US News
- Congressman Jeff Fortenberry was indicted in federal court for scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of lying to investigators. The indictments center around alleged donations made from a Nigerian billionaire. Fortenberry released a statement saying he expected to be indicted and denied the charges. [Link]
Great Power
- Ten Russian and Chinese warships sailed through the Tsugaru Strait. [Link]
- Russian fighter jets intercepted American B1-B bombers over the Black Sea. The American bombers neared the Russian border as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was visiting Ukraine. [Link]
- Lloyd Austin said there is an open-door policy for Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO. Austin blamed Russia for a lack of peace in the region and said Russia could not object to Ukraine joining NATO. [Link]
Korea
- North Korea tested a new submarine-launched ballistic missile. [Link]
- South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived at the country’s arms expo in a fighter jet, then called for increasing South Korea’s defense sector. [Link]
AfghanistanÂ
- Biden will nominate Donald Blome to be Ambassador to Pakistan. [Link]
- In a meeting between Russian and Taliban officials, Russia offered Afghanistan aid but not recognition of the Taliban government. [Link]
- Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo says he sees no situation where the Taliban would be able to access the Afghan government’s central bank account. [Link]
Middle East
- Israel approved $1.5 billion in spending to prepare for a potential attack on Iran. [Link]
- The IAEA head says he will visit Iraq in the coming weeks. [Link]
- UN experts say US sanctions on Iran are causing medical shortages. [Link]
- Iraq’s militias reject the results of the recent election. [Link]
- A bus in Damascus was bombed killing 14 people. In response, the Syrian government shelled rebel-held Idlib, killing 12. There are reports of an explosion at a Syrian base that killed five. [Link]
- Two former German soldiers were arrested for attempting to form a militia to fight in Yemen. [Link]
