- Gina Haspel has been named Deputy Director of the CIA. Haspel operated a secret prison where torture occurred. She destroyed the videotape evidence of the torture. [Link]
- Trump warns Israel that building new settlements will threaten a two-state solution. Trump defended Israeli settlements that already exist. [Link]
- Trump is planning new sanctions against Iran. Trump says Iran’s recent test of a ballistic missile and Houthi actions in Yemen are the reasons for the sanctions. [Link]
- Press Secretary Sean Spicer falsely accuses Iran of attacking a US Navy ship. Spicer corrected himself to say that it was actually a Saudi ship that was attacked. However, the attack was carried out by the Houthi and not Iran. [Link]
- The US Treasury Department relaxed sanctions against Russia. US companies will now be able to make some cybersecurity transactions with Russia. [Link]
- At the UN, Nikki Haley said that Russia needs to return Crimea to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia will not be lifted until this happens. [Link]
- The government reported numbers of civilians killed by US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria continue to be much too low. The US claims to have killed 9 civilians between October 25 and December 9. The Pentagon admits the US killed at least 15 civilians in November. A watchdog group says the US killed about 84 civilians in that time. [Link]
- Civilian casualties are being reported from Ukraine. Fighting in Ukraine started up again over the weekend. [Link]
- A new report shows that the Afghan government only controls 57% of the country. The government controlled 71% of the country a year ago. [Link]
