BIG: Pro-Trump activists, who say they are coordinating with the White House, are circulating a draft executive order urging Trump to declare a national emergency over alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election.

The proposed order would expand presidential authority over elections, potentially allowing Trump to ban mail ballots and voting machines ahead of the midterms.

Source: WaPo

Zohran Mamdani made an unannounced trip to Washington on Thursday to meet with Trump at the White House.

The 1 p.m. meeting was not on the Mayor’s public schedule, and officials did not comment on the agenda.

It is expected to focus partly on housing development in New York City.

Source: NYT

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities say they have launched attacks on Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line border in response to Pakistani air strikes last week in Nangarhar and Paktia.

Kabul described the fighting as “heavy clashes” and accused Pakistan of repeated violations. Pakistan has not yet responded.

Steve Witkoff on Ukraine:

We see ourselves as a mediator. We do not see ourselves as a protagonist in this conflict.

So never once have we ever come to the Ukrainians, to their leadership, and sought to impose some sort of view that we expected Ukraine to adhere to.

We've listened carefully to the leadership of Ukraine — to what they can do, to what they can't do, to where political space exists for a solution to this, how we might think about territory or not...

Steve Witkoff on Ukraine:

I'm an admirer of the people of Ukraine. They're incredibly courageous people, and I've developed some really long-lasting and profound friendships with people who I have met from your country.

Steve Witkoff:

Trump is not a man that I would characterize as naive.

He is very sensible. He's very grounded in his assessments.

And I am too, by the way. And Jared Kushner is as well.

Steve Witkoff to Ukraine:

This is really important to us. We care.

We're going to do everything we can to help you to get to the right solution, the right peaceful solution, so that everybody in your country can live in peace one day.

JD Vance:

My hope for all of you is that you find somebody who loves you as much as Nancy Pelosi loves insider trading, because then you will have a very good life indeed.

WATCH: A 14-year-old Palestinian boy was shot by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and left bleeding for about 45 minutes while soldiers blocked ambulances.

Source: BBC

White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were “disappointed” by what they heard from the Iranians during the morning negotiating session.

The evening session remains ongoing.

Source: Barak Ravid

WATCH: Ukraine is turning old Soviet-era An-28 turboprop planes into nighttime “drone hunters,” mounting door-fired M134 miniguns to shoot down slow-moving Russian Shahed-136 drones.

NEW: Oman’s foreign minister says U.S.–Iran talks made significant progress today.

Discussions will resume soon after consultations, with technical meetings set for next week in Vienna.

Despite the U.S. military buildup near Iran, two U.S. military officials said the Pentagon lacks the forces and munitions needed for a prolonged bombing campaign.

One official estimated that current U.S. forces in the region could sustain strikes for only 7 to 10 days, limiting the feasibility of an extended military operation.

Source: NYT

The U.S. has urged Syria not to adopt Chinese telecom technology, warning it poses security risks and conflicts with U.S. interests.

The message was delivered during a meeting between U.S. officials and Syria’s Communications Minister in San Francisco.

Syria is considering Chinese equipment to rebuild its war-damaged telecom sector but says U.S. export controls limit access to American technology.

While Washington encouraged Syria to buy from the U.S. or its allies, it’s unclear if any support was offered.

Much of Syria’s current telecom infrastructure already relies on Chinese technology due to past U.S. sanctions.

Source: Reuters

Trump’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 6,000 Syrians living in the United States.

A federal judge previously blocked the move, and an appeals court refused to lift that block.

The administration argues lower courts are ignoring prior Supreme Court decisions, noting the court previously allowed TPS termination for Venezuelans.

Source: Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Today’s round was the best among the rounds so far. We clearly presented our demands to the American side.

Technical talks will be held on Monday to discuss detailed specifics.

We achieved good progress on the nuclear file and sanctions relief.

There is agreement on some points and disagreements on others as well.

At 8:16 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2019, an anonymous 4Chan user posted: “don’t ask me how I know, but Epstein died an hour ago from hanging, cardiac arrest.”

It was 38 minutes before ABC News first reported Jeffrey Epstein’s death.

Newly released DOJ files show the FBI subpoenaed 4Chan, AT&T, and T-Mobile to identify the poster, but the user had a dynamic IP address, and investigators “did not disclose the author of the post.”

The government never figured out who knew first — or how.

Source: Business Insider

Ukraine hit Russia’s Dorogobuzh chemical plant in Smolensk (~290 km from the border) with drones.

The ammonium nitrate production and storage areas were hit, causing major explosions and fires.

The plant produces ~10% of Russia’s ammonium nitrate, a key fertilizer and explosives precursor.

Russian officials report at least 7 dead and 10+ injured.

Iran’s Araghchi:

I can say that it was one of our most serious and longest rounds of negotiations.

Ret. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges says the top of his train exploded in the Netherlands the day of the NATO summit:

The top of my train exploded… That happened five places between Schiphol and The Hague and Utrecht the same day.

Those are not teenagers. Somebody orchestrated attacks on the rail system.

Of course this is from the Russians.

Israeli "settler" in occupied West Bank:

The land of Israel is promised to the Jewish people, and only to the Jewish people.

Source: The Guardian