Covid

• Massachusetts hospitals will begin reporting different stats for those hospitalized because of covid and those who were hospitalized for a different reason and tested positive. [Link]
• New York has canceled surgeries at 40 hospitals across the state. [Link]
• Moderna says it sold $17.5 billion in covid vaccines in 2021. Moderna expects the number to increase to $18.5 billion – or more – in 2022. [Link]
• The Pentagon awards a contract to Revival Health for 13 million at-home covid test kits. The amount of the contract was not disclosed. The tests will be counted as part of Biden’s plan to buy 500 million tests. [Link]
• The Pentagon awards a $52 million contract to Goldbelt Security LLC for covid antigen tests. [Link]
• US forces in Japan will stay on base for two weeks due to an outbreak in covid cases. [Link]
• The US donated 2.7 million Pfizer covid vaccines to the Philippines through Covax. [Link]
• The US donated 5 million covid vaccine doses to African countries through Covax. [Link]

US News

• A US Cyber Command task force carried out its first offensive operation in 2021. [Link]
• GEOST wins a $39 million contract from the Space Force for space-based sensors. [Link]
• About 30% of former Gitmo detainees that were resettled to their countries lack proper legal status in those countries. Some former inmates were transferred to prisons in third countries that are worse than Gitmo. [Link]
• Lithuania pays $113,000 to Abu Zubaydah because the CIA tortured Zubaydah in Lithuania. He is unable to access the money because he is still detained and his assets are frozen by the US. [Link]
• The US is donating three warships to Uruguay. The original cost of the ships was $14 million. Uruguay will pay $5 million to upgrade the ships. [Link]

Russia

• Kazakhstan reports 164 people were killed during a week of protests and riots. Some of the dead are members of security forces. [Link]  Nearly 8,000 people were arrested. The government says it now has firm control over the country. [Link]
• The US warned Kazakhstan against inviting Russian troops to help quell riots. [Link]
• Ukraine is pushing Congress to vote for a bill sponsored by Ted Cruz that would sanction the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. [Link]
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejects a Russian security proposal to end eastward NATO expansion. [Link]
• The US ruled out any troop cuts in Eastern Europe. [Link]
• Russia says initial talks with the US in Vienna were “complex and business-like.” [Link]

Myanmar

• Myanmar’s military sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional four years in prison. She is currently serving a two year sentence. [Link]

Afghanistan

• An Afghan baby that went missing while in the custody of US soldiers during the evacuation of Kabul has finally been located. [Link]
• The Taliban say an explosion killed nine children near the border with Pakistan. [Link]
• Israel is preventing replacement parts for damaged water and sewage lines from entering Gaza. [Link]
• Israeli bulldozers and tanks destroyed Palestinian crops. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia is going to run out of “interceptor” missiles within months. Saudi Arabia is seeking more Patriot missile ammo from other Gulf countries. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia is pushing the US for more Patriot missiles saying the need is urgent. [Link]
• France says progress was made in Iran nuclear talks. [Link]
• Iran sanctions 52 Americans over the Soleimani assassination. [Link]
• The US warns Iran of serious consequences if any Americans are killed. Drones and rockets have recently targeted bases housing US soldiers in Iraq. [Link]
• Iraqi political leader Sadr says there is no place for militias in Iraq. [Link]
• Three Turkish soldiers were killed by an IED. In response, Turkey killed 12 members of the PKK. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia says Yemeni ports are legitimate military targets. Saudi alleged the Houthi have bases at the ports. [Link]

Africa

• Somalia’s prime minister issues an apology to the UAE for his country seizing $10 million from the UAE in 2018. The prime minister said the money would be returned. [Link]
• Ethiopia announced it would release some high-profile political figures from opposition parties. [Link]
• At least 56 people were killed by airstrikes on a displaced persons camp in Ethiopia. [Link]
• A block of 15 West African nations sanction Mali over the military coup’s leaders’ plans to hold elections in five years. [Link]
• Militants killed over 100 people in a raid in Nigeria. [Link] Over 200 people were killed in Nigeria in the past week. [Link]
• South Sudan is expected to face its most severe food shortage in 2022. [Link]