As the 9th National Congress of Members of the China Law Society convenes, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent a congratulatory letter to the congress, extending greetings to legal professionals across the country and expressing hopes for the work of the China Law Society. In his letter, Xi Jinping pointed out that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, law societies at all levels have united and led legal professionals in extensive work, making active contributions to advancing the comprehensive rule of law. Xi Jinping emphasized that in the new era and on the new journey, law societies at all levels must adhere to the guidance of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the Thought on Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, uphold the overall leadership of the Party, persist in following the socialist rule of law path with Chinese characteristics, continue to serve the overall work of the Party and the state, further strengthen their own development, better play their role as a bridge and link, and earnestly carry out work such as promoting legal research, serving legal practice, strengthening legal publicity, and cultivating legal talents, striving to open up a new prospect for the development of the China Law Society. Legal professionals must firmly uphold confidence in the rule of law, strengthen their mission and responsibility, actively engage in the great practice of comprehensively advancing the rule of law, and make new contributions to building a higher level of socialist rule of law state and promoting Chinese modernization. Party committees at all levels should strengthen their leadership over law societies and provide strong support for law societies to carry out their work in accordance with laws and regulations. The 9th National Congress of Members of the China Law Society opened in Beijing on the morning of January 10, where Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter was conveyed. Chen Wenqing, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, delivered an address on behalf of the Party Central Committee at the opening ceremony. He stated that law societies at all levels should thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, adhere to the overall leadership of the Party, strengthen political guidance, perform their duties according to law, strictly observe discipline and conduct, and be determined to reform and innovate, so as to contribute wisdom and strength to advancing the comprehensive rule of law and building a higher level of socialist rule of law state. He hoped that legal professionals would comprehensively study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, grasp the political direction, strengthen confidence in the rule of law, proactively serve the overall situation and the people, conduct in-depth legal research, and work diligently on scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial justice, and universal adherence to the law, making achievements in promoting Chinese modernization. Wang Xiaohong, Zhang Qingwei, Zhang Jun, Ying Yong, and He Baoxiang attended the opening ceremony. Wang Chen, President of the 8th China Law Society, presided over the meeting and delivered a work report on behalf of the 8th Council. The meeting commended advanced collectives and individuals in the national law society system. Members of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission and all representatives of the 9th National Congress of Members of the China Law Society attended the opening ceremony.
Recently, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, replied to young artists of the National Peking Opera Company, extending congratulations and greetings to all performers and staff on the 70th anniversary of the company's establishment. In his reply, Xi Jinping stated that since its establishment, the National Peking Opera Company has implemented the Party's literary and artistic policies, created many classic plays, and produced numerous outstanding artistic talents, adding brilliant colors to the hundred flowers of Chinese opera. Starting from this new point, he hoped that they would inherit the excellent traditions of previous masters, practice art for the people, adhere to lofty ethics and artistic integrity, uphold fundamental principles while making innovations, so as to enable Peking Opera art to continuously shine with contemporary brilliance and contribute to the prosperity of literature and art and the building of a strong socialist culture. The National Peking Opera Company is a national art troupe directly under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Its predecessor was the China Peking Opera Theater, established in January 1955, with Mei Lanfang as its first president. It was renamed the National Peking Opera Company in 2007. Recently, all young artists of the National Peking Opera Company wrote to General Secretary Xi, reporting on their efforts to inherit Peking Opera art and expressing their determination to strive for the prosperity and development of Peking Opera and the promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Sri Lankan President Dissanayake will pay a state visit to China from January 14 to 17.
On January 10, Premier Li Qiang, Secretary of the CPC Leading Group of the State Council, presided over a meeting of the CPC Leading Group of the State Council. The meeting studied and implemented the important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the spirit of the plenary session, and made arrangements for further promoting the building of clean government and the fight against corruption in the government. The meeting noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection provided fundamental guidance for thoroughly advancing comprehensive and strict Party governance, the building of clean government, and the fight against corruption. The CPC Leading Group of the State Council and the leading Party groups (Party committees) of all departments under the State Council must earnestly unify their thoughts and actions with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech and the arrangements of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, further enhance political consciousness, and embody the upholding of the "Two Establishes" and the achievement of the "Two Maintains" in concrete actions to solidly promote high-quality development and comprehensive and strict Party governance. The meeting pointed out the need to enhance awareness of potential dangers, strengthen resolve and confidence, and continuously deepen the building of clean government and the fight against corruption within the government. It emphasized the need to strengthen rectification of undesirable conduct and disciplinary enforcement, consolidate and deepen the achievements of Party discipline education, and persistently correct "four undesirable work styles." It also stressed strengthening anti-corruption efforts, severely investigating and punishing issues such as power-for-personal-gain, power-for-money transactions, and collusion for profit. Furthermore, the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional guarantees, managing power, money, and personnel through institutions, and striving to eradicate the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption. The meeting emphasized that the CPC Leading Group of the State Council must earnestly shoulder the primary responsibility for comprehensive and strict Party governance with a spirit of reform and strict standards. It must strengthen the government's self-improvement with strictness and pragmatism, further enhance the government's capacity to perform its duties, and work proactively to carry out all tasks related to economic and social development. Members of the leading Party group must fulfill their "one post, two responsibilities," strengthen Party spirit cultivation, take the lead in self-discipline, and always maintain integrity. Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Liu Guozhong, Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhenglong, and Chen Yiqin attended the meeting.
