US News

• People are being removed from transplant lists because they have not received a covid vaccination. [Link]
• The NYPD is trying to block the civilian oversight board from seeking accountability for an officer who hit a child with his car. [Link]
• The NYT is using a FOIA to seek State Department emails mentioning Hunter Biden from 2015-2019. [Link]
• Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines says the US over-classifies information. [Link]
• The Navy will appeal an order from the Hawaiian government to drain the fuel from massive tanks at Red Hill that have leaked into the drinking water. [Link]

Russia

• Latvian soldiers travel to the US in the Winter Strike war games. [Link]
• The US holds Allied Spirit 22 war games in Germany. About 5,200 soldiers from 15 countries will participate in the military drills. [Link]
• Ukraine’s President Zelensky says his country will add 100,000 soldiers to its military in the next three years. Zelensky said the increase is not because Russia is set to invade. [Link]
• Poland will give Grom MANPADS to Ukraine. [Link]
• Ukraine says the US has not shared its intelligence document that finds Russia will invade Ukraine. [Link]
• Russia says it did not deliver a response to the US letter addressing Russia’s security proposal. Russia says it issued the US a series of questions that it wants to be answered before issuing the next draft proposal. [Link]
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The diplomats agreed talks between the US and Russia will continue. [Link]
• The US threatens to cut off Russia’s semiconductor supply if it invades Ukraine. [Link]

Myanmar

• Myanmar is moving towards an economic collapse. [Link]

Israel

• Amnesty International releases a report accusing Israel of apartheid. [Link]
• Israel simulated an attack on Iran’s nuclear program. An American Air Force official observed the war games. [Link]
• Israel is moving closer to selling the UAE its Iron Dome missile defense system. [Link]

Middle East

• The US says it sees a path to a deal with Iran if decisions are made quickly. [Link]
• Turkey carried out six airstrikes against PKK positions in northern Iraq. [Link]
• The UN reports babies at camps for displaced people are dying from a winter storm in Syria. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia struck radio antennas at three military camps in Yemen. [Link] 

Africa

• Egypt will buy K9 Howitzers from South Korea. [Link]
• Ten people were killed during clashes in Somalia. [Link]
• The EU will place sanctions on five members of Mali’s ruling military government. [Link]
• The US threatens sanctions on Sudan’s military leaders if violence against protesters continues. [Link]
• The African Union condemns an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau. [Link]