US News
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is dead. [Link]
- Ameal Woods was driving in Texas to buy a new semi-truck when he was pulled over. Without changing him, the police seized the $40,000 in cash he was carrying to buy a new truck. Two years later, the police continue to refuse to return his money. [Link]
- Thirteen detainees at Gitmo have been approved by the US government for transfer but remain in the prison. [Link]
- The US extradited Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab from Cape Verde. Saab had been held in the African country for 16 months when he was arrested while traveling to Iran. The Venezuelan government claims Saab was on a diplomatic mission when he was arrested. In response, the Venezuelan government arrested six Citgo employees who were under home confinement and cut off talks with Venezuela’s opposition. [Link]
- 16 Americans and a Canadian missionary were kidnapped in Haiti. [Link]
Great Power
- Russia used fighter jets to escort an American B1-B bomber away from Russian territory over the Sea of Japan. [Link]
- The US and Canada sent warships through the Taiwan Strait. China condemned the move. [Link]
- The Financial Times reports China launched a hypersonic glide weapon into space. China denies the claim. [Link]
Afghanistan
- The Pentagon says it will offer condolence payments and relocation to the family of the ten people killed by a drone strike in Kabul. [Link]
- ISIS-K says it was behind an attack on a Shiite mosque in Kandahar that left dozens dead. [Link]
Middle East
- An Iranian lawmaker says his country will enter talks with the remaining parties to the JCPOA this week. [Link]
- After Iraq’s election results were finalized, protests broke out among members of the losing parties. [Link]
- Moqtada al-Sadr – leader of Iraq’s largest political faction – says the next Iraqi government must deal with the US on a “state to state level with full sovereignty.” [Link]
- Syria says an official – and a former member of the Syrian Parliament – was killed by an Israeli sniper near the Golan Heights. [Link]
- The Houthis continue to make gains against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. [Link]
