US News

• The Pentagon is looking to expand the amount of non-classified information it can withhold from the public. [Link]
• The Biden Administration’s effort to fight corruption in Latin American will involve the US intelligence agencies funding NGOs. [Link]

Great Power

• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Milley says China is increasing its military capabilities at a sustained rate. [Link]
• Secretary of Defense Gen. Lloyd Austin says the US needs to have a communications line with China. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The military is starting to conduct operations in Afghanistan with assets stationed outside of the country. [Link]
• Fighting in Afghanistan left 100 Taliban and 80 Afghan soldiers dead in 24 hours. [Link]
• The US is claiming that Iranian ships – one military, one civilian – crossing the Atlantic is a threat. [Link] 

Middle East

• The US lifted sanctions on three Iranian and two businesses. The US reports lifting the sanctions because the three men no longer work for the Iranian government. The sanctions have been lifted as talks between the US and Iran to save the JCPOA have stalled. [Link]
• The Saudi coalition announced it is halting its bombing of Yemen to allow time for talks. [Link]

Africa

• The US flew nuclear-capable bombers over Africa’s West Coast. [Link]
• The US will spend $181 million on aid to combat famine in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. [Link]