30 January 2026
EU-Iran
On Thursday, the EU designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corp a terrorist entity. Tehran criticized the move, calling it a “major strategic mistake.” 15 Individuals were also singled out for sanctions, including Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, who is head of Iran’s joint command headquarters, and Iman Afshari, a presiding judge.
China-Panama
Panama’s Supreme Court annulled the concession held by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, to operate ports on either side of the canal. The ruling comes in the wake of an audit by Panama’s comptroller, which raised concerns about the 25-year extension of the 2021 concession. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said China would take “all necessary measures” to protect the interests of Chinese companies, without getting into specifics.
US-Cuba
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that puts sanctions on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. The order is part of an effort to strangle Cuba and force a collapse of the government. On Tuesday, Trump said “Cuba will be failing pretty soon.”
United Kingdom
The Royal Navy forced a suspicious Russian cargo ship, the Sinegorsk, from the Bristol Channel after the ship anchored itself near trans-Atlantic cables. The ship was three-quarters of a mile from the critical cables that connect the UK with the US, Canada, Spain and Portugal.
Gaza
Despite Trump’s recent claims that Hamas will disarm, Hamas officials are stating that they never agreed to disarm. Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk stated that there have been no recent discussions on the group disarming, and that they have no intention of doing so.
Ukraine
Again, according to Trump, Russia agreed not to strike Kyiv and other cities for a week. The Kremlin claims that it agreed not to strike Kyiv until 1 February. In other words, just for a couple of days.
Social media wires
Russia takes out F-16 decoy
Odd animation from the IRGC
Featured Photo: “Trump smiling, c. 2017” – Wikimedia Commons, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.