Today In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
The Must-Reads
With rifles and defiance, Hamas clings to remnants of Gaza rule IDSF’s Yaron Buskila: With Somaliland recognition, Israel shapes global reality instead of just reacting to it. Iran protests swell in Tehran’s bazaar Rights groups say at least 25 dead in Iran protests Russia sends submarine to escort tanker the U.S. tried to seize off Venezuela Fate of Yemen separatist leader deepens southern crisis as Saudi-UAE tensions linger China bans two Taiwan ministers for alleged 'independence activities', angering Taipei U.K. and France agree to set up military hubs across Ukraine after cease-fire Rubio tells lawmakers Trump aims to buy Greenland, downplays military action Venezuela to give U.S. up to 50 million barrels of oil, Trump says The FP’s Eli Lake: Why the Venezuela operation won’t embolden America’s enemies Bloomberg’s Hal Brands: China isn’t just after Taiwan — but the South Pacific, tooIn The News
Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland on Tuesday on a trip that was denounced by Somalia, 10 days after Israel formally recognised the self-declared republic as an independent and sovereign state. – Reuters
A mass ultra-Orthodox Jewish rally against military conscription turned deadly in Jerusalem on Tuesday, when a teenage boy was crushed and killed after a man driving a bus hit the crowd. – Reuters
Israel and Syria agreed during U.S.-mediated talks in Paris to set up a communication mechanism to coordinate on security, intelligence and commercial issues, the three countries said in a joint statement released on Tuesday by the State Department. – Reuters
Passenger traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv rose 33% in 2025, the Israel Airports Authority reported on Tuesday, reflecting the return of foreign carriers after many airlines halted flights during the two-year Gaza war. – Reuters
Israel has approved an upgrade to fourth-generation (4G) mobile services for Palestinians in the West Bank, the Israeli Communications Ministry said on Tuesday. – Reuters
Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a contentious settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut the West Bank in two, according to a government tender. – Associated Press
It’s hemmed in by Israel’s tanks and troops. US President Donald Trump has threatened it with annihilation. But Hamas, defiant in the ruins of less than half of Gaza, is clawing its way back to a semblance of pre-war governance. – Bloomberg
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday condemned Israel’s latest strikes on his country, saying they undermine efforts to prevent escalation. – Agence France-Presse
In the early 2000s, Israel built the separation barrier from Har Adar to Gush Etzion to improve security and prevent illegal entry of Palestinians into Israel, as well as terror attacks. However, a report published last week by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman found that the barrier around Jerusalem does not provide an adequate response to prevent the entry of undocumented Palestinians or terrorists. – Ynet
Nearly one-third of Israel’s population lacks adequate protection against missile attacks, according to a report released Tuesday by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, highlighting persistent gaps in civilian and institutional preparedness more than a year into a multi-front war. – Ynet
Yaron Buskila writes: The deeper significance of the move lies not only in Somaliland but in the post-October 7 shift in Israeli strategic consciousness. Israel is beginning to understand that security is not shaped solely through airstrikes and tactical responses, but through the proactive design of the strategic arena itself. A clear understanding of the environment in which the state operates – and the willingness to take preemptive geopolitical action – offers stability in an era where survival depends not only on military capability, but on presence, partnerships, and strategic foresight. – Jerusalem Post
David Schenker and Simon Henderson write: Cairo is understandably reticent about publicly embracing Israel after the war, but quiet American diplomacy can do much to improve the situation behind the scenes. With more intensive engagement, the administration can foster productive discussions between Egypt and Israel, transitioning from commercial matters to substantive talks about the political future of Gaza and the Sinai. – Washington Institute
Iran
Iranian authorities met a large protest in the Tehran Grand Bazaar on Tuesday with a heavy police response, as the unrest extended into a second week and the currency fell to a new low. – Wall Street Journal
Iran’s president ordered an investigation into violence at recent protests in the western province of Ilam, after video surfaced that appeared to show security forces shooting at demonstrators and storming a hospital. – New York Times
Iran executed a man accused of spying for Israel, the Iranian judiciary’s media outlet Mizan reported on Wednesday, naming the defendant as Ali Ardestani. – Reuters
At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups. – Reuters
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned the Iranian regime that they faced assassination by the U.S. if the authorities continue to kill protesters as widespread demonstrations rock the Middle Eastern country, fuelled by anger over the dire state of the sanctions-hit economy. – Newsweek
