Ukrainian lawmakers are considering introducing secondary sanctions to target countries and companies that help Russia evade international sanctions, according to Oleksandr Merezhko, Head of Ukraine's Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation. This move aims to pressure the aggressor and its economy by limiting their ability to circumvent existing sanctions.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3948172-zelensky-enacts-sanctions-against-russias-financial-sector.htmlA United Nations delegation visited Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, in a historic first for the city, with the aim of evaluating the humanitarian crisis caused by the war and identifying potential ways to increase support for those impacted.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3947755-un-delegation-visits-site-of-russian-missile-strike-in-zaporizhzhia.htmlUS Secretary of State and Japanese Foreign Minister have recently visited Seoul to demonstrate support for South Korean foreign policy, specifically to maintain a united front against potential aggression from North Korea, China, and Russia through continued trilateral cooperation.
https://channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/japan-foreign-minister-south-korea-talks-donald-trump-takes-office-4854106US and Arab mediators have made significant progress in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal has yet to be reached. The talks, which have been ongoing for over 15 months, are expected to reach a critical point in the coming days.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/14/world/americas-emea/gaza-truce-talks-made-progress-officials/2037636China's relationship with Russia has strengthened since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, despite criticism from Western nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, stating that China and Russia have moved forward together in a non-aligned direction. Meanwhile, trade between China and the US increased by 3.7% to $688.3 billion in 2024, according to Chinese customs data. However, this growth may be threatened as US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take more aggressive trade measures against China in his second term.
https://channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-record-trade-russia-2024-customs-data-4855161In 2017, clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers resulted in the deaths of 20 Indians and four Chinese, prompting both sides to temporarily halt patrolling at several points along the Ladakh border. The incident led to a significant buildup of troops and military equipment in the region. However, following a deal reached by New Delhi and Beijing in October last year, they began to withdraw their forces from the disputed border.
https://www.tbsnews.net/world/south-asia/india-wont-reduce-troops-along-china-border-winter-army-chief-says-1041981South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun has claimed that around 300 North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine have been killed so far, citing information from Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS). According to the NIS, these soldiers were ordered to kill themselves before being captured. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia is reportedly expanding to include the Kursk region, with estimated casualties among North Korean forces surpassing 3,000.
https://www.news18.com/world/north-korea-soldiers-killed-ukraine-war-ordered-to-kill-themselves-capture-south-korea-9186878.htmlEthiopia and Somalia have agreed to restore and enhance their bilateral ties after recent tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations. The agreement was reached during a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The leaders held discussions on regional and bilateral issues with the aim of deepening the fraternal bond between their peoples. As part of the agreement, both countries have agreed to restore full diplomatic representation in each other's capitals.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/ethiopia-somalia-agree-to-restore-enhance-bilateral-ties-after-recent-tensions/The use of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems poses a threat to national security if it falls into the wrong hands. This could lead to the development of weapons of mass destruction, enable powerful cyber attacks and facilitate human rights abuses such as mass surveillance.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/01/13/Biden-AI-rule-security/3691736776581/