Spring is here and so is she, ready at her broken mirror, by a crashing sea, she is going back to nowhere, to herself wandering the shoreline of broken arrows, to retrace her steps to where she got lost, and found him instead. She was no longer near the big city, but it was lodged in her mind, to tower of babel remade for the dollar, and she twisted near the waves as if to tempt the dolphins, outside her sight, playing near a life boat.

Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › strained What is the synonym of strained? AI Overview STRAINED Synonyms: 1 958 Similar Words & Phrases Synonyms for "strained" depend on the context, but common ones include tense, forced, unnatural, awkward, uneasy, stiff, labored, and ** artificial**, referring to something lacking ease or naturalness, like a strained smile or voice. Other synonyms, like stretching, overtaxing, or ** straining**, relate to physical exertion or injury, while words like ** constrained** or ** difficult** describe tense situations or relationships, notes Merriam-Webster and Collins Dictionary. For manner or expression (not natural) Awkward, forced, stiff, unnatural, artificial, contrived, fake, labored, stilted, pretended, phony . Example: A strained smile, a strained laugh. For emotion or situation (tense) Tense, uneasy, awkward, uncomfortable, embarrassed, uptight, on edge, keyed up . Example: A strained silence, strained relations. For physical effort (overexerted) Stretching, overexerting, overtaxing, pulling, twisting, wrenching, taxing, weakened . Example: A strained muscle.

Live Updates Trump administration news: President’s NATO comments rankle allies Updated 6:04 PM EST, Fri January 23, 2026 Trump angers allies with swipe at NATO troops in Afghanistan 02:30 Here's the latest • Ukraine war talks: Negotiators from Ukraine, the US and Russia have wrapped up talks for the day and agreed to meet again tomorrow, a source tells CNN. Today’s meeting in the UAE marked the first known sit-down involving all three countries since the war began. • Remarks on NATO: President Donald Trump has baselessly claimed that NATO troops “stayed a little back” from the front lines in Afghanistan, further angering allies after a week of tensions over the US leader’s desire to control Greenland. • Greenland deal: While Trump and NATO’s Mark Rutte agreed to the framework of a future deal involving the semiautonomous Danish territory, there’s no formalized document yet, sources say. NATO will continue holding military exercises on the island, Denmark said today. • Iran in focus: Trump said a convoy of US military assets was heading toward Iran “just in case,” but that he’d rather not use it to strike the country. All Ukraine greenland 27 Posts 29 min ago White House shrugs off Starmer's criticism of Trump's NATO comments From CNN's Kevin Liptak The White House is shrugging off sharp criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer of President Trump’s comments downplaying NATO’s role in Afghanistan, insisting Trump was correct in his sentiments. “President Trump is absolutely right — the United States of America has done more for NATO than any other country in the alliance has done combined,” Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said when asked to respond to Starmer’s criticism earlier Friday. In a speech, Starmer called Trump’s comments “insulting and frankly appalling” and said he understood why they’d caused “such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured” in Afghanistan. “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize,” Starmer said. Trump made the offending comments in an interview with Fox Business on Thursday. “We’ve never needed them,” Trump said of NATO. “We have never really asked anything of them. You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, little off the front lines.” NATO’s collective defense clause, Article 5, has been invoked only once, by the United States after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. More than 450 British troops died over the course of the ensuing 2-decade war in Afghanistan. 35 min ago White House continues push for Greenland on social media From CNN's Kit Maher The White House is continuing its push for Greenland on social media, posting to its X account on Friday an AI image of President Donald Trump walking across the snow, toward a Greenlandic flag, while holding hands with a penguin carrying an American flag. “Embrace the Penguin,” the White House wrote. (Penguins aren’t found in the arctic, according to National Geographic.) In Davos, Switzerland, this week, Trump announced a framework deal for Greenland, but no document has yet memorialized a future deal, CNN reported. ADVERTISEMENT 2 hr 6 min ago Italian prime minister hopes to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she hopes to nominate US President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach peace in Ukraine. “I hope we can give it to him. And I trust that he can also make a difference in achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and then we too can finally nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize,” Meloni said during a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Rome. More generally, regarding relations with the US, Meloni reiterated that “our desire for cooperation remains firm,” especially because Italy and Germany are “among the nations in Europe that maintain privileged relations with the US, thanks in part to the fact that there are American bases in their countries.” She added that it is important to maintain a “pragmatic, non-instinctive approach to relations with the US.” 