The Republican-controlled Senate voted 55–45 to pass a resolution (NYT) that would require President Donald J. Trump to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Iran, but fell short of a two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
 
The White House threatened to veto the resolution, which would not prevent (CNN) the United States from responding to an imminent attack. The House of Representatives, which passed a similar resolution last month, indicated it will take up (WSJ) the Senate motion. In the past year, nearly 130 House Republicans voted with Democrats to oppose the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. Additionally, bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress voted against arms sales to Saudi Arabia and U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

U.S. federal prosecutors accused Chinese telecommunications company Huawei (SCMP) of stealing intellectual property from six U.S. companies, adding charges of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and money laundering to an existing case against Huawei.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at China’s controversial tech giant.
 
Myanmar: A primary school in Rakhine State was hit by shelling (Reuters) amid an escalation in conflict between ethnic insurgents and the government, wounding at least nineteen children.

Afghan government forces and the Taliban each reported attacks (Reuters) against each other yesterday, while U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters (VOA) that a proposed “seven-day reduction in violence” had been negotiated with the Taliban and was being considered by U.S. allies.
 
Pakistan: The government approved sweeping new social media restrictions (WSJ) that would require social media companies to establish offices in the country and remove content and encryption if instructed to do so by Pakistani authorities.

At least one person was killed and four were wounded in a rocket attack (RFI) that hit residential neighborhoods south of Tripoli, a health ministry spokesperson said. The attack came one day after a UN Security Council resolution called for a “lasting cease-fire.”
 
Iran: Campaigning began (France 24) for the February 21 parliamentary elections. Thousands of candidates, many of them moderates, have been barred from running.

The country’s Parliament passed a law promising fines and jail terms (Al Jazeera) for those convicted of hate speech and disinformation, a measure critics say threatens freedom of expression. Hate speech has been blamed for recent ethnic violence in the country.
 
This CFR Backgrounder compares global laws on hate speech on social media.
 
Malawi: Protestors shut down (VOA) election offices in ten districts after officials appealed a recent Supreme Court ruling that annulled presidential elections from last May.

Sajid Javid, the finance minister of the United Kingdom, has resigned (Guardian) after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Javid to replace all of his political advisors. Johnson’s reshuffled cabinet includes ardent Brexit supporters in place of ministers reportedly thought to be disloyal.
 
Germany: Leaders and defense officials from more than forty countries gather today for the start of the Munich Security Conference (DW). This year’s conference will focus on the changing identity and influence of Western nations.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Graham Allison discusses the world’s new spheres of influence.

President Jair Bolsonaro replaced his chief of staff (Reuters) with Army General Walter Braga, bringing the number of military figures in his twenty-person cabinet to seven.
 
Venezuela: Caracas petitioned (Reuters) the International Criminal Court to investigate U.S. officials for sanctions that it says constitute crimes against humanity, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said.