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Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Announces Update to DoD Directive 3000.09, 'Autonomy In Weapon Systems' DoD 25 Jan 2023 -- The Department of Defense announced today the update to DoD Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systems. The update reflects DoD's strong and continuing commitment to being a transparent global leader in establishing responsible policies regarding military uses of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence (AI).
• DOD Updates Autonomy in Weapons System Directive DoD News 25 Jan 2023 -- The Defense Department just updated DoD Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systems, which governs the development and fielding of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems.
• DOD Modernization Relies on Rapidly Leveraging Commercial Technology DoD News 25 Jan 2023 -- The Defense Innovation Unit focuses on leveraging technology from six areas: artificial intelligence/machine learning, autonomy, cyber, energy, human systems and space.
• Meeting the Challenge: MAKO Challenge Increases Warfighting Readiness for Navy Reserve US Navy 25 Jan 2023 -- Reserve Sailors from U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF), U.S. 2nd Fleet, U.S. 4th Fleet, U.S. 6th Fleet, and U.S. 10th Fleet conducted MAKO Challenge 23, an operational level of warfare (OLW) exercise within a Maritime Operations Center (MOC) scenario, from Jan. 19-22 at the Navy Warfare Development Center (NWDC) in Norfolk, Virginia.
• Surface Combat Systems Training Command Showcases Training at SNA's 35th National Symposium US Navy 25 Jan 2023 -- For the eighth year, Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) educated the surface warfare community on how they mold Sailors into Combat Systems Warfighters who are prepared to fight, win and return home safely during the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) 35th National Symposium, Jan. 10 - 12.
• Submarine Group 7 Hosts Japanese Submarine Officers in Yokosuka US Navy 25 Jan 2023 -- Commander, Submarine Group (CSG) 7/Commander, Task Force (CTF) 74 hosted Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarine officers at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan to discuss the roles and responsibilities of CTF 74 as well as U.S. Navy submarine officers' career milestones, Jan. 19.
• USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) sails with Latvian Patrol Boat LV Viesīte (P 07) in the Baltic Sea US Navy 25 Jan 2023 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) conducted interoperability exercises with the Latvian Patrol Boat LV Viesīte (P 07) while sailing in the Baltic Sea, Jan. 23, 2023.
• Japanese partners tour US Army vessel to better understand capabilities Army News 25 Jan 2023 -- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force leaders toured a U.S. Army landing craft utility vessel here Wednesday as part of a familiarization event hosted by the 10th Support Group.
• USS Wasp Prepares for Inspections US Navy 25 Jan 2023 -- Inspections upon inspections and assessors are around every corner, the crew feels the heat as the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) comes back to life. Despite having an inexperienced and undermanned crew, they are making tremendous progress and picking up wins along the way.
• Remarks by President Biden on Continued Support for Ukraine The White House 25 Jan 2023
• Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine DoD 25 Jan 2023 -- "Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announces the procurement of Abrams tanks for Ukraine via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression."
• Biden Announces Abrams Tanks to be Delivered to Ukraine< DoD News 25 Jan 2023 -- President Joe Biden announced today that the United States will provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams tanks. That is the required number to equip an entire Ukraine tank battalion.
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on U.S. Support to Ukraine The White House 25 Jan 2023
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov DoD 25 Jan 2023
• Armor Up: US, Germany Sending Top-End Tanks to Ukraine VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- Russian forces looking to go on a springtime offensive in Ukraine will be met by more Ukrainian armor and firepower, following an agreement between the United States and Germany to bolster Kyiv's capabilities with some of the world's most lethal and coveted tanks.
• Western Tanks A 'Vital Part Of Recipe' As Ukraine Seeks To Drive Out Russian Forces RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- After weeks of intense pressure from NATO allies and Kyiv, Germany has agreed to donate Leopard 2 advanced battle tanks to Ukraine as the latter prepares for a spring offensive against Russian forces.
• US, Germany poised to send tanks to Ukraine despite Russia's warning Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- The United States and Germany have agreed to send their most advanced tanks to Ukraine, indicating a broad shift in the mood of Western countries, which had so far avoided sending heavy weaponry to Kiev and escalating with Russia.
• U.S., Germany To Send Tanks To Ukraine In The Face Of Moscow's Warnings; Kyiv Says 'Speed' Is Key RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- The United States and Germany have announced plans to send dozens of advanced battle tanks to Ukraine following intense debate and pressure from NATO allies to respond positively to Kyiv's calls for as many as 300 tanks to help it repel Russia's 11-month-old full-scale invasion.
