US News

• Tennessee ends a program that encouraged inmates to get sterilized in exchange for shorter sentences. [Link]
• The Supreme Court refuses to hear the case of a veteran attempting to sue the government for medical malpractice. The Supreme Court says the Feres Doctrine prevents soldiers from suing the government. [Link]
• Kelley Vlahos explains the potential corruption created by making former Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan the Secretary of Defense. [Link]
• Venezuelan opposition officials met with the Pentagon and State Department. [Link]

Assange

• A Swedish prosecutor moves forward on the process to attempt to extradite Julian Assange from the UK. [Link]

China

• The US Ambassador to China will visit Tibet for the first time since 2013.  [Link]

Tajikistan

• 32 people die – 3 guards and 29 inmates – during a prison riot in Tajikistan. The government claims the Islamic State is responsible for starting the riot. Humanitarian groups say Tajikistan holds political prisoners in the facility. [Link]

Afghanistan

• An American who was captured fighting for the Taliban in 2001 will be released from jail. The ‘American Taliban’ was sentenced to 20 years and will serve 17. [Link]
• A fight broke out in the Afghan parliament’s first session of the year. The parliament was attempting to elect a speaker when the fight broke out. [Link]

Iran

• Two Iraq War vets running for the Democratic nomination take a stand against Trump’s Iran policy. [Link]
• Gareth Porter explains the alleged threats coming from Iran lack evidence. [Link]
• Mark Perry explains the crucial role of Qatar in the Iran crisis. [Link]

Middle East

• Turkey arrested 249 members of its foreign ministry in connection with the 2016 coup attempt. [Link]
• Russia accuses al-Qaeda linked Syrian rebels of carrying out a drone attack on its air base in Syria. [Link]
• A roadside bomb killed seven members of a Shi’ite militia. [Link]
• The Houthi carry out more drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claimed to hit a weapons warehouse. The Saudi’s say the drone hit a civilian target. [Link]