The CPC Leading Party Members' Group of the National People's Congress Standing Committee held a meeting on January 10 to study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Zhao Leji, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and Secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. The meeting noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech fully affirmed the new progress and achievements made in comprehensive and strict Party governance over the past year, profoundly analyzed the current anti-corruption situation, emphasized the necessity of adhering to the spirit of reform and strict standards in governing the Party, and put forward clear requirements for resolutely winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption. The speech is highly political, ideological, targeted, and guiding, providing important guidance for thoroughly advancing comprehensive and strict Party governance and the fight against corruption in the new era and on the new journey. Party organizations and Party members and cadres at all levels of the National People's Congress should deeply study and implement it in light of their actual conditions to ensure its effective implementation. The meeting emphasized the need to deeply understand and grasp the Party Central Committee's analysis of the anti-corruption situation and major deployments, strengthen confidence and determination in the anti-corruption struggle, and earnestly implement the Party Central Committee's requirements for comprehensive and strict Party governance. It is essential to put political cultivation first in Party spirit cultivation and make studying, observing, and implementing the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline important content of Party spirit cultivation. Members of the leading Party group should be strict with themselves and set an example, always maintaining the political integrity of Communists. The meeting stressed the need to earnestly fulfill the primary responsibility for comprehensive and strict Party governance. The Standing Committee's Leading Party Members' Group and the leading Party groups and sub-groups of its organs should be aware of, bear, and fulfill their responsibilities. The secretary of the leading Party group should assume the primary responsibility, and members of the leading Party group should implement their "one post, two responsibilities." It is necessary to persistently strengthen discipline and work style construction, solidly promote the regularization and long-term effectiveness of Party discipline education, and strictly implement the spirit of the eight-point frugality rules of the Central Committee and its detailed implementation rules. It is also important to combine strict management and supervision with encouraging responsibility and initiative, guiding cadres to innovate and make achievements in their work while observing rules and disciplines. Li Hongzhong and others attended the meeting.
The CPC Leading Party Members' Group of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a meeting on January 10 to convey and study the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the spirit of the plenary session, as well as the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Standing Committee meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee when hearing a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Leading Party Members' Group. Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, and Secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. The meeting held that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech profoundly grasped the basic laws of the fight against corruption, deeply analyzed the current anti-corruption situation, put forward clear requirements for resolutely winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption, and made strategic deployments for thoroughly advancing comprehensive and strict Party governance. It fully demonstrated the firm determination of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to consistently promote comprehensive and strict Party governance, and provided important guidance for thoroughly advancing comprehensive and strict Party governance, the building of clean government, and the fight against corruption. The meeting pointed out the need to profoundly comprehend the decisive significance of the "Two Establishes," resolutely achieve the "Two Maintains," and earnestly unify thoughts and actions with the Party Central Committee's analysis and judgment of the anti-corruption situation, strengthening the resolve and confidence in the fight against corruption. The Leading Party Members' Group of the CPPCC National Committee, the Leading Party Members' Group of its organs, and the sub-groups of various special committees must deeply study and comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech and the plenary session, earnestly fulfill their political responsibilities for governing the Party, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and strictly observe political discipline and political rules. It is essential to consolidate and deepen the achievements of Party discipline education in the CPPCC, establish a regular and long-term mechanism for discipline education, deepen the building of clean government in the CPPCC, and strictly implement the spirit of the eight-point frugality rules of the Central Committee and its detailed implementation rules. Furthermore, the meeting emphasized the need to deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on strengthening and improving the work of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, improve the institutional mechanisms for CPPCC work, deeply advance comprehensive and strict Party governance, and earnestly promote new progress in CPPCC work.
