US Foreign Policy
- The US has produced its first low yield nuclear weapons. The weapons have the power of about 5 kilotons of TNT. [Link]
- Senator Mitch McConnell introduced an amendment that pushes Trump to keep US forces in Afghanistan and Syria. [Link]
- The LA Times editorial board backs talks with the Taliban. [Link]
- US intelligence agencies say Russia and China are the largest threats to the US. [Link]
- The US lifts sanctions on three Russian companies. The companies made changes to comply with complaints from the US. [Link]
Venezuela
- Venezuela is seeking to set up payment methods to bypass US sanctions. [Link]
- Venezuelan army defectors ask for weapons from the US. The defectors are living outside of Venezuela. [Link]
- The US is attempting to transfer Venezuela’s offshore assets from the Maduro government to Juan Guaido. [Link]
Brazil
- Hundreds of people are estimated to have been killed by a dam break in Brazil. [Link]
Syria
- The Israeli military is using kamikaze drones to bypass Syrian air defenses. [Link]
- Israel is pushing the US to not withdraw from the base at al-Tanf Syria. [Link]
- Heavy fighting is ongoing in southeastern Syria between Kurds and ISIS. At least 47 people have been killed in the fighting including some civilians. [Link]
- The Syrian Army attacked al-Qaeda linked rebels in Idlib. The attacks killed over ten people, including two children. The Syrian Army was responding to attacks for jihadists rebels. [Link]
