Evening Brief: Historic Winter Storm Hits Half the US; Ukraine, Russia, and US Begin Abu Dhabi Talks; Iran Denies Trump’s Claim on Protest Executions

Mass Arrests, Business Closures Mark Anti-ICE Protests in Minnesota Police arrested demonstrators at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Friday after protesters overstepped their permit during a statewide mobilization against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge. The protests, organized by labor unions, progressive groups, and clergy, drew hundreds of participants despite Arctic temperatures, with over 700 businesses statewide closing in solidarity. Protesters criticized Delta Airlines’ role in deportations, while clergy and activists called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to leave Minnesota. BREAKING: It’s -14 degrees outside and thousands of protesters are outside the Minneapolis St Paul airport protesting against ICE and Trump. This is America! pic.twitter.com/0gJOagOEl5 — Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 23, 2026 The protests coincided with reports of children detained by ICE, including a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, sparking legal action and public outcry. Black Lives Matter and other civil rights organizations hailed the arrests at earlier demonstrations, including one at a St. Paul church. Organizers planned marches and further actions, emphasizing that Minnesota residents must respond to what they see as extreme government overreach, even amid record-low temperatures and an approaching winter storm.   Marine Corps Rolls Out Large Reenlistment Bonuses to Hold Experienced Troops The US Marine Corps announced this week that it will offer thousands to tens of thousands of dollars in retention bonuses to enlisted service members in fiscal year 2027 to keep experienced Marines in critical roles. The incentives apply to Marines whose contracts expire between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027, and target high-need jobs such as aircraft maintenance and infantry. Under the Selective Retention Bonus Program, eligible Marines can receive primary military occupational specialty bonuses for reenlisting up to five years, with additional “kicker” bonuses that can raise total payouts significantly, including up to $50,000 for certain seven-year lateral moves. The Corps said the bonuses reflect staffing needs, rank, and time in service, while it also confirmed the continued suspension of the Broken Service Selective Retention Bonus Program, which had encouraged former Marines to return to active duty.   US Adds Destroyer to European Patrols as Military Pressure Builds on Iran The US Navy this week deployed the destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) to European waters, expanding the US naval presence as Washington builds up forces amid rising tensions with Iran. The Arleigh Burke-class ship, based in Mayport, Florida, entered the US 6th Fleet area after departing Las Palmas, Spain, and joins other destroyers operating across Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. The move comes as the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group advances toward the region and US Air Force fighters and transport aircraft deploy from the United Kingdom to Middle Eastern bases. US President Donald Trump warned Tehran that a US “armada” is approaching as he considers responses to Iran’s violent crackdown on protests. 🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡ Current overview of U.S. military presence near Iran in the Middle East: 🔸The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Indian Ocean and is expected to enter the U.S. 5th Fleet/CENTCOM area soon 🔸Forward deployment of three F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons… https://t.co/gogIKa5VDM pic.twitter.com/TlRngmlJ8f — GlobalTechtonic (@GlobalTechtonic) January 23, 2026 US officials say the deployments strengthen deterrence, protect carriers, and position forces for potential escalation if diplomacy fails.   US Navy Officer Dies in Djibouti, Investigation Underway The US Navy is investigating the death of Lieutenant Erin W. Crider, a Navy officer stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, who died Sunday in a non-combat incident, officials said Friday. Crider’s remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, on Thursday. US Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Jason Tross offered condolences to the officer’s family and said grief counseling and support are available through the chain of command, mental health providers, and chaplains. An investigation is being conducted into the death of a Navy officer deployed to the U.S. military’s hub in the east African country of Djibouti.https://t.co/JWVoCSQzoW — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) January 23, 2026 No further details about the circumstances of the death have been released.   Starmer Condemns Trump for ‘Appalling’ Remarks on NATO’s Afghanistan Role British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday criticized US President Donald Trump for claiming that NATO troops stayed “off the front lines” during the Afghanistan war, calling the remarks “insulting” and demanding an apology. Trump made the comments in Davos, Switzerland, sparking outrage in the UK, where 457 British personnel died in Afghanistan and tens of thousands were wounded. The criticism came from across the political spectrum, including Prince Harry, who highlighted the sacrifices of British soldiers and families, and former lawmakers who served in Afghanistan. 🚨 BREAKING: Keir Starmer has called on Donald Trump to apologise for his “insulting and frankly appalling” comments about British troops in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/NnXlvlAnEd — Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) January 23, 2026 Trump, who avoided service in the Vietnam War, has repeatedly questioned the commitment of NATO allies in recent days, including during his Greenland controversy, despite the alliance’s historical record of support, notably invoking Article 5 after the 9/11 attacks. Starmer emphasized that Britain “stood shoulder to shoulder” with the US after 9/11, and called on Trump to recognize the bravery and losses of coalition forces, reinforcing the diplomatic strain his comments caused in trans-Atlantic relations.   