Clashes between the two countries’ militaries in northwestern Syria killed at least six Turkish soldiers (NPR), according to Ankara. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least thirteen Syrian soldiers were killed. It is thought to be Turkey’s first instance of troop casualties (CNN) caused by direct combat in Syria’s civil war.
 
Despite a cease-fire announced for Syria’s Idlib province on January 12 between Turkey, which backs Syria’s rebels, and Russia, which backs the Syrian government, Syrian forces advanced through the area over the weekend, reportedly killing twenty people. Turkey struck over fifty regime targets as retaliation (Anadolu), the Turkish defense minister said. The United Nations has called for rapid de-escalation (Hurriyet Daily News).

The results of the first contest among Democratic presidential hopefuls were delayed (NYT) due to problems reporting delegate totals, the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party said. Results are expected later today.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at the U.S. presidential nominating process.

The Islamabad High Court dropped sedition charges (Al Jazeera) against twenty-three protesters arrested last month and ordered authorities to release them from prison. They had been apprehended at a rally denouncing the arrest of a Pashtun rights activist.
 
Afghanistan: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States would require evidence (NYT) of the Taliban’s “will and capacity to reduce violence” in order to reach a deal that would end the country’s war.

Seven patients in need of urgent medical care were flown out (BBC) of Yemen’s capital despite the Yemeni government’s three-year blockade on civilian fights amid its civil war. More flights are scheduled to leave for Amman, Jordan, and Cairo, Egypt, later this month.

The trial of a possible HIV vaccine was called to a close (Guardian) after poor results. The vaccine being tested was the only HIV vaccine to have shown any degree of success in the past.
 
Malawi: The nation’s constitutional court annulled last year’s presidential election results and ordered a new vote (BBC) within 151 days.

Ahead of negotiations for a new trade deal with the European Union, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there would be no need (Guardian) for the United Kingdom to continue to follow EU regulations, such as those on subsidies. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the UK could face tariffs for its noncompliance.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Pippa Norris looks at the UK’s future after Brexit.
 
France: President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped to improve (AFP) his country’s strained ties with Poland during a visit to Warsaw.

Trinidad and Tobago will no longer develop (Reuters) a maritime natural gas field with Venezuela due to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s state energy company. The two countries will now independently develop their shares of the ten-million-cubic-foot gas field.
 
Canada: An Air Canada Boeing 767-300 bound for Toronto made an emergency landing (CBC) shortly after taking off from Madrid due to an engine issue, the airline said.