US News

• The USPS asks for a waiver from Biden’s vaccine mandate. The service said it needs more time to get employees into compliance. While the mandate takes effect on January 10th, OSHA says it will not begin enforcement until February 9th. [Link]

Caribbean 

• The US placed visa restrictions on eight Cuban officials. [Link]
• Two journalists were killed in Haiti. [Link]

Great Power

• The US will open a special forces base in Albania. [Link]
• The US questioned the need for Russian troops to deploy to Kazakhstan. [Link]
• Japan and the US sign a new defense research and development pact. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The Taliban are pushing the US for a prisoner swap. [Link]

Middle East

• Palestinians say a tow-truck driver ran over a 75-year-old Palestinian activist. [Link]
• Iran says the nuclear deal can be saved if the US is willing to lift sanctions. [Link]
• A drone was fired at a base that houses US forces in Iraq. [Link]
• Saudi-backed forces in Yemen claim to have reclaimed territory in Shabwah. [Link]

Africa

• The UN said an airstrike killed three people – including two children – at a refugee camp in Ethiopia. [Link]
• Mali says Russia deployed troops to help train its forces. [Link]
• Protesters say three people were killed in anti-coup protests in Sudan. [Link]