US News

• Kevin Clinesmith was reinstated to the bar after he pled guilty to removing information from a FISA court application to get a warrant to spy on the Trump campaign. [Link]
• Biden signs an executive order that instructs the federal government to target more drug traffickers with sanctions. [Link]
• The Senate passes the 2022 NDAA, approving $770 billion in spending for the Pentagon. [Link]
• The NDAA includes $75 million in lethal military assistance for Ukraine and a plan to build a Global War on Terror memorial. [Link]

Covid

• The Navy will begin discharging unvaccinated sailors. [Link]
• The Pentagon halts the vaccine mandate for defense contractors. [Link]
• The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates Biden’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in 26 states. [Link]
• Refugees lack covid shots because vaccine makers are unhappy with the potential lawsuits they could face. [Link]

Russia

• The US flew several of its most advanced spy planes near Russia’s borders on Tuesday. [Link]
• The US deploys F-15s to Romania. [Link]
• Russia presented the US with security proposals. [Link]
• Ukraine wants more international sanctions on Russia now. [Link]

China

• The US adds more Chinese companies to a list that bans American investment. The list is now at 60 companies. The US will also restrict US companies from exporting to several Chinese firms. [Link]
• The Commerce Department announces sanctions against the Chinese Military Medicine Academy and 11 associated institutions. [Link]
• A senior US official warns of a Chinese military buildup near India. [Link]
• Germany sent a warship into the South China Sea for the first time in 20 years. [Link]

Middle East

• Iran signs an agreement with the IAEA to allow cameras to be reinstalled at its Karaj facility. The cameras were damaged by a likely Israeli attack in June. [Link]
• Syria says an Israeli strike killed one of its soldiers. [Link]
• The US claims to down a drone that was nearing its forces in al-Tanf, Syria. The US says the drone was fired by Iranian-backed militias. [Link]