Covid
- Georgia will spend $100 million to hire medical staff and deploy 200 National Guard soldiers to medical facilities. [Link]
- Over 3,000 Navy reserve sailors missed the deadline to take the covid vaccination. [Link]
US News
- Illinois bars the state employee pension fund from investing in Unilever – Ben and Jerry’s parent company. The decision was made because of a decision not to sell Ben and Jerry’s ice cream in West Bank settlements. [Link]
- The NDAA includes a provision that prevents Biden from closing Gitmo. [Link]
Great Power
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirms US support for Ukraine in a phone call with President Zelenskyy. [Link]
- Biden and Putin will speak on the phone today. [Link]
- Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will lead US talks with Russia. [Link]
- Russia and Belarus will hold joint war games in early 2022. Putin says details of the military drills have not been decided. [Link]
- Taiwan says it is ready for deeper military ties with the US after Biden signed the NDAA that directs billions in funds against China. [Link]