US News
- Trump is acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial. Seven republicans voted to convict. [Link]
- A grand jury dismissed assault charges against two Buffalo police officers who pushed an elderly man to the ground and fractured his skull. [Link]
- Buffalo police assist bounty hunters in holding a family at gunpoint and raiding their home. [Link]
- The Department of Homeland Security will shift its focus to domestic “security.” [Link]
Afghanistan
- The Taliban now control 52% of Afghanistan. The Afghan government controls territory with 59% of the population. [Link]
- Several vehicles transporting fuel exploded in Afghanistan, near the border with Iran. Reports say as many as 300 vehicles were involved and 60 people were injured. [Link]
- Germany planned to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan in March. Now Germany is considering extending the deployment. [Link]
Middle East
- Iran says it will end snap inspections by the IAEA until the US fulfills its commitments under the Iran Nuclear Deal. [Link]
- The US seized a shipment of oil it claims belonged to Iran. Iran called the seizure an act of piracy. [Link]
- Turkey claims the PKK executed 13 Turkish police and soldiers in northern Iraq. The US condemned the executions. [Link]
- An Iraqi MP says Turkey does not have permission to deploy a large number of fighters to Iraq. [Link]
- Syria reports it intercepted Israeli missiles over Damascus. [Link]
Yemen
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he will revoke the designation of the Houthi as a terror group on Feb. 16th. [Link]
- The UN predicts that 2 million Yemeni children will face acute malnutrition this year. About 400,000 of those children will face severe acute malnutrition, putting children at high risk for starving to death. Another 1.2 million Yemeni women who are nursing or pregnant will face malnutrition. [Link]
- Over 20 fighters were killed in 24 hours during fighting in Maarib, Yemen. The Houthi are continuing its effort to take the Yemeni region with oil resources. [Link]
- A Yemeni journalist was detained by US-backed forces. [Link]
