Trump wants nations to pay $1 billion to stay on his peace board | Fortune

Trump wants nations to pay billion to stay on his peace board | Fortune

The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least $1 billion.

According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, President Donald Trump would serve as its inaugural chairman and would decide on who is invited to be members. Decisions would be taken by a majority, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman’s approval.

“Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force,” the draft says.

Critics are worried that Trump is trying to build an alternative, or rival, to the United Nations, which he has long criticized.

The board is described in the charter as “an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.” It would become official once three member states agree to the charter.

Trump would also be responsible for approving the group’s official seal, the document says.

White House officials didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

Trump has invited a number of world leaders, including Argentina’s Javier Milei and Canada’s Mark Carney, to be part of a Board of Peace for Gaza, which would be formed under the broader umbrella of his new Board of Peace.

That plan attracted swift criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the details hadn’t been coordinated with his country.

Several European nations have been invited to join the peace board, according to people familiar with the matter. The draft appears to suggest Trump himself would control the money, something that would be considered unacceptable to most countries who could have potentially joined the board, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.

Several nations strongly oppose the draft of Trump’s charter and are working on collectively pushing back against the proposals, the people added.

The Board of Peace would convene voting meetings at least annually and “at such additional times and locations as the Chairman deems appropriate,” the draft charter says. The agenda would be subject to approval by the chairman. The peace board would hold regular non-voting meetings with its executive board. Such meetings would be convened on at least a quarterly basis.

Trump would also have the power to remove a member, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of member states. “The Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman,” the charter says.

On Friday, the White House announced a first executive panel that would include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair before the formation of the overall board.

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No. 2 Iowa State loses second straight, 79-70 to Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – Day Day Thomas scored 19 points to lead Cincinnati to a 79-70 win Saturday over No. 2 Iowa State, which has lost two straight after winning its first 16 games.

Milan Momcilovic scored a career-high 34 points, hitting eight 3-pointers, for the Cyclones (16-2, 3-2 Big 12) who were looking to rebound after an 84-63 loss to Kansas on Tuesday.

But a desperate Cincinnati team made things difficult, forcing 12 turnovers leading to 20 points. Iowa State trailed by as many as 26 points against Kansas and 17 on Saturday.

Jizzle James scored 15 points and Sencire Harris and Jalen Celestine each scored 12 for Cincinnati (10-8, 2-3) which has won two straight games after starting 0-3 in the league.

Three straight 3-pointers by Celestine gave the Bearcats an early 16-8 lead. Day Day Thomas’ 3-pointer made the score 19-8.

The Bearcats made six 3-pointers in the first half. Moustapha Thiam’s 3-pointer gave them a 35-24 lead.

Iowa State, which leads the nation in three-point percentage, made just one of its first seven three-point attempts. They finished 9 of 21, with eight of those makes by Momcilovic.

Momcilovic’s first made 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining in the first half helped the Cyclones rally from an 11-point deficit to trail 35-31 at halftime.

Joshua Jefferson’s layup tied the score at 38 early in the second half. But Cincinnati answered with an 11-0 run. Jefferson scored 16 points.

Thomas hit a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper to give the Bearcats a 54-42 lead. His third 3-pointer of the night made the score 67-50.

Iowa State responded with a 14-2 run. Momcilovic scored nine of those points to cut the Cyclones’ deficit to 69-64 with 4:38 left. But Cincinnati held on.

Cincinnati was 0-6 in Quad 1 opportunities coming into the game and coach Wes Miller was booed loudly during pregame introductions.

UP NEXT

Iowa State: Hosts UCF on Tuesday.

Cincinnati: Visits top-ranked Arizona on Wednesday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Who do churches really serve? – The Cougar

Lily Huynh/ The Cougar

Most people have seen the viral TikTok trend of people reaching out to local religious centers, primarily churches, asking if they could provide baby formula for a family in need. The woman who posted the original TikTok video reported that out of 30 churches, very few said yes, including a historically Black church, a Buddhist temple and a mosque.

According to the IRS, religious centers are exempt from income tax and receive favorable treatment through the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which protects religious institutions from government burdens such as zoning laws.

This is because religious centers are classified as non-profit organizations; any donations to the church are supposed to be used to further its mission, not go into the pockets of its owners or shareholders.

By furthering the church’s mission, that should include helping the community around them in need, regardless of whether those people attend the church. Serving others isn’t just good practice; it’s a moral and spiritual responsibility that falls on all religious institutions.