Amid the ongoing demonstrations in Iran, protestors are “claiming entire cities,” the US House Foreign Affairs Committee stated in a post to X/Twitter early Wednesday morning. – Jerusalem Post
Protests continued across Iran on Tuesday, with authorities reporting that a police officer was killed during unrest in Ilam province in the country’s west, as opposition groups said demonstrations also took place in the capital, Tehran. – Ynet
Iran’s leadership warned on Tuesday of the possibility of a preemptive strike against Israel, the country’s newly created Defence Council said in a statement released Tuesday. – Haaretz
Editorial: As Winston wrote, “It is important to remember that. Pahlavi is not waiting to swoop in and sweep Iranians off their feet – he is willing to let them choose their own future. But the voices emanating from the streets suggest he has a large amount of popular support among the protesters.” This is the core of “Pahlavi power.” The people of Iran are no longer whispering the name Pahlavi. They are shouting it. – Jerusalem Post
Russia and Ukraine
Russia has sent a submarine and other naval assets to escort an empty, rusting oil tanker that has become a new flashpoint in U.S.-Russia relations, according to a U.S. official. – Wall Street Journal
The United States for the first time on Tuesday backed a broad coalition of Ukraine’s allies in vowing to provide security guarantees that leaders said would include binding commitments to support the country if Russia attacks again. – Reuters
U.S. and Ukrainian officials discussed “some ideas” to address the issue of territory during peace talks to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, describing the matter as the biggest remaining obstacle in the process. – Reuters
Russia on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela’s interim president, calling it a step to ensure peace and stability in the face of “blatant neocolonial threats and foreign armed aggression”. – Reuters
Russia targeted South African video gamers as part of a recruitment drive for its war in Ukraine, according to documents involving two men who left to fight. – Bloomberg
David Kirichenko writes: Russia has adapted by pulling back critical systems farther from the front, and shielding them with electronic warfare, while relying on manpower to absorb losses closer in. Ukraine is strongest at the front but increasingly constrained at depth, and, with enough time, Russia will look to close the flanks, narrow the supply routes, and squeeze the defenders. Unless Kyiv closes its mid-range strike gap through systems that can be produced at scale and operate under sustained jamming, it risks fighting an efficient but ultimately reactive war shaped by Russian adaptation rather than Ukrainian initiative. – Center for European Policy Analysis
Yemen
The leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidarous al-Zubaidi, failed to board a plane set to take him to Riyadh, and fled instead to an unknown destination, the Saudi-backed coalition in the country said on Wednesday. – Reuters
When the United Arab Emirates withdrew its troops from Yemen last week under a deadline from Saudi Arabia, it also left behind the remote Yemeni island of Socotra and the roughly 600 tourists who had flown in but could no longer fly out. – Reuters
The southern Yemeni port city of Aden was calm on Tuesday evening after anti-aircraft guns were used to target unidentified drones above the al-Maashiq presidential palace, two security sources told Reuters. – Reuters
Middle East & North Africa
Oman plans to set up an international financial centre in the country, the state news agency reported on Tuesday, as the small oil producer joins its bigger neighbours in seeking to attract foreign companies eager to capitalise on the region’s growth. – Reuters
Saudi Arabia plans to open its financial markets to all foreign investors from February 1, the Gulf country’s market regulator said on Tuesday, as it eases rules to attract more money from abroad. – Reuters
Fighting in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday left at least four people dead and several others wounded, state media said, with the government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic
Lebanese media on Tuesday published images showing dismantled cruise missiles inside a Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon, amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel and growing tensions along the border. – Ynet
Salem Alketbi writes: Therefore, a coming battle would be the moment Hezbollah pays the bill for making its home territory a part of its war machine. The people living there will pay a terrible price for the actions of a group that acts as Iran’s closest partner, enforcing a model of violence and coercion first on Lebanon, and then on Israel and the Arab region. Israel’s message, sent clearly in public and in private briefings, is plain and simple: Anyone attacking us will suffer a much heavier blowback, intense enough to deter any repeat. – Jerusalem Post
Korean Peninsula
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that much progress had been made in restoring trust with Beijing, and that he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to play a role in mediating Seoul’s efforts to engage North Korea. – Reuters
