Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
In the last days of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a drone strike was carried out targeting members of the Islamic State militant group. The Pentagon announced this week that the US troops involved in carrying out the drone strike would not be facing disciplinary action.
AFP reports that the Pentagon said Monday that no US troops will be facing punishment from the drone strike that was carried out in August. The drone strike, targeting Islamic State members, was revealed to have killed 10 Afghan civilians, seven of which were children. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin received a high-level review that made no recommendation for disciplinary action against the soldiers involved.
“What we saw here was a breakdown in process, in execution and procedural events, not the result of negligence, not the result of misconduct, not the result of poor leadership,” said Kirby, who added that if Austin believed that accountability must be taken, “he would certainly support those efforts.”
The decision was criticized by Aimal Ahmadi, who lost his daughter, brother, and six nephews and nieces during the drone strike. The Taliban has since urged Washington to overturn the decision, saying that the US should take action against the soldiers responsible while also offering compensation to the victims.
At the time, US officials received intelligence of a potential attack by the Islamic State on the ongoing evacuation efforts at Kabul airport. In response, a missile was launched from a drone targeting a car suspected to contain ammunition. It was later revealed that an Afghan man who was a US aid worker was killed in the strike. An initial report by US Air Force Inspector General Lt. General Sami Said described the strike tragic and an “honest mistake.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations condemned Tuesday the allegations of over 100 extrajudicial killings made in Afghanistan since the insurgent group took control in August. 72 of the alleged killings were done by members of the Taliban themselves.
UN deputy rights chief Nada Al-Nashif said that she was “deeply alarmed” by the ongoing reports of such killings, despite the insurgent group pledging amnesty on Afghans who have previously worked for the western-backed government or for the western forces that were present in the country.
