US News
- Air Force Special Operations Command’s CV-22 Osprey aircraft fleet has been grounded over unknown issues with the clutch. Defense News
China
- A top US military commander said Tuesday that the US must “contest” China’s missile launches over Taiwan that were carried out in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting the island. AWC
- A delegation of Canadian lawmakers plans to visit Taiwan in October. Reuters
Afghanistan
- A group of family members of 9/11 victims has sent a letter to President Biden urging him to return the $7 billion in frozen Afghan reserves held by the US Federal Reserves to the Afghan people. AWC
- At least 20 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Kabul. VOA
- The Pentagon’s Inspector General said Tuesday that the now-defunct US-backed Afghan government had over $7 billion in US military equipment at the time of its collapse last year and that most of it was seized by the Taliban. AWC
Middle East
- Turkey and Israel agree to reappoint ambassadors and restore normal diplomatic relations. UPI
- Iran on Wednesday said that it is prepared for an unconditional prisoner swap with the US and said they were ready to work on the issue regardless of the status of the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. AWC
- Syria says it is not holding Austin Tice. The White House recently claimed it was confident Tice was a captive of the Assad government and had opened up discussions about securing his release. Fox AWC
