US News
- President Biden on Friday signed the massive $858 billion 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is $45 billion more than he requested. AWC
Russia
- The CIA has been using a European NATO country’s intelligence services to conduct sabotage attacks inside Russia since the February invasion of Ukraine, investigative journalist Jack Murphy reported on Saturday, citing unnamed former US intelligence and military officials. AWC
- Three Russian soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Engels airfield in Russia’s Saratov Oblast early Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said. AWC
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Associated Press on Monday that Russia must face a tribunal for alleged war crimes in Ukraine before direct peace talks can be held between Kyiv and Moscow. AWC
China
- China on Sunday launched major drills around Taiwan in response to the new US military aid for Taipei that’s included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) President Biden signed into law on Friday. AWC
Somalia
- US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release that it conducted an airstrike in Somalia on December 23 against al-Shabaab, marking the third known US strike in the country this month. AWC
