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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• California, Nevada, Wyoming Guard join battle fighting SoCal Fires Army News 10 Jan 2025 -- Hundreds of National Guard members are now involved in multiple air and ground firefighting efforts as wildfires rage across the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California.
• U.S. Military Already Fighting Fires in California, Ready to Do More DoD News 10 Jan 2025 -- The Defense Department now has 500 active-duty troops and a variety of equipment on standby to assist with the wildfires in California, said the deputy pentagon press secretary.
• Iran condemns US UK and Israeli aggression against Yemen IRNA 10 Jan 2025 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei Hamaneh has strongly condemned Friday's brutal and unprecedented attacks by the US the UK and the Zionist regime on the Yemeni provinces of Sanaa, al-Hudaydah and Amran as the height of lawlessness and a violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter.
• Yemen strikes US aircraft carrier in Red Sea as Israel hits Yemeni targets Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- Yemen's armed forces say they have conducted retaliatory strikes against an American aircraft carrier and several other US warships in response to Washington's support for the Israeli regime's war of genocide against the Gaza Strip and its efforts at stopping Sana'a's anti-Israeli reprisal.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds Press Briefing DoD 10 Jan 2025
• Keynote Address and Fireside Chat by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks "Outpacing the PRC: Lessons Learned for Strategic Competition" DoD 10 Jan 2025
• Hicks Outlines Plan Tied to Strategic Competition With China DoD News 10 Jan 2025 -- Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks spoke about "four lessons" she views as critical for prevailing in the U.S. strategic competition with China during a keynote address today at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.
• Securing Critical Minerals Vital to National Security, Official Says DoD News 10 Jan 2025 -- Secure sourcing of critical minerals is critical to the defense industrial base, which uses them to produce virtually every Defense Department system, from unmanned aerial systems and fighter jets to submarines, said Adam Burstein.
• U.S. Navy and Japan conduct 17th Annual Joint Response Drill US Navy 10 Jan 2025 -- The U.S. Navy, the Japanese government, and Yokosuka City participated in the 17th annual Joint Response Drill onboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) Dec. 17.
• SECNAV Del Toro Names Future Amphibious Transport Dock the Future USS Travis Manion (LPD 33) US Navy Press Release 10 Jan 2025 -- Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that a future San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD 33) will be named USS Travis Manion. Secretary Del Toro made the announcement on January 10, during a ceremony with the Travis Manion Foundation.
• SECNAV Del Toro Names T-AGOS Explorer-Class and First Two Ships US Navy Press Release 10 Jan 2025 -- Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro named the T-AGOS ocean surveillance ships the Explorer class, the future USNS Don Walsh (T-AGOS 25) and the second ship the future USNS Victor Vescovo (T-AGOS 26).
• Biden team urges Trump administration to keep continuity in Indo-Pacific VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- Jake Sullivan, the outgoing U.S. national security adviser, is urging the incoming Trump administration to continue President Joe Biden's strategy of bolstering ties with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter adversaries including China and North Korea.
• The United States' Enduring Commitment to the Indo-Pacific Region The White House 10 Jan 2025
• NATO Defense Ministers Discuss Trump's Suggested Increase In Spending To 5 Percent Of GDP RFE/RL 10 Jan 2025 -- NATO defense ministers meeting in Germany on January 9 expressed skepticism about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that members of the alliance should increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.
• Finnish Air Force to take on NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission NATO Allied Air Command 10 Jan 2025 -- In February 2025, for the first time as a full NATO member, the Finnish Air Force will deploy to Iceland in support of NATO's Air Policing mission.
• Germany transfers NATO Mine Countermeasures Task Group to Belgium after a year in command NATO Allied Maritime Command 10 Jan 2025 -- German Navy Commander Beata Król handed over command of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) to Belgian Navy Commander Erik Kockx during a ceremony in Kiel Naval Base on Jan. 10, 2025.
• Fact Sheet on Efforts of Ukraine Defense Contact Group National Armaments Directors DoD 10 Jan 2025
• Latvian military support to Ukraine in 2024 reached 0.25% of GDP Latvia MOD 10 Jan 2025 -- On Tuesday, 7 January, the Cabinet of Ministers reviewed the Defence Ministry's report on Latvia's support to Ukraine. Last year, Latvia provided military support to Ukraine amounting to more than 0.25% of gross domestic product (GDP), meeting the objectives of the inter-state security agreement.
