Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• New Pentagon Chief Might Revise Number of Troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Reports Suggest Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin might revise former President Donald Trump's decision to scale down troops in Afghanistan and Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
• Iraqi MPs outraged by US decision to review troop drawdown Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- Iraqi parliamentarians serve fiery responses to a decision coming out of Washington to review the previous US administration's plan to draw down the number of American forces in the Arab country.
• US-led coalition military convoy targeted near Iraq's Samarra Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- A US-led coalition military convoy has reportedly been targeted near the Iraqi city of Samarra in the northern province of Salahuddin.
• Two Afghan Policemen Killed, Five Others Wounded In Kabul Blasts RFE/RL Gandhara 27 Jan 2021 -- Afghan officials say two policemen have been killed and at least five others wounded in separate attacks in different parts of the capital, Kabul.
• Afghan Rights Group Says Killings Of Civilians Rose To Almost 3,000 Last Year RFE/RL Gandhara 27 Jan 2021 -- The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) says killings of civilians in the country's conflict rose to nearly 3,000 last year despite the launch of intra-Afghan peace talks in Qatar.
• Taliban Delegation Meets Iranian Officials Amid Stalled Afghan Peace Talks RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- A Taliban delegation has held talks with high-ranking Iranian officials in Tehran amid ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the militant group.
• US Envoy for Afghanistan Khalilzad Invited to Stay in Biden Administration - Blinken Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that Zalmay Khalilzad has been invited to stay in his capacity of United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation by the Biden administration, which is conducting a review of previous agreements reached with the Taliban.
• U.S. To Review Sanctions Imposed By Trump Over ICC Afghanistan War Crimes Probes RFE/RL Gandhara 27 Jan 2021 -- The Biden administration will review U.S. sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials imposed over investigations into U.S forces in Afghanistan, a State Department spokesman said on January 26.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Africa Command Senior Leaders Visit Sudan AFRICOM 27 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Africa Command's Deputy to the U.S. Africa Command Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Director of Intelligence, Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, conducted a historic visit to Sudan to foster cooperative engagement and expand partnership development, Jan. 25-27.
• Partnerships Key to Lasting Security and Stability AFRICOM 27 Jan 2021 -- The U.S. Africa Command Director of Intelligence, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, spoke with Sudanese military professionals from the Sudanese Higher Military Academy in Sudan, Jan. 27.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad DoD 27 Jan 2021 -- "I fully support the President's direction today to include climate considerations as an essential element of our national security and to assess the impacts of climate change on our security strategies, operations, and infrastructure."
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Call With German Federal Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer DoD 27 Jan 2021
• Data Summit Syncs Joint Strategy, Standards DoD News 27 Jan 2021 -- More than 20 one- and two-star generals, flag officers and senior executive service members from the Joint Staff, Services and Combatant Commands converged on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Jan. 26, for a Joint All-Domain Command and Control data summit hosted by Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Dennis A. Crall, the director of the Joint Staff's J-6.
• Software Modernization Means Moving Faster, Smarter DoD News 27 Jan 2021 -- Software modernization is about delivering better software at a much greater speed to the warfighters, the Defense Department's acting director, chief information officer said.
• Enduring, resolute partners: US, Qatar conduct historic air-to-air refueling exercise CENTCOM 27 Jan 2021 -- For the first time ever, Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafales integrated with U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers during a week-long air-to-air refueling exercise at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
• UAE Armed Forces and U.S. Marines Complete Defense Training in UAE USMC News 27 Jan 2021 -- Combined forces from the United Arab Emirates and United States recently completed a week long defense-focused training engagement in the UAE.
• U.S. Bomber Flies Over Persian Gulf Amid Iran Tensions RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- The U.S. military says it flew a B-52 bomber over the Persian Gulf in a show of force "to deter potential aggression" amid fears that heightened tensions with Iran could result in attacks on U.S. or allied targets in the region.
• US B-52 bomber flies over West Asia region as Biden seeks thawing ties with Iran Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- A US nuclear-capable bomber has flown over the Middle East despite the new US administration's stated efforts to seek a thaw in ties with Iran.
• US Flies Strategic Bombers Over Middle East Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- The United States has flown B-52 long-range strategic bombers over the Middle East in a mission aimed at deterring potential aggression in the region, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release on Wednesday.
