Greenland deal; U.S-Canada tensions; Lisa Cook dinner : NPR

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At present’s prime tales

European leaders will meet for an emergency summit tonight in response to President Trump’s statements on Greenland. Yesterday, after a gathering with NATO, Trump introduced {that a} long-term settlement on Greenland had been reached. As a consequence of this progress, he stated he would not impose the tariffs he had threatened on international locations in that area. Trump additionally stated yesterday that he wouldn’t use power to accumulate Greenland.

• 🎧 The president’s satisfaction with the compromise suggests it’d embrace some restricted switch of land possession and can probably tackle U.S. entry to mineral rights, reporter Teri Schultz tells Up First. She provides that European leaders might really feel that they’ll breathe a bit extra simply now that Trump has walked again his threats of army power and tariffs. Regardless that Trump has known as off the tariffs, the emergency summit will nonetheless be held with a lot much less stress than anticipated. Schultz says the leaders will most probably now focus on contingency plans in case the Greenland deal falls aside and the threats begin once more.

Trump’s strategy to the Greenland drama has antagonized U.S. allies in Europe and past, even sparking pointed exchanges between him and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney, who’s often a low-key politician, went viral together with his Tuesday remarks at Davos, the place he spoke the day earlier than Trump. Carney stated that the worldwide order the U.S. constructed and led for 80 years was not simply strained however had come aside.

• 🎧 It’s exhausting to recall a time when this stage of friction was seen between the leaders of the U.S. and Canada, says NPR’s Greg Myre. Carney didn’t point out Trump by identify in his speech. Nevertheless, in Trump’s speech, he stated that Carney wasn’t grateful and that Canada lives due to the U.S. Over the previous 12 months, Trump threatened tariffs on Canada, imposed them, after which paused some. These actions have elevated tensions over commerce between the 2 international locations, Myre says.

The Supreme Court docket appears prone to block Trump’s try and take away Lisa Cook dinner from the Federal Reserve’s governing board after listening to yesterday’s arguments. Trump has gone to extraordinary lengths to push the central financial institution towards decrease rates of interest, which politicians usually need to enhance the economic system earlier than the following election.

• 🎧 The excessive court docket has usually allowed Trump broad authority to fireplace officers from different unbiased businesses, just like the Federal Commerce Fee, says NPR’s Scott Horsley. Nevertheless, this time round, the justices have signaled that the Federal Reserve is a particular case. Yesterday, Cook dinner’s lawyer, Paul Clement, burdened that Congress arrange the Fed to be insulated from political stress. Rates of interest should not formally the rationale Trump needs Cook dinner fired. The president and his allies have accused Cook dinner of constructing false statements on mortgage functions. Horsley says the justices seem skeptical that Cook dinner may very well be dismissed for that purpose with out having a chance to make her case.

At present’s pay attention

Mandel NGAN / AFP by way of Getty Photos

Iran’s economic system collapsed late final 12 months, sending inflation to report ranges. Iranian residents took to the streets to voice their anger towards the failing system. What started as strikes and walkouts has erupted right into a nationwide motion, and authorities forces have met it with brutal repression. Human rights teams estimate the loss of life toll has reached the 1000’s. Protesters now demand an finish to the Islamic Republic. However what precipitated this, and the way will the U.S. and its allies reply to the protesters’ requires help? On this episode of Throughline, NPR speaks with two Iranian consultants who share their views on the previous, current and way forward for Iran’s protest motion.

Deep dive

Employees load undesirable polyester textiles into the Venture Re:Declare system, the primary commercial-scale polyester recycling plant of its variety, final 12 months in Kettering, England.

Leon Neal/Getty Photos

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Leon Neal/Getty Photos

Many customers on social media are speaking in regards to the downsides of polyester, the artificial textile that dominates the style world. Patrons have expressed frustration that corporations are charging a whole bunch of {dollars} for clothes comprised of the fabric. Customers need to know whether or not polyester delivers worth for his or her cash and what its potential impacts on human well being and the setting are. Here is what we all know.

• 👕 Retailers often use polyester in quick vogue to steadiness the demand for brand spanking new garments with the necessity to hold bills low.
• 👕 Polyester shouldn’t be biodegradable and might take a long time, and probably even centuries, to interrupt down. Even then, it does not go away, however disintegrates into smaller items referred to as microplastics.
• 👕 On-line claims counsel polyester publicity might trigger most cancers and infertility, however medical toxicologist Ryan Marino says polyester has not been confirmed to trigger infertility in people.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Practically 280 filmmakers entered the Web Archive’s Public Area Movie Remix Contest this 12 months. Above, a nonetheless from the 1930 movie King of Jazz.

Common Photos/Web Archive

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Common Photos/Web Archive

1. The video Rhapsody, Reimagined, based mostly on clips from King of Jazz, gained this 12 months’s Public Area Movie Remix Contest. The annual competitors invitations filmmakers worldwide to reimagine public-domain works, together with literary classics, cartoons, and visible artwork.
2. The Sundance Movie Pageant begins for the last time in Park Metropolis, Utah, earlier than shifting to Colorado subsequent 12 months. It can display screen movies that bought their begin on the competition, like Little Miss Sunshine.
3. Wintry climate is on its means this weekend for a lot of the nation. Keep secure by realizing the best way to reply to the Nationwide Climate Service’s alerts and notices.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.