Hours after President Xi Jinping posed for selfies with South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung in Beijing, China sent a very different message to Japan, escalating their dispute by imposing export controls. – Bloomberg
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the country’s relations with Japan are as important as those with China, seeking to balance his country’s foreign interests at a time when Beijing is courting Seoul while turning up pressure on Tokyo over a lingering diplomatic dispute. – Bloomberg
China
China’s top diplomat began his annual New Year tour of Africa on Wednesday, with a focus on the strategically important east, as the world’s No.2 economy seeks to reinforce its influence on the continent. – Reuters
China’s commerce ministry said on Wednesday that it is launching an anti-dumping probe into dichlorosilane imports from Japan, according to a statement published on its website. – Reuters
China will take punitive actions against three Taiwanese for their involvement in separatist activities related to “Taiwan independence”, its Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday. – Reuters
China’s state stockpiler Sinograin bought 10 U.S. soybean cargoes this week, three traders told Reuters on Tuesday, as the world’s top buyer continues purchasing from the United States following a late October trade truce. – Reuters
China criticized the Trump administration’s reported call for Venezuela to sever its alliances with US rivals, labeling the move a “bullying act” as their competition for influence in the region emerges as a new source of friction. – Bloomberg
Decker Eveleth writes: Russia and China will not be “emboldened” to conduct leadership-targeting operations in the near future, and it has nothing to do with norms. It’s entirely because China does not believe it is ready and Russia already put its hand in the fire and got burned. – Foreign Policy
Zane Tremmel writes: Most importantly, a hybrid interdiction force provides a way to impose cost on the Chinese Communist Party, counter the maritime militia, and neutralize covert missile deployments without overextending the U.S. Navy at the moment it is needed most. The Indo-Pacific is too large, the threat too blended, and the stakes too high for any single institution to handle alone. A hybrid force of government authority riding atop contractor-provided mass and intelligence-driven prioritization is not a luxury. It is the best near-term solution that matches the scale and complexity of the challenge. – War on the Rocks
South Asia
The air force chiefs of Pakistan and Bangladesh held talks on a potential pact covering the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Dhaka, Pakistan’s military said, as Islamabad widens its arms supply ambitions and beefs up ties with Bangladesh. – Reuters
Mukesh Awasti was all set leave for Australia to pursue a degree in civil engineering on a sunny day in September, but instead he joined a youth revolt against corruption in Nepal and lost his leg after being shot by security forces. – Associated Press
Pakistan ’s military on Tuesday warned that Afghanistan is becoming a “hub for terrorists and non-state actors,” widening its allegations to assert that its Taliban government is patronizing al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and the Pakistani Taliban. – Associated Press
A curfew was imposed on a key border city in southern Nepal after Hindu and Muslim groups began protesting against each other following the vandalism of a mosque over the weekend, officials said Tuesday. – Associated Press
US President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unhappy with him due to Washington’s high tariffs on the South Asian nation, the latest sign of continued strain between the two countries. – Bloomberg
Asia
Japan’s top government spokesperson said on Wednesday that China’s ban on exports of dual-use items to the country was “absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable”, as a diplomatic dispute between Asia’s top two economies ramped up. – Reuters
China’s war game exercises around Taiwan last week were part of a campaign to counter growing international support for the island and an attempt to divert attention away from Beijing’s economic troubles, Taiwan’s top security agency said on Wednesday. – Reuters
China’s warning to Japan that it could choke off supplies of rare earths, its favorite weapon in trade conflicts, targets a persistent vulnerability among Japanese manufacturers after more than a decade of Tokyo trying to reduce reliance on its rival. – Bloomberg
Europe
The U.K. and France will set up military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities to produce weapons and military equipment for the country if a cease-fire agreement is reached between Kyiv and Russia, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday. – Wall Street Journal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that recent administration threats against Greenland didn’t signal an imminent invasion and that the goal is to buy the island from Denmark, according to people familiar with the discussions. – Wall Street Journal
