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News Reports

Current Operations

• At Least Five Rockets Land Near Iraq Base Hosting US Forces - Reports Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- A US-led military coalition said to be backing the Iraqi government in its fight against Daesh terrorists has been training Iraqi army forces for several months at a military base located in Taji. The attack on the Iraqi base comes amid escalating tensions in the region due to the ongoing standoff between the United States and Iran.
• US-Iran Tensions Play Out on Iraqi Territory VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The United States has rejected a request by the Iraqi government to pull out troops and has threatened possible sanctions in response to the request. U.S. troops are there to train local forces and fight Islamic State militants, says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
• Esper Says US Has Legal Authority to Attack Iranian Soil Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- The January 3 assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani saw Iran-US tensions soar to new heights, prompting an Iranian missile attack on US forces in Iraq and briefly sparking fears of a full-blown military conflict in the region.
• US offers confusing explanations for Soleimani assassination Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- In an apparent about-face, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the assassination of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was part of a "bigger strategy of deterrence," a shift from President Donald Trump's previous claim that the deadly drone strike was carried out to prevent an "imminent" attack.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pence Swears In First Chief of Space Operations at White House Event DoD News 14 Jan 2020 -- Vice President Mike Pence swore in Air Force Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond as the highest-ranking military leader of the newly created U.S. Space Force in a ceremony that recognized the arrival of the nation's newest military branch.
• New Space Force Chief Sworn in VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- Vice President Mike Pence has formally sworn in in Gen. John "Jay" Raymond as the new Chief of Space Operations Tuesday at the White House.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's Meeting With Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono DoD 14 Jan 2020 -- On January 14, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper hosted Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono at the Pentagon, where they reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and reflected on its evolution since the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security sixty years ago.
• Esper, Japanese Counterpart Reaffirm Bilateral Defense Relationship DoD News 14 Jan 2020 -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono met at the Pentagon to reaffirm the defense relationship between the United States and Japan.
• Secretary Esper and Minister Kono Press Conference DoD 14 Jan 2020 -- Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper; Japanese Defense Minister Tara Kono
• MPs use new Modular Handgun System to train, qualify Army News 14 Jan 2020 -- Soldiers and Civilians with the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Ansbach Provost Marshal Office (PMO) practiced and qualified with the Army's new weapons system during a range at the Oberdachstetten Training Area Jan. 9-10.
• US to Fix, Not Scrap Open Skies Treat VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- Washington residents were startled in April 2017 to see a low-flying aircraft transit directly through the normally restricted airspace at the center of the U.S. capital, with all its monuments and iconic government buildings.
• Strength, Innovation Essential to National Defense Strategy DoD News 14 Jan 2020 -- The National Defense Strategy describes how the Defense Department will be postured to be successful in the great power competition with Russia and China, the Army chief of staff said.
• Global Maritime Forum Report Released NNS 14 Jan 2020 -- The office of the Director, National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) / National Intelligence Manager for Maritime (NIM Maritime) has released a report on the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) held at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom in 2019.
• Surface Forces Boss Discusses Three Lines of Effort to Own Future Fight NNS 14 Jan 2020 -- The U.S. Navy has "the premier surface force in the world–second to none–that controls the seas and provides the nation with combat naval power when and where needed."
• Pentagon Mulling Relocation of US Troops From Africa to Pacific Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- The US Department of Defense is considering taking a step back from its counterterrorism operations in Africa in the near future as the US military begins to shift its focus to the Pacific region, according to the nation's top general.
• US Air Force Drops Nuclear Bombs From B-52H Bomber's Nuke Inventory - Report Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Introduced into service back in the 1950s, the B-52 Stratofortress and its upgraded B-52H variant have served as the backbone of the US Air Force's strategic bomber fleet, and have been used in virtually all of the major wars fought by the US since Vietnam.
