US News

• The Senate on Thursday night passed its version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in a vote of 86-11. The bill authorizes a record $886 billion in military spending. AWC
• Representative Jim Jordan published internal Facebook discussions exposing how the company bent to pressure from the White House and censored Americans. In the documents, the Joe Biden administration is shown pressuring Facebook to censor a popular television news host and remove a meme. The Institute 
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday rejected Australian concerns about WikiLeaks founder and Australian citizen Julian Assange, who faces up to 175 years in prison if extradited to the US and convicted for exposing US war crimes. AWC

Russia

• Arms control experts have criticized the Biden administration for failing to send a proposal to Russia on maintaining limits on nuclear weapons deployments that was publicly floated by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan last month. AWC
• Saudi officials have invited diplomats from 30 counties to attend talks on the Ukraine war in early August. While it is unclear which countries will send a representative to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia did not extend an invitation to Russia. The Institute 
• Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that fighting in southeastern Ukraine “intensified significantly” a day after US officials said the main thrust of the Ukrainian counteroffensive had started. AWC
• Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday voted to extend martial law and general mobilization, a move that pushes back parliamentary elections that were scheduled for October. AWC
• A civilian was wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow early Sunday morning, Russia’s TASS news agency reported, citing Russian emergency services. AWC
• Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, said Sunday that if Ukraine’s struggling counteroffensive was successful, Russia would have to use nuclear weapons. AWC
• The Pentagon has authorized additional hazard pay for US troops in Ukraine, Military Times reported on Thursday. AWC

China

• Six House Republicans have sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris urging her to meet with Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te when he stops in the US next month on his way to and from Paraguay, one of the few countries that has diplomatic relations with Taipei. AWC
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with leaders in Papua New Guinea on Thursday to discuss expanding military ties after the two countries signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement that will give the US access to bases in the Pacific Island nation. AWC
• The White House on Friday announced a $345 million military aid package for Taiwan, marking a significant escalation in US support for the island. AWC

Israel

• The Joe Biden administration is redoubling its efforts in pursuit of a normalization deal between Tel Aviv and Riyadh, says New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. Significantly curtailing China’s influence in the Middle East is one of the White House’s main priorities. The Institute 

Niger

• US forces in Niger are restricting their movement and assessing the situation following a military coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, NBC News reported Thursday, citing two unnamed Pentagon officials. AWC