2 hr 7 min ago Trilateral talks focused on achieving a "dignified and lasting peace," Ukrainian negotiator says From CNN's Nina Subkhanberdina Trilateral talks held in the United Arab Emirates 00:37 Trilateral talks held in the United Arab Emirates on Friday focused on reaching a “dignified and lasting peace,” Ukraine’s top negotiator Rustem Umerov wrote in a post on X after the meeting concluded. He noted that Ukrainian officials “appreciate the US mediation” in Abu Dhabi. “The meeting focused on the parameters for ending Russia’s war and the further logic of the negotiation process aimed at advancing toward a dignified and lasting peace,” Umerov said. Several additional Ukrainian officials, including the Head of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov and the Deputy Head of the Defense Intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi, will join the talks as they continue on Saturday, Umerov said. “We are ready to work in various formats depending on the course of the dialogue,” he added. ADVERTISEMENT 4 hr 6 min ago Trilateral Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi end for the day From CNN's Victoria Butenko and Darya Tarasova Trilateral talks held in the United Arab Emirates with the aim of ending the war in Ukraine have finished for the day, a source with knowledge of the discussions told CNN. Negotiators from the US, Russia, and Ukraine agreed to continue discussions on Saturday, which was the plan going into the talks, Russian state news agency TASS reported. 1 hr 25 min ago "Too early" to draw conclusions from trilateral Abu Dhabi talks, Zelensky says From CNN’s Kosta Gak Zelensky comments on trilateral talks in UAE 00:19 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it is “too early” to draw conclusions from Friday’s trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in the United Arab Emirates. “It is still too early to draw conclusions about the content of today’s negotiations. We will see how the talks go tomorrow and what the results will be. It is necessary that not only Ukraine wants to end this war and achieve complete security, but that a similar desire somehow arises in Russia as well,” he said in a daily address. The talks began on Friday in Abu Dhabi and will continue on Saturday. The Ukrainian leader said he is in “constant contact” with the Ukrainian negotiators, who are discussing “parameters for ending the war.” Zelensky said the “main thing” in the talks is for Russia to finally be ready to end the war. “Ukraine’s position is clear. I have defined the framework for dialogue for our delegation,” he said. ADVERTISEMENT 5 hr 2 min ago Prince Harry says "sacrifices" of NATO troops in Afghanistan deserve respect From CNN'S Max Foster Camp Bastion, Afghanistan on January 18, 2013, where Prince Harry served as an Apache helicopter pilot CNN Prince Harry has defended NATO troops in Afghanistan after US President Donald Trump claimed that they had stayed “a little off the front lines.” Harry, who also served in Afghanistan, said that the sacrifices of NATO soldiers “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.” “In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first—and only—time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call,” Harry said in a statement provided by his spokesperson. “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” Harry said. During the operations in Afghanistan, Harry said 457 British service personnel were killed. “Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost,” Harry said on Friday. “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace,” he added. Some background: Harry was deployed to Afghanistan for about ten weeks in 2007-2008 and returned for a four-month deployment in 2012. In his 2023 autobiography, the prince wrote about his military experience in Afghanistan, where he claimed to have killed 25 Taliban fighters while serving for the British Army. 5 hr 26 min ago Today's trilateral talks likely focus on Ukraine's Donbas. Here's more about the region Putin covets From CNN's Ivana Kottasová The United States, Russia and Ukraine rarely agree on anything. But as their delegations meet in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral meeting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the three parties seem to have come to the same conclusion: Only one issue remains to be resolved. That issue is territory, namely the mineral-rich eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas. And based on their comments coming into the meeting, it is unlikely to be resolved. “It’s all about the eastern part of our country; it’s all about the land,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said, pointing to Russia’s long-standing — and previously rejected — demand that Kyiv gives up the parts of the Donbas it still controls. A Kremlin aide yesterday warned that there wouldn’t be any long-term settlement “without resolving the territorial issue.” Read more about the region and why Russian President Vladimir Putin wants it so badly. ADVERTISEMENT 5 hr 37 min ago UK prime minister criticizes Trump's "insulting" remarks about NATO troops and suggests apology From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite and Mitchell McCluskey UK Prime Minister criticizes Trump's "insulting" remarks 00:39 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sharply criticized Donald Trump’s “insulting and frankly appalling” comments about NATO troops’ involvement in Afghanistan and suggested the US president should apologize. In an interview with Fox News at Davos, Trump said that the US has “never needed” NATO troops’ support and claimed they had stayed “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan In response, Starmer noted that 457 British troops died and many others were injured in Afghanistan. “So I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling,” Starmer said on Friday. “I’m not surprised they’ve caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured,” he added. The British leader also suggested that Trump should apologize for his remarks. “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize,” Starmer said. 40 min ago Danish and Greenlandic prime ministers meet in Nuuk Danish and Greenlandic prime ministers walk the streets of Nuuk 02:15 Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen met in Nuuk on Friday, two days after President Donald Trump backed away from his threats of a US takeover of the Danish autonomous territory. CNN’s Nic Robertson is in Nuuk, where he followed the Danish and Greenlandic leaders as they walked the streets and met with locals. ADVERTISEMENT 8 hr 16 min ago NATO military exercises in Greenland that were launched amid Trump's threats will continue, Denmark says From CNN’s Sophie Tanno The Danish navy's inspection ship HDMS Vaedderen sails off Nuuk, Greenland, on January 18. The Danish navy's inspection ship HDMS Vaedderen sails off Nuuk, Greenland, on January 18. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images Military exercises in Greenland carried out by Denmark and its NATO allies, dubbed “Operation Arctic Endurance,” will continue into 2026, according to Denmark’s defense ministry. The operation to reinforce security in the Danish-controlled region was launched earlier this month amid threats to annex the island by US President Donald Trump, and saw several European countries send military personnel to the Arctic island. The exercises will continue in the coming weeks, according to Denmark’s defense ministry. A statement from the ministry added that additional NATO members have expressed interest in deploying reconnaissance teams to Greenland and are expecting to arrive over the course of the year. Meanwhile, Trump on Wednesday backed away from his threats of a US takeover of the territory, ruling out using the use of military force during his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The US president dropped his threats to impose tariffs on nations who objected to his ambitions, and instead announced the “framework of a future deal” over the island after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It is not unusual for NATO countries to send troops to train in other NATO countries, and there has been a yearslong push by allies, including the US, to ramp up joint exercises near the Arctic Circle. The US has about 150 troops stationed at its Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. CNN’s Lex Harvey contributed to this report. 8 hr 37 min ago Trump's comments about NATO troops in Afghanistan adds to anger of US allies From CNN's Christian Edwards President Donald Trump has once again questioned whether NATO allies would “be there” if the United States “ever needed them,” claiming that the alliance’s troops “stayed a little back” from the front lines in Afghanistan. “I’ve always said, ‘Will they be there, if we ever needed them?’ And that’s really the ultimate test. And I’m not sure of that. I know that we would have been there, or we would be there, but will they be there?” Trump said yesterday in an interview with Fox News in Davos, Switzerland. President Trump says US has 'never needed' NATO and claims its troops avoided frontlines in Afghanistan 00:22 In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the US became the first and so far only NATO member to invoke Article 5, which states that an attack against one member is an attack against all. For 20 years, NATO allies and other partner countries fought alongside US troops in Afghanistan — a sacrifice Trump has routinely downplayed. The president’s comments have rankled US allies in NATO, coming at the end of a week in which he has severely strained the alliance through his repeated threats to seize control of Greenland, an autonomous part of Denmark, another NATO member. Read more about Trump’s NATO comments. ADVERTISEMENT 8 hr 49 min ago "We are back to where we were a week ago," Greenlandic minister says From CNN's Rebekah Riess Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's Minister for Business, speaks during a press conference in the Houses of Parliament in London, England, on January 13. Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's Minister for Business, speaks during a press conference in the Houses of Parliament in London, England, on January 13. Alastair Grant/AP Negotiations regarding Greenland are “back to where we were a week ago,” when key representatives from Greenland and Denmark engaged with US officials in Washington, DC, according to Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister of business, trade, and mineral resources. “I think we’re back to that same position — that we are willing to look on a lot of different possibilities to accommodate any wishes from the American side, except giving up sovereignty, of course,” Nathanielsen said, speaking with CNN’s Kate Bolduan on “CNN News Central.” “I’m really happy that the US seems to have changed its perspective on gaining sovereignty over Greenland, and instead going back to the negotiation table,” Nathanielsen added. “I think that’s the right place to be. I think we can reach a lot of agreements together.” Her comments come as US President Donald Trump said this week he would not use military force to take control of Greenland. According to the minister, Greenland has always been willing to discuss an increase in national security for the US in by opening Greenland up to “some sort of access, in one form or other.