European leaders marshaled support for Greenland on Tuesday, urging the United States to respect its sovereignty and the importance of NATO cooperation as the Trump administration repeatedly threatens to seize the semiautonomous Danish territory. – New York Times
European leaders began meeting on Tuesday in Paris for the latest round of talks on peace for Ukraine, focusing on security commitments for the country in a potential cease-fire with Russia. – New York Times
The Swiss bar where 40 people were killed in a fire at the New Year had not been subjected to any annual safety inspections since 2019, the mayor of the ski resort of Crans-Montana said on Tuesday. – Reuters
The Czech Republic can keep running an initiative sourcing ammunition for Ukraine, but will act as a coordinator and no longer put its own money into it, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Tuesday – Reuters
The European Commission appeared to have won the crucial support of Italy on Tuesday for a contentious free trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur, paving the way for the EU to sign the agreement as early as next week. – Reuters
Cyprus assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union on Wednesday, marking the start of its six-month term with a meeting in Nicosia attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. – Reuters
The centre-left premier of the eastern German state of Brandenburg said on Tuesday he would run a minority government pending talks to form a new majority after the coalition with the far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) collapsed. – Reuters
Slovenia will hold parliamentary elections on March 22 after President Natasa Pirc-Musar signed a decree on Tuesday calling for a poll in the NATO and European Union member state, in what will likely be a closely-contested race. – Reuters
The so-called Coalition of the Willing made fresh progress on a framework for NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine during a meeting of Kyiv’s allies in Paris, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday. – Reuters
Only Denmark and Greenland can decide questions about the future of the Arctic island, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday when asked about U.S. threats of annexation. – Reuters
More flights will be cancelled, trains will run late and roads will be blocked by snow across Europe in coming days as a cold snap is forecast to worsen, bringing even more heavy snowfall after several days of travel disruption. – Reuters
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday the United States had set a “terrible and very dangerous precedent” in Venezuela with its , adding that Washington’s sole objective appeared to be the change of government and appropriation of energy resources. – Reuters
France is working with partners on a plan over how to respond should the United States act on its threat to take over Greenland, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday. – Reuters
France will seek an exemption for fertilizers from carbon border levies imposed this year by the European Union, in a move aimed at easing costs on struggling farmers, according to agriculture ministry officials. – Bloomberg
The Netherlands is scaling back its participation in U.S.-led counter-drug missions in the Caribbean, a reaction to the rising death toll from American military attacks on vessels suspected of being used to smuggle narcotics. – Politico
Africa
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, occupies a strategic location at the juncture of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, with its Berbera port giving access to some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. – Reuters
The African Union’s Political Affairs Peace and Security council called on Tuesday for the “immediate revocation” of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. – Reuters
Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday condemned a visit by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Hargeisa, saying it was a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. – Reuters
Uganda’s government said on Monday it was banning live broadcasts of riots, “unlawful processions” and other violent incidents ahead of an election in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule. – Reuters
The newly re-elected president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera, has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit his country, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday. – Reuters
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Lekgoa Mothibi as the nation’s new chief prosecutor, elevating him to a pivotal role in the fight against entrenched graft and organized crime. – Bloomberg
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are creating an autonomously governed region in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo despite ongoing efforts by the US and Qatar to get the group to withdraw, United Nations experts said. – Bloomberg
Micha Odenheimer writes: Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is the beginning of the righting of a historic wrong. The EU, England, Russia, Turkey, Qatar and China’s condemnation of Israel for recognizing Somaliland sets new standards of diplomatic hypocrisy. The UN’s emergency convening of the Security Council in order to respond to Israel’s diplomatic recognition of a state that the entire world should have recognized thirty years ago, while staying silent as Iran attempts to crush yet another civilian uprising, demonstrates once again its irrelevance and lack of judgment. – Times of Israel
