The Pakistani Taliban reportedly scaled walls and attacked students in their dormitories at Bacha Khan University, but were killed before they could detonate suicide vests. The death toll is expected to rise in the deadly attack, which takes place under two years after the Pakistani Taliban killed 145 people in another school attack. [NYT]
"Russia’s military intervention in Syria is finally generating gains on the ground for Syrian government forces, tilting the battlefield in favor of President Bashar al-Assad to such an extent that the Obama administration’s quest for a negotiated settlement to the war suddenly looks a lot less likely to succeed." [WaPo]
A look at the last Navy SEAL to die in Afghanistan. [NYT]
"Intelligence officials reviewing emails on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private computer server have found information they consider to be of a higher level of classification than 'top secret,' according to a letter sent to lawmakers last week by the intelligence agencies’ inspector general." [NYT]
Inside the "perfect storm" creating such a backlog in FBI background checks for gun purchases. [USA Today]
"Though precise figures are not available, most ISIS fighters probably earned a few hundred dollars a month prior to the pay cut." [Vocativ]
Here's a look at all the crashes last year -- and why it matters that the Air Force isn't clear on what's causing the costly malfunctions. [WaPo]
WHAT’S BREWING
Check out the first chapter of a graphic novel which walks you through a day in the life of a humanitarian worker in a post-ISIS world. [HuffPost]
"If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated," the superstar told Variety. You can read the President of the Academy's statement here. [HuffPost]
Change it. Immediately. You can thank us later. [Gizmodo]
A lot. [HuffPost]
"In other words, in just 34 years, plastic trash in the ocean will outweigh all the fish in the sea." [HuffPost]
If you pack your bags and head to Japan. [HuffPost]
WHAT'S WORKING
The funds for cloud services will be doled out to various to nonprofits and university researchers over the next three years. [NYT]
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BEFORE YOU GO
~ Michigan’s governor vowed to fix the Flint water crisis in his State of the Union.
~ Pakistani boy: I have no regrets after cutting my hand off for the Holy Prophet.
~ The Coast Guard has called off the search for 12 marines whose helicopters collided in Hawaii Thursday.
~ Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump for president.
~ NASA is hiring astronauts, but it takes a lot to become the next Matt Damon.
~ It may be faster to have everyone stand still on escalators.
~ Want a date with the "Sexiest Doctor Alive?" It's possible.
~ The "Here to Make Friends" crew dissects how horribly the women acted on the last episode of "The Bachelor."
~ This list of things you've forgotten to clean in your house makes you want to reach for the Clorox, stat.
~ China wants to be the first country to land on the far side of the moon.
~ Nielsen will account for social media commentary in its new ratings system.
~ All the ways the universe may end (uplifting for your Wednesday -- we try).
Send tips/quips/quotes/stories/photos/events/scoops to Lauren Weber at lauren.weber@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter @LaurenWeberHP. And like what you're reading? Sign up here to get The Morning Email delivered to you.