Armed conflicts and attacks

Turkey denies access to the Black Sea for two Royal Navy minehunters saying their transit of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits would be in violation of the Montreux Convention of 1936. (The Independent)

• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-britain-minehunter-ships-ukraine-b2472437.html

Armed conflicts and attacks

Ukraine and Russia complete their first prisoner exchange in nearly five months, releasing over 200 people on each side, facilitated by mediation from the United Arab Emirates. (Reuters)

• https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-stage-big-pow-exchange-after-uae-mediation-2024-01-03/

Armed conflicts and attacks

Ta’ang National Liberation Army claimed to have taken control of the town of Mongngaw in Kyaukme Township in Shan State. (Irrawadyy)

• https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/myanmar-junta-loses-town-dozens-of-troops-in-five-days-of-resistance-attacks.html

Armed conflicts and attacks

The Clan del Golfo detonate explosives at an army encampment in Turbo, Antioquia Department, Colombia, killing a soldier and injuring 12 others. (ABC News)

• https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/1-soldier-killed-12-injured-attack-colombia-blamed-106075987

Armed conflicts and attacks

Eighty nine people are killed and 284 others injured in a double bombing in Kerman, Iran, during a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani. (AP)

• https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-soleimani-explosion-kerman-2524cfed1d040370bf98000e2b53ad5a

Law and crime

A court in Freetown, Sierra Leone, charges former president Ernest Bai Koroma with four offences, including treason for his alleged role during the November coup attempt. (France 24)

• https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240103-sierra-leone-charges-former-president-koroma-with-treason-over-coup-attempt

Law and crime

A court in the U.S. state of New York releases unsealed documents containing the associates list of Jeffrey Epstein to the public. (The Independent)

• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jeffrey-epstein-list-names-documents-b2472960.html

Law and crime

Three men are stabbed and injured on a train at Akihabara Station in Tokyo, Japan. (Reuters)

• https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/four-apparently-stabbed-train-station-tokyo-nhk-2024-01-03/

Politics and elections

Hilda Heine is sworn in as President of the Marshall Islands. (RNZ)

• https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505980/hilda-heine-sworn-in-as-president-of-the-marshall-islands