A shot at Europe and a legal setback for Trump
President Trump criticized Europe yesterday for what he called “unfair” trade practices and regulations during a video appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He vowed to impose tariffs on companies that choose to produce outside the U.S.
In the U.S., Trump was handed a setback in his efforts to rewrite immigration law when a judge temporarily blocked his order to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S. Trump’s order is “blatantly unconstitutional,” the judge said.
“Frankly, I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar would state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,” the judge told Trump administration lawyers. “It just boggles my mind.”
At the start of his second term, Trump has positioned himself as the face of global hard-line conservative populism. Trump falls at the far end of the right-wing spectrum and has promised changes — like deporting millions of undocumented immigrants — that many of his fans in Europe have stopped well short of.
Ukraine is losing fewer soldiers than Russia
The nearly three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine has killed far more Russian soldiers, but Russia is still winning.
Russia has lost about twice as many men to death and serious injury as Ukraine has, according to some independent estimates, but a much larger population and more aggressive recruiting tactics have allowed Moscow to replace losses at a higher speed.
Russian forces have also been bolstered by North Korean troops fighting on the front line. More than 400,000 Russians face about 250,000 Ukrainians, and the gap between the armies is growing.
“The fat man grows thinner,” one military analyst said. “But the thin man dies.”
Related: President Volodymyr Zelensky’s support has dipped badly. With Trump in the White House, he may face a tough re-election.
Hamas takes charge in Gaza
Since the cease-fire started on Sunday, Hamas has been working to show it still controls Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas, but he has never come up with a plan for a realistic alternative that could take control of Gaza. For many residents of Gaza, the swift re-emergence of the Hamas fighters was a surprise.
Related: Two Palestinian militants were killed during the Israeli military operation around Jenin, in the West Bank.
A mass wedding in Thailand yesterday ushered in a new era for same-sex couples who for the first time were legally allowed to marry. Hundreds of people gathered for the ceremony, which took place in one of Bangkok’s biggest shopping malls.
Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia — and only the third place in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal — to allow people of the same gender to marry each other.
Lives lived: José Jiménez, who in the 1960s transformed a Chicago gang into a militant voice for expanded social services, fair housing and education for Puerto Ricans, died at 76.
Critic picks dominated the Oscar nominations
The Oscars handed out a slew of nominations for films that were not widely viewed, but are rooted in progressive politics. Karla Sofía Gascón, who is up for best actress for “Emilia Pérez,” a musical that explores trans identity and Mexico’s drug wars, became the first openly trans actress to be nominated. The film led the pack with 13 nominations overall.
“The Brutalist,” a three-and-a-half-hour study of immigrant trauma, raked in 10 nominations. Demi Moore capped a career comeback with a nod for best actress in “The Substance.” “It’s an eclectic bunch,” our awards season columnist, Kyle Buchanan, told us. “It also makes a lot of Oscar history.”
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