• Common interests of Czech Republic and Japan: opportunities on the horizon for defence industry Czech Republic Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces 25 Jan 2023 -- The First Deputy Minister of Defence František Šulc discussed the opportunities for cooperation with his Japanese counterpart Toshiro Ino. For the Czech Republic and the domestic defence industry, cooperation with Japan bears a huge potential - Tokyo intends to spend 2% of GDP on defence until 2027, pushing Japan to the third place in defence spending behind the U.S. and China. Both countries also share their perspective on the current security issues.
• Top military commander forcibly disappeared as purge widens in Saudi Arabia Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- Saudi Arabian authorities have forcibly disappeared a high-ranking military commander amid attempts by the kingdom's de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman to eliminate his political opponents, dissidents, human rights advocates and potential rivals to the throne.
• Ukraine, Asia Drove 50% Increase in FY22 Arms Sales DoD News 25 Jan 2023 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency last year saw a substantial increase in the arms sales it administers, including arms purchased directly by partner nations with their own funds and sales funded through the Foreign Military Financing program.
• US, Chinese, Russian Officials Scramble to Visit Africa VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- Top Chinese, Russian and American officials are scrambling this month to visit African nations and pledge their commitment to the world's fastest-growing continent.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby The White House 25 Jan 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 25, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News


• UN deputy chief reminds Taliban: Islam does not ban women from education UN News 25 Jan 2023 -- The UN must present "a united front" in the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said after returning from a two-week country visit spanning several continents.
• UN Official: Use Taliban's Desire for International Recognition as Leverage VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said Wednesday that the international community's best leverage to persuade the Taliban to reverse restrictions on Afghan women's rights is the group's desire for international recognition.
• Russia, Pakistan Discuss 'Practical Engagement' With Afghan Taliban VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- Russia and Pakistan emphasized in bilateral talks Wednesday the need for “practical engagement” with Afghanistan's Taliban but ruled out formal recognition of the Islamist rulers until they address international concerns over women's rights and inclusive governance.
• China puts missile bases on disputed South China Sea islands, analysts say Radio Free Asia 25 Jan 2023 -- A newly emerged satellite image shows a Chinese air defense facility on the Paracel Islands, which analysts say indicates the People's Liberation Army now has surface-to-air missiles at the ready permanently in both the contested archipelagos in the South China Sea.
• Two-thirds of Yemenis need humanitarian support and protection UN News 25 Jan 2023 -- Some 21.6 million people in Yemen - that's two-thirds of the population - are going to need some kind of humanitarian assistance and protection services during the course of 2023, according to the UN's Humanitarian Response plan published on Wednesday.
• Joint Statement on Syria US Dept. of State 25 Jan 2023 -- Representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States met at the envoys level in Geneva with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen on January 24 to discuss the crisis in Syria.
• Our commitment to a sustainable solution to the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria: UK Statement at UN Security Council UK FCDO 25 Jan 2023 -- Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on Syria.
• Security Council: 12 years of war, leaves 70 per cent of Syrians needing aid UN News 25 Jan 2023 -- Almost twelve years into Syria's devastating civil war, the country remains tattered and deeply divided, facing massive economic hardships, limited political progress and the world's largest displacement crisis, with 70 per cent of the population now in need of humanitarian aid, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday.
• European Rights Court Clears Way For MH17 Case Targeting Russian Disinformation RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- Europe's top human rights court has agreed to hear a Dutch case against Russian disinformation following the shooting down eight years ago of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, an incident that killed 298 people from around a dozen countries.
• Complaint filed in Germany alleges atrocity crimes by Myanmar junta Radio Free Asia 25 Jan 2023 -- Southeast Asian rights group Fortify Rights and 16 Myanmar nationals have filed a criminal complaint with Germany's federal public prosecutor general against Myanmar's junta for atrocities committed against ethnic Rohingya and other groups.
• Myanmar military's 3-day arson attack forces 10,000 people to flee Radio Free Asia 25 Jan 2023 -- Around 10,000 villagers in two townships have abandoned their homes as junta troops continued scorched earth operations in Myanmar's northern Sagaing region, locals told RFA.
• France says to accept Burkina Faso's demand to withdraw troops within month Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- France on Wednesday said it will withdraw its hundreds of troops stationed in Burkina Faso within a month after the junta ruling the West African country demanded the pullout amid growing anti-French sentiment.
