Rejoining Open Skies Treaty would Send ‘Wrong Message’ to Russia. The U.S. is unlikely to rejoin the 34-nation Open Skies Treaty over concerns that it would send the “wrong message” to Moscow at this time, according to a State Department memo first reported by Defense News. Biden condemned the U.S. withdrawal of the treaty which occurred under the Trump administration saying in a statement last November that the move would “exacerbate growing tensions between the West and Russia”. Defense News The Hill
DOJ Pushes Back on Domestic Terrorism Bill. The Department of Justice is pushing back on a proposed domestic terrorism bill sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) DOJ officials say the proposed bill could be harmful and counterproductive. Politico
Senators Urge Biden to Provide Funding to Reduce U.S. Tech Reliance on China. A bipartisan group of Senators led by Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Mark Warner have sent a letter to President Biden urging him to approve $3 billion to help build 5G infrastructure, which the lawmakers say will help the United States remain competitive with strategic rivals such as China. Florida Daily
Investigators Suspect HAFNIUM Hackers Conducted Reconnaissance before Attack. Experts investigating the HAFNIUM cyber breech believe that Chinese hackers used information gained in reconnaissance attacks and previous hacks to mount the large scale attack of Microsoft email software. The Wall Street Journal
Senate Considers R&D Measure to Address Chinese Competition. The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on a bipartisan measure to allocate $110 billion over the next five years for technology research and development to help the United States remain competitive with China. The bill, known as the “Endless Frontier Act” will seek to bolster the U.S. innovation ecosystem and improve STEM education opportunities among other initiatives Reuters
Germany Eyes Purchase of Sputnik V if Approved by EU. Germany says it will purchase the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine from Russia if the vaccine is approved by the European Medicines Agency. EuroNews Reuters
Northern Ireland Protests Turn Violent on Sixth Night. Unrest in Northern Ireland turned violent Wednesday night as demonstrators set a bus on fire. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a tweet he is ‘deeply concerned’ by the scenes of growing violence. The Northern Irish government has planned an emergency meeting for Thursday to discuss the riots which are motivated by frustrations over economic restrictions between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK following Brexit. Bloomberg CNN Deutsch
NATO Advisor, Committee Commander Visits Ukraine. The Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirmed NATO’s partnership with Ukraine amid Moscow’s recent military buildup. NATO
Zelensky Visits Donbass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the contested Donbass region on Thursday as violence between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists is on the rise . Zelensky is continuing his call for support from Western allies and for NATO membership. The Economic Times France24 Radio Free Europe
Russia Moves Warships to Black Sea. Russia’s Defense Ministry says it has moved 10 warships to the Black Sea for winter military exercises off the coast of Crimea. Reuters
Eleven Killed in Myanmar as Protesters Fight Back. Security forces Myanmar have killed at least 11 people on Thursday as domestic media reported that protesters began fighting back with hunting rifles and homemade bombs. Al Jazeera Reuters Voice of America
Taiwan Threatens to Shoot Down Chinese Drones. The head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council Lee Chung-wei says that Chinese drones have been spotted recently flying near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea and says that Taiwan’s Coast Guard may shoot them down under their rules of engagement if the drones move into restricted airpsace. Reuters
U.S. Warns China Over Aggression Towards Philippines. U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price told reporters that an armed attack by China against the Philippines would “trigger our obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty”. This comes as both China and the U.S. have increased their military presence in the region, and with heightened tensions over Chinese incursions near the Philippines and Taiwan. Al Jazeeera
China Blames U.S. for Taiwan Tensions. China says the U.S. is to blame for rising tensions over Taiwan. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian says U.S. ships in the region are engaging in ‘provocations’ and threaten peace and stability in the region. Reuters
China Building Fifth Rocket Launch Site. China will build a fifth rocket launch site in the eastern port city of Ningbo to support the expected increase demand in commercial space missions and its accelerating space program. Reuters South China Morning Post
UK Offers Hong Kong Citizens Relocation Support. The United Kingdom will offer housing, education, and employment support to thousands of Hong Kong citizens expected to resettle in the UK following China’s new security laws. BBC Sky News
Russian Foreign Minister Visits Pakistan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to Islamabad where he met with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Afghanistan was the primary topic on the agenda as the two side affirmed their commitment to the Afghan peace process. Al Jazeera
Egypt Says All Options Open After Failed Talk With Ethiopia. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says “all options are open” and warned of the increased risk of conflict after the most recent round of negotiations failed with Sudan and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam being built on the Nile. Al Jazeera Associated Press Reuters
Britain Reports Airstrikes on ISIS in Iraq. The British Ministry of Defense reported Thursday it carried out several airstrikes against ISIS militants in northern Iraq in March as part of a coordinated 10-day operation with the local forces. Reuters
Macron Clears Release of Archives on Rwanda. French President Emmanuel Macron says the archives of former French President Francois Mitterrand would be open to the public for further transparency into the country’s role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. France24 Reuters