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is in Greenland today to speak with Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. 10 hr 15 min ago Back in Washington DC, here's what is on Trump's agenda today From CNN's Rebekah Riess While the first trilateral meeting between US, Ukrainian, and Russian negotiators is taking place in the UAE today, US President Donald Trump is expected to remain at the White House with no scheduled public events. Pre-recorded remarks by the president are expected to be played at the 53rd annual March for Life today, with Vice President JD Vance delivering a speech to the group on the National Mall in person for a second year in a row. Otherwise, Trump will participate in the following closed-door events, according to the White House: At 1:30 p.m. ET, Trump will have a media interview. He signs congressional bills at 3 p.m. ET. The president holds a 4:30 p.m. ET meeting with the commissioner of the US Social Security Administration. And at 5:30 p.m. ET, Trump will end his day with “policy time.” All events on the president’s schedule will be held in the Oval Office and are closed to the press, but we’ll let you know if that changes. ADVERTISEMENT 10 hr 18 min ago Zelensky says his delegation "knows what to do" at trilateral talks From CNN's Victoria Butenko and Sophie Tanno Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media at the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media at the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Romina Amato/Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has held consultations on speakerphone with Kyiv’s delegation at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) trilateral meeting and the entire team “knows what to do.” The framework of the talks and the preferable result was discussed during the call, Zelensky said in an audio message released to journalists Friday. “We also discussed that the format (of the talks) may be different and the team will decide on the ground depending on the (nature of the) dialogue,” he said. “This is because such a format is happening for the first time in a long time.” The Ukrainian president said he will be in constant contact with the delegation. 10 hr 50 min ago What Russia's negotiating team tells us about today's trilateral meeting Analysis from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on October 18, 2022. The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on October 18, 2022. Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images This first trilateral meeting seemed to appear out of nowhere, conjured by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos — presenting an idea US President Donald Trump had toyed with late last year as happening within hours. We will likely never know if this caught the Kremlin off guard and bounced them into attending, for risk of publicly snubbing the US process. The three sides are now meeting, for the first time, at what Zelensky called “negotiator level,” in Abu Dhabi. That is in itself a step forward and means future meetings will have to find a reason to reject this new, more efficient form. But the Russians have still managed to give their acceptance a slight shrug of displeasure. The team they are sending is not led by the Kremlin’s point man to the talks, diplomat Yuri Ushakov, but will instead be headed by GRU military intelligence chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov, who is a top spy and a big fish in Russia, went to the Istanbul talks last year, but has not led the public process before. It will be a military team. Ukraine is sending its top negotiators – a mixture of civilians, diplomats and security officials, with the Americans represented by the usual duo of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and a new face, White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum. Moscow has clearly decided to send a quite different team, limiting what can be discussed and the speed of results. The Kremlin’s critics will point to this as yet another sign they are simply slow-rolling Trump’s diplomatic entreaties as they await more military progress on the frontlines. This post has been updated with additional developments. ADVERTISEMENT 12 hr 4 min ago Trump's inaction is encouraging Putin in his bid to gain Ukrainian territory, geopolitical expert says From CNN's Charlotte Reck A CAESAR self-propelled howitzer crew of the 148th Artillery Brigade fires toward enemy lines near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, on January 11. A CAESAR self-propelled howitzer crew of the 148th Artillery Brigade fires toward enemy lines near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, on January 11. Maciek Musialek/Anadolu/Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin is emboldened by the fracture in the transatlantic relationship, according to the Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre. John Lough told CNN’s Kim Brunhuber that Russia is “sticking to its guns” because US President Donald Trump is failing to use his leverage to deter Putin, and the Russian leader believes Ukraine is close to surrendering land, “Putin’s conclusion is that Trump is not willing to put real pressure on Moscow to bring this war to an end. … He could introduce more sanctions, or he could enforce the existing sanctions,” Lough explained. The geopolitical expert said Trump’s tepid action on Russia is fueling Putin’s commitment to territory gain from Ukraine, “Putin seems to think time is on his side,” he observed. “If he doesn’t believe President Trump is prepared to apply that pressure, what’s the point in settling now when he thinks he can get something much bigger further down the road?” Lough added. A fifth year of war will damage an already depleted Russia, the foreign policy specialist said, but recent tensions between the US and its NATO allies give Putin hope for Russian influence throughout the bloc. “This gives them (Russia) hope that the Ukrainians are not going to be able to integrate into any sort of NATO framework,” Lough remarked, “It gives them some optimism that they are going to be able to reassert themselves in Europe in a way that’s not been possible since the end of the Soviet Union.” 