US News
- Corey Marioneaux Jr. was charged for attempted murder for shooting at police who raided his home at 5 AM. Once Marioneaux realized the intruders were officers, he surrendered. [Link]
Russia
- House Republicans introduce a bill that would sanction Russia even if it does not invade Ukraine. The bill also doubles the funds to carry out war games in Eastern Europe. [Link]
- The US claims Russian hackers have targeted US defense contractors in the last two years. [Link]
- NATO will draw up plans for new battle groups in Europe. [Link]
- The US deploys F-35s to Germany. [Link]
- The US says Russian warplanes flew into Syrian airspace controlled by the US. American and allied aircraft escorted the Russian bombers and other military aircraft out of the area. [Link]
- The Pentagon says three of its warplanes experienced unprofessional intercepts by Russia over the Mediterranean Sea. [Link]
- NATO head Jen Stoltenberg says Russia is adding forces to Ukraine’s border. [Link]
- The US says Russia has moved 7,000 troops to ner Ukraine’s border in recent days. [Link]
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns Russia not to recognize the independence of the separatist region of Ukraine. [Link]
- Russia says recognition of Donbas independence does not follow the Minsk agreements. [Link]
Middle East
- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett traveled to Bahrain in an effort to cement anti-Iran ties. [Link]
- Israel targeted a Syrian base with missiles fired from the Golan Heights. [Link]
- The Biden administration, pushed by Brett McGurk, is considering adding the Houthi to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list. UN officials are pleading with the US government to not add the Houthi to the list because it will criminalize much of the aid in Yemen. Biden is also considering other sanctions on the Houthi. [Link]
- At least five people were killed by al-Shabaab attacks on police stations in Mogadishu. [Link]
