US News
- The Biden Administration announced support for the Equal Act that will work to eliminate the sentencing disparities between cocaine and crack cocaine. [Link]
- A proposed bill will double Amtrack’s funding. [Link]
Great Power
- Russian President Putin condemned NATO expansion in an op-ed. [Link]
- A UK destroyer entered Russian waters in the Black Sea. Russia used live ammunition and dropped bombs in front of the ship to push it out of Russia’s waters. [Link] The UK Ministry of Defense denies these claims and says Russia’s live-fire drills were not directed at the destroyer. [Link]
- The US carried out military drills in Poland. [Link]
- Turkey will sell drones to Ukraine. [Link]
- The US sailed a warship through the Taiwan Strait. [Link]
North Korea
- Western media falsely reported that North Korea dismissed the idea of talks with the US. [Link]
Afghanistan
- Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said the US could slow its withdrawal from Afghanistan because of an increase in Taliban attacks. [Link]
- The Taliban seized a border crossing with Tajikistan. [Link]
- US and Turkish officials will meet this week to discuss Turkey’s ongoing mission to secure the Kabul Airport. [Link]
Middle East
- The US condemned the Iranian election as denying the people a free choice. [Link]
- Four Saudis who received training in the US participated in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. [Link]
- The US seized several domain names including from Press TV. The US also seized domain names from Houthi and Palestinian groups. [Link]
- A UK aircraft carrier deployed to the Mediterranean Sea will conduct the majority of anti-ISIS operations over the next few weeks. [Link]
- The Hashd al-Shaabi bloc in Iraqi politics is becoming the dominating faction. [Link]
- 90 fighters were killed in two days of fighting in Yemen. [Link]