• Pentagon Pens Contracts for Two Hypersonic Missile Detection Satellite Prototypes Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- The US Space Force has plans for a vast array of detection and communications satellites to monitor events on the Earth's surface, including but not limited to detecting hypersonic weapon launches. The orbital military surveillance network could consist of up to 1,000 satellites.
• 176th Wing Airmen participate in Noble Defender rescue exercise US Air Force 27 Jan 2021 -- Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing participated in operation Noble Defender, a search and rescue/personnel recovery (SAR/PR) exercise Jan. 19-22.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Call With French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly DoD 28 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• NATO Secretary General: NATO must remain fit to face any challenge NATO 27 Jan 2021 -- NATO must remain fit to face any challenge amid a more unpredictable and competitive world, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Allied Chiefs of Defence on Wednesday (27 January 2021).
• Secretary General discusses NATO agenda with Latvian Foreign Minister NATO 27 Jan 2021 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a phone call with the Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs on Wednesday (27 January) to discuss the Alliance's current agenda. The Secretary General thanked Latvia for hosting the Canadian-led battlegroup as part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) measures in the Baltic Sea region. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the deployment of the four battlegroups to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, to deter aggression and to preserve peace. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that, despite the pandemic, NATO's deterrence and defence in the region remains strong and effective.
• NATO briefs on forward presence at OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation NATO 27 Jan 2021 -- At a virtual meeting of the OSCE's Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) on Wednesday (27 January 2021), senior officials from NATO Headquarters and Allied governments briefed on the history, evolution and future of NATO's forward presence in the eastern and south-eastern part of the Alliance.
• US agrees to extend major arms treaty, Russia says Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- Russia says the United States has agreed to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last bilateral agreement verifiably and transparently limiting the world's two largest nuclear arsenals, which the former US administration was unwilling to extend.
• Russian Lawmakers Approve Extension Of Key Nuke Pact With U.S. RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Russia has approved an extension of the New START nuclear arms control treaty as Moscow and Washington look to save the last major pact of its kind.
• Putin Urges Russian Foreign Ministry to Discuss Document on New START Extension With US Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked the Foreign Ministry with holding negotiations with the United States on signing a document to extend the nuclear arms reduction treaty New START, which expires on 5 February.
• PLA exercises in S.China Sea 'not related to US carrier activity' Global Times 27 Jan 2021 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started a series of exercises in the South China Sea on Wednesday, which Chinese observers said is likely a regular move and not related to the recent activities of a US aircraft carrier in the region, as foreign media had speculated.
• Biden administration suspends F-35 sale to UAE Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- The new US administration has suspended the sale of F-35 jets to the United Arab Emirates, according to Bloomberg's defense reporter.
• State Dept Confirms Biden Temporarily Halts Some US Foreign Arms Sales Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- Earlier in the day, a Bloomberg defense reporter said that the Biden administration would temporarily pause some US foreign arms sales, particularly putting under review the sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia and of Lockheed Martin F-35 jets to the UAE.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh DoD 27 Jan 2021
• Telephone Conversation between Raksha Mantri and US Secretary of Defence India PIB 27 Jan 2021 -- Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh received an introductory telephone call from the newly appointed US Secretary of defence Gen. (Retired) Lloyd Austin on 27 January 2021.
• £230 million contract to bolster Royal Navy torpedoes UK MOD 27 Jan 2021 -- Cutting-edge Spearfish and Sting Ray torpedoes carried by the Royal Navy are receiving a £230 million maintenance uplift.
• Navy unveils new assault speedboat in Kaohsiung drill CNA 27 Jan 2021 -- The Navy on Wednesday showed the public for the first time a locally built assault speedboat that will be used by the military to defend harbors and counter terrorists, pirates and hijackers at sea.
• Expectations High as President Buhari Appoints New Security Chiefs VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari named four new military chiefs Tuesday amid mounting calls to do something about widespread insecurity. While some Nigerians welcome the change in military leaders, security experts say the new chiefs are facing major challenges to stop terrorism, a string of kidnappings, and instability.
• Newly-Confirmed US Secretary of State Pledges Cooperation on Global Challenges VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- The new top U.S. diplomat, Antony Blinken, is pledging to work with core allies and partners to confront complex global challenges, while investing in a diverse and inclusive American Foreign Service.
• Biden's Pick for UN Envoy Grilled on China at Confirmation Hearing VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- U.S. lawmakers Wednesday expressed concern about China's growing influence at the United Nations during their questioning of President Joe Biden's intended U.N. ambassador, seeking assurances that she would vigorously push back against Beijing's "malign influence."
