US News

• Biden undoes a late-Trump regulatory move that would have allowed doctors to more easily prescribe Suboxone to treat opioid disorders. [Link]
• The CDC says it can issue criminal penalties for travelers not wearing masks. [Link]
• The Pentagon declares climate change a national security threat. [Link]
• NBC reports the Capitol police officer who murdered Ashli Babbitt. [Link]

Biden’s Cabinet 

• Biden’s nominee to be Deputy Attorney General, Lisa Monaco, helped prosecute a man who was convicted of selling $20 worth of drugs in a sting. [Link]
• Alejandro Mayorkas was confirmed as head of Department of Homeland Security. [Link]
• Pete Buttigeig was confirmed as Transportation Secretary. [Link]

Great Power

• The US will deploy B1-B bombers to Norway for the first time. [Link]
• Russia says it will return to the Open Skies Treaty if the US will agree to comply with it. [Link]
• The Biden Admin says it is in no hurry to engage with China. [Link]

Myanmar

• The US declared the military takeover in Myanmar to be a coup. The declaration causes the $100 million in scheduled aid to Myanmar to be reviewed. The Biden team is also considering sanctions on military leaders. [Link]

Afghanistan

• While violence in Afghanistan is up, Taliban ‘insider attacks’ on US forces is at a historic low. [Link]
• Germany warned against withdrawing international forces from Afghanistan in accordance with the US-Taliban peace deal. [Link]

Middle East

• Biden undoes a Trump plan to remove aluminum tariffs on the UAE. [Link]
• The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is coming home after spending ten months in the Middle East. [Link]
• Iran offered for a coordinated return to the JCPOA by Iran and the US. The US rejected the offer, demanding Iran return to the agreement first. [Link]
• Russia mediated talks between the Syrian Kurds and Syrian government. The talks resulted in a siege being lifted of Syrian government held towns in northern Syria. [Link]