US News

• At least ten CIA employees in the past 14 years likely committed sex crimes against children. Only one employee was prosecuted. [Link]
• An Inspector General report finds a DEA employee gave preferential treatment to a pharmaceutical company he was hoping to work at after retiring from the government. [Link]
• Congress passes a bill that funds the government through mid-February. However, Congress will need to act on the budget again by mid-December when the US is expected to hit its borrowing cap. [Link]
• Facebook will begin forcing some users to use a two-step sign-in. [Link]
• A Massachuttes judge orders its state prisons to stop using NARK II drug tests because of the test’s extreme inaccuracy. [Link]
• The Navy has received over 2,500 religious covid vaccine exemption requests and approved none.  [Link]

Belarus

• The US, EU, UK, and Canada announce sanctions on Belarus. Thirty-two people and companies were black-listed. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The World Bank approved a plan to transfer $280 million to two aid agencies to help Afghans. US sanctions remain a barrier to getting aid to Afghans. [Link]

Middle East

• Rights groups say Israel failed to investigate the killing of over 200 Palestinian protesters in 2018. [Link]
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he is pessimistic about a return to the Iran Nuclear Deal but there is still time to change course. [Link]
• Israel is demanding an end to US-Iran talks in Vienna, claiming Iran was engaging in nuclear blackmail. [Link]
• Two Senators introduce a bill that would sanction Iran over an alleged plot to kidnap an American journalist. [Link] 
• France signs a $20 billion agreement to sell the UAE warplanes and attack helicopters. [Link]

Libya

• Saif al-Islam’s appeal was granted and he will be allowed on the ballot for this month’s presidential election. [Link]