Monday, July 5

á           The Associated Press reported that Afghan officials said the U.S. military left Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan after occupying it for nearly 20 years, without notifying the baseÕs new Afghan commander, instead shutting off the electricity and leaving in the night for the Afghan military to discover two hours later.

Tuesday, July 6

á           The Pentagon canceled its JEDI Cloud contract, which it awarded to Microsoft in 2019 after a controversial bidding war with Amazon. Instead, the Pentagon will pursue a deal with both Microsoft and Amazon and other cloud service providers. ÒWith the shifting technology environment, it has become clear that the JEDI Cloud contract, which has long been delayed, no longer meets the requirements to fill the Department of DefenseÕs capability gaps,Ó the Pentagon said in a statement.

á           White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is ÒencouragedÓ by ongoing talks with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, in negotiations to stem the rise in crude oil prices. ÒWeÕre not a party to these talks but over the weekend and into this week, weÕve had a number of high-level conversations with officials in Saudi Arabia, the [United Arab Emirates] and other relevant partners,Ó Psaki said.

á           The Department of Homeland Security extended a program allowing Yemeni people already in the U.S. to stay in the country without fear of deportation due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The extension renews temporary protected status to about 1,700 Yemenis through March 3, 2023, and allows an estimated 480 additional Yemenis to apply.

á           Prince Khalid bin Salman, brother of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley and other senior officials. Rights groups and anti-war advocates reacted with criticism against the U.S.Õs decision to host a member of the royal family that allegedly officially sanctioned the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by a Saudi hit squad.

Wednesday, July 7

á           U.S. and Iraqi officials reported that three rocket and drone attacks — believed to be part of a campaign by Iranian-backed armed groups — occurred over the past 24 hours, targeting American diplomats and troops in Iraq and Syria including at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. At least 14 rockets hit an Iraqi airbase that wounded two American service members.

á           The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm Elsa, which had been a marginal Category 1 hurricane the night before, made landfall along the northern Florida gulf coast.

Thursday, July 8

á           Biden decided to accelerate the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying it would complete its withdrawal ahead of schedule by Aug. 31. ÒThe mission is accomplished in that we got Osama bin Laden and that terrorism is not emanating from that part of the world,Ó Biden said, although Taliban attacks on Afghan forces are rising.

á           The Secret Service released documents showing that former president Donald TrumpÕs golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, charged the Secret Service nearly $10,200 for guest rooms used by his protective detail during TrumpÕs first month at the club this summer.

á           U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe sentenced Michael Avenatti — the celebrity lawyer who represented an adult film actress who claimed an affair with Donald Trump — to 30 months in prison for trying to extort Nike Inc. Avenatti had been convicted of fraud and attempted extortion in February 2020.

Friday, July 9

á           The last sections of the black-mesh high-security fence surrounding the Capitol in Washington, DC, was removed, six months after Trump-supporting insurrectionists stormed the building.

á           NASAÕs Mars helicopter Ingenuity completed its ninth flight, the Òmost nerve-wrackingÓ yet according to officials, on the red planet, breaking speed and distance records by being airborne 166.4 seconds total going 16 feet per second. The craft is on a technology demonstration mission to prove that it can fly in the Martian atmosphere.

á           The Federal Reserve released a twice-a-year report to Congress on monetary policy, indicating that it plans to maintain support for low interest rate policies as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

á           The U.S. sent FBI agents and Department of Homeland Security officials to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in response to the Haitian governmentÕs request for security and investigative assistance after it was revealed two Haitian-American men were part of the 28-person group responsible for the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise on Wednesday.

á           Biden pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to combat Russian hackers allegedly responsible for ransomware attacks that have affected thousands of companies globally. ÒI made it very clear to him that the United States expects when a ransomware operation is coming from his soil, even though itÕs not sponsored by the state, we expect him to act,Ó Biden told reporters.

á           Biden asked for the resignation of Andrew Saul, the Social Security commissioner appointed by Trump, and deputy commissioner David Black. Black resigned but Saul refused to relinquish his position, which triggered the Biden administration to fire him. Black vowed to fight BidenÕs move as illegal.

á           U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a new policy — more liberal than that of the Obama administration, let alone the Trump policies — saying the agency will no longer detain most pregnant, nursing and postpartum women for deportation.

á           Biden signed an executive order containing 72 initiatives aimed at industries where certain companies dominate the market, including firms in technology, health care, agriculture and manufacturing.

Saturday, July 10

Sunday, July 11

á           ChinaÕs Commerce Ministry said it will take Òtake necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companiesÕ legitimate rights and interestsÓ in response to the U.S. blacklisting Chinese companies over the countryÕs alleged abuses of Uighur people and other Muslim ethnic minorities. China called the blacklisting an Òunreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and a serious breach of international economic and trade ruled.Ó