A symposium on Party building in emerging fields was held in Beijing on January 10. Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He emphasized the need to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on Party building, profoundly grasp the decisive significance of the "Two Establishes," and resolutely achieve the "Two Maintains." He stressed upholding and strengthening the Party's leadership, adhering to a people-centered approach, persisting in problem-orientation, focusing on Party building in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups, striving to improve the Party's organizational system, strengthening political guidance and service management, and improving the Party building work system and mechanism, continuously enhancing the Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields, so as to contribute to comprehensively advancing the building of a strong nation and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. Cai Qi pointed out the need to focus on achieving full coverage of Party organizations and Party work, enhancing the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, building a strong team of Party organization secretaries and Party workers, consolidating online and offline positions, guiding and promoting the healthy development of various organizations in emerging fields, and guiding and promoting various groups in emerging fields to firmly follow the Party. He also emphasized the need to consolidate and improve, advance classifiedly, and enhance the quality of Party building work in new economic organizations. It is essential to streamline work mechanisms, strengthen the发挥 of their roles, and deeply advance Party building work in new social organizations. Furthermore, he stated the need to adhere to the requirement of "managing the industry also means managing Party building," strengthen Party building work among new employment groups, effectively manage and educate floating Party members, strengthen care and services, and build harmonious labor relations. He also called for strengthening organizational leadership, improving work mechanisms, and consolidating responsibilities from all sides to continuously open up new prospects for Party building work in emerging fields. Li Ganjie presided over the meeting. Responsible comrades from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, Shanghai Municipality, Shandong Province, some experts and scholars, and grassroots representatives delivered speeches.
Currently, Rikaze City, Tibet, Dingri County's 6.8 magnitude earthquake is in a critical phase of disaster relief work. All parties are implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, fully engaged in treating the injured, ensuring the basic livelihood of the affected people, and ensuring that the affected people stay warm through winter. Full efforts are being made to treat the injured. For several days, under the guidance of the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, the Health Commission of the Tibet Autonomous Region promptly activated its medical emergency response, establishing a three-tier treatment system at the village, county, city, and regional levels. Currently, medical treatment experts at all levels in Rikaze City are holding consultations for all injured individuals, formulating personalized treatment plans, and organizing online consultations with national-level experts. With care and dedication, the basic living needs of the affected people are being ensured, making sure they stay warm through winter. In Gurong Village, Dingri County, military and civilian personnel are working day and night to accelerate the construction of warmer and more convenient temporary housing. The demolition and clearance of local ruins and the search for supplies are also underway simultaneously. In Senga Village, Dingri County, the construction of temporary housing is also being carried out intensively, with local Party members forming a special working group to coordinate the construction of temporary housing and increase the allocation of supplies and construction efforts. In two more days, 190 temporary housing units will be completed here. As of this afternoon (January 10), Dingri County has completed over 1,000 temporary housing units, with a cumulative deployment of over 15,000 emergency rescue forces, including the People's Liberation Army, public security police, and fire rescue personnel. 253 trapped individuals have been rescued, and the drinking water, food, and warmth of the affected people are effectively guaranteed. The Office of the National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management have allocated 42,000 items of central disaster relief supplies, including cotton tents, folding beds, cotton clothes, and quilts, to the disaster-stricken area. All of these have arrived in the disaster area today and are being distributed in an orderly manner to various centralized resettlement sites and the affected people. The Ministry of Commerce immediately organized 627 key supply enterprises to increase the organization of goods and supply, ensuring 743,000 tons of daily necessities such as grain, oil, meat, and vegetables. Related local commerce departments have transported 153,000 boxes of food items such as instant noodles, bottled water, bread, tsampa, and butter, as well as 73,000 items of materials such as electric blankets, heaters, quilts, cotton clothes, and blankets, to the affected areas. The latest statistics from the Tibet Financial Regulatory Bureau show that as of 12:00 on January 10, the insurance industry has paid or pre-paid 36.1562 million yuan, of which accident insurance has paid or pre-paid 14.16 million yuan, and rural housing insurance has pre-paid 20 million yuan. Claim payments for injured individuals are being disbursed, and medical expenses are being advanced by insurance companies.
Gadang Village in Changsuo Township, Dingri County, is one of the more severely affected areas in this disaster, where 62 households with 335 affected residents are resettled. Post-disaster medical treatment is crucial, and a CCTV reporter documented a night patrol by the National Emergency Medical Rescue Team. The patrol's mission was to visit every household in the resettlement site, clearly ascertain the health status of the affected residents, and provide targeted treatment. On the way to the next tent, a villager actively approached for help. The villager, 77 years old, told us that when the earthquake occurred, her neighbor's cattle were trapped under the rubble, and she accidentally fell and sprained herself while trying to help pull the cattle out. This night, not only were the doctors working continuously, but various rescue forces were also busy here. As night deepened, supply vehicles continued to arrive at the resettlement site. Just as we were about to leave, several children gathered around.
