- Iran responds to the assassination of Soleimani by launching several missiles at Iraqi bases housing US soldiers. There have been no reports of US casualties and some reports of Iraqi casualties. After the attack, Tweets by Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif suggest the countries are ready to deescalate. [Link]
US News
- Trump’s trade war is enriching lobbyist and big business. Big businesses can afford well-connected lobbyists to push the government to give trade war exemptions to their products. Small businesses are unable his lobbyists to get exemptions. [Link]
- ICE agents will begin taking DNA samples from people entering the US at certain border crossings. [Link]
- In December of 2018, two US warplanes collided during a training mission, killing six. The initial report by the Pentagon on the issue pointed out problems at soldiers at low ranking levels like drug use and affairs. However, the squadron of F-18s had frequently reported to the chain of command problems with the planes. The squadron did not have enough parts for their planes, and pilots could not get enough flight time. [Link]
Myanmar
- Four Rohingya children in Myanmar when they stepped on a landmine. The Buddhist Arakan Army likely planted the mine. [Link]
Soleimani Assassination
- The US bars Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif from entering the US to attend the UN. [Link]
- A stampede killed at least 50 people at Soleimani’s funeral. [Link]
- Germany’s moving of 30 forces from Iraq to other countries was ordered by the US-coalition fighting IS. Croatia and Slovakia removed a total of 21 troops from Iraq. [Link]
- Canada plans to temporarily redeploy some of its 500 troops in Iraq to other countries out of safety concerns. [Link]
- NATO announces it is removing some of its trainers from Iraq. [Link]