When churches say no

Needless to say, this became an uproar on social media, with many people upset about these churches’ blatant disregard for someone in need of their help.

It’s upsetting to hear that the churches whose sole purpose is to preach against actions like greed and gluttony have, unfortunately, fallen into those traps. Corrupt leaders use the words of the Gospel to reel people in for their own monetary and political gain.

In the TikTok video that kickstarted this experiment, the TikToker Nikalie noted that the majority of rejections had come from megachurches. These churches often host thousands of people for sermons and have gone viral for putting on Broadway-esque, show-stopping performances.

About 15 minutes away from UH, you can find Houston’s very own Lakewood Church, which has had its fair share of scandals involving the use of the “Prosperity Gospel” and lack of aid during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. It was also featured in the TikTok experiment as one of the churches that refused to offer formulas.

The meaning of church has been lost to these “preachers” and to the people who support them. A church should not be a business venture; there is no reason for it to offer special benefits to members, as many of the excuses churches have used to deny callers’ baby formula suggest.

Who do churches choose to serve

Many of these churches prioritize people with established memberships, which in turn establishes a toxic hierarchy that puts their members above the communities these churches are supposed to serve. Hierarchy should not exist in a place meant to guide people on their spiritual journeys and to serve as a safety net for those in need.

It’s hypocritical for these places to seek donations yet turn away someone in need of their aid; it goes against the very message they preach.

While the blame should go to preachers who twist the meaning of their faith, responsibility also falls on church attendees to hold their spiritual leaders accountable for their actions. They should not simply defend them out of a belief that they are protecting their own faith.

It’s important to clarify that these incidents do not represent the broader Christian community, and much of the criticism directed at these churches comes from Christians themselves who strongly denounce such actions.

With millions of Christians living in the U.S., the actions of a few should not be taken as representative of the whole community. At the same time, the experiment highlighted a difference: when the creator contacted a mosque, she was told they could provide the formula immediately.

Many have pointed this out and commended the mosque for doing so. It’s interesting to note how different the responses of the church and the mosque were compared to how both religions are viewed in the public eye, especially in the US.

The beauty of faith is that it’s meant to provide comfort for those who seek it. By putting a price tag on faith, you monetize people’s comfort, safety and lives. There couldn’t possibly be anything more immoral than that.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

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Trump’s Billion-Dollar Board of Peace

Imagine you’re the president of a midsize country, and you’re offered a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The only condition: You have to pay the secretary-general of the United Nations $1 billion.

This is something like what Donald Trump is now offering world leaders.

Trump has sent letters of invitation to various heads of government to join a new Board of Peace, which he will chair. The organization was envisioned as part of the United Nations-backed effort for the reconstruction and transitional governance of Gaza. But the new board’s charter, details of which have not been previously reported, appears to give the board a global remit, according to a copy we reviewed. And the price of a permanent position on the board is very steep.

The charter’s membership section, written in legalese that sounds not unlike an application to join the committee of an upscale golf club, says members will be invited by the chairman to participate for a three-year term, subject to renewal by Trump. But there is a way to skip the renewals and lock-in for the long term: “The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force.”

What the money will be used for isn’t stated. Its likely purpose is to fund reconstruction and other revitalization efforts in Gaza and perhaps beyond, in whatever conflicts Trump and the Board choose to address. But the charter doesn’t address that. Its finance section simply states: “Funding for the expenses of the Board of Peace shall be through voluntary funding from Member States, other States, organizations, or other sources.” That could leave interested world leaders wondering where, exactly, their money would go. The White House didn’t respond immediately to requests for clarification.

Though the concept of the Board of Peace was endorsed by the Security Council in November as part of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, the new board’s charter appears to show an ambition to be what Trump has always wanted: a rival to the UN that lacks the latter’s notorious inefficiency.

The first paragraph of the preamble states that “durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed.” And, in case you missed the dig, a little lower the preamble talks of the need for “a more nimble and effective international peace-building body.”

The Board of Peace charter makes no mention of Gaza. And although November’s UN Resolution gave the Board a two-year, extendable mandate ending in December 2027, the three-year terms and permanent, billion-dollar memberships suggests Trump has a much longer time horizon in mind.