• China-Pakistan Sea Guardians 2020 exercise concludes second-phase drills PLA Daily 14 Jan 2020 -- As the last cleat hitch of China's guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Hull 571) was tied to the dock at 3 p.m. on January 13, all naval ships of the Chinese fleet participating in the PN-PLAN Bilateral Exercise, code-named Sea Guardians-2020, have returned to Karachi Port, Pakistan, marking the successful completion of the maritime phase of the bilateral exercise.
• Sea Guardians 2020 China-Pakistan joint naval exercise wraps up in Karachi PLA Daily 14 Jan 2020 -- The nine-day Sea Guardians 2020 China-Pakistan joint naval exercise wrapped up at the Pakistan Navy's Dockyard in Karachi on January 14. The participating troops from the two navies worked in a coordinated and integrated way to complete all subjects and achieved the expected goals.
• Final Type 056 corvette wraps up production Global Times 14 Jan 2020 -- China has reportedly completed work on its final coastal defensive Type 056 corvette, military analysts said on Monday that bigger warships for high sea operations could be the new focus.
• India to Induct More Women in Military Police, Army Chief Reveals Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- The Corps of Military Police has become the first in the Indian Army to recruit women to its rank and file. The training of the first batch of women Military Police commenced on January 6, 2020. From basic military training to advanced provost training, the training program for the women will span over 61 weeks.
• Indian Court Rejects Investigation Agency Plea to Cancel Bail for Defendant in Chopper Purchase Scam Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- India's deal to buy choppers worth $770 million from the Italian defence group AgustaWestland has been at the centre of a major bribery scandal.
• South Korea, US Far From Compromise on Military Cost-Sharing Deal – President Moon Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- As the United States and South Korea are set to hold yet another round of talks this week on how much each should pay toward the maintenance of US troops in the Asian country, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday that their positions on the matter were still far apart despite certain progress in negotiations.
• Revolutionary Artificial Intelligence warship contracts announced UK MOD 14 Jan 2020 -- The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has announced the first wave of £4 million funding
• Russia to Continue Providing Arms and Ammunition to Sri Lankan Army - Foreign Minister Lavrov Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov along with a 42-member delegation is on an official two-day visit to the island nation of Sri Lanka. He held a joint press conference with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on their bilateral military and economic cooperation on Tuesday.
• Damen and Blohm + Voss selected for construction German MKS180 frigates DAMEN 14 Jan 2020 -- The German government has announced its intention to select Damen as the main contractor, together with partners Blohm + Voss and Thales, for supplying at least four Multi-Purpose Combat Ship MKS 180 frigates to the German Navy. The Dutch naval shipbuilder is extremely proud of, and satisfied with, the result of the evaluation process announced today by the German Government, though of course awaits parliamentary approval in Germany.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 14, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 14 January 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Jan 2020
• China's Coast Guard Chief Arrives in the Philippines for Bilateral Talks Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2020 -- China's coast guard chief has arrived in Manila to lead a delegation for tabletop exercises and bilateral talks with their Philippine counterparts aimed at coordinating each other's operations in the disputed South China Sea, officials said Tuesday.
• Yemeni army, allies forces shoot down Saudi-led reconnaissance drone in Jizan Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Yemeni army forces, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Committees, have intercepted and targeted an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the Saudi-led military coalition as it was flying in the skies over the kingdom's southern border region of Jizan.
• Turkish Leader Threatens Action in Libya, Syria VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is threatening action in both Libya and Syria as rhetoric ramps up in the face of looming regional setbacks and growing frustrations with Moscow.
• Turkey to 'teach a lesson' to Libyan rebel commander if anti-govt. offensive resumes Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will "teach a lesson" to Libyan rebel commander Khalifa Haftar if he resumes his offensive against Libya's internationally-recognized government after withdrawing from ceasefire talks in Moscow.
• Erdogan Says Turkey Ready To 'Teach A Lesson' To Libya's Haftar RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will "teach a lesson" to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar if his forces continue attacks against the North African country's internationally recognized government.
• Erdogan Says Turkey Will 'Teach Haftar a Lesson' in Libya if He Doesn't Stop Offensive Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- This comes after the Libyan National Army leader Khalifa Haftar left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement with the head of the UN-backed Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj.
