US News

• The US donates over 2 million pediatric COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal. State Dept Twitter 
• Some 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer allowed to participate in their military duties, also effectively cutting them off from some of their military benefits, Army officials announced. Military.com
• Secretary of State Antony Blinke promoted Richard Nephew to Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption. State Dept Twitter

Ukraine War

• Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday warned the US against trying to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine, warning that doing so would risk humanity since Moscow has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. AWC
• Ukraine says it is investigating more than 21,000 war crimes and crimes of aggression allegedly committed by Russia since the start of its invasion. BBC

China

• The Biden administration is looking at whether to cut tariffs on some Chinese imports in a bid to ease inflation, the White House said. DW
• Beijing accused the US of “technological terrorism” after Bloomberg reported that the US was pressuring companies not to sell key chipmaking technology to China. AWC
• The head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations warned Western business leaders that their companies could be impacted by crime from Beijing. The Institute
• National Counterintelligence and Security Center warned state and local officials that China is intensifying influence operations aimed at manipulating them into pressing the federal government to pursue more Beijing-friendly policies. Reuters

Afghanistan

• President Biden indicated that he will rescind Afghanistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally. The Hill

Middle East

• The US announces new sanctions targeting Iran. AWC
• One of the leading candidates to take over as the chief of the Israeli Defense Forces has called for Israel to step up assassinations of leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. AWC
• Britain’s government on Wednesday categorically denied Iranian reports that its deputy ambassador in Tehran had been arrested. France 24
• One person was killed by an Israeli airstrike in southern Syria. Haaretz

Nigeria

• Islamic State claimed responsibility for a raid on a Nigerian prison freeing around 440 inmates. Reuters