New US sanctions against Iran target interior minister over crackdown

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration imposed sanctions Friday against Iran ‘s interior minister, accusing Eskandar Momeni of repressing nationwide protests that have challenged Tehran’s theocratic government. The penalties are the latest by the United States and the European Union targeting high-ranking officials over the crackdown.

New Dutch PM says Trump's Greenland ambitions are 'wake-up call' for Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The political leader in line to become the Netherlands’ next prime minister on Friday said concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump’s territorial ambitions in Greenland were a “wake-up call” for Europe at a fraught time.

Warsh's challenge: Navigating Fed independence and Trump's demands

WASHINGTON (AP) – Kevin Warsh has sought the job of Federal Reserve chair, off and on, since President Donald Trump first considered him for the position nearly a decade ago. Now that he is in line for the position, the enormity of the challenge ahead of him is clear.

Israel Reopening Gaza's Border Crossing With Egypt on Sunday

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel said Friday that it will reopen the pedestrian border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt over the weekend, marking an important step forward for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan.

Judge bars federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione

NEW YORK (AP) – Federal prosecutors can’t seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a federal judge ruled Friday, foiling the Trump administration’s bid to see him executed for what it called a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”

Trump is a common denominator in efforts to strengthen Asia-Europe ties

BEIJING (AP) – Stability. Consistency. Ever-changing complexity. With language like that, deployed in separate meetings in three Asian capitals this week, government leaders forged closer ties driven in part by a figure halfway around the world: the president of the United States. And much of the time, they didn’t even mention Donald Trump’s name.

Starmer and Xi call for deeper UK-China ties

BEIJING (AP) – The leaders of Britain and China called Thursday for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” to deepen ties between their nations at a time of growing global uncertainty. Neither publicly mentioned Donald Trump, but the American president’s challenges to the post-Cold War order was clearly on their minds.

Trump's Board of Peace Sparks New Support for the United Nations

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to sidestep the United Nations through his new Board of Peace appears to have inadvertently backfired after major world powers rejected U.S. aspirations for it to have a larger international mandate beyond the Gaza ceasefire and recommitted their support for the over 80-year-old global institution.

Editorials from The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others

Jan. 19 – The Washington Post says Congress has dropped the ball regarding oversight of ICE, DHS. Geraldo Lunas Campos died at a Texas detention center on Jan. 3 while pleading for air as guards choked him, according to a fellow detainee. The local medical examiner’s office is considering classifying his death as a homicide, The Post reports.