Happening in the World: North Korea has launched an unidentified short-range projectile into the Sea of Japan.  This is the sixth projectile fired this month after a long pause in missile testing, showing a significant ramping up in missile testing from the country.  The South Korean Defense Ministry has stated that launches in the first half of the month may have been part of North Korea’s winter military drills.  (CNN)

Happening in the U.S.: A new Environmental Protection Agency policy states that companies will not be fined or face other enforcement actions if they fail to monitor and report their pollution levels, functionally allowing for greater levels of pollution to occur and go unnoticed.  Companies will no longer have to monitor pollution including gas leaks and waterway contamination. (The Hill)

Happening in NYC: After a day-long battle with the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, President Trump has backed down from his consideration of a tristate lockdown.  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the idea “preposterous,” stating that a lockdown would be impossible to enforce and medically unhelpful.  (New York Post)

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