Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, I'm Sharon Raich-Garson in New Jersey. It's Sunday, January 18th. Today, Trump threatens new tariffs on European allies over Greenland. The Pentagon has soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota protests. And a look into the centuries-old craft of Moroccan leather tanning.
This is Reuters World News, bringing you everything you need to know from the front lines in 10 minutes, seven days a week.
Chapter 2: What new tariffs is Trump threatening against European allies?
EU ambassadors are holding an emergency meeting today after President Trump threatened to slap steep tariffs on eight European allies until the U.S. is allowed to buy Greenland. Trump says a 10% tax on imports will start February 1st, rising to 25% in June. European leaders are rejecting the demand, warning it could fracture NATO and derail trade deals.
Polish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is rebutting Donald Trump's threats, saying the United States can't single out individual EU members.
I hope someone will explain to him that we are a customs union and you can only put tariffs on the EU as a whole.
They continue to reiterate support for Denmark. Meanwhile, in Copenhagen and in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, thousands of protesters hit the streets. And over in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is warning that a U.S. invasion of Greenland would make Putin the happiest man on earth.
In an interview with La Vanguardia, he says military action against Denmark's Arctic territory would destabilize NATO and validate Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Now to the U.S., where about 1,500 active duty soldiers are now on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota. That's according to the Washington Post.
The Pentagon is prepping them in case protests over the government's immigration enforcement intensify. The troops from Alaska's 11th Airborne Division specialize in cold weather operations. On Saturday, hundreds of anti-ice protesters demonstrated in Minneapolis. Countries may be asked to pay $1 billion to stay on President Trump's new board of peace.
In response, the White House calls that misleading, saying there's no membership fee. The board, which was first outlined by the White House on Friday, is meant to oversee Gaza's temporary governance.
Its early members include Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Envoy Steve Witkoff, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who's the former senior White House advisor, with more names expected to be announced. Israel says parts of the plan, including a separate Gaza executive board that involves Turkey, were not coordinated and contradict its policy.
And for a look at how all this fits into the global agenda this week, from Davos to the markets, check out our sister podcast, Morning Bid, hosted by Amanda Cooper.
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