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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
GREENLAND
President Trump said yesterday that he had reached the framework of a deal with NATO over Greenland’s future, following a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, adding that he would not be imposing tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 1. Earlier in the day, Trump dialed back the prospect of military conflict with U.S. allies over Greenland during his Davos speech. Lara Jakes, Jim Tankersley, and Zolan Kanno-Youngs report for the New York Times; Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt report for Reuters.
Trump said on social media that discussions around the Golden Dome missile defense system pertaining to Greenland are part of the negotiations, which will be led by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Aaron Pellish and Doug Palmer report for POLITICO.
Rutte did not release details of the possible framework, but a spokesperson for Rutte said he “did not propose any compromise to sovereignty during his meeting with the President in Davos.” Lara Jakes, Jim Tankersley, and Zolan Kanno-Youngs report for the New York Times.
According to two sources, Rutte’s proposal includes updating the 1951 “Greenland Defense Agreement” between the United States and Denmark, which allowed for U.S. military bases on the island and the establishment of “defense areas” if NATO believes it necessary. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said today that security in the Arctic is a matter for all of NATO, adding it is “good and natural” that it be discussed between Trump and Rutte. Frederiksen also said that NATO is fully aware of Denmark’s position that anything political can be negotiated on, “but we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty,” adding, “I have been informed that this has not been the case. Geir Moulson and James Brooks report for AP News.
The EU Parliament yesterday suspended the approval of a key U.S. trade deal agreed in July. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, said it was “left with no alternative but to suspend work… until the U.S. decides to re-engage on a path of cooperation rather than confrontation, and before any further steps are taken.” In an interview following Trump’s announcement that he was backing off the tariff threat, Lange declined to say whether this would salvage the trade deal. Jonathan Josephs, Adam Hancock, and Archie Mitchell report for BBC News.
MINNESOTA
A federal appeals court yesterday blocked an injunction that had imposed restrictions on federal immigration agents’ interactions with protestors in Minnesota, including the use of pepper spray and other “crowd dispersal tools.” The order granting the Trump administration’s request for an administrative stay was one sentence long and included no explanation. Mitch Smith reports for the New York Times.
The Pentagon has ordered active-duty military police soldiers based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis, three sources told MS NOW. A prepare-to-deploy order was issued on Tuesday, the sources said, adding that at least a few hundred soldiers are being prepared. A Pentagon official said, “We have nothing to announce at this time, and any tip about this is pre-decisional.” Laura Barron-Lopez and David Rohde report.
Vance is set to arrive in Minnesota today. “JD took Minnesota on as an issue where he’s going to lead. He wants a strong response,” and adviser said. “He doesn’t want to back down. Neither does the president.” Marc Caputo and Torey Van Oot report for Axios.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE
Israeli forces yesterday killed at least 11 people in Gaza, including three Palestinian journalists, according to Gaza health officials. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, a labor union, said the three men were documenting the “suffering of civilians in displacement camps.” The Israeli military said they were operating a drone that was “affiliated with Hamas” and that its forces believed it posed a threat. Pranav Baskar reports for the New York Times.
U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said today that the United Kingdom will not be signing up to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ over concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s possible involvement. Trump said yesterday evening that Putin had agreed to join, but the Russian president said he was still studying the invitation. While the board was originally thought to be aimed at helping end the two-year war in Gaza and oversee reconstruction, its proposed charter does not mention the Palestinian territory. Joshua Nevett reports for BBC News; David Gritten and Rachel Hagan report for BBC News
IRAN
The Iranian government said yesterday that the anti-government protests have been succesfully suppressed. Iranian state TV released the first official death toll, saying that more than 3,000 people had been killed in the demonstration. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency on Tuesday reported 4,519 deaths. Pranav Baskar reports for the New York Times.
