Evening Brief: Trump Cites Nobel Snub, Israel Weighs Role on Trump’s Gaza Board, Blast in Central Kabul Kills at Least Seven

  MLK Day Marked by Reflection and Protest as Tensions Rise Over Civil Rights Policies Communities across the United States marked the 40th federal observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday with parades, worship services, and service projects, even as political tensions shaped many events. The holiday came amid criticism of US President Donald Trump’s administration for rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, expanding immigration enforcement, and targeting policies that civil rights leaders say undermine King’s legacy. Speakers at events in Atlanta, Washington, and other cities warned of threats to voting rights, racial justice, and immigrant communities, while advocacy groups organized rallies and demonstrations under themes of resistance and reclamation. Conservative voices urged a focus on King’s message of individual character and colorblind equality. Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we honor a leader who taught us that ‘Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.’ We salute our Soldiers who embody this spirit of selfless service to our nation every day. pic.twitter.com/S9vAxRsKZ1 — U.S. Army (@USArmy) January 19, 2026 Despite isolated cancellations tied to safety or budget concerns, most events went forward, underscoring how King’s legacy continues to inspire both commemoration and debate over the nation’s direction on civil and human rights.   Snowstorm Triggers 100-Vehicle Pileup on Michigan Interstate A powerful winter storm fueled by Great Lakes snow caused a massive chain-reaction crash involving more than 100 vehicles on Interstate 196 in western Michigan on Monday, authorities said. The pileup occurred southwest of Grand Rapids as blowing snow reduced visibility and made roads slick, forcing state police to shut down both directions of the highway for hours. More than 30 semitrailer trucks were among the vehicles involved, and officials reported numerous injuries but no deaths. Massive 100+ vehicle PILEUP shuts down highway in west Michigan Multiple injuries after numerous slide-offs and crashes during state’s battle with winter storm pic.twitter.com/WX7lj4mduv — RT (@RT_com) January 19, 2026 Law enforcement and towing crews worked in frigid conditions to clear the wreckage and transport stranded motorists to a nearby high school for shelter.   High-Speed Train Collision in Southern Spain Kills at Least 40 At least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured after two high-speed trains collided Sunday night in southern Spain, authorities said Monday. The crash occurred at 7:45 p.m. local time in the Andalusia region when the rear of a Malaga-to-Madrid train derailed and struck an oncoming Madrid-to-Huelva train, sending carriages off the track and down a slope. Regional and national officials said rescue crews recovered bodies from heavily damaged cars and evacuated all survivors by early Monday. Experts investigating the deadly high-speed train derailment in Adamuz, Spain, identified a broken rail joint as the likely cause, after dozens were killed and more than 100 were injured https://t.co/EUkVjyLAOg pic.twitter.com/7yPlVsmOnX — Reuters (@Reuters) January 19, 2026 The incident prompted Spain’s prime minister to declare three days of national mourning as investigators began examining the cause of the crash, which occurred on a recently renovated, flat stretch of track. Officials said both trains were traveling below the speed limit, and an inquiry will focus on infrastructure or equipment issues.   Ukraine Rolls Out Interceptor Drones to Brace for New Russian Air Strikes Ukraine is overhauling its air defense system by deploying small mobile teams equipped with interceptor drones as it prepares for new large-scale Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday. The shift comes after recent Russian strikes knocked out power and heating across thousands of apartment blocks, especially in Kyiv. Zelenskyy said the Air Force will adopt a new approach that combines mobile fire groups, short-range defenses, and interceptor drones, with newly appointed deputy Air Force commander Pavlo Yelizarov overseeing the effort. Ukraine’s security service released new footage showing its mid-range attack drones knocking out Russian radar and air-defense systems, claiming the strikes caused more than $4 billion in damage last year. pic.twitter.com/TuGL732RFj — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) January 19, 2026 Ukrainian intelligence has warned that Russia is scouting potential targets, including power substations linked to nuclear plants.   Czech Government Rejects Plan to Send Combat Jets to Ukraine The Czech Republic will not sell or donate light combat aircraft to Ukraine, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Monday, dismissing a proposal floated by President Petr Pavel to help Kyiv counter Russian drone attacks. Pavel said last week that Prague could quickly provide several subsonic L-159 jets and confirmed that Ukraine had offered to purchase the aircraft. Babis said the Czech military needs the planes and has no surplus aircraft to spare. Czech Republic blocks combat jet support for #Ukraine ✈️⚠️ PM Andrej Babiš flatly rejected sending or selling L-159 jets to Kyiv openly contradicting President Petr Pavel after Ukraine offered to buy the aircraft to counter Russian drones. pic.twitter.com/Q2RWLHJFz4 — Defence24com (@Defence24eng) January 19, 2026 The decision reflects a broader policy stance by Babis’ government against providing military aid to Ukraine and follows opposition from coalition partners critical of supporting Kyiv. The move maintains Prague’s existing position, despite pressure from Ukrainian officials and differing views within the Czech leadership as Russia’s war continues.   Israel Weighs Role on Trump’s Gaza Board as Global Invitations Stir Debate Israel has been invited to join US President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace, a proposed international body tasked with overseeing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction plan, according to an Israeli official on Monday. It remains unclear whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the invitation, as questions persist over the board’s mandate, composition, and authority. The United States has extended invitations to a wide range of countries and entities, including Russia, Belarus, Thailand, the European Union, and several Middle Eastern and Latin American states, with Morocco becoming the first Arab country to accept. France said it will not join for now, citing concerns about the board’s compatibility with the United Nations framework. The board would supervise disarmament of Hamas, deployment of an international security force, and Gaza’s reconstruction, with permanent membership tied to a $1 billion contribution. US President Donald Trump reached out to around 60 countries to contribute $ 1 billion to become permanent members of the so-called Board of Peace for Gaza. Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/pjj3uLwOA3 — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) January 19, 2026 The initiative has drawn criticism within Israel, especially from far-right officials, and comes as Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains fragile and violence continues in Gaza and the West Bank.   Iran Unrest Raises Fears Over Control of Nuclear Material, Analysts Warn Analysts are warning that Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests and rising tensions with the United States could create serious nuclear proliferation risks if internal instability worsens. Experts say that in a scenario of sustained unrest or government destabilization, Iran could lose control of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, raising the possibility of theft, diversion, or misuse. ICYMI 🔴 Iran issued a three day ultimatum to protesters, urging them to surrender voluntarily and promising leniency. Police commander Ahmad-Reza Radan said those involved in what THE IRGC describe as riots are not “enemy soldiers” but “misled youths,” adding that anyone who… https://t.co/78Mb9iOkOT — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 19, 2026 Iran holds about 441 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent, close to weapons-grade levels, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has been unable to verify the material’s location since a brief war in June that included US strikes. The warnings come as US President Donald Trump called for an end to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule and as a US aircraft carrier moved toward a route that could lead to the Middle East. While experts stress there is no current sign of Iran losing command over its nuclear sites, they caution that prolonged chaos could increase risks to nuclear security and regional stability.   Clashes Near IS Prisons in Syria Trigger Breakout as Government and Kurds Trade Blame Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters clashed on Monday around two prisons holding Islamic State (IS) detainees in northeastern Syria, leading to deaths, injuries, and at least one prison break. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said nine of its fighters were killed and more than 20 were wounded during fighting near the Shaddadi and al-Aqtan prisons, which house suspected IS members. Syrian authorities reported that detainees escaped from Shaddadi Prison amid the chaos and imposed a curfew as search operations continued. Syrian government forces have taken over Al-Aqtan and Shaddadi prisons in northeast Syria, starting to release ISIS inmates. Troops are also deployed at Al-Hol prison in Hasakah, where ISIS families are attempting a major breakout. https://t.co/65WMbbDZB8 pic.twitter.com/npbBSTFOKQ — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 19, 2026 The violence erupted a day after a ceasefire agreement that followed days of fighting in which government forces seized large areas from the US-backed SDF. US forces entered the prison area to help mediate, as both sides accused each other of facilitating the detainees’ escape, raising renewed concerns over the security of thousands of IS prisoners held in the region.   Blast in Central Kabul Kills at Least Seven, Injures Dozens An explosion struck a restaurant in downtown Kabul on Monday, killing at least seven people and wounding about a dozen others, according to an Italian medical charity operating in the Afghan capital. The blast occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw district, an area with restaurants and businesses, though authorities have not yet identified the cause. #Afghanistan 🇦🇫: Islamic State – #Khurasan Province (#ISKP) carried out a suicide attack targeting #Chinese nationals in #Kabul. The militant, who carried out the suicide bombing attack, was posing with a Type 3 AKS-47 assault rifle and #China-made 🇨🇳 CF-98 pistol. pic.twitter.com/g2LUsXsWSM — War Noir (@war_noir) January 19, 2026 The non-governmental organization (NGO) EMERGENCY said its surgical center received 20 casualties, including women and a child, with several victims suffering serious injuries. Afghan interior officials confirmed deaths and injuries but provided no detailed figures. Chinese state media reported that two Chinese nationals were seriously injured and a security guard was killed, underscoring international concern as investigators work to determine who was responsible and why the explosion occurred.   India, UAE Seal New Deals to Double Trade to $200 Billion by 2032 India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a series of agreements Monday in New Delhi aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in trade, energy, defense, space, food security, and emerging technologies, building on a comprehensive economic partnership signed in 2022 that has already pushed trade past $100 billion. India agreed to import 500,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually from the UAE starting in 2028, while the two sides advanced plans for a strategic defense partnership and new UAE investments in India’s Gujarat state. BREAKING: UAE President 🇦🇪 and Prime Minister of India 🇮🇳 witness the exchange of a number of agreements and MoUs.. including defence partnership; initiative to develop space industry; agreement between ADNOC Gas and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited; and investment… pic.twitter.com/HZWFuUqqIf — حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@Sajwani) January 19, 2026 The agreements come amid heightened tensions in West Asia, underscoring both countries’ push to deepen strategic ties and promote regional stability as geopolitical uncertainty grows.   Japan’s New Prime Minister Calls Snap Election to Push Tax Cuts and Defense Buildup Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced Monday that she will call a snap national election on February 8, dissolving parliament this week to seek voter approval for higher government spending, tax cuts, and a new national security strategy. The election will decide all 465 seats in the lower house and mark Takaichi’s first electoral test since becoming Japan’s first female prime minister in October. She is campaigning on a pledge to suspend the eight percent consumption tax on food for two years and to accelerate a military buildup that would raise defense spending to at least two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) amid rising tensions with China. BREAKING: Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi calls snap elections for February 8th to capitalize on her high approval rating: She will campaign on her new security strategy of speeding up Japan’s military build-up in order to counter Chinese aggression 🇯🇵🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/Qw25FTlwMV — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 19, 2026 The vote comes as inflation and living costs dominate public concern and as opposition parties unite to challenge her ruling coalition’s narrow majority.   Sources: News Agencies