Guardian – The fire service played “no meaningful role” in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing because they arrived two hours late, a review of the response to the attack has found. FULL ARTICLE

Brookings Institute – The Islamic State is on the ropes, yet the group may make a comeback. The U.S.-led coalition has driven it from much of its territory in Iraq and Syria, while most of its so-called “provinces” elsewhere in the Muslim world also have lost territory or stagnated. Despite these impressive gains, the United States is not well prepared for the group’s defeat. FULL ARTICLE

NY Times – Swapping places with a woman being held hostage, the French police officer entered the supermarket where a gunman, claiming allegiance to the Islamic State, had already shot and killed two people on Friday. FULL ARTICLE

CBS News – A car loaded with propane tanks ran through the main gate at Travis Air Force Base in northern California on Wednesday night. Military personnel ran up to the burning car that exploded in flame after breaching the security gates. In video posted on an Air Force forum on Facebook, firefighters are seen attempting to put out the flames. VIDEO & FULL ARTICLE

CNN – The World Health Organization included “Disease X” in its most recent global plan for accelerating research and development during health emergencies like the Ebola, SARS or Zika epidemics. So what, exactly, is Disease X? FULL ARTICLE