On January 10, a symposium on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Peking Opera Company was held in Beijing. The meeting emphasized the need to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's reply letter to young artists of the National Peking Opera Company, carry forward the Chinese cultural lineage, create excellent literary and artistic works, continuously expand the ranks of opera talents, and strive to promote the prosperity and development of Chinese opera, so as to contribute to better fulfilling the cultural mission of the new era. Opera artists should earnestly transform the spirit of the General Secretary's reply letter into an internal driving force for innovation and creation. They should enhance the original production capacity of opera art, allowing traditional art to continuously shine with contemporary brilliance.
Today (January 10) marks the fifth Chinese People's Police Day. This morning, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, and the Ministry of Justice held ceremonies including raising the police flag, singing the police anthem, and re-taking the People's Police Oath, to motivate police officers to always remember their original aspiration and forge loyalty. While faithfully performing their duties and sticking to their posts, police officers across the country organized various "police open day" activities. In Beijing, Tianjin, Fujian, Liaoning, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and other places, public security organs invited the public to visit police camps, enhancing communication between police and people through equipment displays and interactive sessions. Railway and civil aviation public security organs created a safe travel atmosphere for passengers through police lectures and on-site demonstrations.
The Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Public Security recently released the exemplary deeds of the 2024 "Most Beautiful Grassroots Police Officers" to the entire society. Liu Jianxin, Zhu Xinqi, and 18 other comrades were honorably selected. They have firmly remembered their mission and faithfully performed their duties, always practicing the tenet of "the people's police for the people." Some have bravely stepped forward and charged ahead at critical moments in cracking down on crime and protecting the people; some have long worked silently as unsung heroes, fighting on the frontline to safeguard public safety; others have long stood guard in snowy plateaus, island frontiers, dedicating their youth and sweat to loyalty and responsibility... Their exemplary deeds collectively demonstrate the excellent spirit and strong sense of responsibility of the public security force in the new era.
China Media Group's "2025 Spring Festival Gala" held its second rehearsal today (January 10). Building upon the first rehearsal, the quality of various types of programs, including original songs and dances and creative performances, has continued to improve, and the transitions between segments are smoother. The stage design of the gala resembles a "ruyi" scepter, connecting the main stage and the audience, enhancing the immersive and interactive experience of the Spring Festival Gala's grand reunion. This year's Spring Festival Gala will for the first time offer barrier-free broadcasts for visually and hearing-impaired audiences, providing real-time program interpretation and detailed background introductions for these groups.
On-site assessment and inspection of the State Council's 2024 work on production safety and fire control recently completed. According to the unified arrangements and deployments for the State Council's 2024 work on production safety and fire control assessment and inspection, the on-site assessment and inspection work for 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has been completed as planned, identifying 6,567 problems and hidden dangers, including 176 major accident hazards. The verified problems, hidden dangers, and illegal behaviors have been handed over to local authorities for severe investigation and punishment in accordance with prescribed procedures. Western Land-Sea New Corridor freight train volume grew for 7 consecutive years. The reporter learned from China Railway Nanning Group Co., Ltd. that in 2024, the cumulative freight volume of the Western Land-Sea New Corridor railway-sea intermodal trains reached 960,000 TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 11%, hitting a record high. Currently, railway-sea intermodal transport has radiated to 18 provinces (regions, municipalities) and 73 cities at 156 stations in China, reaching 548 ports in 126 countries and regions worldwide, with its transport volume achieving growth for 7 consecutive years. The first regular high-speed rail express freight train in the Yangtze River Delta began operation today (January 10), the first regular high-speed rail express freight train in the Yangtze River Delta (Jinhua South—Nanchang West) began operation. Compared with road transport, logistics time is shortened from 6 hours to within 2 hours, which will further strengthen the interconnectedness between Zhejiang and the city clusters in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. First ice floes appeared in the lower reaches of the Yellow River this year. The reporter learned from the Ministry of Water Resources that today (January 10), the lower reaches of the Yellow River in the Kenli section of Shandong Province saw the first ice floes of the year. Due to the warmer-than-usual temperatures since the beginning of winter, the first ice floes in the lower reaches of the Yellow River occurred 21 days later than usual. China Media Group released its 2025 financial and economic program list. The Finance and Economy Programs Center of China Media Group today (January 10) released its 2025 list of premium programs. The release was divided into three chapters: "Moving Towards New," "Advancing Deeper," and "Living Beautifully." 37 high-quality works, including "New Productive Forces in China" and "Survey on Beautiful Life," will present a panoramic view of the vivid practice of China's economy forging ahead on a new journey and innovating for the future. "High-end Interview" will broadcast the exclusive interview with former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf tonight. Tonight (January 10), China Media Group's CCTV News Channel's "High-end Interview" program will broadcast an exclusive interview with former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. Sharaf stated that Chinese modernization is rooted in Chinese civilization, and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the three global initiatives have brought hope and dawn to the world. The program will also be simultaneously launched on new media platforms such as CCTV News, Yangshipin, and CCTV.com.
