US News

• A Pentagon employee says he was forced out after attempting to expose defense companies overcharging the Pentagon. [Link]
• The Pentagon has taken over background checks for most security clearances. [Link]
• The brother of Honduras’ President is on trial in the US for drug trafficking. [Link]

Korea

• US and North Korean delegations arrive in Sweden for talks. [Link]
• Pompeo says the US calls on North Korea to stop provocations in response to the most recent missile test. [Link]

China/Hing Kong

• China displays new weapons at its military parade. The new weapons suggest China has a nuclear triad. [Link]
• The Hong Kong media reports face masks will soon be banned in an attempt to curb protests. [Link] Hong Kong may enact other emergency laws that will remove some of the restrictions on force police can use. [Link]

Middle East

• Turkey says not enough progress has been made to establish a safe zone in northeast Syria. [Link] Turkey threatens to sever all work with the US on the safe zone issue. [Link]
• Iran’s President nearly had a phone call with Trump. However, Trump saying he wanted increased sanctions against Iran caused the call not to happen. [Link]
• Iran closes two border crossing with Iraq because of the protests in Iraq. [Link]
• At least 34 people have been killed in protests in Iraq. The Iraqi government is struggling to contain the protests and has blocked internet access. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia admitted to bombing a Yemeni blood bank in April. The Saudis said the mistake was made due to a defective bomb. [Link]

Africa

• Twitter suspended the accounts of several Egyptian activists protesting Egyptian President Sisi. Egypt has arrested over 2,000 protesters. [Link]
• The US reopened its embassy in Somalia for the first time since 1991. [Link]
• At least 38 people were killed in attacks on two military bases in Mali. [Link]