US News

• Former Secretary of State Pompeo will join the Hudson Institute. [Link]
• The Senate confirms Antony Blinken to be Secretary of State on a 78-22 vote. [Link]
• New evidence shows that higher-ranking members of the FBI – including Andrew McCabe – knew that Carter Page was a CIA asset while the FBI was omitting that information from FISA court filings and alleging Page could be an asset of Russia. [Link]
• Facebook shared private messages with the FBI if Facebook suspected the message involved the Capitol riot. [Link]
• The 2021 NDAA eliminates a civilian post at the Pentagon that helped save billions. [Link]

China

• The US is continuing frequent show of force maneuvers over the South China Sea. [Link]
• The US reaffirms its commitment to Japan to defend the Senkaku Islands. Japan contests control of the islands with China and Taiwan. [Link]

Middle East

• Biden’s Press Secretary says the president believes in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. [Link]
• An Israeli source reports to Breaking News that Israel plans to attack Iran if the US reenters the JCPOA. [Link]
• Iran will take steps to block short-notice inspections from the IAEA due to the US refusal to reenter the Nuclear Deal. [Link]
• France says Iran must return to compliance with the Nuclear Deal before the US will lift sanctions. Iran says the US must lift sanctions first since Iran was complying with the agreement with the US broke the deal and placed sanctions on Iran. [Link]
• Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it does not plan to expel IAEA inspectors from Iran. [Link]
• The US is planning to expand its military presence in Saudi Arabia. [Link]
• The Treasury Department issued a one-month waiver that will allow business in Houthi-controlled Yemen. [Link]