Covid

• A federal judge in Texas blocks Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal employees. [Link]
• The US donates three million covid vaccines to four African countries through covax. [Link]
• The US donates nearly two million Pfizer covid vaccine doses to Egypt through Covax. [Link]

Haiti

• The judge overseeing the investigation into the assassination of President Moise quits. [Link]

Russia

• The Biden administration notified Congress of its plan to transfer Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine. [Link]
• The US delivers 90 tonnes of weapons – from a December aid package – to Ukraine. [Link]
• The Baltic States’ arms transfers to Ukraine include Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. [Link]
• Fewer than one in six Americans support sending US troops to Ukraine to prevent a Russian invasion. [Link]
• The US will allow non-essential staff at the embassy in Ukraine to leave the country. The US ordered the family of staff to leave the country. [Link]
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Vienna. The US agreed to give Russia a written response to its security proposal. The two diplomats will meet again next week. [Link]
• Blinken asked Russia to release two US citizens who were convicted of crimes in Russia and serving prison sentences. [Link]
• Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia will send political advisers to Paris for talks this week. [Link]
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined an invitation to speak with Biden about the Ukraine crisis. [Link]
• The UK says Russia is planning to install a new government in Ukraine. [Link]
• Blinken rejects calls to sanction Russia now. He explained that sanctions cannot work as a deterrent if they are already in place. [Link]
• Biden is considering applying the ‘foreign direct product rule’ – cutting off semiconductors and related technology – to Russia in response to an invasion of Ukraine. [Link]
• Biden is considering plans to deploy between 1,000 and 5,000 troops to Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. [Link]
• Blinken says there are a number of areas for the US and Russia to work together. [Link]

China

• Taiwan reports 39 Chinese military aircraft entered its Air Defense Identification Zone. [Link]

Afghanistan 

• The Taliban will meet with officials from Western governments in Norway. [Link]
• ISIS-K claims it is behind a bombing in Afghanistan that killed at least six. [Link]

Iran

• Shipments of thinning agents from Iran have allowed Venezuela to double its oil exports over the past year. [Link]
• US and European officials warn time is running out in Iran nuclear talks. [Link]
• Iran and Russia are in talks to upgrade Iran’s nuclear power plant. [Link]
• The US Envoy to Iran Robert Malley says it is unlikely the US will return to the nuclear deal if Iran continues to hold four American prisoners. [Link]

Yemen

• Saudi Arabia bombed a Houthi-run prison in Yemen, killing at least 80 people. [Link]
• Shards from an American-made bomb were found at the prison. [Link]
• The US claims it intercepted a ship transporting Urea-based fertilizer in the Gulf of Oman. The US alleges it was headed to the Houthi in Yemen. [Link]

Middle East

• Israel’s cabinet voted to launch an investigation into the “submarine affair” that could implicate former prime minister Netanyahu. [Link]
• The UAE bans civilians from using drones. [Link]
• The UAE says it intercepted two ballistic missiles. [Link]
• Eleven Iraqi soldiers were killed in an IS attack. [Link]
• Nearly 200 people have been killed in three days of fighting between the US-backed SDF and IS for control over a prison in Syria. [Link]

Africa

• A top Ethiopian military official says his army will attempt to eliminate the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front. [Link]
• Aid groups warn the people of Mali will pay the price for the sanctions recently imposed on the country. [Link]
• A French soldier was killed in Mali. [Link]
• Reports from Burkina Faso say several soldiers have mutinied against the government and a possible coup is underway. [Link]