• Russia Claims Progress but Falls Short on Libya Cease-Fire Deal VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- Russia said it made progress after hosting indirect peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Libya – despite failing to secure an open ended cease-fire deal between the warring sides in the nine-month war."
• Libyan rebel commander leaves Moscow without signing peace deal Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Attempts to broker a ceasefire between the sides to the Libyan conflict have failed in Russia, Moscow has confirmed, as the head of rebel forces in Libya leaves the peace talks.
• LNA's Haftar Taking Two Days to Discuss Ceasefire Agreement With Allies – Russian Defence Ministry Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the rebel commander of the Libyan National Armyis has held talks in Moscow with representatives of Libya's internationally-recognised government. The prospective ceasefure is set to stop the advance of Haftar's forces on Tripoli, which is home to the UN-backed government.
• Haftar's Decision to Skip Libya Truce Deal Shows Who Wants War - Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- On Monday, Government of National Accord's (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and Libyan National Army (LNA) leader Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar met in Moscow for talks, mediated by Russia and Turkey, in the hopes of concluding a ceasefire. But Haftar then left Moscow without signing anything, requesting extra time to review the draft deal.
• Haftar Leaves Moscow for Libya Without Signing Ceasefire Deal With GNA Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Talks began on Monday morning between Russia and Turkey's foreign and defence ministers in the so-called "2+2" format. Afterwards, representatives from Russia and Turkey met with the GNA and LNA delegations separately. Negotiations went on for more than six hours and were closed to the media.
• Escalating Violence in Libya Sends Migrants Fleeing for Europe VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The International Organization for Migration says most of the more than 1,000 migrants who fled escalating violence and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Libya over the past two weeks have returned to Libyan shores and been sent to abusive detention centers.
• Armed Clashes Resume in Libya's Tripoli - Reports Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- The news of alleged renewed skirmishes near Tripoli came hours after Libya's UN-backed prime minister, Fayez Sarraj, and the East-based Libyan National Army (LNA) commander, Khalifa Haftar, ended talks in Moscow on the settlement of the Libyan crisis.
• Picking Up The Pieces Of Abkhazia's Latest Political Crisis RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- The de facto president of the self-declared republic of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia whose independence is recognized only by Russia and a few others, has stepped down amid sometimes violent protests that erupted over what his opponents say was an illegitimate electoral victory.
• Daesh Claims Responsibility For Last Week's Attack on Niger Army Base - Reports Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Last week, a military base in Chinegodar, in the western Tillaberi Region of Nigeria, was assaulted by unidentified militants. According to the recent data provided by local security sources, the attack has claimed the lives of 89 Nigerian soldiers.
• Indian Minister Backs Army Chief's Statement on Reclaiming Pakistan-Controlled Kashmir Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Relations between India and Pakistan have traditionally been tense over competing claims to parts of the Kashmir region since both nations gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Indian parliament passed a resolution in 1994 staking a claim over the whole of Jammu and Kashmir.

News Reports

• Report: Russia Hacked Ukrainian Energy Firm Tied To Impeachment Inquiry RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Hackers from Russia's military intelligence unit, the GRU, have allegedly targeted a Ukrainian energy firm tied to the impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump.
• European Court Rules Russia's Khodorkovsky Denied Fair Trial RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and business partner Platon Lebedev were denied their right to a fair trial in the case of their conviction by a Russian court for embezzlement and money laundering.
• Russian Opposition Party Head Says Supreme Court Has Suspended Its Activities RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- The head of the Russian opposition political party Civic Initiative says the country's Supreme Court has suspended its operations for politically motivated reasons and is looking to wipe the party out altogether.
• Treasury Sanctions Entities for Facilitating the Exportation of Workers from North Korea US Treasury 14 Jan 2020 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced two North Korea-related designations focusing on the Government of North Korea's continued supply of illicit labor to overseas markets.
• US Imposes Sanctions Over N. Korean Workers Abroad VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The United States has imposed sanctions on two North Korean entities for facilitating the export of labor in violation of U.N. sanctions.
