US News

• The Army awarded Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics a $15 million contract to develop concepts for the Terrestrial Layer System-Echelons Above Brigade. The system is a part of the electronic warfare platform. Defense News
• The Pentagon awarded BlueHalo a $24-million contract to supply a TITAN counter-drone system. Defense Post
• former Congressman David Rivera is being used by Venezuela’s state oil company. It claims the Congressman accepted $50 million from Caracas but did not perform any work. AP

Russia

• A senior Biden administration official told Politico on Wednesday that the US supports Ukraine striking Crimea, which Russia has controlled since 2014 but neither Washington nor Kyiv recognize as Russian territory. AWC
• The Russian military said on Thursday that it deployed three warplanes equipped with hypersonic missiles to Kaliningrad. AWC
•  the Russian Defense Ministry said the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) could be shut down if Ukrainian forces continue shelling the plant. AWC
• Latvia sent six self-propelled M109 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine. Defense Post
• Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says he discussed possible ways to end the war in Ukraine with Zelenske and the UN Chief in Ukraine. Reuters
• Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Turkey that Russian companies and individuals are attempting to use Turkey to bypass Western sanctions. Reuters
• The Philippines is seeking to buy Chinook helicopters from the US. Melania planned to buy helicopters from Russia but scrapped the deal because of American sanctions. Reuters
• Russia says quiet diplomacy is ongoing with the US over a potential prisoner swap for Brittney Griner. Reuters

China

• Washington and Taipei will begin formal trade negotiations this fall despite warnings from China against the idea. AWC

Middle East

• Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid met with US officials on Thursday and said if the Biden administration doesn’t “walk away” from the current Iran nuclear deal talks, it will show “weakness.” AWC
• Israel’s Prime Minister attempted to push the German leader to abandon efforts to revive the Iran nuclear agreement. Reuters
• Axios reports the White House is seeking to assure Tel Aviv it will not make new concessions to Iran and a return to the JCPOA is not imminent. Axios
• Turkey says it is not seeking regime change in Syria. MEE
• At least 12 people were killed by fighting after al-Shabaab captured a hotel in Mogadishu. BBC