US News

• The US indicts Julian Assange on 17 additional charges. The new charges include violating the Espionage Act and carry a 170-year sentence. [Link]
• Peter Van Buren explains why Justin Amash is wrong to advocate for impeaching Trump. [Link]
• A senior UN nuclear weapons control expert warns nukes are more likely to be used now than at any time since WWII. [Link]
• Senator Graham calls for the US to invade Venezuela to remove Cuban forces.  [Link]

India

• Eleven people were killed in India when a separatist group fired on a politicians convoy. [Link]

Turkey

• Turkey has developed an advanced drone program. It has used armed drones in Syria, Iraq, and against its own citizens. Drone strikes have killed at least 400 people in Turkey. Turkey claims to target the PKK with strikes, but civilians have been killed. Turkey has exported its drones to Ukraine. Pakistan and Qatar are also looking to acquire Turkish drones. [Link]
• A Turkish official says Turkey has stopped importing Iranian oil [Link]

Iran

• Senator Chris Murphy warns Trump may use a loophole in the Arms Control Act to bypass Congress’ objection to selling Saudi Arabia $7 billion in weapons. Murphy says Trump will use tensions with Iran to declare a national emergency.  [Link]
• The Pentagon is considering a request from CENTCOM to send an additional 5,000 troops to the Middle East in response to tensions with Iran. [Link]
• Some US officials say the Pentagon will present a plan to the White House to send up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East to counter Iran.  [Link]

Syria

• The US alleges Assad is carrying out more chemical weapons attacks against his own people. Like previous accusations, there is no evidence showing Assad used chemical weapons. Caitlin Johnstone explains how the new allegations suppress a recently released OPCW engineering report revealing the chlorine attacks at Douma were staged. The engineering report was initially omitted from the OPCW final report on Douma. The omission caused people to falsely to conclude Assad used chlorine gas at Douma in April 2018. Weapons expert Tim Postol said there was no reason for the OPCW not to include the engineering report.  [Link]

Africa

• Sudanese protest leadership calls for general strikes. The protest leaders say the ruling military council is refusing to give up power. [Link]
• The Islamic State killed 29 Nigerian soldiers. [Link]
• A Central African Republic militia, the 3Rs, killed 32 people in an attack on villages of a rival ethnic group. [Link]  
• The UN general assembly votes – against US interests – the UK needs to give up control of the Chagos Islands. [Link]