US News

• New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law banning the sale of Confederate flags. Cuomo said he knows the law violates 1A. [Link]
• Reps. Gabbard and Massie introduce a bill to restore 4A. The bill will repeal much of the Patriot Act, place limits on the FISA court, and protect whistleblowers. [Link]
• A leaked phone call shows Assange contacted the State Department in 2011 to warn about the release of State Department documents that may include the name of some sources. Assange was hoping the State Department would warn the sources. [Link]
• The US flew a spy plane over Korea in the waters near China. [Link]
• Lockheed Martin will help Japan develop a new fighter plane. [Link]

Russia

• US Senators claim, without evidence, Russia carried out a massive cyber attack on the US. The Senators said it was equivalent to an invasion. [Link]
• Putin asked the US to extend New Start by one year. [Link]
• The US responded to Russia’s offer by placing conditions on the extension to New Start. Russia has already rejected an extension with these conditions. [Link]

Afghanistan

• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley met with Taliban officials. [Link]
• Afghanistan’s Vice President and chief negotiator, Abdullah Abdullah, says he is optimistic about the talks. [Link]
• At least 13 Afghan soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpoint. [Link]
• A bomb kills 15, mostly children, at a Koren reading in Afghanistan. [Link]

Middle East

• The remaining parties to the Iran Nuclear Deal met. Iran expressed its commitment to the agreement that the US is abandoned and violated. [Link]
• The IAEA believes a new agreement with Iran will need to be met to save the JCPOA. [Link]
• Turkey abandoned seven military posts inside Syria. Turkey repositioned the troops to areas controlled by Turkish backed rebels. [Link]

Africa

• Sudan says some of its officers were ambushed by Ethiopian troops and militias inside Sudan. [Link]