• India lost 26 of 65 patrolling points amid border dispute with China: Report Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- A new report has revealed that Indian security forces lost 26 out of 65 patrolling points in Eastern Ladakh amid an ongoing standoff with arch-foe China along the 3,500-km disputed Himalayan border.
• Sudan: Progress in Darfur militia leader trial, but Government cooperation wanes UN News 25 Jan 2023 -- “Swift progress” has been made at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the trial against a former Janjaweed leader in Sudan's Darfur region, but cooperation with the Government has deteriorated, the UN Security Council heard on Wednesday.
• The UK urges the Sudanese authorities to enhance their cooperation with the International Criminal Court: UK Statement at the UN Security Council UK FCDO 25 Jan 2023 -- Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser, at the Security Council briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Darfur

News Reports

• Chinese National Sentenced to Eight Years for Acting within the United States as an Unregistered Agent of the People's Republic of China US Dept. of Justice 25 Jan 2023 -- A Chinese national was sentenced today to eight years in prison for acting illegally within the United States as an agent of the People's Republic of China.
• Former FBI Official Pleads Not Guilty to Latest Criminal Charges VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- Retired top FBI official Charles McGonigal pleaded not guilty in federal court in Washington on Wednesday to criminal charges alleging he took at least $225,000 from a former Albanian intelligence agent while serving as the chief of counterintelligence for the FBI's New York field office.
• US Presidents Facing Scrutiny on Documents VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- As former Vice President Mike Pence joined the club of top officials mishandling classified documents, U.S. presidents and vice presidents going all the way back to Jimmy Carter, the oldest living former commander in chief, must now respond to public scrutiny on whether they followed procedure in returning classified material upon leaving office.
• Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Mailing Ricin to President of the United States in 2020 US Dept. of Justice 25 Jan 2023 -- A dual citizen of Canada and France pleaded guilty today to sending a threatening letter containing homemade ricin to then-President Donald J. Trump at the White House in September 2020, and eight similar letters, each containing ricin, to Texas State law enforcement officials.
• Two Members of the Aryan Circle Sentenced for Attempted Murder US Dept. of Justice 25 Jan 2023 -- Two members of the Aryan Circle were each sentenced today to 10 years in prison for their role in the attempted murder of an inmate that occurred while they were incarcerated at U.S. Penitentiary Yazoo City in Mississippi.
• Human rights must be defended in the fight against terrorism: UN chief UN News 25 Jan 2023 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the fight against terrorism will never succeed if we perpetuate the “denial and destruction” of human rights.
• US Seeks Reengagement with China to Stop Illicit Fentanyl as Blinken Heads to Beijing VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- The United States is "actively seeking to reengage" China on counternarcotics, including stopping the flow of illicit synthetic drugs like fentanyl into the U.S., said the State Department ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing in early February.
• Estonia should continue to strengthen the private sector's role and law enforcement efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing Council of Europe 25 Jan 2023 -- In a new report the Council of Europe's anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL encourages Estonia to further strengthen measures to combat money laundering (ML) and financing of terrorism (FT), among others by re-enforcing the capacities and performance of the private sector and improving its law enforcement efforts in this field.
• Russia Adds Ukraine-Based Fugitive Ex-Lawmaker Ponomaryov To Terrorist List RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- Ilya Ponomaryov, a former member of the Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, has been added to the Interior Ministry's list of terrorists and extremists.
• Decision to close Russia's oldest human rights organization should be reconsidered and reversed, OSCE Human Rights Office OSCE 25 Jan 2023 -- Today's decision by the Moscow City Court to liquidate Russia's oldest human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, is contrary to the commitments made by all OSCE countries to respect the freedom to form and join associations, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said.
• Moscow Helsinki Group Ordered To Shut Down As Campaign Against Civil Society Continues RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- The Moscow City Court has ruled in favor of a Justice Ministry motion to dissolve the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG), Russia's oldest and one of its last independent human rights organizations, amid a Kremlin campaign to muzzle criticism of the war in Ukraine.
• Volodymyr Yermolenko: Russian Culture Has No Alternative To Imperialism RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- Volodymyr Yermolenko is a Ukrainian philosopher, essayist, and editor in chief of Ukraine World, which bills itself as an English-language multimedia project about Ukraine. He often writes about Ukrainian identity. His 2022 article in Foreign Policy, From Pushkin To Putin: Russian Literature's Imperial Ideology, provoked much debate.
• Concerns grow over British universities' ties with military-linked Chinese partners Radio Free Asia 25 Jan 2023 -- Calls are growing in the United Kingdom for greater scrutiny of British universities' "risky" ties with Chinese institutions, some of which have been linked to the genocide of Uyghurs and the development of technology useful to the People's Liberation Army.
