US News
- Congress passed a law that gives defense contractors special inflation relief. Responsible Statecraft
- A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would lift the embargo on Cuba to facilitate trade while maintaining other sanctions on the Cuban government. AWC
Russia
- Ukraine has been seeking cluster bombs from the US to use in its war against Russian forces and is now asking for a type of controversial munition that they want to adapt so they can be dropped from drones, Reuters reported on Monday. AWC
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that his top generals want to keep fighting for the eastern Donetsk city of Bakhmut, where Russian and Ukrainian forces have been locked in a heavy battle for over eight months. AWC
China
- Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said Monday that China will use Taiwan’s growing relationship with the US as an excuse to increase military pressure on the island. AWC
- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen convinced House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to meet her in California instead of Taipei to avoid a major response from China, Financial Times reported on Monday. AWC
Syria
- The House is expected to vote on a War Powers Resolution this Wednesday introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) that would order President Biden to withdraw all US troops from Syria. AWC
- An Israeli airstrike hit Syria’s Aleppo International Airport early Tuesday, damaging the runway and putting the airport out of service, Syria’s news agency SANA reported. AWC
