US News

• The spending bill includes a provision that prevents spies from working for foreign governments. [Link]

Russia

• Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a US citizen was killed in Ukraine. [Link]
• Biden withdrew CIA paramilitaries from Ukraine last month. [Link]
• ICE is arresting Ukrainians seeking asylum in the US. [Link]
• Foreign fighters in Ukraine report a lack of weapons and organization. [Link]
• National security adviser Jake Sullivan met with the secretary of the Russian Security Council. 
• The Western reaction to the war in Ukraine is a boon for the defense industry. [Link]
• Zelensky says Ukraine should acknowledge it won’t join NATO. [Link]
• Biden announces a new $800 million arms package to Ukraine. [Link]

China

• The US and Japan carry out joint military drills. [Link]

Korea

• A North Korean missile exploded shortly after takeoff. [Link]

Afghanistan

• Biden grants over 70,000 Afghan deportation relief. [Link]

Iran

• The UK released over $500 million in Iranian funds and Iran released two British citizens. [Link]
• The US is considering dropping the IRGC from the terrorism blacklist. [Link]

Yemen

• The GCC is considering inviting the Houthi to Saudi Arabia for talks. [Link] The Houthi say they are open to talks but the talks must be in a neutral country. [Link]
• The Houthi made some territorial gains and claimed to kill 200 Saudi soldiers. [Link]

Ethiopia 

• The Ethiopian army executed three Doctors Without Borders aid workers. [Link]

Articles by Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter

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