Iran responds to protests. The government announced a plan yesterday to give most citizens monthly payments of about $7 in response to widespread demonstrations fueled by economic hardship. The protests have become the largest in the country since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked months of civic upheaval.
Warnings on Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen yesterday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, warning that a U.S. invasion of the island would mean the end of NATO. Today, the leaders of seven NATO countries issued a joint statement saying that “it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Chinese export controls on Japan. China is banning the export of certain technologies to Japan that could be used by Japan’s military, the Chinese commerce ministry announced today, though it did not specify which products would be included in the ban. Last year, Japan expanded similar export restrictions of its own. Bilateral relations have chilled since Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s suggestion in November that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.
U.S. carveout from tax deal. Nearly 150 countries decided yesterday to exempt large U.S. multinational firms from an international 15 percent minimum corporate tax. The Trump administration pushed for a carveout from the deal brokered through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the exemption “a historic victory in preserving U.S. sovereignty.”
China-Pakistan dialogue. The two countries affirmed their “all-weather” strategic partnership in a joint statement yesterday after a three-day visit to China by Pakistan’s foreign minister. They also announced plans to boost cooperation in industry, agriculture, and mining as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The bilateral dialogue comes as the United States has drawn closer to Pakistan under Trump.
Azerbaijan vetoes troops for Gaza. Azerbaijan will not send troops to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force after questioning the United States about the nature of the operation, President Ilham Aliyev told local media yesterday. An international peacekeeping force is part of Trump’s plan to maintain a ceasefire in Gaza, but few details about it have been confirmed since the peace plan was endorsed by the UN Security Council in November.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Israel’s military struck sites in southern and eastern Lebanon overnight that it said were used by Hezbollah and Hamas. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the attacks undermined Lebanon’s ongoing efforts to extend government control over Hezbollah-dominated areas. Israel issued a warning ahead of the attacks, and the target areas were evacuated.
Central African Republic election. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has won a third term, according to preliminary results released yesterday from CAR’s December 28 election. In 2023, he oversaw changes to the constitution to end presidential term limits. The country’s main opposition boycotted the December vote, calling it unfair.