The Board of Peace and other measures to address the crisis in Gaza were unveiled in recent days after months of fragile ceasefire. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s friend and special envoy, announced the start of Phase Two of Trump’s peace plan: “the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza,” as well as the establishment of “a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration.” The Board of Peace’s job is to oversee all this. Authorized by the UN Security Council in November, the Board officially formed the day after Witkoff’s announcement, according to a post by Trump on Truth Social.

The Board of Peace has an executive board, which is the organization’s operating committee, as well as a separate panel of Palestinian technocrats, headed by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Sha’ath. The technocrats are responsible for everyday management of Gaza.

Further announcements related to the Board of Peace are expected at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which kicks off Monday. Trump told reporters on Air Force One last week that the board will comprise the “most important leaders of the most important nations.”

In letters of invitation to join the Board of Peace, Trump said, “This Board will be one of a kind, there has never been anything like it!” according to a copy posted on X by Argentinian President Javier Milei. Trump also sent invites to Turkish Premier Tayyip Erdogan, according to an X post by the head of Erdogan’s communications office, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has accepted, according to the Globe and Mail.

If Trump aims to create a UN replacement, that would square with his long-held contempt for the global body that. In September, he went well over his allotted time at the General Assembly for an excoriating speech. “What is the purpose of the United Nations?” he asked, adding that the organization had “tremendous potential” that it was “not even close to living up to.” Trump claimed he had to step in and end wars that the UN was too weak to handle.

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Forever The Finest! Meet The FINER Women Of Zeta Phi BAEta Embodying Sisterhood As The Oh So Sweet StunnerZ In The Divine Nine

The FINER things in life!

Source: IG: @nylashalom

We’re closing out Founders’ Week with the FINER Women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. who, together, have embodied the BluPrint for service, scholarship, sisterhood, and finer womanhood during their 106 years in the Divine Nine.

Founded by five coeds on the campus of Howard University in 1920, the storied sorority raised the consciousness of their people while encouraging the highest standards of scholastic achievement among its members.

From the very beginning, these history-making women believed that sorority elitism overshadowed the true mission for progressive organizations without addressing the societal ills, prejudices, and poverty affecting humanity in general and the Black community in particular.

Since its inception, Zeta Phi Beta has ascended into the national spotlight with programs demonstrating concern for the human condition both nationally and internationally.

With hundreds of chapters worldwide and a membership of over 100,000, the organization made history as the first National Pan-Hellenic Council organization to centralize its operations in a national headquarters, first to charter a chapter in Africa, first to form auxiliary groups, and first to be constitutionally bound to a fraternity: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

The sorority takes pride in transforming communities through volunteer services from members and its auxiliaries via outreach services and support of multiple affiliate organizations.

Notable members of the organization include Chaka Khan, Anita Hill, Zora Neale Hurston, Dionne Warwick, Vivica A. Fox, Sheryl Underwood, Towanda Braxton, Chrisette Michelle, Gwendolyn Brooks, Syleena Johnson, Sarah Vaughn, Anita Hill, Esther Rolle, Tatyana Ali, and more.

How are you celebrating the Zetas this weekend? Tell us down below and enjoy our gallery of the Finest Zeta women on the flip.

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Francesca Hong Is a Socialist Running for Wisconsin Governor

Francesca Hong

This divide has been manufactured by austerity politics that pits workers and communities against one another by scapegoating diverse cities like Milwaukee and Madison. But right now there is a growing resentment toward politicians and the establishment, which requires a working-class candidate that is relatable.

It is imperative we stay hyper-disciplined on affordability, with the plan to implement that agenda: universal childcare, paid leave for all, fully funding public education, cheaper, fairer health care.

We maintain a razor-sharp focus on those issues, but at times how I communicate it will vary depending on the community I’m in. Rural communities are not a monolith. Urban communities are not a monolith. At times I have to use the psychology of asking folks: Aren’t you angry? Doesn’t it make you scared that we have a legislature that is closing your schools because they won’t fund them? Or we can’t fix roads because your municipalities don’t have money from the state to actually make sure that you have good parks and libraries?

So the messaging and how we have these conversations may change depending on where people are. But naming a villain, presenting a plan to fix things, and ensuring that this is the campaign of change that you can take a chance on — because I’m unlike any other candidate.

Great Job Francesca Hong & the Team @ Jacobin Source link for sharing this story.

Family searching for man last seen Thursday in Austin

article

AUSTIN, Texas – A 22-year-old man has been reported missing since Thursday in Austin.

Family members are concerned for his wellbeing, saying he was experiencing delusions when he was last seen.