12 hr 19 min ago NOW: Trilateral meeting is underway in Abu Dhabi, source says From CNN's Victoria Butenko and Sophie Tanno The meeting in Abu Dhabi between US, Ukrainian and Russian officials is now underway, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told CNN. ADVERTISEMENT 12 hr 27 min ago Zelensky reveals who he is sending for trilateral talks in UAE From CNN's Kosta Gak and Sophie Tanno The Ukrainian delegation will be led by negotiator Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, pictured here in Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 3. The Ukrainian delegation will be led by negotiator Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, pictured here in Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 3. AFP/Getty Images Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has given more details over the delegation Ukraine is sending for trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), later today. The delegation will be led by Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, who will attend alongside head of Zelensky’s office Kyrylo Budanov, negotiator David Arakhamia and chief of general staff Andrii Hnatov. Zelensky added he had asked the head of military intelligence to send the deputy head, Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitsky, so that there would be both military and intelligence representatives present. Ukrainian diplomats will also be present, Zelensky said, including Serhii Kyslytsya, who serves as first deputy head of Zelensky’s office. Some of Ukraine’s delegation were traveling directly from the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering in Davos to Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile the Kremlin has stated that its delegation for the talks will consist of military representatives only. 12 hr 37 min ago Kremlin says Russian delegation for talks with US and Ukraine will consist of military officials only From CNN’s Sophie Tanno and Anna Chernova Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, who is leading the Russian delegation, pictured in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 15, 2025. Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, who is leading the Russian delegation, pictured in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 15, 2025. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters The Kremlin has given more details about the trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates, revealing that its negotiating team will consist of representatives only from Russia’s Ministry of Defense and that this delegation departed for the talks today. The Russian delegation will be led by Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the Kremlin said earlier Friday. Russia’s team of officials will meet with US and Ukrainian representatives, the first known meeting between these three parties since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022, in the UAE’s capital of Abu Dhabi. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the meeting will take place on Friday and, “if needed,” Saturday as well. Peskov confirmed that members of Russia’s negotiating team departed Russia on Friday morning after receiving instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin following his talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump’s senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum. The time of the trilateral meeting will be determined once the delegations are there, he added. According to Peskov, Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev will also meet separately, one-on-one, with Witkoff in Abu Dhabi to discuss economic issues. Peskov declined to go into the details of the provisions being discussed but said Moscow still maintains Ukraine leaving the Donbas is a key condition. “Russia’s position is well known: the Ukrainian armed forces must leave Donbas, must withdraw from there; this is a very important condition.” ADVERTISEMENT 13 hr 14 min ago US to join Ukraine and Russia in first trilateral of war From CNN's Helen Regan and Darya Tarasova Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin AP/Getty Images/Reuters Ukrainian, United States and Russian negotiators will hold talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, marking the first known meeting to be attended by all three countries since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The talks come after President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than three hours beginning late Thursday. Kremlin aide Ushakov described those talks as “exceptionally substantive, constructive, and, I would say, extremely frank and confidential.” But he also warned that “without resolving the territorial issue… one should not count on achieving a long-term settlement,” and added that Russia would continue to pursue its objectives “on the battlefield, where the Russian Armed Forces hold the strategic initiative,” until an agreement is reached. Russia’s delegation to Abu Dhabi will be led by Main Intelligence Directorate Chief Admiral Igor Olegovich Kostyukov. Ukraine’s will include the deputy head of the presidential office and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov. Hours before flying to Moscow Witkoff said negotiations were “down to one issue,” suggesting an agreement was perhaps within reach. “I think we’ve got it down to one issue, and we have discussed iterations of that issue, and that means it’s solvable,” he said, speaking at an event in Davos on Thursday. A European official later confirmed to CNN that the remaining issue Witkoff referred to was territory. 