US News

• Kevin Gosztola breaks down the first day of Assange’s extradition hearing. [Link]
• The criminal justice reform law FIRST STEP Act resulted in the release or reduced sentence of 7,000 prisoners. [Link]
• Trump says Pentagon leaders want to fight wars to enrich weapons makers. [Link]
• The Pentagon awards the $10 billion contract for JEDI – a cloud system for the military – to Microsoft, again. Microsoft was awarded the contract last October, but Amazon sued. [Link]

Bolivia

• A Bolivian court rules that the former president Evo Morales, who was ousted by a coup, cannot run for a Senate seat. [Link]

Russia

• Russia scrambled several fighter jets to respond to a US B-52 near its border. [Link]
• Georgia hosts 2,800 NATO troops for war games. [Link]

Middle East

• Israel demands the US sell it more advanced weapons because the UAE will likely be able to purchase the F-35. [Link]
• The IAEA says it is aiding Saudi Arabia as it is preparing to adopt nuclear energy. [Link]
• The eight men convicted by Saudi Arabia of murdering and dismembering Jamal Kashoggi have had their death sentences overturned. [Link]
• Fighting in northern Yemen kills 24. [Link]
• Three members of the Somali army were killed and one US special forces soldier was seriously wounded by a car bomb near their base. [Link]