Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
U.S. Announces Additional $6 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Oil Sanctions and Fuel Shortages 
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party said it would oppose a key element of the British government’s post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union. However, the DUP added that it would still consider the deal should additional concessions be made.
The DUP said in a statement on Monday that it will vote against the post-Brexit trade deal the UK has with the EU known as the Windsor Framework and originally known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson cited that the “Stormont Brake” provision in the new deal does not address the issue of the EU’s role in the protocol.
“Our party officers…met this morning and unanimously agreed that in the context of our ongoing concerns and the need to see further progress secured whilst continuing to seek clarification, change, and re-working that our Members of Parliament would vote against the draft statutory instrument,” said Donaldson.
The British parliament is set to start the debate and vote on the provision on Wednesday. The brake would allow the UK to prevent new EU laws from being applied to goods in Northern Ireland if asked by a third of lawmakers in the Northern Ireland legislature. The DUP said such provisions do not apply to the existing EU laws in the region.
The provision is still likely going to pass as the opposition Labour Party has expressed support for the agreement. However, the DUP’s decision to propose the deal would increase opposition among Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s own Conservative Party, who refuse to back the deal.
The DUP’s support is crucial to the agreement as being the largest party in the region boycotted the region’s power-sharing government in protest of the post-Brexit rules that prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland.
Sunak’s spokesperson said on the same day that Sunak is ready to assure the DUP over the deal but that there are no plans to make changes to the deal. The spokesperson said the DUP are considered “important partners” for the agreement and that they are willing to answer any questions the party may have. The spokesperson maintained that the government believes the Windsor Framework is still the best deal for the region.
