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

Israeli "settler" in occupied West Bank:

If Palestinians are given equal rights, they'll also get the right to vote for parliament.

Demographically, our country, which is a Jewish and democratic state, could then become a non-Jewish state one day.

So democratically, it's complicated when a minority that isn't really in the minority receives full equal rights like any other citizen.

Source: The Guardian

Israeli "settler" in occupied West Bank:

Europe is becoming Islamic, there's plenty of space there they (Palestinians) can go.

Also, in England, there are already many Muslim cities that could invite them to live there.

Source: The Guardian

Apple says standard iPhones and iPads are now approved to handle NATO RESTRICTED classified information, the first consumer devices to receive NATO-wide clearance.

Germany’s BSI led the certification.

Chinese high-resolution satellite imagery shows the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford departing Souda Bay Naval Base, Greece.

Source: MizarVision

The Pentagon’s first U.S. kamikaze drone unit — Task Force Scorpion — is now operational in the Middle East and ready if Trump orders strikes on Iran.

The low-cost “LUCAS” drones (~$35K each) are designed for one-way attacks on softer targets like missile sites.

Source: BBG

Zohran Mamdani:

I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon.

I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City.

For the first time since the 1930s, more people left the U.S. than moved in. Beyond deportations and tighter visas, a growing number of Americans are choosing to relocate abroad.

Drawn by lower living costs, affordable healthcare, safer schools and remote-work flexibility, citizens are moving to Europe, Mexico, Canada and parts of Asia in record numbers.

Student enrollment overseas is rising, foreign citizenship applications are surging, and relocation companies report unprecedented demand.

Surveys show one in five Americans would like to move abroad — double the share during the 2008 recession.

Source: WSJ

Pakistan’s Air Force conducted strikes on Taliban targets in Kabul.

Zohran Mamdani:

Just got off the phone with President Trump.

In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning.

He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif:

After NATO forces withdrew, it was expected that peace would prevail in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and regional stability.

However, the Taliban turned Afghanistan into a colony of India. They gathered terrorists from around the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They took away from women the rights that Islam grants them.

Pakistan made every effort, both directly and through friendly countries, to keep the situation stable. It carried out extensive diplomacy. However, the Taliban became a proxy of India.

Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God our armed forces are giving a decisive response.

In the past, Pakistan’s role has been positive. It has hosted five million Afghans for 50 years. Even today, hundreds of thousands of Afghans are earning their livelihood on our soil.

Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open confrontation. Now there will be decisive action. Pakistan’s army has not come from across the seas — we are your neighbors, and we know your reality well.

The boat in the deadly Cuba Coast Guard clash was stolen from the Florida Keys and had U.S. citizens aboard.

Four people were killed and six injured. Cuba says the boat’s occupants fired first.

Source: Axios