US News
- Tik Tok rejected Microsoft’s offer to buy the social media app. Tik Tok signed a deal with Oracle instead. Trump threatened to ban Tik Tok in the US if it was not sold from the Chinese owned ByteDance by the end of September. [link]
- During the George Floyd protests/riots, ICE transferred 74 detainees from Florida and Arizona to Virginia. The transfer was to provide cover for the ICE agents to get to DC to combat the protests. Over half of the prisoners tested positive for Covid, and one 72-year-old man died from the virus. [link]
- The US Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, will retire in October. [link]
- Biden will not commit to withdrawing troops from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Biden wants to keep US troops in the Middle East. [link]
- The US flew B-1 bombers near Russia’s northeast coast. [link]
Japan
- Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Abe wants his country to develop a first-strike ability against bases near Japan. [link]
Afghanistan
- The Afghan government and the Taliban open peace talks in Qatar as fighting continues in Afghanistan. [link]
Middle East
- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the US is ‘deeply concerned’ about Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. [link]
- Iran intercepted a US spy plane near the Strait of Hormuz. [link]
- Trump says the US is in the Middle East to protest Israel, not for the oil. [link]
- Bahrain announces it will normalize relations with Israel. Trump is touting as a victory like he did when the UAE made a similar announcement. [link]
- Saudi carried out several airstrikes against Yemen’s capital. The attack mainly targeted the airport. [link]
Libya
- The leader of one of the main Libyan government’s resigns due to protest. The government backs the Libyan National Army. [link]
