US News

• Senator Rand Paul says he has the support of Trump on changes to the FISA court to prevent it from authorizing surveillance of Americans. [Link]
• Joe Biden claimed several times to have been arrested in apartheid South Africa while supporting Nelson Mandela. No one has been able to verify this is true. Biden is no longer making this claim. [Link]
• Two Florida police officers have been arrested this month for falsely accusing and arresting people on drug charges. [Link]
• The US deploys 2,500 troops to Saudi Arabia. It is expected to be a long deployment. [Link]
• Assange’s extradition hearing adjourned until late May. [Link]

Asia

• Russia tests a hypersonic missile launched from a ship. [Link]
• Philippines President Duterte says his country does not need US help fighting terrorists or insurgents. [Link]
• The reduction of violence pact in Afghanistan has now held through six days. [Link]

Syria

• Syrian media reports an Israeli drone strike killed a Syrian civilian. [Link]
• Turkey says it will allow free passage to Syrian refugees crossing Turkey into Europe. [Link]
• At least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian airstrike in the Idlib Province of Syria. [Link]
• The Turkish military says it is targeting all known Syrian Army positions in response to the Syrian airstrike killed Turkish soldiers. [Link]
• Senator Graham calls for a no fly zone over Idlib. [Link]