January 3, Thursday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradhan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

1. China says one of its survey ships recently conducted research activities in waters Japan claims are within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

2. New acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan says China will remain the U.S. military’s top priority.

3. U.S. President Donald Trump says he has received a letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and will be setting up a meeting with him “in the not-too-distant future.”