• Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearings for her secretary of state appointment began this morning. Clinton said that the current humanitarian tragedy in the Middle East strengthens her commitment to lasting peace, similar to that which her husband had as president. — New York Times [1]
• A wave of cold has swept from the Arctic to the upper Midwest US; temperatures have dropped as low as 37 below zero in North Dakota. — AP [2]
• A financial advisor currently under investigation for fraud parachuted from a plane Sunday and vanished. Police say he faked a distress call from the plane he was flying over Alabama, and they believe he sent an email to a friend yesterday. — ABC News [3]




• Iran has tried four Iranians involved in a coup plot allegedly backed by the US. Iranian officials say a verdict and sentence will come in a few days. — AP [4]
• Israel says it hit 60 targets in Gaza last night, as it entered the 18th day of conflict with Hamas. — BBC [5]

Source [6]