, Russia Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Late last week, Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten expressed concern over the "speed" at which "potential adversaries" Russia and China were moving to try to overtake the US's status as the world's number one military power.

Other Conflicts

• 13 January 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Jan 2020
• Syria opens 3 humanitarian corridors for civilians from militant-held areas in Aleppo, Idlib Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Syrian authorities have opened three humanitarian corridors for civilians from areas controlled by foreign-sponsored militants in the northwestern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib to leave and move to government-controlled parts of the country.
• Parties to Libyan Conflict Vow to Comply With Ceasefire Regime Without Preconditions - Draft Deal Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Earlier in the day, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and Khalifa Haftar, who leads the forces in eastern Libya, arrived in Moscow for talks with mediation from Russia and Turkey.
• Libyan Ceasefire Agreement Envisions Russian Control Over Implementation - Reports Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The ceasefire agreement being prepared to be signed by Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj includes a mutual withdrawal of forces, and Russia and the UN's control over the deal's implementation, Al-Arabiya reported on Monday, citing its sources.
• Russia, Turkey Determined to Call the Shots in Libya VOA 13 Jan 2020 -- Talks between leaders of Libya's two warring sides wrapped up Monday in Moscow, with Russia's foreign minister noting some progress, a day after a fragile cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey came into force.
• Myanmar sends 200 Rohingya Muslims captured at sea to camps in Rakhine Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- About 200 Rohingya Muslims arrested at sea last month by Myanmar's navy have been sent back to Rakhine, where state-sponsored violence has prevailed in recent years.
• Rakhine Village Chiefs Tell Myanmar Leader They'll Quit Unless Colleague's Death is Investigated Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- Dozens of village administrators in western Myanmar's war-torn Rakhine state have threatened to resign if Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi does not order an investigation into the death of one of their colleagues killed by government troops, the community heads said Monday.
• Suspected Al-Shabab Militants Kill 3 Kenyan Teachers VOA 13 Jan 2020 -- Kenyan police say suspected al-Shabab militants killed three teachers in Kenya's northeastern Garissa county early Monday in the second attack on a school in the area in as many weeks. Officials have withdrawn teachers from the area for their safety.
• Somalia's al-Shabaab kill 3 teachers, abduct one in Kenya Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Somalia's Takfiri al-Shabab militants have killed three teachers and wounded a child in an attack on a primary school in eastern Kenya, police say.
• Abkhaz Leader Resigns, No Plans To Run For New Term RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Raul Khajimba, leader of the self-proclaimed breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia, who resigned following four days of protests in the regional capital, Sukhumi, does not plan to take part in a new election.
• Abkhaz Opposition Gives Up Presidential Administration Building to State Security Services Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The opposition in Abkhazia handed over the presidential administration building they had occupied earlier to the state security service after the Republic's President, Raul Khajimba, signed a resignation letter.
• Ensuring lasting peace in Colombia UK FCO 13 Jan 2020 -- Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce at the Security Council briefing on Colombia
• Colombia: 'Significant strides' towards integrated peace, UN envoy tells Security Council UN News 13 Jan 2020 -- Colombia has continued to make "significant strides in its peace process", the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.

News Reports

• Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Findings of the Criminal Investigation into the December 2019 Shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station US Dept. of Justice 13 Jan 2020 -- On Dec. 6, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a member of the Royal Saudi Air Force, entered a building on the grounds of Pensacola Naval Air Station and killed three U.S. sailors and severely wounded eight other Americans. Alshamrani was killed during the attack.
• Shooting at Florida Naval Base in December Was 'Act of Terrorism' - US Attorney General Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- US Attorney General William Barr told members of the press at the Department of Justice Monday that the December shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station last month was "an act of terrorism."
• Widening Wealth Gap in North Korea Creates a New Type of 'Serfdom' Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- As a growing gap between North Korea's rich and poor continues to get wider, more and more of the country's poor are trying to find work as servants of the better off.
• Trump Reaches Out to North Korea to Resume Talks - Report Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Relations between the two states seemed to have thawed in 2018 after the meeting between Trump and Kim, but reverted back to hostility in February 2019. In October, tensions intensified when Pyongyang set a year-end deadline for the US to change its nuclear policy.
