US News

• A UK judge denies the US extradition request of Julian Assange. [Link]
• The Department of Health and Human Services announces it will not charge distilleries $14,000 fee for producing hand sanitizer. [Link]
• Illinois expunges half a million marijuana arrest records. [Link]
• The New York Stock Exchange delisted three Chinese companies to comply with a recent executive order. [Link]
• The lockdowns have thrown 100 million people worldwide into extreme poverty. [Link]

Venezuela

• The US announced sanctions on a Venezuelan judge and prosecutor. [Link]
• Emirati firms are bypassing US sanctions and selling oil to Venezuela. [Link]

Afghanistan

• An Afghan journalist was killed in an ambush. It is unclear who carried out the attack. [Link]

Middle East

• Iran informs the IAEA it will enrich uranium at its Fordow facility to 20%. [Link]
• Israel dropped bombs near Syria’s capital city. [Link]
• At least 28 Syrians were killed when their bus was ambushed near Deir al-Zor. Reuters reports sources in the area say the bus was carrying Syrian troops. [Link]

Africa

• The US bombed Somalia on New Years Day. The US claimed to kill three militants and no civilians. [Link]
• Two French soldiers were killed by IED in Mali. [Link]
• An al-Qaeda affiliate group claims it killed three French soldiers in Mali last week. [Link]
• 17 people were brutally killed by militants in the Congo. [Link]
• 100 people were killed by militant attacks on two villages in Niger. [Link]