• Trump-Kim Chemistry Will Not Sway N. Korea On Denuclearization VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The personal relationship between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump has no impact on Pyongyang's denuclearization stance toward Washington, said experts.
• South Korea's Moon Shakes Off Pessimism About Dialogue With Pyongyang Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in has expressed some hope about the prospects of dialogue with North Korea, as well as possibilities of Pyongyang resuming talks with the United States.
• S. Korea Pushes For Cooperation With North, Despite Rejection, Insults VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- It was a relatively modest step: South Korea would relay birthday greetings from U.S. President Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who turned 36 last week.
• South Korea optimistic about US-North diplomacy despite halt to negotiations Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in has expressed new optimism about the deadlocked talks between the United States and North Korea, citing a recent birthday wish sent to Pyongyang's leader by the American president.
• China's role to be significant for Korean Peninsula's denuclearization: S. Korean president Global Times 14 Jan 2020 -- China's role has been and will be very significant in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and building a permanent peace on the peninsula, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday.
• Iranian President Pledges Punishment For Downing of Ukrainian Plane VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged Tuesday to punish those responsible for the accidental downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet, calling the incident "unforgivable."
• New Video Shows Two Iranian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Plane RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- New security camera footage posted online shows two Iranian missiles struck a Ukrainian passenger airliner after takeoff from Tehran on January 8.
• 'The Magical Powers Of The Con': For Many, Moscow's Defense Of Iran Is Redolent Of Its Denial Over MH17 RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- In the early hours of January 11, as the world awaited information about the tragic crash near Tehran of Ukrainian Airlines Flight PS752, Russia's state-funded news agency RT published an article titled The Demonization Of Iran: How The West Blames Tehran For The Downing Of The Ukrainian Boeing 737.
• Iranian Judiciary Spokesman Says Several Arrested for Their Role in Ukraine Plane Crash - Reports Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- The Boeing 737-800 plane belonging to Ukraine International Airlines crashed soon after takeoff from a Tehran airport last week, on 8 January - the same day that Iran struck US bases in Iraq with missiles. The Iranian military admitted to unintentionally shooting down the aircraft, having confused it with a hostile cruise missile.
• UN aviation experts to join Ukraine Airlines Iran crash investigation UN News 14 Jan 2020 -- Experts from the UN aviation watchdog, ICAO, will support the investigation into the crash of a Ukrainian Passenger plane in Iran on January 8, following an invitation from the Iranian authorities, which was accepted on Tuesday.
• Ukraine Knew Iran Had Downed Airliner But Didn't Go Public, Official Says RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Ukraine knew on a preliminary basis that Iran shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on January 8, the same day as the incident, but decided not to go public with the information because it wanted to get access to the crash site.
• Iran arrests "some" over Ukrainian plane crash: spokesman Global Times 14 Jan 2020 -- Iran's Judiciary spokesman said here Tuesday that the Islamic republic has arrested some people related to the crash of a recent Ukrainian passenger plane over Tehran's sky, official IRNA news agency reported.
• Judiciary to pursue crash of Ukrainian plane vigorously IRNA 14 Jan 2020 -- The Attorney General of Iran, while regretting the loss of compatriots in the crash of a Ukrainian plane, assured the public that the judiciary would pursue the case vigorously.
• Rouhani: Special court should investigate Ukrainian plane crash in Tehran IRNA 14 Jan 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the Judiciary Branch should form a special court to look into the case of the Ukrainian airliner that was downed mistakenly.
• Iran's sky safer for all flights than ever before: Iran's Army Cmdr. IRNA 14 Jan 2020 -- Iranian Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Musavi said on Tuesday that today's Iranian sky is safer for all flights than ever before.
• Vaezi: Gov't to stand by families of victims of air disaster IRNA 14 Jan 2020 -- Chief of Staff of the presidential office Mahmoud Vaezi said on Tuesday that the government stands by the bereaved families of the air disaster in which the young elites fell victims to US Cyber attacks on Iranian radar system.