• Defense Minister: US' mistake very costly for its presence in region IRNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said on Monday that Trump made a miscalculation by assuming that removing a person will stop 'Resistance Axis', adding that US has increased cost of its presence in the region.
• Larijani: US criminal assassination empowers 'Resistance' IRNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Monday that the US criminal assassination resulted in empowering 'Resistance Front'.
• Iran Veep terms US exit from region as real revenge IRNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Monday that US exit from the region would be the real revenge on their criminal acts especially assassination of the IRGC Quds Force Commander Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani.
• Iran to offer full cooperation in paying for Ukrainian plane damages: official IRNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Head of Central Insurance company Gholam-Reza Soleimani said on Monday that because the Ukrainian plane crashed in Iran, the government will have good cooperation in paying the damages.
• Iran providing Round-the-clock services to families of Ukraine plane crash victims IRNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Sunday that special working group for handling consular affairs of victims of Ukraine plane crash is ready to offer services round the clock to their families.
• To end insecurity, US' withdrawal should be priority: Shamkhni ISNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani in a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister, Imad Khamis said, by attacking US' Ain al-Asad base, Iran proved it wouldn't give up on protecting its national security and interests under any circumstances.
• Iran says real revenge against US is its withdrawal from region ISNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Iranian first Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri praised Iraqi parliament's decision on the withdrawal of US forces in a meeting with a high ranking Syrian delegation and hoped the approach expands to the other Islamic states, stressing that the real revenge against US actions is their withdrawal from the region.
• Expulsion from region, best revenge for US acts of crime: Iran VP Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Iran's First Vice President Is'haq Jahangiri says the best revenge for the United States' criminal act in assassinating top Iranian general, Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, is the expulsion of all American forces from the West Asia region.
• Iran administration denies spreading misinformtion on plane crash Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- The Iranian administration has denied spreading misinformation following the crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran last week.
• Europe accuses Iran of 'violent action', urges return to obligations Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have called in a joint statement on Iran to return to full compliance with their 2015 nuclear deal and reverse its countermeasures against the West's failures vis-a-vis Tehran.
• Iran says downed Ukrainian plane could cost $100-150 mln in compensation Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Iran's main insurance agency says compensations that should be paid over a recent plane crash near the capital Tehran which was caused by human error in the country's defense system could amount to $150 million.
• Iranians Continue Protests Over Ukrainian Plane Downing RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Anti-government protests have broken out in Iran for a third consecutive day amid outrage over the way officials have handled the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane last week.
• Anger Grows In Iran Over Lack Of Accountability In Ukrainian Plane Tragedy RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Only days after large crowds of Iranians demonstrated national unity while mourning the assassination of the country's top military leader in a U.S. drone strike, anti-government protests have erupted on the streets of Tehran and several other cities.
• Student Protesters Pose New Threat To Iranian Authorities RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Student-led demonstrations in Iran may pose an even larger threat to the authorities than the nationwide demonstrations in November over gasoline price hikes that provoked an unprecedented state crackdown that killed hundreds of people -- the deadliest response to protests in the 40-year history of the clerical regime, which arose after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, analysts say.
• The Restoration of Deterrence: The Iranian Example US Dept. of State 13 Jan 2020 -- Speech by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
• Iran: Foreign Secretary's Commons statement, 13 January 2020 UK FCO 13 Jan 2020 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab answered an urgent question in the House of Commons about the government's response to the security situation in Iran.
• Iran's Rouhani Blames US For Current Situation in Middle East - Presidential Press Office Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, during a telephone conversation with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, said that the United States was to blame for the current developments in the Middle East, the presidential press office said in a statement.
• Trump Says He 'Could not Care Less' If Iran Agrees to Negotiate Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The relationship between the two states has deteriorated even further after the killing of Iranian top military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iran's retaliatory strikes on US military facilities in Iraq.
• IRGC Commander Salami Apologizes for Downed Ukrainian Plane in Iran - Reports Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- The commander of the Iranian Armed Forces' Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, has apologized for shooting down Ukraine's Boeing 737, Iran's ISNA news agency reported.
