US News
- After a court ruling, Trump will deploy an additional 160 active-duty troops to the southern border. [Link]
- Schools are increasingly surveilling students with microphones and facial recognition. [Link]
- A new body camera for police has live facial recognition capabilities. [Link]
- A woman will receive $325,000 after being beaten and tased by police officers. [Link]
- Mississippi threatens to jail and fine a personal trainer for attempting to help people diet. [Link]
- US weapons exports have increased by 23% over the past five years. During that period the US share of worldwide weapons exports increased to 36%. [Link]
Afghanistan
- Afghanistan’s President Ghani is sworn in for his second term as president. Abdullah Abdullah held a competing presidential inauguration. Both men claim they won the September presidential election. Rockets were fired near Ghani’s inauguration. [Link]
- Ghani is working on plans that would release 1,000 Taliban prisoners. Under the agreement signed by the US and the Taliban, the US committed the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners. Ghani has said his government will not meet that commitment. [Link]
- The US begins its drawdown in Afghanistan. The US is reducing troop levels from 13,000 to 8,600 over the next four months. [Link]
Iran
- Iran says it is looking to engage in talks with the IAEA about their recent report. The report rebukes Iran for failing to allow the IAEA to visit a site that had previously been inspected. [Link]
- Iran releases 70,000 prisoners due to the coronavirus outbreak. [Link]
Middle East
- Two US soldiers were killed conducting anti-ISIS missions in Iraq. [Link]
- US Marines deploy to the Yemeni island Socotra. UAE forces have occupied the island for most of the Yemeni War. The Marines installed Patriot missiles. [Link]
