Here’s the latest
• Greenland friction: European envoys gathered for a crisis session today after Donald Trump vowed to impose duties on several allies unless they facilitate the US purchase of Greenland. Further details are expected tomorrow. Previously, the eight targeted nations cautioned that such threats could trigger a “perilous downward slide” in international relations.
• Federal presence in Minnesota: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the White House’s mobilization of federal authorities after 1,500 active-duty troops were ordered to prepare for potential deployment. Speaking with CNN, Frey characterized the move as a blatant attempt to “strike fear into the people of Minneapolis.”
• Iran instability: President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any hostility directed toward the nation’s supreme leader would result in “all-out war,” responding to Trump’s recent public call for regime change in Tehran.
• Trump’s Gaza “Board of Peace” establishes $1 billion requirement for permanent membership: According to a U.S. official, permanent seats on President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”—the entity responsible for Gaza’s reconstruction—will be granted to members who contribute $1 billion.
The official stated that all proceeds will be dedicated to rebuilding efforts in Gaza, noting that the organization aims to avoid the “exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat” often found in other international institutions.
While financial contributions are not mandatory for participation, those who do not provide the $1 billion payment will be restricted to three-year terms on the board.
The committee, chaired by Trump, includes high-profile figures such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mark Carney, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump has characterized the group as the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled.”
Notably, the board currently lacks representation from the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank and is widely considered the primary candidate to eventually manage Gaza following a period of reform.
Other confirmed members include foreign policy envoy Steve Witkoff, Robert Gabriel, Jared Kushner, billionaire Marc Rowan, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.
• Minneapolis demonstrators remain outside Whipple building despite freezing conditions: A small assembly of protesters is maintaining a nightly presence outside a Minneapolis federal building, continuing a week-long series of demonstrations against ICE.
Braving the extreme cold, the group has deployed heat lamps to sustain their vigil outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, as observed by news crews on the scene.
The current atmosphere marks a shift from the previous night, which saw a significant escalation when federal officers in riot gear confronted the crowd amid vocal opposition from the protesters.