• France, Germany, UK Committed to JCPOA, Call on Iran to Return to Compliance Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a joint statement on Sunday that they remained committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and urged Tehran to cancel all measures that go against the Iran nuclear deal.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on January 13, 2020 PRC MofA 13 Jan 2020
• HK ban on HRW head 'fair, reasonable move' Global Times 13 Jan 2020 -- The latest decision to reject the entry of a US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) executive director won't be the last to show China has been taking countermeasures against external forces, which had interfered in the country's internal affairs like Hong Kong. It also reflects the strong determination of the Chinese central government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government to restore order in the protest-stricken city by protecting its core interests.
• Hong Kong Denies Entry to Rights Group Chief For 'Inciting Violence, Separatism' Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- Hong Kong immigration authorities on Sunday refused entry to the head of a New York-based rights group ahead of the release of a major human rights report, prompting renewed concerns over deteriorating civil rights and freedoms in the city.
• HRW Director: China's Respect for Human Rights on 'Downward Trajectory' VOA 13 Jan 2020 -- The executive director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, says China's decision to deny him entry into Hong Kong shows "the downward trajectory of Beijing's respect for human rights."
• Xi stresses strengthening checks, oversight over exercise of power Global Times 13 Jan 2020 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressed strengthening checks and oversight over the exercise of power as he demanded consistency in full and strict governance over the Party.
• Xi stresses anti-graft work Global Times 13 Jan 2020 -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping on Monday stressed upholding and improving the Party and state supervisory systems to ensure the Party's line and policies are faithfully followed.
• Young KMT members urge party to review position on China policy CNA 13 Jan 2020 -- The heavy defeat suffered by the Kuomintang (KMT) in Saturday's presidential and legislative elections has sparked calls for internal reforms and a review of its stance on relations with China from its younger members.
• Premier Su Tseng-chang to stay in post CNA 13 Jan 2020 -- Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) will continue to serve as the country's premier after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) asked him to remain in the post earlier in the day, a Presidential Office spokesman said Monday.
• China likely to increase pressure against Taiwan: analysts CNA 13 Jan 2020 -- China is likely to increase its pressure on Taiwan on many fronts as a result of Saturday's presidential and legislative elections, foreign and local analysts who observed the polls said at a workshop Sunday afternoon.
• Cross-Straits situation needs pragmatism Global Times 13 Jan 2020 -- Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen won by a landslide in the island's regional leadership elections, and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took more than half of the "legislative" seats. We should interpret Taiwan's public opinion objectively to make sure our overall understanding of the Taiwan society is accurate.
• China slams US, other states for congratulating Tawain's Tsai on election win Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Beijing has slammed the United States and other states for breaching the 'One China' policy by offering congratulations to President Tsai Ing-wen of self-ruled Taiwan on her re-election.
• Chinese Official Says Taiwan Election Brings '10,000-Year Stink' of Separatism Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- After Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen swept to a landslide victory in Saturday's general elections, China said on Monday that the democratic island's "separatists" would "leave a 10,000-year stink."
• China Relations Stumble after Beijing Skeptic Wins Reelection in Taiwan VOA 13 Jan 2020 -- Taiwan's ever-testy relations with China stumbled again after a Beijing skeptic was reelected to the presidency and her party grabbed a legislative majority Saturday, but analysts and officials in Taipei say this dip won't go as deep as others.
• China urges countries to abide by one-China principle after Taiwan leadership election People's Daily 13 Jan 2020 -- China opposes any forms of official ties between Taiwan and countries that have diplomatic relations with China, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Sunday, urging countries to abide by the one-China principle.
• Chinese Woman Diagnosed with Coronavirus in Thailand Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- A Chinese woman traveling to Thailand from the central Chinese city of Wuhan was confirmed to be infected with a new strain of coronavirus and treated near Bangkok in the first reported case outside China, the Thai public health minister said Monday.
• UN health agency urges China to continue search for source of new virus, as Thailand case emerges UN News 13 Jan 2020 -- It is "essential" for China to continue investigating the source of a previously unknown strain of coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Monday, following confirmation that an infected patient is being treated in Thailand.