• Iran's Judiciary: Arrests made over downing of Ukraine jetliner Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Iran's Judiciary says a number of arrests have been made in connection with the recent downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane nearTehran, which killed all 176 on board.
• Iran's President Rouhani calls for special court to hear plane tragedy cases Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says all those responsible for the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran should be brought to justice, urging that a special tribunal be appointed to hear cases and try all those involved.
• Iran's President Wants Special Court To Probe Ukrainian Plane Downing RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani, in the face of intense protests, has called for a special court to be set up to investigate the downing of a Ukrainian passenger airliner by the country's air defenses that killed all 176 people on board.
• Europe Puts Iran on Notice, Urging Tehran to Comply with Nuclear Deal VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- European powers have triggered a formal legal dispute in reaction to Iran's decision last week to shrug off all restrictions placed on it under a landmark international agreement that intended to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
• Iran: Europeans must consider consequences of triggering nuclear dispute mechanism IRNA 14 Jan 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi referred to the three European countries' measures to activate nuclear dispute mechanism and said that what the UK, France, and Germany have done is a passive move and out of weakness.
• Iran, IAEA discuss JCPOA ISNA 14 Jan 2020 -- Ambassador and permanent representative of Iran to the International Organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharib-Abadi met with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi.
• EU3 triggers dispute mechanism with Iran in blow to nuclear deal Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Britain, France, and Germany, collectively known as the EU3, have formally triggered a dispute settlement mechanism featured in a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, a step that could lead to the restoration of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
• Bringing nuclear deal into dispute rooted in weakness: Iran's Foreign Ministry Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Iran slams the launch by France, Britain and Germany of a dispute mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran as a "passive" move rooted in their "weakness," warning that the Islamic Republic will give a firm response to any "unconstructive" move.
• Germany, Britain, France Trigger Dispute Mechanism Over Iranian Breaches Of Nuke Deal RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Germany, Britain, and France say they have triggered a dispute mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and global powers, citing Tehran's reduced compliance with the accord, in a move dismissed by the Islamic republic as a "strategic mistake."
• Regional states mustn't hesitate to end US' military presence in region: President Rouhani ISNA 14 Jan 2020 -- Referring to the need for the two countries' authorities to try to facilitate and accelerate the implementation of agreements and contracts, Iran's President said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to further deepen Tehran-Damascus relations in all fields of mutual interest".
• Confronting US' presence in region should become steady effort: Iran's Defence Minister ISNA 14 Jan 2020 -- Iranian Minister of Defence Brigadier General Amir Hatami said, confronting US' presence in the region should become a steady and continuous effort.
• US court rejects bid to seize $1.7 billion of Iranian assets Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- A US court's ruling to seize Iranian assets worth about $1.7 billion outside the United States has been thrown out for now.
• Flagging Support: Iranians Defy Officials By Refusing To Walk Upon U.S., Israeli Banners RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Chanting "Death to America" and trampling upon and burning U.S. flags have been part of state-sponsored, anti-American acts in Iran for the past 40 years.
• Zarif urges E3 to stop 20 months of bowing to US diktat Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Iran's foreign minister has urged the three European powers - France, Germany, and the UK - to stop bowing to the US' diktat and rather "must the courage" to fulfill their obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.
• Canada's Trudeau Blames Recent Escalations For Plane Crash, U.S. Announces Deterrence Strategy RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Canadians killed on board Flight PS752 in Iran would be alive if tensions in the region were not at a heightened level.
• Canada to Seek Iranian Military Procedures in Shoot Down of Flight 752 - Investigator Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- Canada will seek Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' military procedures after it shot down Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight 752 following a missile strike on Iraqi bases housing US forces, Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) Senior Investigator Natacha Van Themsche said during a press conference on Monday.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on January 14, 2020 PRC MofA 14 Jan 2020
• Separatists will remain notorious in history: Chinese FM PLA Daily 14 Jan 2020 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters here on Monday during his visit to Africa that the governments and leaders of the African countries he visited clearly stated that they adhere to the one-China principle and clearly pointed out that Taiwan is an integral part of China.
