US News
- Twitter will begin ‘auto-blocking’ accounts that post harassing replies. The blocks will last for seven days. [Link]
- The House Armed Services Committee voted to add another $24 billion to the defense budget. The new total is $778 billion. [Link]
- China’s new US Envoy says his country is not the USSR. [Link]
Korea
- South Korea says it is close to developing a new missile that can carry a three-tonne warhead. South Korea hopes the missile will deter North Korea. [Link]
Afghanistan
- A majority of Americans support leaving Afghanistan. [Link]
- Joint Chiefs head Gen. Milley says the US could coordinate with the Taliban against ISIS-K. [Link]
- The White House chief-of-staff says he is unsure if the US will ever recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. [Link]
- Scores have been killed in 48-hours of fighting between the Taliban and the last pocket of resistance. [Link]
Middle East
- Biden renewed an agreement with Israel to keep its nuclear weapons secret. [Link]
- Germany and France press Iran to restart talks to save the Iran Nuclear Deal. [Link]
- For a third time in recent weeks, Russia brokered a surrender of rebels in Daraa. The first two times, the rebels did not comply with the agreements. [Link]
