US News
- A Pennsylvania school district sends letters to parents threatening to place children in foster care over unpaid lunch bills. [Link]
- A man has been released from prison after serving 28 years for a murder he did not commit. [Link]
- The US sanctions four Venezuelan military officials. [Link]
Afghanistan
- Trump plans to put pressure on Pakistan to pressure the Taliban into a peace agreement. [Link]
- On Thursday, the Taliban killed 12 people with a car bomb. On Friday, unknown insurgents killed eight people with a bomb outside of Kabul University. [Link]
Iran
- Iran’s foreign minister floats the idea of having additional inspections if the US lifts sanctions. [Link]
- John Bolton pushed the UK to seize the Grace 1 and spark conflict with Iran. [Link]
- Iran seized a UK flagged tanker in the Persian Gulf. Iran claims the ship was operating without a transponder on and in an incorrect shipping lane. The UK says it will look for a diplomatic solution to the issue. The US claims to have downed an Iranian drone that came within 1,000 yards of the USS Boxer. Iran denies any of its drones were downed. [Link]
- The US is struggling to get allies on board its coalition to protect shipping around the Arabian Peninsula. [Link]
Turkey
- US officials say Turkey may have chosen the S-400 because Erdogan is afraid of his own air force. The alternative to the S- 400, US-made Patriot missiles, have safeguards that prevent friendly fire. Turkey denies this was a factor in the decision to buy the S-400. [Link]
- The US warns Turkey not to attack Syrian Kurds. [Link]
- A Turkish diplomat was assassinated in Erbil, Iraq. The alleged assassin was the brother of a Turkish member of parliament. [Link]
