US News

• The coronavirus and government regulations in response to it could start to cause food shortages as supply lines are being disrupted. [Link]
• The Pentagon will extend its troop movement freeze beyond May 11th. [Link]
• Trump announces he is cutting the US funding to the World Health Organization. In 2019 the US provided $400 million – about 15% of the budget – to the WHO. [Link]
• Russia says it wants to engage the US in talks about hypersonic missiles and other arms control issues. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The Taliban says the US and the Afghan government are violating the terms of the US-Taliban “peace deal” by attacking Taliban fighters in residential areas. [Link]

Middle East

• Israel’s spy agency is stealing masks to bring to Israel. [Link]
• Fighting in Syria rages as the Turkish government continues to provide resources to the Syrian rebels. [Link]
• The Iraqi government suspended Reuters’ license for reporting coronavirus numbers that were not in line with the Iraqi government. Reuters was also fined $21,000. [Link]
• A week after the Saudis said they were declaring a ceasefire in Yemen, fighting is escalating. The Houthi never considered the Saudi ceasefire to be valid as Saudi maintains a naval blockade of Yemen. [Link]
• Fighting is intensifying in Libya after the Government of National Accord seized some districts from the Libyan National Army. [Link]