US News

• The FDA will change some of its rules to allow for more imports of baby formula. Reason

Russia

• Secretary of State Antony Blinken will not be holding a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali. AWC
• Russian President Vladimir Putin said the longer the war in Ukraine drags on, the harder it will be to reach a negotiated solution and warned the West against trying to defeat Russia. AWC
• Sens. Lindsay Graham and Richard Blumenthal met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev to push for legislation that would classify Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” The Hill AWC
• Turkey released the Russian ship carrying grain. Ankara stopped the ship because of allegations it was carrying stolen Ukrainian grain. In response to Turkey allowing the ship to go on its way, Ukraine summoned the Turkish ambassador. Reuters 

China

• Liu Jieyi, the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, wrote in China’s People’s Daily that reunification with Taiwan should be promoted as part of China’s rejuvenation. He said that tensions and dangers across the Taiwan Strait should gradually be resolved as China grows. AWC
• General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, spoke on Thursday with China’s Chief of the Joint Staff Department, General Li Zuocheng, the Pentagon said. Reuters

Korea

• South Korean President Yoon Seok Youl said “we should punish North Korea swiftly and adamantly in case of North Korean provocations.” Fox News

Middle East

• Reuters reported on Thursday that the US and Israel are laying the groundwork to form a joint military pact with Arab countries that would create integrated air defense systems to counter Iran. AWC
• Qatari Foreign Minister al-Thani promised to remain involved in helping Iran make a nuclear deal. AWC
• President Biden’s meeting in Saudi Arabia this month with King Salman will include his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the Kingdom. AWC

Africa

• Ethiopian police and soldiers are dying on a “daily” basis as the country grapples with insurgencies, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said. AP
• Clashes broke out in Eastern Congo between the military and M23 after the rebel group said that a ceasefire deal signed the previous day between the Congo and Rwanda was “irrelevant.” The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed to a “de-escalation process” to curb the fighting and violence along their shared eastern border on Wednesday. The agreement included a withdrawal of M23 fighters from Congo. DW