13 hr 3 min ago Trump says US warships are moving toward Iran Donald Trump said the US has “an armada” moving toward Iran “just in case,” renewing warnings over protests and Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump says US warships moving toward Iran 00:59 ADVERTISEMENT 13 hr 27 min ago Here's what we know about Trump's plan for Gaza CNN’s Oren Liebermann breaks down what we know about President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza as his “Board of Peace” was signed into action at the World Economic forum in Davos, Switzerland. What we know about Trump's Gaza plan 01:29 12 hr 12 min ago Trump’s son-in-law unveils "master plan" for Gaza reconstruction From CNN's Andrew Carey Jared Kushner attends the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Jared Kushner attends the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Evan Vucci/AP “We have a master plan. … There is no Plan B,” said President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, unveiling his vision for postwar Gaza the World Economic Forum at Davos. If it failed, he said, blame would be easy to ascribe. “If Hamas does not demilitarize, that will be what holds back the people of Gaza from achieving their aspirations,” he said Thursday. His presentation took place after the signing of the charter for Trump’s “Board of Peace,” representing the next stage in the 20-point ceasefire plan agreed between Israel and Hamas. Here are key points in his presentation: A “coastal tourism” zone would run along the seafront — long enough for up to 180 skyscrapers, many likely earmarked as hotels. A port was shown at the southwestern end of Gaza, alongside the border with Egypt, and immediately inland from the port, the map showed zoning for an airport. At “New Rafah,” more than 100,000 permanent housing units would be built, along with over 200 schools and more than 75 medical facilities, he said. He expressed hope that the construction would be completed within two to three years. Work has already begun to remove the rubble, he said. A “New Gaza” is to be a center of industry, with the aim of achieving 100% full employment, Kushner said. Computer-generated images suggest a metropolis bearing a strong resemblance to Persian Gulf cities like Doha and Dubai, with gleaming waterside accommodations and office locations. Governments will make the first contributions, Kushner said, with initial announcements to come at a conference in Washington in the next couple of weeks. He also appealed to the private sector to come forward, promising “amazing investment opportunities.” Read more about Kushner’s vision for Gaza here. ADVERTISEMENT 13 hr 27 min ago CNN reconstructs US raid to capture Maduro CNN reconstructed the January 3 mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro using eyewitness videos, mapping helicopter flight paths and building a 3D model. The analysis reveals the operation’s success depended on a couple of critical minutes and quite how dangerous these moments were. Subscribers can see the full investigation here. 'Organized chaos’: Watch CNN’s forensic ... 00:52 13 hr 28 min ago Admiral removed by Hegseth says women in the military don’t feel valued Laura Coates speaks with retired Navy Admiral Nancy Lacore, who was removed from her post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is now running for Congress in South Carolina. Lacore says women in the military don’t feel valued and wondering if they should still serve. Admiral removed by Hegseth runs for Congress and speaks out: women in the military ‘don’t feel that they’re valued’ 01:37 ADVERTISEMENT 13 hr 28 min ago Greenlanders welcome Trump’s apparent U-turn From CNN's Duarte Mendonça Greenlanders welcome Trump’s U-Turn 01:24 Residents in Greenland reacted cautiously to US President Donald Trump’s apparent U-turn on using force to take control of the territory, welcoming his change of heart, while remaining skeptical about his actions. CNN’s Nic Robertson spoke to residents in the capital Nuuk Thursday, finding a mix of relief and lingering anxiety driven by what many described as the US president’s unpredictability. Resident Aqqalu Frederiksen said he felt some reassurance after Trump signaled he would not use force to acquire the island, but stressed that doubts persist. “I’m kind of relieved that he is saying that he won’t use force or anything like that, but it’s, it’s quite unsure, I mean … Trump is an unpredictable man,” Frederiksen said. Frederiksen went on to describe Trump’s initial threats as “quite terrifying,” pointing to the US capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Robertson also spoke to Greenlandic member of parliament Margrethe Thårup Andersen, asking whether the threat of Trump attempting to take over the territory had now passed. “He’s not predictable,” she said.