• 20 years' development of the Shenzhou spacecraft People's Daily 13 Jan 2020 -- Shenzhou-1, China's first unmanned test spacecraft, was launched on Nov. 20, 1999, marking a breakthrough in China's space program.
• Russian Space Agency Commits Billions of Rubles More to 'Oryol' Next-Gen Spacecraft Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Currently in development, the Oryol ('Eagle') crewed spacecraft is a crucial element of Russia's plans to land cosmonauts on the Moon. Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin has previously indicated that flight testing of the spaceship should be completed by 2028.
• Lithuania Fears Belarusian Nuclear Plant Hasn't 'Learned Lessons Of Chernobyl' RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Mikalay Ulasevich was running in municipal elections in July 2016 when a local resident alerted him to a major accident at a nuclear power plant under construction close to this town in northwestern Belarus.
• Pakistani Judges Rule Court In Musharraf Case Was 'Unconstitutional' RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- A Pakistani tribunal has ruled that the formation of a special court that has handed former military ruler Pervez Musharraf a death sentence was "unconstitutional."
• Pakistan Court Cancels Death Penalty for Musharraf VOA 13 Jan 2020 -- A Pakistani court Monday quashed the death sentence handed down to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, declaring as unlawful the legal process that led to his conviction.
• Ukraine Seeks To Shrink Underground Economy, Takes On Illegal Gambling, Other Sectors RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Ukraine is cracking down on illegal gambling and logging and fraudulent gas stations in a bid to reduce the size of the country's shadow economy.
• Bolivia's ex-president Morales calls on people to form popular defense groups Press TV 13 Jan 2020 -- Bolivia's exiled former president Evo Morales has called on his compatriots to form popular defense groups against potential acts of violence by the new government, which took power in a US-backed coup d'état against his government late last year.
• Cambodian Court Summons Ruling Party Spokesman to Testify in Kem Sokha Treason Trial Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- Days ahead of the trial of opposition chief Kem Sokha, a court in Cambodia's capital has summoned a spokesman for the country's ruling party to testify at his hearing, drawing concerns from observers who say the move is part of a bid to smear his character.
• Laos' Champassak Province Hands Over Waterfalls Projects to Hong Kong Firm Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in Laos' Champassak province have revoked the licenses of a Lao development firm for tourism projects around two waterfalls in the province so that a Hong Kong-based developer could take over.
• Will Fresh Faces, More Women In New Uzbek Parliament Make A Difference? RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Uzbekistan has advertised itself as a country undergoing significant changes since Shavkat Mirziyoev took over as the country's leader in late 2016.
• Gulnara Karimova's Swiss Mansion Being Searched For Precious Art Objects RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Uzbek officials aiming to seize more than $1.5 billion in foreign assets held by Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the late President Islam Karimov who has been jailed in a Tashkent prison since March 2019, say they have begun searching a mansion she owns in Switzerland.
• The United States Takes Action against Officials of the Former Maduro Regime Involved in Obstructing the Venezuelan National Assembly US Dept. of State 13 Jan 2020 -- On January 13, the United States sanctioned seven current or former officials of the former Maduro regime involved in attempting to circumvent the Venezuelan National Assembly's democratic process. These Maduro-associated individuals attempted to siege the National Assembly palace and hold a non-constitutionally sanctioned election to prevent a majority of legitimate Venezuelan legislators from voting.
• Treasury Targets Officials Involved in Illegitimate Attempted Takeover of the Venezuelan National Assembly US Treasury 13 Jan 2020 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated seven Venezuelan government officials who, on behalf of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, led a failed attempt to illegitimately seize control of the National Assembly and block interim President Juan Guaidó and other deputies from participating in a constitutionally required election of National Assembly leadership.
• Fugitive Moldovan Tycoon Given U.S. Entry Ban For 'Significant Corruption' RFE/RL 13 Jan 2020 -- Moldovan oligarch and former head of the Moldova's Democratic Party (PDM) Vlad Plahotniuc has been banned from entering the United States "due to his involvement in significant corruption," the U.S. State Department said in a statement on January 13.
• Public Designation, Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption, of Former Moldovan Official Plahotniuc US Dept. of State 13 Jan 2020