Covid

• The CDC is overcounting the number of Americans who are partially vaccinated. [Link]
• The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifts an injunction blocking OSHA from rolling out Biden’s vaccine or test mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees. [Link]
• Biden instructs OSHA to start penalizing companies who do not comply with the vaccine or test/mask mandate starting January 10th. [Link]
• The Pentagon has given no religious exemptions to the 12,000 soldiers who have applied. [Link]
• Ohio mobilizes over 1,000 members of its National Guard to its medical facilities. [Link]

US News

• The federal government has seized and auctioned off over 185,000 bitcoins. [Link]
• The Biden administration pulls out of settlement negotiations with migrant families that were separated under Biden. [Link] 

Chile

• Gabriel Boric wins Chile’s presidential election. [Link]

Russia

• National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Putin is still considering invading Ukraine. [Link]
• The Washington Post reports Biden is considering options for supporting an insurgency in Ukraine if Russia invaded. [Link]

China

• The Senate approves Rahm Emmanuel to be Ambassador to Japan. [Link]
• Chinese Tennis player Peng Shuai says she was not sexually assaulted. [Link]

Afghanistan 

• The UK is considering setting up a military unit of former Afghan commandos. [Link]
• Former US government officials urge Biden to ease restrictions on the Taliban to help the people of Afghanistan. [Link]

Middle East

• Israel admits it had a role in the assassination of Iranian General Suleimani. [Link]
• A Palestinian rights group says Israeli guards in the woman’s Damon prison have increased abuse. [Link]
• Two rockets were fired at the US Embassy in Baghdad. One rocket was intercepted and the other missed the embassy. [Link]
• Six people have been killed by ISIS at the al-Hol prison camp in US-controlled Syria. [Link]
• Israel bombed the Damascus Airport. [Link]
• The NYT reports on secret Pentagon documents revealing the US air war in Afghanistan and Syria mounted a huge civilian toll. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia allowed Iran’s Ambassador to Yemen to fly out of the country. [Link]
• The Houthi call for talks with the Saudis – possibly hosted by the UN – in hopes to bring an end to the war. [Link]

Africa

• Tigryian forces say they pulled out of neighboring regions in Ethiopia. [Link]
• Protesters in Sudan demand the leader of the October coup – General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. [Link]
• Congolese and Ugandan forces in the Congo claimed to capture 35 members of the ADF and free 31 hostages. [Link]