• Hong Kong 'facing unprecedented challenges over high number of arrests' Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Hong Kong's leader says the high number of arrests during months of anti-government protests in the city has created "unprecedented challenges" for its courts.
• Mainland, Macao step up judicial assistance cooperation Global Times 14 Jan 2020 -- The Chinese mainland and Macao Tuesday signed a revised version of an arrangement on the mutual service of documents and obtaining evidence in handling civil and commercial cases.
• HRW Executive Director Sounds Alarm on China's Assault on Human Rights VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The head of Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that China has launched an assault on the international human rights system, and governments need to resist Beijing's actions.
• US drops currency manipulation charge against China Global Times 14 Jan 2020 -- The United States has dropped its designation of China as a currency manipulator, according to a report from the US Treasury Department released Monday.
• US Treasury Drops Currency Manipulator Designation for China Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- The decision comes as both countries move towards improving trade relations and sealing the Phase One trade agreement on Wednesday. To that end, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, the head of the country's negotiating team in US-China trade talks, is slated to stay in Washington from Monday to Wednesday.
• 2020 ELECTIONS / Hong Kong protests a key factor in election results: scholars CNA 14 Jan 2020 -- The Hong Kong protests were a key factor impacting the results of the recent presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan, local scholars have said.
• Prague, Taipei Sign Sister-City Deal as Shanghai Cuts Ties in Response Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2020 -- The mayor of the Czech capital has signed a sister-city agreement with Taiwan's capital Taipei, rejecting China as "an unreliable partner" in the wake of President Tsai Ing-wen's election victory at the weekend.
• US imposes sanctions on seven pro-government politicians Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- The US has imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan politicians it says helped President Nicolas Maduro wrest control of the country's congress, called the National Assembly.
• Manned space mission woes Global Times 15 Jan 2020 -- India could face a delay for years in its first-ever manned space mission scheduled for December 2021, as numerous obstacles, including the development of a launch vehicle with a payload capacity up to mission requirements, still need to be overcome, Chinese experts said on Tuesday.
• Police conduct raids in Germany in hunt for suspected Chechen militants Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Police in Germany have conducted raids across the country over an alleged plot by suspected militants of Chechen origin to launch a violent attack, Berlin prosecutors say.
• German Police Raids Target Islamist Suspects 'Of Chechen Origin' RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- German police are conducting raids on suspected Islamist militants in four states, over allegations they have been plotting a "serious violent act endangering the state," prosecutors say.
• Khashoggi Fiancée Calls Saudi Murder Trial 'a Joke' VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The fiancée of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi called last month's death sentences for five unnamed assailants a mockery of justice in her first ever English-language interview.
• Belarus Scrambles For Oil Amid Supply Standoff With Russia RFE/RL 14 Jan 2020 -- Belarus says it has asked several European countries to sell it oil in the face of a tariff dispute with Russia, its regular supplier.
• Johnson refuses to issue section 30 order Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- As expected, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has formally rejected a request by Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, for a fresh Scottish independence referendum.
• Anti-govt. protests resume in Lebanon as political vacuum persists Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- Protesters in Lebanon have blocked major roads in a new wave of anti-government protests as the Middle Eastern country suffers from a months-long political vacuum.
• Rights Groups Demand Cambodia Drop 'Bogus' Charges Against Kem Sokha on Eve of Treason Trial Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2020 -- Cambodia should immediately drop "bogus" charges against opposition chief Kem Sokha, rights groups demanded Tuesday, the eve of a planned two-day treason trial in a case they said will be overseen by a politically controlled judiciary beholden to Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.
• Malaysia's Mahathir Mulls Risks, Rewards of Postponed Power Transfer VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- Malaysia's government looks increasingly likely to miss a promised mid-2020 leadership transfer from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to coalition partner Anwar Ibrahim, raising fears of a succession scuffle that could split an already fragile alliance and cost it the next election.