• Scholz's Cabinet Blocks $3 Billion Urgent Aid Package to Ukraine - Reports Sputnik 10 Jan 2025 -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet is blocking the provision of additional military aid to Ukraine, a move backed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the Spiegel newspaper reported.
• HMCS Margaret Brooke departs for Operation PROJECTION 2025 Canada 10 Jan 2025 -- His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke departed Halifax today, bound for the South American and Antarctic regions, marking the debut of Operation (Op) PROJECTION 2025 for the Harry DeWolf-class vessel. The mission marks the first circumnavigation of South America and visit to Antarctica by a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) vessel.
• Tehran hosts large-scale 'Rahiyan al-Quds' drills IRNA 10 Jan 2025 -- The Basij volunteer forces have staged a 110,000-strong drill as part of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Great Prophet-19 exercise.
• Iran to soon unveil advanced drone, missile cities; deterrence entirely 'Iranian': IRGC chief Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the country is to soon unveil several "new missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cities."
• New homegrown anti-ballistic system to join IRGC air defenses soon Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force says a new homegrown anti-ballistic defense system will be tested in the near future.
• Joint Press Statement on the Fourth Nuclear Consultative Group Meeting DoD 10 Jan 2025 -- The United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) convened the fourth Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Washington, D.C. on January 10, 2025. The NCG is an enduring bilateral consultative body to strengthen extended deterrence that contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
• Coast Guard takes delivery of another 600-ton corvette CNA 10 Jan 2025 -- Taiwan's Coast Guard took delivery Friday of its latest 600-ton corvette, the newest addition to its fleet that is being increasingly tested by Beijing's gray zone tactics.
• Navy improves operational capability to protect PH EEZ Philippine News Agency 10 Jan 2025 -- The Philippine Navy (PN) has improved the operational readiness of its warships and marine units, making it more capable of conducting operations in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
• U.S. National Adaptation and Resilience Planning Strategy US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- Climate change is already impacting every community in the United States. From extreme heat to devastating floods, supercharged hurricanes and unprecedented wildfires, these extreme weather events pose direct threats to lives and livelihoods and have significant economic impacts: in 2024 in the United States, there were 27 disasters costing $1 billion or more, for a total of $182.7 billion in damages.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025
• Readout of Vice President Harris's Calls with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain The White House 10 Jan 2025
• Memorandum on the Presidential Determination on the Proposed Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy The White House 10 Jan 2025
• Readout of President Biden's Call with Prime Minister Meloni of Italy The White House 10 Jan 2025

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 10, 2025

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News


• 10 January 2025 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 10 Jan 2025

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• Israeli Defense Minister Pushes for Strategy to Completely Wipe Out Hamas in Gaza Sputnik 10 Jan 2025 -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the military to present a plan for the complete destruction of Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip if Israeli hostages are not released by the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
• Gaza death toll 41% higher than official figures, study contends VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- The death toll from Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza is far higher than official figures, according to an analysis by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine published in The Lancet.
• Jan. 9: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Press TV 10 Jan 2025
• Most of Israeli captives in northern Gaza 'missing' after heavy bombardment: Hamas Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- The armed wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says most of the Israeli captives held in northern Gaza have gone missing, holding Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military responsible for their lives.
• Israeli military vehicles blown up in northern Gaza IRNA 10 Jan 2025 -- Several Israeli military vehicles were destroyed in a minefield in Gaza, as fighters from the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, launched an attack against the regime's forces in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
• Mourners bury Israeli hostage found dead this week in Gaza VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- Hundreds of mourners gathered in the southern Israeli city of Rahat Friday for the funeral of 23-year-old Israeli hostage Hamzah al-Zayadni, whose body was recovered by Israeli soldiers in Gaza earlier this week.
• Critical aid blocked in Gaza, as fuel shortages threaten lifesaving services UN News 10 Jan 2025 -- Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach North Gaza with lifesaving aid, including the most recent attempt on Friday, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Other Conflicts

• US: Rights experts urge Senate to reject bill sanctioning the International Criminal Court UN News 10 Jan 2025 -- Three experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council on Friday urged the United States Senate to oppose a bill seeking to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), and cut funding to the UN-backed tribunal, in response to its arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.
