Defense Spending

• Matt Taibbi explains how the government can now legally lie on public spending reports. [Link]
• The 2019 defense budget has nearly $20 billion in earmarks. [Link]

NATO

• The House passes a bill that will prevent any US funds from being used to withdraw NATO. [Link]  
• Pat Buchanan: It’s time to rethink NATO
• Pro-NATO Yulia Tymoshenko enters the Ukrainian presidential race. She is leading in polling. [Link]

Mexico

• At least 93 people have died from a pipeline explosion in Mexico. [Link]

Middle East News

• Japan resumes importing Iranian oil. [Link]
• Lt Col Daniel Davis explains that US troops in Syria will not prevent terror attacks in the US. [Link]
• Iraqi lawmakers are pushing for a timeline on US troop withdraw from Syria. [Link]
• On Saturday, Saudi Arabia carried out 24 airstrikes targeting Yemen’s capital. Saudi claimed to be targeting Houthi drone factories. At least two civilians were killed. [Link]

Africa News

• Ethiopian forces battle al-Shabaab in southern Somalia. [Link]
• The US claims to kill 52 al-Shabaab militants with an airstrike in Somalia. [Link]
• Ten UN peacekeepers were killed in Mali. [Link] An al-Qaeda affiliate group claims responsibility for the attack. [Link]
• Congo’s top court declares Felix Tshisekedi winner of the presidential election. His opponents continue to challenge the legitimacy of his victory. [Link] Martin Fayulu declares himself the winner of Congo presidential elections. [Link]
• Zimbabwe shuts off the internet in response to protests. [Link]