U.S. and Russian officials said the two countries will meet for talks (Reuters) on January 10 amid rising tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border. The White House said that Russian officials are then expected to meet with representatives from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which includes the United States, that same week.

The January 10 meeting will be held (AFP) as part of the Strategic Security Dialogue that U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched during their June summit in Geneva. The dialogue’s focus is arms control agreements but is now expected to also cover the Russian military buildup near Ukraine’s border. Moscow has laid out security demands (AP) to Western countries that include the removal of NATO troops from Central and Eastern Europe.

The countries have a longtime territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea. In virtual talks yesterday with his Japanese counterpart, China’s defense minister said the countries should work together (SCMP) to prevent tensions from rising.

North Korea: Top officials are gathered for a policy meeting (Yonhap) that is expected to lay out plans for responding to U.S. President Joe Biden’s invitation to restart nuclear talks. 

This Backgrounder looks at North Korea’s military capabilities.

Sri Lanka will close consulates (AFP) in Cyprus and Germany and a diplomatic office in Nigeria in an effort to preserve dwindling foreign currency reserves.

India: The central government said it will block foreign donations (WSJ) to a Christian missionary group founded by Mother Teresa. Critics say the move is the latest example of increasing religious discrimination by the government.

Syrian state media reported the attack (AP) on the port of Latakia, which handles most imports to Syria, early today. No casualties were immediately reported.

Iraq: The Supreme Court rejected an effort (Al Jazeera) by the Iran-backed political party Fatah to overturn the results of October parliamentary elections.

Ethiopia’s trade ministry said the country is unhappy (AP) with Washington’s decision last week to revoke duty-free access for its exports. Washington cited its disapproval of the ongoing war in the Tigray region.

For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s Michelle Gavin discusses the daunting obstacles to peace in Ethiopia.

CAR: The United Nations reported that its peacekeepers expelled scores of militants (UN News) from the Central African town of Boyo, where they had taken over people’s homes.

This Backgrounder looks at the role of peacekeeping missions in Africa.

Authorities said that Memorial failed to identify itself as a foreign agent (Moscow Times), a charge that the human rights group rejected.

A deal with Iran to supply a diluent helped Venezuela boost its output (Reuters) in November by 90 percent over its level a year earlier. Venezuela’s state oil company also rolled over old debts.

Barbados: Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Barbados will hold a snap general election (Reuters) on January 19. Last month, Barbados left the British monarchy and transitioned to a republic.

This In Brief looks at the significance of Barbados’s step away from the Crown.

The updated recommendation for asymptomatic cases is based on research (NPR) pointing to increased transmissibility of the virus during the first days of infection.