• UN experts urge US Senate to reject International Criminal Court sanctions bill passed by House of Representatives OHCHR 10 Jan 2025 -- UN experts* today urged the US Senate to oppose a bill seeking to impose sanctions and cut funding to the International Criminal Court (ICC), after the tribunal issued arrest warrants against Israeli leaders accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
• "We have shattered the terror belt that was planned to be constructed in the north of Syria" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 10 Jan 2025 -- Addressing AK Party's provincial congress in Aydın, President Erdoğan said: "We have shattered the terror belt that was planned to be constructed in the north of Syria from 4 points with our cross-border operations. We have not allowed the separatist terrorist organization to encircle Türkiye from the south under the guardianship of their imperialist masters."
• Syria has real opportunity to 'move from the darkness to the light' UN News 10 Jan 2025 -- Syrians have high expectations for their country, and a strong desire for people from across the social spectrum to come together and forge a new constitution, which must begin with an inclusive "national dialogue".
• PCG ship challenges CCG presence in PH EEZ Philippine News Agency 10 Jan 2025 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued radio challenges following incursions of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels along the coastline of Zambales on Thursday.
• Rakhine rebels seize first police station in Myanmar's heartland Radio Free Asia 10 Jan 2025 -- The Arakan Army has seized a police station in the Ayeyarwaddy region, the first in Myanmar's heartland to fall to the ethnic Rakhine rebels since the 2021 military coup.
• Myanmar anti-military factions need to be strategic with China, experts say VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- Analysts say that rising anti-China sentiment in Myanmar reflects widespread frustration with Beijing's perceived support for the country's military junta in the conflict-torn Southeast Asian nation.
• As Arakan Army gains ground in Myanmar, peace remains elusive VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- In Myanmar, a relatively new ethnic armed group known as the Arakan Army has recently taken control of 15 out of 17 townships in the war-torn country's western Rakhine state. This includes the Myanmar military's western regional command headquarters located in Ann Township, in central Rakhine state. This marks the second major regional command center to fall since the beginning of a surge in resistance victories by allied ethnic armed groups - the "Three Brotherhood Alliance" - known as Operation 1027 in late 2023.
• Forces kill 3 Naxals in gunfight in India's Chhattisgarh People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- At least three Naxals were killed Thursday in a gunfight with government forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, officials said.
• Nigerian president orders probe into Borno military base attack VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a probe into last week's terrorist attacks on a military base in Damboa, Northeast Borno State, that killed six troops. In a statement Thursday, Tinubu said the investigation will help identify security lapses to avoid future occurrences.
• Trump's return sparks renewed hope among Nigerian separatists VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second inauguration on Jan. 20, thousands of miles away in Nigeria his return to power has reignited hope among Biafra secessionists. Some view him as a possible ally in their decades-long battle for autonomy - though at least one analyst thinks they should lower their expectations.
• Report says Ethiopia forces military recruitment, including minors VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- A 29-year-old day laborer in Shashemene, a city in Ethiopia's Oromia region, was walking home from dinner with two friends one night in November when he heard a commotion. On the side of the road, perhaps 400 meters away, four men dressed in the uniforms of a local militia were shoving two young people into a police car.
• The Gambia: Special Rapporteur welcomes decision to establish a special court to prosecute crimes under Yahya Jammeh OHCHR 10 Jan 2025 -- The Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Bernard Duhaime, today welcomed the creation of a Special Tribunal for The Gambia to prosecute gross human rights violations and crimes perpetrated between July 1994 and January 2017, during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.
• Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in South Sudan US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States.

News Reports

• Danish gov't seeks dialogue with Trump amid Greenland tensions People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- The Danish government has requested U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for a phone conversation following his controversial remarks on Greenland, but no official response has been received yet, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a press conference late Thursday.
• U.S. ships getting preferential rates "will lead to chaos": Panama Canal administrator People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that U.S. ships get preferential rates "will violate the neutrality treaty, international law, and it will lead to chaos," Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez Morales has said.
• Statement from NSC Spokesperson Sean Savett on Anomalous Health Incidents The White House 10 Jan 2025
• US intelligence mostly rejects links between 'Havana Syndrome,' adversaries VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- U.S. intelligence agencies charged with investigating the spate of brain injuries and other serious health ailments that have struck hundreds of officials remain unconvinced that the illnesses are tied to the work of a foreign adversary.
• China adheres to non-interference, hopes German side to refrain from hyping so-called 'espionage': FM spokesperson Global Times 10 Jan 2025 -- In response to a media inquiry about German prosecutors indicting three people on suspicion of spying for China by obtaining information about military technology, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China consistently adheres to the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs in the development of China-Germany relations.
