Situation Reports

South Korea's Artificial Intelligence Act came into effect on Jan. 22, Reuters reported the same day.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, that security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement have been finalized, but that the war's core territorial issues remain unresolved, Reuters reported on Jan. 22.

Campaigning is underway in Bangladesh ahead of the country's first national elections since the 2024 uprising that forced longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power, with voting scheduled for Feb. 12, AP reported on Jan. 22.

U.S. investment companies Altimeter and Greenoaks filed arbitration claims under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement asserting that the South Korean government was discriminating against U.S. e-commerce company Coupang, in which both investment companies have large stakes, and thereby violating the terms of the agreement, Axios reported on Jan. 22.

Ecuador announced 30% tariffs on Colombian goods effective Feb. 1 over an alleged lack of cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, Reuters reported on Jan. 21.

U.S. President Donald Trump formally unveiled the U.N.-mandated Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Reuters reported on Jan. 22.

Venezuela's National Assembly is scheduled to discuss a reform to the country's hydrocarbon law aiming to allow foreign operations and offer better financial terms for investors, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 21.

Tanzanian Minister of Minerals Anthony Mavunde discussed a graphite partnership with U.S. Charge d'Affaires Andrew Lentz, The Chanzo reported on Jan. 21.

The South Sudanese military is deploying military reinforcements to Bor to counter a potential offensive by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, or SPLM-IO, on the city and set the groundwork for a counteroffensive into Jonglei state, where the SPLM-IO has made territorial gains in recent weeks, Radio Tamazuj reported on Jan. 21.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark was prepared to discuss security, investment and economic cooperation with the United States, but would not negotiate sovereignty over Greenland, Reuters reported on Jan. 21.