The Americas
Venezuela’s opposition woke up with a jolt of euphoria Saturday when it learned that the U.S. had forcefully ousted the authoritarian Nicolás Maduro—opening the way for its own leader, María Corina Machado, to take power. – Wall Street Journal
Standing between President Trump and his vision for a stable, U.S.-friendly oil power looms one man: Diosdado Cabello, the belligerent and eccentric de facto leader of Venezuela’s security forces and brutal militias, and a wild card in the country’s future. – Wall Street Journal
President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela’s interim authorities will give the U.S. between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil, with proceeds overseen by the White House to benefit both countries. – Wall Street Journal
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado heaped praise on President Donald Trump during a Fox News interview Monday as she promised to return to her country and called for elections to replace deposed president Nicolás Maduro — saying she would win in a landslide despite Trump’s repeated dismissals of her ability to lead. – Washington Post
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told lawmakers that President Trump plans to buy Greenland rather than invade it, while Mr. Trump has asked aides to give him an updated plan for acquiring the territory, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. – New York Times
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel produced a signed memo declaring it lawful for President Trump to order the military operation that seized President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela over the weekend, according to officials familiar with the matter. – New York Times
By all accounts, Cuba is enduring the worst economic moment in the 67-year history of its communist revolution. While the island nation has endured periodic episodes of mass migration, food shortages and social unrest in decades past, never before have Cubans experienced such a wholesale collapse of the social safety net that the country’s leaders — starting with Fidel Castro — once prided themselves on. – New York Times
Nicolás Maduro’s first appearance in a U.S. courtroom offered a glimpse of the legal battle ahead over rarely tested questions — chief among them whether he can claim immunity from prosecution. – Reuters
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Tuesday declared seven days of mourning for members of the military killed in the U.S. raid over the weekend to capture leader Nicolas Maduro. – Reuters
Venezuela was loading crude only for U.S. major Chevron on Tuesday, while operations by state-run oil firm PDVSA to load cargoes for its main customers in China remained on hold for a fifth day, shipping data showed. – Reuters
Venezuela transported gold worth almost 4.14 billion Swiss francs ($5.20 billion) to Switzerland during the early years of the leadership of ousted President Nicolas Maduro, customs data shows. – Reuters
Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Tuesday denied a request by former President Jair Bolsonaro to immediately leave prison for tests in a hospital in Brasilia after falling and hitting his head, the court decision showed. – Reuters
Colombia’s foreign minister on Tuesday said the country’s military must defend the country’s territory and sovereignty in the event of a hypothetical U.S. invasion. – Reuters
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she believes the US has told acting President Delcy Rodríguez to take steps toward an eventual handover of power. – Bloomberg
Editorial: Foro Penal political-prisoner totals include 176 members of the military. Their detention explains why there has been no uprising in the barracks, despite reports that mid-level officers and enlisted soldiers support the political opposition. Breathe a word of dissent, and military counter-intelligence will see that you’re put away. This was the reality under Mr. Maduro, who is now in a Brooklyn jail cell. Remind us again: Is Mr. Trump running Venezuela, or not? – Wall Street Journal
Thor Halvorssen writes: Ms. Rodríguez, according to sources, siphoned profits through networks of international and domestic businessmen while building PR machinery to sanitize her image. This is evident in today’s news cycle, where her allies now celebrate her ascent. The downfall of Ms. Rodríguez’s interim government will expose the regime’s rot. Her shaky authority is unsustainable. The path from dictatorship to democracy is fraught, but with the illusion broken and the people empowered, freedom is finally within reach. – Wall Street Journal
Bret Stephens writes: Maduro’s capture was met with jubilation by exiled Venezuelans because for 25 years they and their families have had to endure one of the cruelest regimes anywhere and do so with precious little attention or sympathy from self-described progressives who otherwise claim to champion human rights and democracy. Trump now has a chance to prove he can be a better friend to freedom than his critics, assuming he doesn’t squander the moment, as he’s so wont to do. – New York Times