• TikTok lawyers ask Supreme Court to delay ban Radio Free Asia 10 Jan 2025 -- Lawyers for Chinese-owned TikTok asked the Supreme Court on Friday to postpone any enactment of a law that would ban the popular social media app in the United States on Jan. 19, the day before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
• Clock ticking on US TikTok ban VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- The American subsidiary of the Chinese owner of TikTok has asked the U.S. Supreme Court strike down a law that would ban, in less than 10 days, the social media platform on grounds of national security.
• As Maduro takes office, advocates condemn latest journalist arrest in Venezuela VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- As President Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated for a third term Friday, exiled Venezuelan journalists and opposition parties condemned the arrests of a prominent press freedom activist and a well-known opposition figure.
• G7 Denounces the Lack of Democratic Legitimacy of Today's Presidential Inauguration in Venezuela US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.
• Condemning Nicolás Maduro's Illegitimate Attempt to Seize Power in Venezuela and Announcing New Actions Against Maduro and His Representatives and to Support the Venezuelan People US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- Today, Nicolás Maduro held an illegitimate presidential inauguration in Venezuela in a desperate attempt to seize power.
• Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Officials Supporting Nicolas Maduro's Repression and Illegitimate Claim to Power US Treasury 10 Jan 2025 -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning eight Venezuelan officials who lead key economic and security agencies enabling Nicolas Maduro's repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela. The individuals sanctioned, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692, as amended, include the president of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., (PdVSA), Venezuela's state-owned oil company, and Maduro's Minister of Transportation and president of the Venezuelan Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services (CONVIASA), the state-owned airline. In addition, OFAC is sanctioning high-level Venezuelan officials in the military and police who lead entities with roles in carrying out Maduro's repression and human rights abuses against democratic actors.
• UK announces new sanctions targeting Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela UK FCDO 10 Jan 2025 -- The UK has sanctioned 15 new individuals associated with Nicolás Maduro's contested regime today, while calling out his illegitimate claim to the presidency.
• Venezuela's Maduro sworn in for third presidential term, pledges to form 'new democracy' Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- Venezuela's incumbent President Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in for his third consecutive term in office months after electoral authorities announced him as the winner of the July 2024 presidential election.
• Canada imposes new sanctions against Venezuelan officials involved in human rights violations Canada 10 Jan 2025 -- Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions against certain Venezuelan officials under the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations.
• Backgrounder: Canada imposes sanctions against Venezuelan officials involved in human rights violations Canada 10 Jan 2025
• Venezuela must respect right to peaceful protest and democratic dissent as new presidential term begins: UN Experts OHCHR 10 Jan 2025 -- Venezuela must end the arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances of opposition members and pro-democracy activists ahead of the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro's third term in office, UN experts* said today.
• Election Of New Lebanese President Signals Iran's Waning Influence RFE/RL 10 Jan 2025 -- Lebanese lawmakers have elected army chief Joseph Aoun as the country's new president, ending a two-year gridlock in a clear sign of the weakening of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed political party and military force that had scuttled past efforts to name a president.
• Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) allocates $30 million to address urgent needs in conflict-affected areas UNOCHA 10 Jan 2025 -- The Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, has announced a $30 million allocation from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) to address urgent humanitarian needs stemming from the recent conflict and support displaced populations and communities returning to affected areas.
• Lebanon: statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the presidential election European External Action Service (EEAS) 10 Jan 2025 -- The European Union warmly congratulates Joseph Aoun on his election as President of the Republic of Lebanon. This significant step marks a moment of hope and renewal for the Lebanese people.
• The President of the Republic of Cyprus met with the President of the Republic of Lebanon Press and Information Office, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Cyprus 10 Jan 2025 -- The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, held a meeting today, 10th January 2025, with the newly elected President of the Republic of Lebanon, Mr Joseph Aoun, in Beirut.
• Iran backs stable, independent Lebanon free from foreign occupation: FM Araghchi Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Islamic Republic supports a "stable, secure and independent" Lebanon as the Arab country elected president to end a two-year political deadlock.
• Pezeshkian congratulates Aoun on his election as Lebanon's new president Press TV 10 Jan 2025 -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has felicitated Joseph Aoun on his election as Lebanon's new president, voicing Tehran's readiness to further enhance cooperation in "all fields" with Beirut.
