AnewZ Morning Brief - 18 January, 2026

AnewZ Morning Brief - 18 January, 2026
Reuters

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 18 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.

Trump vows tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland

President Donald Trump vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmark's vast Arctic island.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said additional 10% import tariffs would take effect on 1 February on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain, which are already subject to U.S. tariffs.

World leaders invited to U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza

Leaders from several countries have received invitations to join a so-called U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’, an initiative that would initially aim to end the conflict in Gaza before expanding to address other global disputes, diplomats said on Saturday.

The White House on Friday announced some members of the board, which would oversee Gaza’s temporary governance under a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October, before continuing its work elsewhere.

Iran's leader Khamenei accuses Trump of inciting deadly protests

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed President Donald Trump for weeks of demonstrations that rights groups said have led to more than 3,000 deaths.

"We consider the U.S. president criminal for the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation," Khamenei said, according to Iranian state media.

The protests erupted on 28 December over economic hardship and swelled into widespread demonstrations calling for the end of clerical rule in the Islamic Republic. 

Syrian army continues advance against Kurdish-held towns

The Syrian army continued its push into Kurdish-held territory on Saturday, despite U.S. calls to halt its advance in towns in the area in northern Syria.

State media said the army took over the northern city of Tabqa and its adjacent dam, as well as the major Freedom dam, formerly known as the Baath, west of the Syrian city of Raqqa.

Syrian Kurdish authorities had not acknowledged their loss of control over those strategic points, and it was unclear if fighting was still ongoing.

Death toll in Philippine landfill collapse climbs to 36

The death toll from a recent landfill collapse in the Philippines has risen to 36 as the body of the last missing person was recovered, officials said on Sunday.

The accident occurred on 8 January at a privately operated landfill facility in Cebu City, in the Central Visayas region, where workers were present at the time of the collapse. 

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