US News

• In July, a Denver police officer saw a man in a crowd carrying a gun. A group of cops responded by opening fire, injuring six people. Rather than addressing the police officers who fired on a group of innocent people, the city has responded by restricting where food trucks can operate. Reason
• President Joe Biden rolled out his plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt. Anyone who made under $125,000 during the pandemic is eligible for $10,000 in forgiveness. Borrowers who received Pell grants can get an additional $10,000 relieved. The Institute 
• Graphika and the Stanford Internet Observatory released a study showing a “series of covert campaigns over a period of almost five years” that pushed pro-Western misinformation on Twitter, Facebook and five other social media platforms. The operations targeted people living in Central Asia and the Middle East. The Institute
• America’s spy agency is making compensation payments to agents who claim they suffer from “Havana Syndrome.” The Institute 

Pentagon

• A new study from the Council on Criminal Justice finds “roughly one third of veterans report having been arrested and booked into jail at least once in their lives, compared to fewer than one fifth of non-veterans.” The Institute
• Jeff Schogol of Task & Purpose details the battle between the Department of Defense and Congress over the future of the Littoral Combat Ship program. The Pentagon is seeking to scrap five of its LCS, including four ships that are less than five years old. However, some in Congres are seeking to prevent the ships from being scrapped. The Institute 
• The USS Ross is set to undergo over $100 million in repairs and upgrades. The Pentagon awarded the contract to BAE systems which could be worth $124 million. The Ross will be in drydock until 2024. The Institute 
• General Atomics will receive nearly $9 million from the Navy to develop an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for a future French aircraft carrier. Defense Post

Russia

• The Pentagon detailed the contents of the $2.98 billion package and said it demonstrates the US commitment to “supporting Ukraine over the long term.” The Pentagon said the new aid represents “multi-year investments to build the enduring strength of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.” AWC
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Wednesday, where he warned against negotiations with Russia. AWC

Iran

• Iran said on Wednesday that it had received the US response to an EU proposal aimed at reviving the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Tehran has begun a “careful review” of the US response. AWC
• On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid urged the US and the EU to quit negotiations with Iran aimed at reviving the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, as Washington and Tehran appear to be close to an agreement. AWC

Syria

• Iran on Wednesday denied that it had any links to the groups that the US targeted in airstrikes in Syria, contradicting a claim made by the US military. AWC
• An unknown number of US troops were wounded in rocket attacks in Syria on Wednesday that came after the US launched airstrikes in the country, a US official told NBC News. AWC
• According to a report from Axios, the UK’s special envoy for Syria, Jonathan Hargreaves, praised Israel’s bombing campaign in Syria during a visit to Jerusalem at the end of June. AWC

Ethiopia

• Fighting has resumed in Tigray, Ethiopia. Tigrayan leaders and Ethiopian authorities traded blamed for the destruction of the cease-fire. BBC