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, January 27, 2021 The White House 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken to State Department Employees US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021 -- Remarks by Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Press Availability US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan The White House 27 Jan 2021
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Call with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval of India The White House 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with French Foreign Minister Le Drian US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with German Foreign Minister Maas US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Raab US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Readout - Foreign Secretary call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken UK FCDO 27 Jan 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
• Secretary Blinken's First Call with Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Locsin US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Australian Foreign Minister Payne US Dept. of State 27 Jan 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 27, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 27 January 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 27 Jan 2021
• Gamba 'deeply concerned' over COVID impact on children caught in conflict UN News 27 Jan 2021 -- Child rights must be considered in measures designed to contain coronavirus spread, the UN's advocate for boys and girls caught in armed conflict said on Wednesday in an appeal to Member States.
• Philippines Protests Beijing's New Law for Coast Guard in South China Sea Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against the Chinese government after Beijing passed a new law giving its coast guard authority to fire upon foreign vessels in the contested South China Sea, Manila's top diplomat said Wednesday.
• With New US Leadership, Analysts See Hope for Yemen VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- This week the Biden administration suspended sanctions on Yemen's Houthis, the rebel group backed by Iran, for a month until February 26 — a move welcomed by the United Nations and aid agencies.
• Tens of thousands in northwest Syria lose shelter after floods inundate camps UN News 27 Jan 2021 -- Heavy rains and floods in north-west Syria has worsened the plight of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons, destroying their tents, food and belongings in the midst of winter, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.
• 8.3 mln South Sudanese in need of humanitarian aid: UN People's Daily 27 Jan 2021 -- The number of people in South Sudan in need of aid has jumped from 7.5 million last year to 8.3 million, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
• Central African Republic: Rights expert welcomes transfer of war crimes suspect to ICC UN News 27 Jan 2021 -- The handover of a former Central African Republic (CAR) militia leader and war crimes suspect to the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sent a strong warning to rebel groups, political actors and others who thrive on impunity, a UN independent human rights expert said on Wednesday.
• Tigray's children in crisis and beyond reach, after months of conflict: UNICEF UN News 27 Jan 2021 -- Three months since fighting began in Ethiopia's northern state of Tigray, there's grave concern for the plight of youngsters there, the UN Children's Fund UNICEF has warned.
• Aid Efforts in Ethiopia's Tigray Thwarted by Lack of Access VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- About 1.3 million Ethiopian children continue to suffer despite humanitarian efforts 12 weeks into the conflict in the Tigray Region, the United Nations' children's agency said in a press release Wednesday.
• US Urges Nepal to Register, Protect Tibetan Refugees Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- The United States takes "seriously" the forced return by Nepal of Tibetans escaping their homeland to seek asylum outside China and is regularly discussing this issue with senior Nepalese officials, a State Department spokesman told RFA this week.
• Many of Myanmar's Rohingya Still Trying to Flee Precarious Lives Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- Rohingya Muslims continue to defy strict COVID-19 restrictions on movement to flee western Myanmar's Rakhine state, many for destinations in Southeast Asia, to flee discrimination and to find jobs, police and other officials said Wednesday.
• Government Troops in KNU Zones of Myanmar's Kayin And Mon States Spark Protests Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- Thousands of civilians staged protests in 11 villages in southeastern Myanmar's Kayin and Mon states Wednesday, demanding that the country's military withdraw from their area and abide by a nationwide cease-fire agreement reached in 2015.

News Reports

• Press Release—THIS IS YOUR COVID-19 WAKE-UP CALL: IT IS 100 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist 27 Jan 2021 -- The COVID-19 pandemic will end up killing well over two million people around the globe. The mishandling of this grave global health crisis is a "wake-up call" that governments, institutions, and a misled public remain unprepared to handle the even greater threats posed by nuclear war and climate change. Given this and the lack of progress in 2020 in dealing with nuclear and climate perils, the Doomsday Clock remains as close to midnight as it has ever been – just 100 seconds to midnight.
• US Security Officials Warn of 'Heightened' Domestic Threat VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- U.S. security officials warn ongoing anger over the outcome of the recent presidential election, as well as other grievances, could fuel new violence across the country in the coming weeks and months.
• DHS Issues a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin DHS 27 Jan 2021 -- The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin today after consultation with the intelligence community and law enforcement partners.