Multiple wildfires continued to rage in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, USA, on January 9, with the scorched area continuously expanding. According to US media reports citing local officials, the wildfires have so far caused at least 10 deaths, approximately 180,000 residents have received evacuation orders, and tens of thousands of buildings have been damaged. Currently, the two largest wildfires remain uncontrolled, and a new wildfire has erupted in the Angeles National Forest. Local fire departments stated on January 9 that the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area of western Los Angeles County is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the area. The smoke and dust from the wildfires have caused severe air pollution in the Los Angeles area, with air quality indexes in some areas reaching "hazardous levels." Affected by the fires, multiple school districts in the Los Angeles area have announced class suspensions, and several university campuses have been closed. In addition, local media reported today (January 10) that local police have arrested an arson suspect.
According to the Palestinian Gaza Strip Civil Defense Department and local media reports, Israeli forces on January 9 carried out airstrikes on several locations in the northern Gaza Strip, including Jabalia, central Deir al-Balah, and Nusairat refugee camps, and opened fire on areas east of Khan Yunis in the south and near Rafah city, causing at least 17 deaths. According to data released by the Gaza Strip Health Ministry on January 9, Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip have resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths since the outbreak of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israel Defense Forces stated on January 9 that Israeli forces recently killed several commanders of the Sabra Battalion under Hamas's Gaza Brigade in airstrikes. Israeli military claims shooting down multiple Yemeni drones; Yemeni Houthi armed forces claim another US-UK coalition airstrike. In addition, the Israeli military also claimed on the same day that it intercepted three drones from the direction of Yemen. According to media operated by the Yemeni Houthi armed forces on January 9, the US-UK coalition forces carried out 5 airstrikes on military bases controlled by the Houthi armed forces in northern Amran province and several areas south of the capital Sana'a in the early hours of the day.
Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on January 9 that over the past day, Russian forces struck Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure, drone assembly and storage facilities, and ammunition depots, and shot down over a dozen HIMARS rockets and dozens of Ukrainian drones. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations stated today (January 10) that a building at a chemical enterprise in Leningrad Oblast caught fire. Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council officials stated that they attacked military facilities in Leningrad Oblast and Rostov Oblast in Russia. Additionally, Ukraine stated on January 9 that hundreds of battles took place in frontline areas, and Ukrainian forces repelled multiple Russian attacks in the directions of Kharkiv and Pokrovsk, among others. The US government announced on January 9 that it would provide an additional $500 million in military support to Ukraine, including air-to-ground munitions and missiles for air defense systems. Slovakia's Prime Minister considers countermeasures against Ukraine in response to potential gas transit interruption. Slovak Prime Minister Fico stated on January 9 that if the issue of Russian natural gas supply transiting through Ukraine is not properly resolved, the Slovak government might consider countermeasures, such as voting against proposals related to Ukraine as an EU member state.
World Anti-Doping Agency says US loses executive committee status. The World Anti-Doping Agency recently confirmed that due to outstanding 2024 membership fees, the US representative lost its executive committee status in the agency as of January 1 this year. WADA stated that the outstanding fee from the US is $3.625 million. German Chancellor opposes Trump's demand to increase NATO military spending. Regarding US President-elect Trump's remarks demanding NATO member states increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP, German Chancellor Scholz expressed opposition on January 9. Scholz pointed out that 5% of Germany's GDP is approximately 200 billion euros, while the current total budget of the German government is 490 billion euros. If Germany were to meet Trump's demand, it would mean being forced to save or borrow an additional 150 billion euros, which is unrealistic. Northern France hit by cold snap, multiple areas issue ice and snow warnings. Recently, several parts of France have been hit by a cold snap. On January 9, multiple provinces in northern France issued orange alerts for ice, snow, and cold waves. Local authorities stated that the severe weather has so far caused 2 deaths and 20 injuries. The snowy and icy weather has also led to frequent traffic accidents and school closures in the area. In addition, water levels in several rivers in northwestern France have risen.
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