Ukraine, Russia, and US Begin Abu Dhabi Talks on Donbas Amid Ongoing Tensions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi Friday to discuss a potential end to Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion, with the eastern Donbas region as a central focus. The UAE’s foreign ministry confirmed the two-day talks aim to identify political solutions to the crisis. The talks followed overnight Kremlin meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during which Moscow emphasized that any long-term settlement requires resolving the territorial issue in eastern Ukraine. UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets delegations from Russia, US, Ukraine at trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi pic.twitter.com/ZhW5pGSElc — Viory Video (@vioryvideo) January 23, 2026 Zelenskyy proposed a free trade zone under Ukrainian control in the east and said peace proposals are “nearly ready.” US officials, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO General Alexus Grynkewich, joined the discussions alongside Ukrainian military and security leaders. Speaking after his Davos meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy criticized European allies for slow and fragmented responses, arguing that Kyiv remains vulnerable despite financial and military aid. A good meeting with @POTUS — productive and substantive. We discussed the work of our teams, and practically every day there are meetings or communication. The documents are now even better prepared. We also spoke today about air defense for Ukraine. Our previous meeting with… pic.twitter.com/E1j8kpJazN — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 22, 2026 Trump described the US-mediated talks as “productive” and said both sides are making concessions, though longstanding disputes over boundaries remain the main obstacle.   Syrian Forces Take Control of IS Prison as Kurdish Fighters Evacuate Syrian government forces seized al-Aqtan prison in northern Syria on Friday after hundreds of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) evacuated under a recent agreement, marking the second IS detention center the government has taken over in the region. The Interior Ministry said the prisons authority is now managing the facility near Raqqa and reviewing detainee files, while Deputy Interior Minister Major General Abdul-Qader Tahan inspected the prison. The Syrian gov’t says it has taken over control of al-Aqtan prison, a facility in Raqqa housing a number of ISIL (ISIS) detainees, following the withdrawal of Kurdish-led SDF fighters under a ceasefire agreement https://t.co/YInKhYGg7o pic.twitter.com/os5JoZTJYE — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 23, 2026 The SDF, which captured the last IS territory in 2019, transferred its fighters to Kobani with US coalition support, amid a government siege from three sides. The takeover follows a renewed deal for the SDF to merge into Syria’s defense and interior ministries and comes as the US begins relocating some of the 9,000 IS detainees held by Kurdish forces. Locals in Kobani face severe shortages of fuel, food, and water under freezing temperatures, highlighting the humanitarian strain in the area even as the government consolidates control.   Iran Denies Trump’s Claim on Protest Executions as Death Toll Tops 5,000 Iran’s top prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi, on Friday rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran had halted the executions of 800 detained protesters, calling it “completely false.” Activists report that at least 5,032 people have died in a nationwide crackdown on demonstrations that began in late December, with more than 27,600 arrested, though the exact toll is difficult to confirm amid the country’s ongoing internet blackout. The dispute comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions, as Trump has moved an aircraft carrier strike group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, toward the Middle East, citing potential military action. Iranian officials and clerics have condemned Trump’s statements and criticized international resolutions condemning the crackdown, warning of retaliatory measures against US interests. Iran’s prosecutor general said remarks by US President Donald Trump about executions in Iran were false and said the judiciary does not take orders from foreign governments. Mohammad Movahedi Azad said Trump had said he stopped the execution of 800 people in Iran, but said no… pic.twitter.com/W15HLaxMx8 — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) January 23, 2026 Meanwhile, the UN and human rights groups have expressed concern over contradictory statements from Iranian authorities regarding detainee executions and noted that Iran remains one of the world’s top executioner states.   China Closes Submarine Gap With Diesel Fleet Built for a Taiwan Fight China has rapidly expanded its submarine force by prioritizing conventionally powered diesel-electric boats, allowing the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy to approach US submarine numbers and strengthen its regional posture, according to US analysts and government reports. More than half of China’s estimated 66 submarines are non-nuclear, including over 20 modern Yuan-class boats, a strategy that contrasts with the United States’ all-nuclear fleet of 69 submarines and reflects Beijing’s focus on nearby waters such as the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. The shift matters because diesel submarines are faster to build, quieter in shallow seas, and well suited for China’s anti-access strategy around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has pressured militarily as tensions rise with Washington. US intelligence assesses that Chinese forces aim to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027, while analysts warn that heavy maritime traffic and fortified Chinese island bases heighten the risks of conflict. 🇨🇳🇷🇺🇺🇸 CHINA JUST OVERTOOK RUSSIA AS THE WORLD’S #2 NUCLEAR SUBMARINE POWER China now operates 32 nuclear subs compared to Russia’s 25-28, knocking Moscow to third place for the first time ever. The U.S. still leads with 71, but China’s actively building 16 Type 093B… pic.twitter.com/IMpPczf3vC — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 20, 2026 Looking ahead, experts say China is likely to pivot back toward nuclear submarines—with reported Russian assistance—after achieving near numerical parity, signaling a longer-term ambition to project naval power beyond East Asia.   Airstrike in Myanmar Village Kills 21 Ahead of Controversial Election A military airstrike on Thursday in Hteelin village, Kachin state, Myanmar, killed 21 people and wounded 28, local media and the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) reported Friday. The strike targeted a displaced persons camp, a school, a village market, and a compound where mourners had gathered for prayers, according to Colonel Naw Bu of the KIA. Around 500 people were in the village at the time, including children and infants. The incident occurred ahead of the final round of the country’s three-phase election scheduled this Sunday in Bhamo township, where pro-democracy forces and ethnic militias control parts of downtown. Internet and cellphone service in the area were largely cut off, preventing independent verification. Dozens also wounded as regime air force bombs crowds gathering for ceremonies in Kachin and Magwe.#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar ——————- Help The Irrawaddy Report the Truth from Myanmarhttps://t.co/3StkYCheeRhttps://t.co/eLESqHi0y4 — The Irrawaddy (Eng) (@IrrawaddyNews) January 23, 2026 Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted the elected government in February 2021, with security forces and airstrikes targeting ethnic rebel groups and pro-democracy militias, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. Critics say the upcoming military-managed elections are neither free nor fair.   Sources: News Agencies