Greetings! Happy International Mother Language Day to those celebrating.

Let’s get into today’s top stories.

🌍 Huckabee’s land comments trigger Arab and Muslim backlash. United States ambassador Mike Huckabee told Tucker Carlson Israel had broad rights. He said, “It would be fine if they took it all". Carlson framed it with Genesis and land claims. He pressed “Nile to Euphrates” as a biblical map. Huckabee answered that would be “a big piece of land". Egypt and Jordan condemned the remarks quickly. Saudi Arabia called it extremist rhetoric and unacceptable. The League of Arab States warned it inflames religious and national emotions. Critics say the Greater Israel propaganda comprises irredentist rhetoric, expansionist and imperialist by nature, deeply inappropriate and irresponsible coming from a diplomat, especially following the Palestinian genocide.

🇳🇴 Norway hits 18 golds and reaches 40 medals overall. Norway swept the men’s 50-kilometer cross-country podium in Italy. That sweep delivered its 18th gold medal, a new Winter Olympics record, with 40 medals overall. Photos captured Johannes Høsflot Klæbo in cross-country racing. Another image showed biathlete Johannes Dale-Skjevdal with gold. Norway’s surge has spanned endurance and shooting events. The Milan Cortina Games have become a Norwegian highlight reel. Rivals are left chasing seconds and survival points. Norway is winning, and the margin looks comfortable.

🏢 Towns say ICE buys detention sites with little warning. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been buying large warehouses quietly, with 20+ communities in play. The expansion is tied to a $45B detention buildout. In Socorro, Texas, Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr said nobody called first. Local officials said they learned after deals closed. One site compared to 4½ Walmart Supercenters in volume. In Berks County, Pennsylvania, ICE bought a building for $87.4M. A commissioner warned of losing more than $800K in local taxes. In Social Circle, Georgia, officials heard plans through a reporter. They said a 7,500 to 10,000-bed plan dwarfs a town of 5,000.

🧾 Trump says 15% global tariff is next after court loss. President Donald Trump said he wants a 15% global tariff. He said that is up from the 10% he announced earlier. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) had struck down his broader tariffs. He responded with new threats and a new legal theory. He posted that the court decision was ridiculous and anti-American. He called Justice Brett Kavanaugh his new hero. Trump already signed an order for a 10% import tax. It starts Tuesday, the same day as his State of the Union speech. That authority lasts 150 days unless Congress extends it. He is promising pressure, even when judges say no.

🗽 New York City braces as blizzard warnings widen. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued blizzard warnings along the East Coast. New York City, Long Island, and Boston were named directly. Forecasters said 1 to 2 feet of snow is possible in many areas. They warned the storm could start as rain, then flip hard. The heaviest snow was expected at night. Some areas could see up to 2 inches per hour. Winds of 25 to 35 mph could cut visibility sharply. The NWS warned travel could become dangerous or impossible. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said crews are scaling up. He said forecasts jumped from 3-4 inches to 13-20+ inches quickly.

🎺 Willie Colón dies at 75, leaving salsa’s city heartbeat. Willie Colón died Saturday at 75, his family said. He was a trombonist, composer, arranger, and singer, known as the architect of urban salsa, who produced 40+ albums which sold 30M+ copies worldwide. He collaborated with Celia Cruz and David Byrne. He also worked with the Fania All Stars in New York. With Rubén Blades, “Siembra” became a bestselling salsa landmark. Colón earned 10 Grammy nominations and one Latin Grammy nomination. His manager Pietro Carlos said Colón made salsa speak.

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That’s all for today!

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See you tomorrow!