US News

• Attorney General Barr has been traveling to other countries in the investigation into the origins of Russiagate. [Link]
• Democratic Senators are concerned Trump will withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. It is a deal with Russia that allows unarmed flights over each other’s territory. [Link]
• China and the US place more restrictions on visas to each other’s citizens. [Link]

UN

• The UN warns of a massive budget shortfall that may mean employees not getting paid in the coming months. The budget shortage has already delayed some meetings and limited travel. [Link]
• The UN reports the US airstrikes on Afghan drug targets are unlawful. The UN is investigating a strike that caused at least 39 casualties. [Link]

Europe

• Trump told former UK Prime Minister Thersa May that he had doubts if Russia was behind the poisoning of the Skripals. [Link]
• A US F-16 crashed in Germany. [Link

Syria

• Trump had several discussions with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper about moving US troops away from the Syrian/Turkish border for days before making the announcement. [Link]
• Syrian Kurds signal they are willing to talk with Assad and Russia about the likely Turkish invasion of northeast Syria. [Link]
• The Syrian government says it will oppose Turkish aggression into Syria and signaled a willingness to talk with the Kurds. [Link]
• Turkey has started the offensive against the Kurds in northeast Syria. Turkey began with air and artillery strikes before moving in with Turkish troops and Syrian Arab rebels. [Link]
• The Syrian Kurds report eight civilians and three fighters have been killed by Turkey. [Link]
• Bosnia will take back and prosecute nine Bosnian Islamic State fighters captured in Syria. [Link]

Middle East

• At least 110 people have been killed during protests in Iraq. Violent protests started last Tuesday. This Tuesday’s night protests had no new reports of deaths. [Link]
• Mike Pompeo claims the Iranian oil tanker – that was seized by the UK and then released – sold its oil to Syria. [Link]
• The UAE has moved some troops out of Aden. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are working with their warring factions to resolve the conflict in southern Yemen. [Link]