• Army chief Joseph Aoun elected Lebanon's president People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun was elected president in the second round of the presidential vote held on Thursday, local media reported.
• Operators of Cryptocurrency Mixers Charged with Money Laundering US Dept. of Justice 10 Jan 2025 -- A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment on Jan. 7 charging three Russian nationals for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io.
• Statement from Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Daleep Singh on Today's Sanctions Actions The White House 10 Jan 2025
• Biden Slaps Broad Sanctions On Russian Energy Sector In Final Bid To Punish Kremlin RFE/RL 10 Jan 2025 -- The Biden administration has slapped sanctions on two of Russia's largest oil producers, a major liquefied natural gas project, and more than 100 tankers in its "shadow fleet" in what U.S. officials say are the most significant economic measures yet against the country.
• Sweeping Sanctions on Russia's Energy Sector US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- The United States is imposing sanctions today on more than 200 entities and individuals involved in Russia's energy sector and identifying more than 180 vessels as blocked property.
• Sanctions to Degrade Russia's Energy Sector US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- Today, the United States is sanctioning major targets in Russia's energy sector, the primary source of revenue fueling Russia's war against Ukraine. The Department of State is imposing sanctions on nearly 80 individuals and entities. Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating more than 150 individuals and entities and individuals and identifying 183 vessels as blocked property. Treasury provides more information in its actions, please see press release.
• Treasury Intensifies Sanctions Against Russia by Targeting Russia's Oil Production and Exports US Treasury 10 Jan 2025 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury took sweeping action to fulfill the G7 commitment to reduce Russian revenues from energy, including blocking two major Russian oil producers. Today's actions also impose sanctions on an unprecedented number of oil-carrying vessels, many of which are part of the "shadow fleet," opaque traders of Russian oil, Russia-based oilfield service providers, and Russian energy officials. Today's actions are underpinned by the issuance of a new determination that authorizes sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 against persons operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy. These actions substantially increase the sanctions risks associated with the Russian oil trade.
• Trump says meeting with Putin "being set up" People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to meet him and that such a meeting was being set up.
• Support for Ukraine is unwavering as UK announces new sanctions on Russian oil giants UK FCDO 10 Jan 2025 -- The UK strikes a fresh blow against Putin's ability to finance the war in Ukraine by sanctioning 2 major Russian oil companies.
• Afghanistan Eyes LNG Transit Agreement With Russia Sputnik 10 Jan 2025 -- Kabul intends to sign an agreement with Russia on the transit of 50 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas through Afghanistan, the head of the Russian Business Center in Afghanistan, Rustam Khabibullin, told Sputnik on Friday.
• A Wagner Mercenary Who Crossed U.S.-Mexican Border Was Honored In Russia Weeks Before Arrest RFE/RL 10 Jan 2025 -- A self-confessed veteran of Russia's Wagner paramilitary group arrested for crossing into the United States from Mexico appears to have been honored as a combat veteran weeks earlier by an organization established by Russian President Valdimir Putin, RFE/RL has found.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on January 10, 2025 PRC MofA 10 Jan 2025
• Nigerian president pledges to further advance cooperation with China Global Times 10 Jan 2025 -- Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday in Abuja, the capital of the West African nation, to strengthen the China-Nigeria comprehensive strategic partnership.
• China to see significant fiscal deficit increase in 2025: Ministry of Finance Global Times 10 Jan 2025 -- The size of China's fiscal deficit will increase significantly in 2025, Liao Min, vice minister of finance, told a press conference on Friday.
• Xi chairs CPC leadership meeting to hear work reports of state institutions People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership met on Thursday to hear a series of work reports from the leading Party members' groups of state institutions, including the top legislature, central government, top political advisory body, top court and top procuratorate.
• China to ease investment restrictions further for foreign firms People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- China has decided to abolish the terms in a previous circular in 2011 and lift its restrictions on foreign investment companies using domestic loans to carry out equity investment, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Thursday.
• U.S.-Taiwan Working Group Meeting on International Organizations US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- On January 8, 2025, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) convened representatives of the U.S. Department of State and the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consultations in Washington on expanding Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations system and in other international forums.