Brad Polumbo writes: So, the “socialism” part of Venezuela’s “democratic socialism” worked out as well as it always does. And the “democratic” part turned out to be as fleeting as it always is, which started to erode under Chávez and was then entirely abandoned by Maduro, his successor. Ultimately, we should all be rooting for a brighter future in Venezuela. But we also can’t forget the important lessons taught by its past. – Washington Examiner
Peter Himmelman writes: Maduro’s fall does not magically heal Venezuela. No serious person thinks it does. Institutions take time, especially after more than a decade of fraudulent elections, kleptocracy, and governmental violence. Trust takes even longer. Selective outrage of the sort we’ve seen is not the luxury of those whose livelihoods were taken at gunpoint; of families forced to flee on foot; of people who did nothing wrong except refuse to surrender everything they had built. For millions of Venezuelans, this was not a violation of justice. It was the first glimpse of it. – Times of Israel
Eli Lake writes: If Venezuela descends into a civil war, Trump will either have to commit U.S. troops to an open-ended peacekeeping mission or leave a failed state even worse off than it was before. Those are real risks and they should not be diminished. But whatever happens in Venezuela, it will not change the character of the rogue powers that challenge America in the world today. China and Russia are not restrained by quaint notions of international law. Blaming their future aggression on Donald Trump lets the arsonists off the hook for the fires they started. – The Free Press
United States
President Donald Trump’s administration has put 25 more countries on a list of nations whose citizens could be required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for entry into the U.S., the State Department website, opens new tab showed on Tuesday. – Reuters
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday released transcripts of video recordings in which they say the gunman who carried out last month’s fatal mass shooting at Brown University and later took his own life had admitted to planning the attack months in advance. – Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with oil company executives at the White House late this week to discuss ways to revive Venezuela’s tattered oil sector, according to three sources familiar with the matter. – Reuters
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven nations will meet in Washington on January 12 to discuss rare earths supplies, three sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. – Reuters
Cybersecurity
German media minister Wolfram Weimer urged the European Commission on Tuesday to take legal action to stop what he called the “industrialisation of sexual harassment” taking place on Elon Musk’s social media platform X. – Reuters
Britain on Tuesday urged Elon Musk’s X platform to urgently address a proliferation of intimate ‘deepfake’ images created on demand via its built-in AI chatbot Grok, joining a European outcry over a surge in non-consensual imagery on the platform. – Reuters
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which said in January it had developed an AI model to rival ChatGPT at much lower cost, has come under scrutiny in some countries for its security policies and privacy practices. – Reuters
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Tuesday he does not believe China’s government will make a formal declaration that it has allowed Chinese firms to import the U.S. company’s H200 chips but that evidence will come through purchase orders. – Reuters
Defense
Among the more than 150 U.S. warplanes that swarmed over Venezuela this past weekend was the Growler, a jet that attacks signals, not people. The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a specialist in electronic warfare, a once neglected part of combat that has enjoyed a renaissance following its mass use in the Ukraine war. – Wall Street Journal
Lockheed Martin Corp. struck a tentative deal with the Pentagon that’s meant to triple production of its Patriot air-defense missile, part of a broader US push to speed up weapons output and meet global demand for a highly sought-after weapons system. – Bloomberg
Hal Brands writes: Since World War II, America’s ability to stabilize the Western Pacific has hinged on its ability to move freely between the hemispheres. But now, the era of unimpeded Pacific passage may be reaching an end. Beijing knows that strategic reach is what makes a global superpower. Beware the Chinese-built Pacific barriers that might, one day, keep the US out. – Bloomberg
Peter Suciu writes: Even as Iranian air defense systems proved to be effective in shooting down any Israel Air Force (IAF) F-35s in strikes carried out against the Islamic Republic last year, the use of red paint on equipment proved to be more effective in grounding the Lightning II. Shortly after the incident, Teledyne acknowledged that the damage to its clean rooms could halt production for up to a year. It is unclear whether that actually impacted the IAF’s F-35s. However, Teledyne CML Composites makes components for systems being supplied to Ukraine—so Palestine Action’s actions likely only helped the Kremlin. – National Interest