US News

• Louisiana police placed a GPS tracker on a woman’s car. When she removed it, they demanded the tracker back. [Link]
• In addition to the $2 trillion covid relief bill and the proposed $2 trillion infrastructure bill, Biden now wants to pass a $1.8 trillion bill to support children and families. [Link]
• Private asset funds are starting new finds to buy assets from the older funds. [Link]
• The F-35 program will be at an 800 engine deficit by 2030. The lack of engines will ground half of the fleet. [Link]
• A US Coast Guard ship is in the Black Sea. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The US Ambassador to Afghanistan says the US is helping the Afghan government replace the American contractors who are withdrawing. [Link]
• The US will continue to provide financial support to the Afghan Army so it can hire contracts to maintain aircraft. [Link]
• Biden is pushing the Afghan government to include women and minorities in peace talks. [Link]
• The US ordered any staff out of its Kabul embassy if they can work elsewhere. [Link]

Middle East

• A US ship in the Persian Gulf fired warning shots at an Iranian ship for getting too close to the American ship. [Link]
• Iran calls for a prisoner swap with the US. [Link]
• Saudi Crown Prince MbS says Saudi has worked out 90% of their differences with Biden. [Link]
• Turkish warplanes attacked PKK targets in northern Iraq. [Link]
• The US continues to provide maintenance on the Saudi warplanes bombing Yemen. [Link]

Africa

• Al-Shabaab killed seven people with a suicide bomb in Somalia’s capital. [Link]
• Somalia’s president announced he will not extend his term by two years and agrees to hold elections. He did not resign from the presidency. [Link]
• Nigeria’s President calls on the US to move AFRICOM HQ to Africa. [Link]