• Three Individuals Affiliated With the Oath Keepers Indicted in Federal Court for Conspiracy to Obstruct Congress on Jan. 6, 2021 US Dept. of Justice 27 Jan 2021 -- Three individuals associated with the Oath Keepers, a paramilitary organization focused on recruitment of current and former military, law enforcement, and first responder personnel, were indicted today in federal court in the District of Columbia for conspiring to obstruct Congress, among other charges.
• Michigan Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kidnap Governor VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- A man charged in a plot to kidnap the governor of the U.S. state of Michigan pleaded guilty to conspiracy Wednesday.
• DC National Guard commander's authorities restricted ahead of US Capitol breach Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- The commander of DC National Guard says his authorities were restricted ahead of the Jan. 6 deadly breach of the US Capitol by former President Donald Trump's supporters.
• Ukraine Says Group Of Banking Hackers Exposed After Causing $2.5 Billion In Losses RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Ukrainian authorities say they have exposed a group of hackers who interfered with the computer network servers of several European and U.S. banks, causing losses of $2.5 billion.
• Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 27 Jan 2021 -- "We have taken note of the January 26 statement by the G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union regarding some aspects of the sociopolitical situation in Russia, in which, without any grounds whatsoever, they accuse Moscow of violating its international legal obligations."
• Police Raid Residences, Offices Linked To Jailed Kremlin Critic Navalny RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Groups of masked security forces have broken down doors and teemed into buildings across Moscow in a sweep of places associated with Aleksei Navalny, days before another nationwide protest in support of the jailed Kremlin critic.
• Despite Being Forced Out Of Russia, Navalny Associate Vows To Fight On RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Belarusian citizen Uladzlen Los, a lawyer with jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), says he will continue his work with the Kremlin critic's team even though Russian police forced him out of the country following weekend rallies by tens of thousands calling for Navalny's release.
• Minsk, Moscow, And Beyond: Belarus Protests Reverberate On Russian Streets RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- When Russians took to the streets in the tens of thousands on January 23 in the biggest wave of nationwide protests in years to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, there were chants demanding the Kremlin critic's release as well as calls for President Vladimir Putin to step down.
• Were We On The Same Call? Why The Readouts of Biden's Talk With Putin Differed - A Lot RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- White House and Kremlin statements about phone calls between the U.S. and Russian leaders often differ substantially, and the readouts that followed President Joe Biden's first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin were far from an exception.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on January 27, 2021 PRC MofA 27 Jan 2021
• China's Propaganda Use of US Capitol Assault May Backfire, Analysts Warn VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- For China's propaganda machine, the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob fit neatly into Beijing's anti-American narrative as an example of democracy in decline.
• Xi praises Lam, sets fundamental tone for HK Global Times 27 Jan 2021 -- In a rare move, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government chief Carrie Lam reported her work to Chinese President Xi Jinping via a videoconference on Wednesday - the first time since the city returned to the motherland in 1997, given the severe COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong.
• Turkey begins ratification process of extradition bill with China, judicial ties mutually beneficial: Turkish envoy Global Times 27 Jan 2021 -- The extradition bill between Turkey and China aims to increase cooperationin in criminal justice within the rule of law and the "result-oriented judicial coopration" in judicial matters will be beneficial for both countrties, Turkish Ambassador to China told the Global Times in an exclusive interivew.
• China vows continued necessary measures to protect Chinese companies' interests: FM Global Times 27 Jan 2021 -- China will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese firms, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday, urging the US to draw lessons from the previous administration and rectify mistakes.
• Canadian Ruling Party Lawmaker Backs Call From Opposition to Label Xinjiang Abuses 'Genocide' Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- A lawmaker from Canada's ruling party offered his support Wednesday for a call by opposition MPs for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to follow Washington's lead and designate rights abuses in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) as "genocide."
• Court in China's Guangdong Jails 24 Over Posts on Xi Jinping's Family Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- Authorities in the southern province of Guangdong have jailed the administrator of a wiki-based forum for 14 years after a post revealed personal information about the close family of ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, RFA has learned.
• PLA aircraft deployment near Taiwan 'a warning to foreign forces' PLA Daily 27 Jan 2021 -- A PLA military aircraft operating in airspace near Taiwan is a warning to foreign forces to stop interfering in China's internal affairs, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.