SYRIA
The Syrian government yesterday accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces of carrying out attacks that it said killed 11 soldiers, breaking the four-day ceasefire agreed on Tuesday. The Syrian government said a drone strike killed seven of its soldiers as they were securing a captured military base containing explosions. The SDF denied carrying out any strike. Reuters reports.
The U.S. military said yesterday that it had transferred 150 detainees from the Islamic State group being held in northeastern Syria to secure facilities in Iraq, following the withdrawal of SDF guards from the camp. The Iraqi army confirmed that the first batch of prisoners had arrived. The U.S. statement said that up to 7,000 detainees could be transferred to Iraqi-controlled facilities. Ghaith Alsayed, Qassim Abdul-Zahra, and Bassem Mroue report for AP News.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s rapid takeover of Kurdish-held territory in recent days came after a series of meetings in Damascus, Paris, and Iraq in which the United States was persuaded not to block the offensive, nine sources said. Feras Dalatey, Maya Gebeily, and Humeyra Pamuk report for Reuters.
U.S. CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS
The Trump administration is seeking Cuban government insiders to facilitate regime change by the end of the year, sources told the Wall Street Journal, adding that Washington has assessed Cuba’s economy as close to collapse and that the government has never been so fragile since losing the support of Nicolas Maduro. A senior U.S. official said that there is no concrete plan on how to end the Communist government in Cuba, but that Maduro’s capture is seen as a blueprint and warning for Cuba. José de Córdoba, Vera Bergengruen, and Deborah Acosta report.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to travel to Davos today for a meeting with Trump. Zelenskyy plans to meet Trump before White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet with Putin in Moscow. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
EU lawmakers yesterday voted to refer the EU-Mercosur trade deal to the EU Court of Justice, a move that could delay the deal by two years. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, one of the deal’s principal backers, called the referral to the court regrettable, adding that the EU assembly had “misjudged the geopolitical situation.” Philip Blenkinsop reports for Reuters.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The United States is due to exit the World Health Organization today, following Trump’s notice on the first day of his presidency in 2025 that the United States would do so. Jennifer Rigby and Emma Farge report for Reuters.
U.S. IMMIGRATION DEVELOPMENTS
Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter homes without a judge’s warrant, according to an internal ICE memo obtained by AP News. The memo authorizes ICE to use force to enter a residence based on a narrow administrative warrant to arrest someone with a final order of removal. New ICE employees are being told to follow the memo’s guidance instead of written training materials that contradict it, according to a whistleblower complaint. Rebecca Santana reports.
The Trump administration this week started arresting immigrants in Maine as part of a new federal operation, the Homeland Security Department announced yesterday. Two U.S. officials said the operation was intended to target immigrants from Somalia, along with other immigrants. Hamed Aleaziz reports for the New York Times.
Geraldo Lunas Campos’s death in ICE custody at a detention facility in El Paso was ruled as homicide, according to an autopsy report released yesterday. The report said that the Cuban immigrant became unresponsive while he was physically restrained by law enforcement. Emergency workers tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The autopsy listed the cause of death as “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.” Pooja Salhotra reports for the New York Times.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The House Oversight Committee yesterday voted in support of holding former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after they refused to appear for closed-door depositions related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. A resolution holding Hillary Clinton passed largely by party lines, 28-15. The resolution holding Bill Clinton in contempt received more Democratic support, passing by a 34-8 vote. Kadia Goba and Shayna Jacobs report for the Washington Post.
Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify today before Congress about the criminal investigations into Trump. According to his prepared statement obtained by NBC News, Smith will say that his investigation developed “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump “engaged in a criminal scheme” to overturn his 2020 election loss. Ryan J. Reilly reports.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr yesterday issued guidance directing broadcasters to provide political candidates with equal time on morning and late-night shows. John Hendel reports for POLITICO.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION
The Trump administration yesterday withdrew its appeal of a court ruling that blocked its attempt to withhold billions in education funding from schools and colleges with D.E.I programs. Dana Goldstein reports for the New York Times.
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