Morning Brief: Trump Signals Possible Talks With Iran, Hamas Signals Exit From Gaza Rule, Japan Launches Deep-Sea Mission

  Hegseth Visits Lockheed and SpaceX to Press Defense Manufacturing Push US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth and SpaceX’s site in Brownsville on Monday as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, the Pentagon announced on Sunday. The visit, which includes remarks with SpaceX founder Elon Musk, aims to promote faster weapons production and reduced Pentagon bureaucracy under the Trump administration’s defense strategy. Hegseth plans to highlight the role of major defense manufacturers in maintaining US military superiority and strengthening the Defense Industrial Base. Pete Hegseth will visit SpaceX in Brownsville tomorrow (Monday) and “deliver remarks to the workforce and leaders at SpaceX, alongside its founder, Elon Musk.” It’s part of his Arsenal of Freedom tour. https://t.co/cNf7ohcSQp — Marcia Smith (@SpcPlcyOnline) January 11, 2026 The stop comes as Lockheed continues large-scale F-35 fighter jet production for the US and allied nations, a program that supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars to the US economy.   USS Abraham Lincoln Conducts Live-Fire Drills in South China Sea The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) has carried out live-fire training in the South China Sea while operating in the region for more than two weeks, the Navy said. Deployed from San Diego on November 24, the carrier entered the South China Sea by late December and has conducted flight operations, weapons drills, and joint training with escort ships, including the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111). The exercises, described by the US 7th Fleet as routine, included a live-fire test of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) designed to defend against missiles and aircraft. USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) fires a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) during live-fire exercises on the ship’s flight deck on January 8, 2026. (US Navy/DVIDS) The operations occurred as China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by Beijing, though US officials did not link the carrier’s activities to the Chinese exercises.   Hamas Signals Exit From Gaza Rule as Ceasefire Talks and Violence Continue Hamas announced on Sunday that it will dissolve its governing authority in Gaza once a Palestinian technocratic committee takes control under a US-brokered ceasefire and political transition plan, though it gave no timeline or details on the committee’s makeup. The plan, overseen by an international “Board of Peace” led by the United States, aims to disarm Hamas, deploy an international security force, and manage Gaza’s reconstruction following the ceasefire that began October 10. 🚨 Hamas confirms final decision to hand over Gaza governance to independent technocratic body The move is part of the second phase of the Trump-brokered Sharm el‑Sheikh agreement, which also includes Israeli withdrawal and an international stabilization force. pic.twitter.com/8f2betCrXI — Sputnik (@SputnikInt) January 11, 2026 While Hamas, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority continue negotiations through regional mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, governance arrangements remain unresolved and violence persists, with Israeli gunfire killing at least three Palestinians over the weekend. The uncertainty over who will govern Gaza comes as international actors push to advance the next phase of the ceasefire and Israel faces internal political fallout tied to investigations into leaked classified information from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.   Ukrainian Drone Strike Kills Civilian in Russia as Moscow Pounds Kyiv A Ukrainian drone strike killed one woman and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh on Saturday, while Russian air defenses shot down multiple drones, regional officials said Sunday. The attack damaged residential buildings and a school in the city, located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border. ❗️Right now 🇷🇺Voronezh is being attacked by kamikaze drones pic.twitter.com/deDnlYr7QO — 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) January 10, 2026 At the same time, Russia launched a large-scale barrage of drones and missiles against Ukraine, killing at least four people in Kyiv and leaving tens of thousands without electricity and heat during freezing temperatures. Ukraine said its forces also struck Russian-operated oil platforms in the Caspian Sea as part of a campaign to disrupt Moscow’s energy revenues. The exchanges, which included Russia’s use of a new hypersonic missile and advanced drones, came as Ukrainian officials continued talks with US partners on security guarantees amid ongoing efforts toward a potential peace deal.   Britain, NATO Weigh Arctic Security Role as Trump Presses Greenland Claims Britain is holding discussions with NATO allies on strengthening security in the Arctic to counter growing Russian and Chinese activity, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Sunday. The talks involve how the United Kingdom and other allies can bolster deterrence in the region, where Denmark is responsible for defending Greenland, a semiautonomous territory and NATO member asset. The discussions come as US President Donald Trump renewed calls for the United States to acquire Greenland, arguing it is necessary for security, a stance Denmark rejects as a threat to NATO unity. NATO’s SACEUR General Alexus Grynkewich on Arctic: Chinese and Russian vessels are not studying seals or polar bears. They are conducting bathymetric surveys and trying to figure out how they can counter NATO capabilities. This is not for peaceful purposes. pic.twitter.com/IHYB0kjCZc — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 11, 2026 British officials said the focus remains on coordinated defense planning rather than US rhetoric, as tensions rise among allies over Arctic security, sovereignty, and the future role of NATO in the strategically important region.   Myanmar Faces Genocide Accusations Over Rohingya at UN World Court Hearings begin Monday at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on allegations that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority during a 2017 military campaign in Rakhine state. The case, brought by Gambia in 2019 under the UN Genocide Convention, accuses Myanmar’s armed forces of mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh. Myanmar, now ruled by a military junta, denies the charges and argues the operations targeted insurgents, not civilians. ⚖️ On Jan 12, the International Court of Justice will begin hearings in The #Gambia v. #Myanmar, on whether Myanmar is legally responsible for #genocide against the Rohingya under under the Genocide Convention👉https://t.co/phpHZWVW3A pic.twitter.com/2weHZbEYPe — ISI (@institute_si) January 9, 2026 The proceedings come as about 1.2 million Rohingya remain in refugee camps in Bangladesh under worsening humanitarian conditions, while the outcome could shape international legal standards on genocide and influence related cases and potential criminal prosecutions against Myanmar’s military leadership.   Japan Launches Deep-Sea Mission to Tap Rare Earths and Cut China Dependence Japan on Monday dispatched a government-backed research vessel to waters near Minamitori Island to test deep-sea mining of rare-earth-rich mud, aiming to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals. The month-long mission will attempt, for the first time, to continuously lift seabed material from about 6 kilometers (4 miles) below the surface to a ship for analysis. The project, funded by the Japanese government, comes as China tightens controls on exports of dual-use goods and possibly rare earths to Japan, heightening supply risks for industries such as automobiles, electronics, and defense. Japanese officials said the effort marks a major technological step and a long-term strategy to secure domestic sources of minerals vital to economic and national security.   Sources: News Agencies