US News
- Reddit purged several subreddits, including a pro-Trump forum. [Link]
- Twitch suspends Trump’s account. [Link]
- Secretary of State Pompeo announces the US will stop exporting some “dual-use” items to Hong Kong because of his view that Hong Kong is not sufficiently independent from China. [Link]
The Philippines
- Human rights groups report at least 129 children have been killed in the four-year drug war in the Philippines. [Link]
Afghanistan
- CBS News reports that the Russia-Taliban bounty story was uncorroborated and was not presented to Donald Trump. [Link] The NYT now admits there was disagreement among the intelligence community about the claim and the NSA did not feel confident with it. [Link]
- Pakistan says it expects the Taliban and the Afghan government to begin peace talks soon. Pakistan says prisoner releases and a reduction in violence were the final hurdles. [Link]
- At least 23 people were killed by a rocket attack on a cattle market in Afghanistan. [Link]
Middle East
- Israeli politician Benny Gantz says Israel must postpone annexation because of Covid. Israel Prime Minister says the process is moving forward and talks with the US are happening. [Link]
- Iran issues an arrest warrant for Donald Trump for killing Soleimani. [Link]
- The US Ambassador to Lebanon did an interview with a Saudi-owned outlet. The ambassador had been barred from doing interviews for a year due by a Lebanese judge. [Link]
- As the US imposes crippling sanctions on Syria, the UN reports millions are facing food shortages. [Link]
- The Iraqi government released 14 members of Kataib Hezbollah after they were arrested in a raid last week. [Link]
- A Yemeni government official says the UAE now has imposed sovereignty over the island Socotra. [Link]
