Covid

• The Navy has now removed 45 sailors for failing to take the covid vaccine. [Link]
• The US donates 900,000 Pfizer covid vaccine doses to Laos. [Link]
• The US will send two million Pfizer covid vaccine doses to Kenya and Morocco. [Link]

US News

• In the first half of 2021, Twitter received fewer requests from governments for information on users but complied with the requests more often. When US law enforcement made informal requests for information, Twitter gave the info 68% of the time. [Link]
• The Pentagon wants to accelerate its development of hypersonic missiles. [Link]
• The Army will begin testing anti-aircraft lasers on Strykers. [Link]

Latin America

• One body was found and 38 people are missing after a migrant boat capsized off the Florida coast. [Link]
• The Coast Guard intercepted nearly 200 Haitians attempting to sail to the US. [Link]
• Cuba asks the US to restaff its embassy after a CIA report on ‘Havana Syndrome’ found no diplomats were attacked by a foreign power. [Link]

Russia

• Some large US companies lobby the Biden administration and Congress for waivers to continue business in Russia if more sanctions are imposed. [Link]
• Germany offers Ukraine 5,000 military helmets. Some Ukrainian politicians felt insulted by the German aid. [Link]
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Americans should strongly consider leaving Ukraine. [Link]
• Ukraine says the number of Russian troops near its border is insufficient for a large-scale invasion. [Link]
• Ukraine and Russia agreed to uphold the ceasefire in the Donbas during ‘Normandy format’ talks that included Germany and France. [Link] 
• State Department Spokesperson Ned Price says Nord Stream 2 will not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine. [Link]
• The US delivers its written response to Russia’s security proposal. [Link]

China

• China says it is dissatisfied that the US is allowing embassy staff to leave China because of strict lockdowns. [Link]

Korea

• North Korea test-fires two short-range ballistic missiles. [Link]

Middle East

• Jeff Flake became the US Ambassador to Turkey. [Link]
• US special forces continue to have an active role in the fight against IS. [Link]
• The SDF claims to have regained control of a prison that holds alleged IS members and 700 children after IS captured the facility six days ago. At least 70 were killed in the fighting. [Link]
• The Houthi threaten to attack The Dubai Expo. [Link]

Africa

• France leads a group of 15 countries demanding Mali allow Danish troops to remain in Mali. [Link]
• At least 20 Congolese soldiers were killed in an attack by M-23. [Link]