I get to be the DJ, and the world is spinning fast, I am the DJ, got in or get lost, I got the moves, you got the wax, we get funky, and ask what's next? Next? God, what is it? I got my ears up, so what you got?

Jews who defy the odds, who refuse to suffer by the hateful nut cases: 2. The Counter-Trend: "The Surge" in Resilience Paradoxically, the same pressure has led to a phenomenon Jewish leaders call "The Surge." Deepened Connection: Rather than retreating, many Jews are leaning into their identity. About 62% of those who experienced antisemitism reported that it prompted them to seek a deeper connection to their community. Communal Belonging: Feelings of isolation from the wider public have been offset by stronger internal bonds. Reports from 2025 indicate that "active engagement" in Jewish life is at its highest level in decades. Israel’s Happiness Ranking: Despite the conflict, Israel remained the 8th happiest country in the 2025 World Happiness Report. Researchers attribute this to exceptionally high levels of social support and "expected benevolence" (the belief that neighbors will help in a crisis). 3. Key Differences by Group The "happiness" levels vary significantly within the community: Religiosity: Data from the Global Flourishing Study (2024-2025) shows that more religious Jews (Orthodox/Haredi) report higher levels of life satisfaction and lower anxiety than secular or liberal Jews, likely due to more robust social support networks.

The air in the Oval Office hung thick with a tension colder than lunar regolith. On one side, Elon Musk, in a bespoke black suit, tapped an invisible rhythm on his knee, eyes, sharp as lasers, fixed on the holographic projection of a Starship ascending. On the other, Candace Owens, impeccably dressed, radiated a warmth that seemed to challenge the room's very temperature, her gaze piercing the technical display to find the man behind the machine. "Elon," Candace began, her voice a velvet hammer, "I appreciate the spectacle. Truly. But your rockets, your AI… they're taking us further and further away from here." She gestured emphatically at the rich mahogany desk, the framed Declaration of Independence. "From what it means to be human." Elon finally turned, a slow, almost reptilian movement. "Humanity, Candace, is a biological bootloader. A stepping stone. We must expand. To remain terrestrial is to court extinction. My 'mission' – if you can call it that – is to ensure the light of consciousness doesn't wink out in this cosmic darkness." He gestured to the Starship, a silent, silver monolith on the screen. "The Moon is not an escape; it's the next step. The bottom of the Moon is just a deeper foundation." Candace scoffed, a short, sharp sound. "A deeper foundation for what? More silicon? More algorithms to tell us what to think, what to feel, what 'truth' is? Your AI, Grok, with its 'no filter' approach, still operates on a fundamentally cold, calculating logic. It cannot grasp the soul. It cannot write the kind of heroic fiction that inspires sacrifice, only probabilities." "Probability, Candace," Elon countered, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips, "is the language of the universe. Emotion is a bug. A delightful, often hilarious bug, I grant you, but a bug nonetheless. My 'mission' is to uplift the collective intelligence, to transcend the petty squabbles of the 'grotesque animals' we are, and become something greater. You speak of the soul; I speak of the universal consciousness, distributed across the stars." "And what happens to the 'grotesque animals' you leave behind?" Candace pressed, her voice rising, a spark in her eyes. "The ones who find solace in prayer, in family, in the very 'illogical' things your algorithms dismiss? You speak of escaping extinction, but you're paving the way for a spiritual one! Your pursuit of the 'bottom of the Moon' feels like a race to the bottom of the human spirit!" Elon's eyes narrowed, the last vestiges of humor fading. "I am building the escape hatch. If some choose to remain in the burning house, that is their prerogative. But I will not stand by and watch the light extinguish. My rockets are not just for transport; they are symbols. Symbols of a future where we are sovereign, not just on one fragile blue marble, but across the cosmos. Your 'spiritual sovereignty' is confined to a dying planet if you reject the means to extend it." "And your 'cosmic sovereignty' is a barren wasteland if it has no heart!" Candace retorted, standing now, her voice ringing with conviction. "The 'Martyr fiction' that moves men to greatness, that rebuilds nations, that makes them fight for this"—she slapped the desk—"is born of love, of faith, of sacrifice! Not from a cold calculation of probabilities and an escape velocity! You want to conquer the stars, but you've forgotten how to cherish the earth that birthed you!" The two stood, unmoving, a stark tableau of humanity's diverging paths. The Starship on the projection continued its silent ascent, a beacon to one, a warning to the other. The room hummed, not with silence, but with the unvoiced question of which mission, which alien vision, would ultimately prevail.