• Taiwan's President Tells Vatican War with China 'Not an Option' VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan has told Pope Francis that peaceful relations with China will only occur when Beijing respects the island's sovereignty.
• Kim Jong Un's 2023 'master plan' is all about weapons, nothing about food Radio Free Asia 25 Jan 2023 -- North Koreans forced to study supreme leader Kim Jong Un's newly published “master plan” for 2023 say it is a rehash of old tropes and offers nothing on how to address the most pressing concern on people's minds: overcoming the country's chronic food shortage, sources tell Radio Free Asia.
• FM says France stance on Iran riots 'unfriendly' IRNA 25 Jan 2023 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Wednesday criticized France for its "unfriendly" stance on instigating riots in Iran, and called comments by some French officials "meddlesome."
• IAEA continues to inspect Iranian facilities: Iran nuclear chief IRNA 25 Jan 2023 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to carry out regular inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, according to head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• We have no deadlock with IAEA/Grossi's visit to Iran on agenda: AEOI chief ISNA 25 Jan 2023 -- The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said, "The interactions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are underway and we are arranging IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi's visit to Iran".
• IAEA Chief: Iran Has Processed Enough Material for 'Several Nuclear Weapons' VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- The head of the United Nations's nuclear monitoring agency says he will travel to Iran next month in hopes of reviving the 2015 accord aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear activities.
• Iran foreign ministry updates sanctions on EU, UK IRNA 25 Jan 2023 -- The Iranian foreign ministry has updated its list of sanctions against some of the European Union and the United Kingdom regime's individuals and entities.
• Iran announces retaliatory sanctions on dozens of EU, UK individuals, entities Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- Iran on Wednesday announced sanctions against 34 individuals and entities from the European Union and the United Kingdom, days after Brussels and London imposed a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iranian officials and organizations.
• Iran Sanctions Europeans In Tit-For-Tat Move; Protests Continue RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- Iran has announced tit-for-tat sanctions against more than 30 European individuals and entities in response to a similar move by the European Union over Tehran's deadly crackdown on protesters who continue to take to the streets in anger over the death of a young woman while in police custody for an alleged dress-code violation.
• Iran arrests members of over a dozen Israel-linked terrorist teams: Intel minister Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- Iran's intelligence minister says security forces have managed to arrest members of over a dozen Israel-linked terrorist teams and effectively foiled their nefarious plots to destabilize the country.
• Senior Leader Of Former Pakistani PM Khan's Party Arrested RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- A former Pakistani minister and senior leader of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan's party was arrested early on January 25 on charges of "threatening and intimidating" the chief of the country's Election Commission and other members of the election oversight body.
• Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on the Visit of President of Egypt to India (January 25, 2023) India MEA 25 Jan 2023
• Peru police fire tear gas at protesters after president calls for 'truce' Press TV 25 Jan 2023 -- Thousand of Peruvians have once again taken to the streets in the capital, Lima, to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, hours after she called for a "truce" following almost two months of violent protests.
• No forbidden zones: Vietnam's Communist Party continues corruption crackdown Radio Free Asia 25 Jan 2023 -- The Communist Party of Vietnam marked the start of the Lunar New Year with a pledge to continue its crackdown on corruption under the slogan “no forbidden zones.”
• New Bosnian Governing Council Under Croat Kristo Approved By Lawmakers RFE/RL 25 Jan 2023 -- Bosnia-Herzegovina's overall parliament has approved a new Council of Ministers led by an ethnic Croat to spearhead the beleaguered Balkan state's freshly reinvigorated EU bid despite ongoing threats to unity.
• Designation of Former President of Panama Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal for Involvement in Significant Corruption US Dept. of State 25 Jan 2023
• Imposing Visa Restrictions on Individuals Involved in Undermining the Democratic Process in Nigeria US Dept. of State 25 Jan 2023
• Tanzania Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu Returns From Exile VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu has returned to the country from self-imposed exile in Belgium, where he had lived since surviving an assassination attempt in 2017 when he was shot 16 times.
• Analysts Question Charges Against Nigeria's Central Bank Chief VOA 25 Jan 2023 -- Nigeria's secret police are investigating Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele for alleged financial crimes, financing terrorism, and graft. But the banker's supporters say the allegations are politically motivated, with politicians opposed to his currency reforms behind the probe. Nigeria's central bank late last year unveiled new currency to combat crime and rein in vote-buying, sparking debate just a few months ahead of February elections.