• Taiwan needs to strengthen resilience of undersea cables: Expert CNA 10 Jan 2025 -- Taiwan needs to strengthen the resilience of nearby undersea cables and work with like-minded democracies around the world to deter deliberate infrastructure sabotage, a national security expert said Thursday.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC MND 10 Jan 2025
• S. Korea's acting president accepts presidential security chief's resignation People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- South Korea's acting president on Friday accepted resignation from presidential security chief who appeared before police for questioning over the obstruction of execution to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
• How Yoon's martial law bid complicates US-South Korea ties VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- In late 2021, the wife of then-presidential candidate Yoon Suk Yeol appeared exasperated by several journalists she insisted were treating her husband unfairly. In a leaked phone call with a left-leaning reporter, Kim Keon-hee vowed to have "all of them" jailed if her husband won the presidency.
• Iran In 'Critical Situation' After Punishing Year At Home And Abroad RFE/RL 10 Jan 2025 -- Iran is weaker and more vulnerable than it has been in years after suffering a series of major blows.
• Swiss Demand Answers After Death Of Man In Iranian Prison RFE/RL 10 Jan 2025 -- Swiss authorities have called on Tehran to provide full details on the death of a 64-year-old Swiss national in an Iranian prison following his arrest last month on allegations of spying.
• Internet freedom has plummeted under Myanmar's junta: report Radio Free Asia 10 Jan 2025 -- Suppression of internet freedom and security in Myanmar is significantly worse today than it was four years ago, when the junta seized power in a coup d'etat, according to a group monitoring digital access in the country.
• Pakistan struggles to bring trade to China-built port VOA 10 Jan 2025 -- Pakistan is struggling to attract commercial activity to a Chinese-funded deep-sea port in the southwest that experts say is hampered by local insecurity, a lack of basic services and the absence of plans to make the port prosper.
• Bangladesh announces days of countrywide gas supply halt again People's Daily 10 Jan 2025 -- State-owned Petrobangla (Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation) has announced a countrywide disruption in natural gas supplies to its customers for three days as of Jan. 10.
• PM call with President Stubb of Finland: 10 January 2025 Gov.UK 10 Jan 2025
• PM call with Prime Minister Michal of Estonia: 10 January 2025 Gov.UK 10 Jan 2025
• Press Conference by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 10 Jan 2025
• "Over the past 22 years, we have implemented the Republican history's greatest projects in Türkiye" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 10 Jan 2025 -- Addressing AK Party's provincial congress in Denizli, President Erdoğan said: "We have worked day and night so as not to let our dedicated people down, who trust and believe in us and who have never abandoned us during our most difficult days. We are living the joy of having implemented over the past 22 years the Republican history's greatest achievements, investments and projects in Türkiye."
• United States Enters into Agreement with Nigeria to Transfer $52.88M in Forfeited Corruption Proceeds for Uses to Benefit the Nigerian People US Dept. of Justice 10 Jan 2025 -- The Justice Department announced today that the United States entered into an agreement to transfer approximately $52.88 million in forfeited assets to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in recognition of Nigeria's assistance to the department in an investigation into corruption in the Nigerian oil industry.
• United States and Nigeria Agree to Repatriate Nearly $53 Million in Forfeited Corruption Proceeds US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2025 -- The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of Nigeria and the United States.
• Baiba Braže: the main task of Latvia's foreign policy is and will be to strengthen our security, economic development and prosperity Latvia MFA 10 Jan 2025 -- On Thursday, 9 January 2025, the of Minister Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, presented to the Cabinet a report on the accomplishments in foreign affairs in 2024 and further work with respect to national foreign policy and the European Union in 2025.
• Budrys met with Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lithuania MFA 10 Jan 2025 -- On 9 January in Riga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže.
• Budrys in Estonia: "The EU needs concrete measures to counter hybrid threats" Lithuania MFA 10 Jan 2025 -- On Friday, 10 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, who is paying a working visit to Estonia, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna.
• Man wanted in Lim Kimya murder is Cambodian official's brother, records show Radio Free Asia 10 Jan 2025 -- A Cambodian man who is wanted by Thai police in connection to the murder of a former opposition lawmaker is the brother of Pich Sros, a politician who initiated proceedings against the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, that led to its 2017 dissolution, and holds a minor government position.
• World News in Brief: Famine spreads in Sudan, deadly attack in Myanmar, Venezuela update UN News 10 Jan 2025 -- Lifesaving efforts by UN humanitarians and partners to distribute food and agricultural aid in Sudan last year reached millions, agencies reported on Friday - but needs are only growing.