• Taiwan's display of new missile 'wrongly boosts courage of secessionists' Global Times 27 Jan 2021 -- Taiwan island's air force on Tuesday conducted a series of exercises, including showcasing a new missile and threatening to attack the Chinese mainland, with mainland experts saying on Wednesday the display of the weapon wrongly boosted the courage of secessionists, and risked accidents amid ongoing exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) near the island. They also said the missile would not even be used if a war breaks out.
• Four Chinese military planes enter Taiwan's ADIZ CNA 27 Jan 2021 -- Four Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MDN).
• PLA drills 'a stern warning' to Taiwan, safeguard prospect of peaceful reunification Global Times 27 Jan 2021 -- By conducting combat exercises in the Taiwan Straits, the Chinese mainland is sending a warning to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party secessionist authority and the US, experts said, as the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said the recent drills are "a stern warning to deter foreign forces and Taiwan secessionists."
• China says military exercises near Taiwan 'solemn warning' Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- China says its military exercises near Taiwan are a "solemn warning" to secessionist factions in the self-ruled island and their foreign supporters.
• US, South Korea Consider North Korea's Denuclearisation Matter of Urgency, Seoul Says Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during which they agreed that the denuclearisation of North Korea was a matter of urgency that required their close cooperation.
• President Rouhani criticizes EU partners for lack of commitment IRNA 27 Jan 2021 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday criticized the EU states parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for lack of compliance to the JCPOA.
• Russia ready to export Iran's surplus enriched uranium if US rejoined JCPOA: Deputy FM Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- A senior Russian Foreign Ministry official says Moscow is ready to export Iran's enriched uranium produced above the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal should the United States return to the historic accord.
• 'Try Me:' Rohani Warns Judiciary Over Telecoms Minister's Prosecution RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani has criticized Iran's judiciary over the prosecution of the country's telecommunications minister after he allegedly refused to block Instagram and impose restrictions on other foreign social media and messaging platforms.
• Iran Ready to Strike Israel in Event of 'Slightest Mistake' - Armed Forces Spokesman Sputnik 27 Jan 2021 -- A spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, issued threats in response to statements made by Israel's top brass.
• Experts: Iran Eyes Reuniting Its 'Axis of Resistance' VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- Ongoing talks about restoring ties between the Syrian government and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are part of a new attempt by Iran to revitalize a regional alliance, some experts say.
• China 'concerned' about seizure of oil tankers by Indonesia Press TV 27 Jan 2021 -- China says it seeks information on 25 of its nationals who were among 61 crew members aboard two oil tankers seized by Indonesia over the weekend.
• Tsikhanouskaya Calls On West For 'Braver And Stronger' Response To Lukashenka RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called on the European Union and the United States to be "braver and stronger" in their actions to help end the disputed rule of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has run the country since 1994.
• Belarus Authorities Fail To Investigate Torture Accusations, Amnesty Says RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Belarusian authorities have failed to investigate allegations of torture by protesters detained during anti-government demonstrations calling for the resignation of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, a report issued on January 27 by Amnesty International says.
• Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session SPA 27 Jan 2021 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired today the Cabinet's virtual session.
• Italy gripped in political uncertainty as PM resigns People's Daily 27 Jan 2021 -- Political turmoil and uncertainty gripped Italy Tuesday after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stepped down in a maneuver that will see him try to build a new and more stable coalition in the coming days.
• Date Set For Trial Of Kyrgyz Tycoon Placed Under U.S. Magnitsky Sanctions RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- The trial of the former deputy chief of Kyrgyzstan's Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, who was placed on the U.S. Magnitsky sanctions list for his alleged involvement in the illegal funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad, will start on February 3.
• Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Abylgaziev Arrested On Corruption Charges RFE/RL 27 Jan 2021 -- Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has been arrested on corruption charges.
• Supporters Mark Anniversary of Vietnamese Land Activist's Death Under Watchful Eye of Police Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2021 -- Supporters on Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Vietnamese activist Le Dinh Kinh, who was shot and killed by authorities during a deadly land-rights clash, as plainclothes police loitered about keeping close tabs on the gathering, according to the slain activist's family member.
• Somalia's Minister of Women Says Lawmaker Quota for Females Too Low VOA 27 Jan 2021 -- Somalia's prime minister this month announced a 30 percent quota for female lawmakers chosen in upcoming elections. If upheld by the clans, it would raise the number of female representatives in parliament by 6% — but women's groups see even that slight jump as doubtful in patriarchal Somalia.