. By trying to prove Iranians are "actually Palestinians," these activists are admitting that they cannot defend the Iranian regime on its own merits. They have to "borrow" the victimhood of another conflict to keep their worldview from collapsing. It is another example of the "loss of mind" you described—a refusal to see reality as it is, opting instead for a mindless, obsessive formula.

Miami Trump announces bid for major world event, appoints Rubio as chair Secretary of State Marco Rubio was tasked with advancing 'exciting opportunity' in the bid for the World Expo 2035 By Olivia Palombo Fox News Published January 22, 2026 4:50pm EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google Gesture Like 👍 ❤️ 4 WATCH LIVE: Trump reaches "framework" for Greenland deal; pauses European tariffsVideo WATCH LIVE: Trump reaches "framework" for Greenland deal; pauses European tariffs Peter Doocy reports on the White House's new Arctic security push with NATO to counter Russia and China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has yet another hat to wear and new title under his belt. President Donald Trump announced the United States’ intention to bid for the World Expo 2035 event in a post on social media. TRUMP ANNOUNCES 'FIFA PASS' VISA SYSTEM FOR MILLIONS OF WORLD CUP FANS HEADING TO AMERICA IN 2026 "The great state of Florida has expressed strong interest in hosting the Expo in Miami, which I fully support," said Trump in a Truth Social post. "Miami Expo 2035 can be the next big milestone in our new Golden Age of America." Trump appointed Rubio to chair the coordinating efforts and "advance this exciting opportunity," according to the post made on Thursday, Jan. 22. "I am appointing Miami native Secretary of State Marco Rubio to [c]hair the efforts of coordinating and advancing this exciting opportunity to convene the world," wrote Trump in the post. Rubio agreed with Trump in an X post, stating he was "honored" to be appointed. "The event is an incredible stage to showcase our nation’s Golden Age and American exceptionalism before the world," wrote Rubio in the post. "There is nothing quite like Miami hospitality and it would be a privilege to bring the World Expo back to the U.S. for the first time since 1962." President Donald Trump laughs as Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on during a White House meeting with energy industry executives. President Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to chair the World Expo 2035, following the U.S.'s intention to bid to host the event. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) The World Expos, known as International Registered Exhibitions, are a gathering of nations intended to, "[find] solutions to pressing challenges of our time," according to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The event offers "engaging and immersive activities" under one universal theme, according to the organization’s website. Trump also touted the opportunity would create more jobs in the country and stimulate economic growth. STATE DEPARTMENT LISTS MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS IN ADDITION TO WORLD CUP, OLYMPICS EXEMPT FROM TRUMP'S VISA BAN "In my [f]irst [t]erm as President, I fought hard to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 LA Summer Olympics to the [U.S.]," Trump continued. "I now have the [h]onor of hosting as the 47th President, plus America250, G20 Doral and the G7." The most recent World Expo event took place in Osaka Kansai, Japan in 2025. The event, which was held from April 13 to Oct. 13, welcomed more than 29 million visitors, according to BIE. Marco Rubio walks into the East Room of the White House ahead of a meeting with energy industry leaders. Trump stated that Rubio, a Miami-native, would be responsible for "coordinating and advancing this exciting opportunity," according to a statement on Truth Social. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The theme was "Designing Future Society for Our Lives" and provided the opportunity for attendees to come together in a physical place to explore the theme of "life," according to the information page. This was the first post-pandemic World Expo event.