Avalon Stanley Adams reported missing

What we know:

Avalon Stanley Adams was last seen Thursday, Jan. 15, outside Dell Seton Medical Center on 15th and Red River in Austin.

He’s described as 5’4″, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light facial hair. He was last seen wearing a charcoal Champion branded hoodie, dark plaid pants, a dark T-shirt, sage green high-top shoes, a woven bracelet and a silver chain bracelet.

Family members say Adams may have been taken to a hospital and listed as a John Doe, as he was not carrying ID. They’re asking hospitals, emergency responders and the public for help in their search for Adams.

Anyone with information about Adams’ whereabouts is asked to contact Austin PD.

The Source: Information in this article comes from family members of the missing person.

Austin Missing Persons

Great Job & the Team @ Latest & Breaking News | FOX 7 Austin for sharing this story.

Trump administration’s legal setbacks are good news for offshore wind — and the grid | TechCrunch

The Trump administration suffered a series of legal setbacks this week after judges allowed work to restart on several offshore wind farms under construction on the East Coast.

The Department of the Interior had ordered a stop to five projects totaling 6 gigawatts of generating capacity in December, citing national security concerns. The judicial orders will allow three projects to resume construction: Revolution Wind off Rhode Island, Empire Wind off New York, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind off — you guessed it — Virginia.

The developers each filed lawsuits shortly after the Trump administration issued the stop work order, which had been effective for 90 days.

When announcing the halt just days before Christmas, the government cited concerns the wind farms would interfere with radar operations. It’s a valid concern, and one the government and project developers grappled with throughout the siting and permitting process. Wind farms can be located to minimize disruption to existing radar facilities, and the radar equipment itself can be upgraded to filter out noise generated by whirling turbine blades.

President Trump himself has made it no secret that he’s not a fan of offshore wind: “I’m not much of a windmill person,” he told oil executives last week.

In early hearings, judges weren’t impressed with the government’s line of reasoning. In three separate courtrooms in Virginia and Washington, DC, the Trump administration’s arguments were met with skepticism.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, pointed out the government failed to address several of plaintiff Equinor’s arguments in its lawsuit. Equinor, which is developing Empire Wind, had alleged the Interior department’s order was “arbitrary and capricious.” “Your brief doesn’t even include the word arbitrary,” Nichols said, according to the Associated Press.

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Nichols also questioned why the Trump administration was asking for construction to be halted when its main concern regarding national security appeared to be over the operation of the wind farm.

U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker, who heard Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind developer Dominion Energy’s lawsuit, questioned the government along a similar line. He also said the Interior department’s order was overly broad when viewed in context of the Virginia project.

Two projects remain in limbo as their lawsuits work their way through the courts. Ørsted, which is developing Sunrise Wind, has a hearing scheduled for February 2, while Vineyard Wind 1’s developers only filed their lawsuit on Thursday.

The East Coast could deliver up to 110 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2050, according to a Department of Energy study published in 2024. That would provide a significant boost to some of the most densely populated cities — and data center regions — in the country. The Northeast currently has some of the highest electricity costs in the nation, while the Mid-Atlantic’s grid operator has recently come under fire for rising electricity prices in its territory. Offshore wind, as one of the cheapest forms of new generating capacity, has the potential to slow or reverse the trend.

The potential is even bigger when viewed on a national scale. Offshore wind could generate 13,500 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, which is three times more than the U.S. currently consumes.

Great Job Tim De Chant & the Team @ TechCrunch Source link for sharing this story.

Tesla Granted More Time in US Investigation Into Its Self-Driving Tech

Posted on January 16, 2026

Federal auto safety regulators have granted a five-week extension for Tesla to respond to allegations that its vehicles have broken traffic laws while operating in what the electric automaker calls “full self-driving” mode. Tesla now has until Feb. 23 to answer the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s request for information. The original deadline was Jan. 19, 2025. The preliminary investigation of Tesla’s full-self driving feature was opened in early October of last year after the NHTSA said it had collected dozens of reports of the cars running red lights or driving on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.

Great Job & the Team @ News Talk WBAP-AM for sharing this story.

‘Look at That’: Trump Close-Up Has People Zooming In on His ‘Super Small’ Pupils and Something Else Even More Disturbing

President Donald Trump’s latest viral moment didn’t come from a speech, a soundbite, or a clash with critics. The latest uproar is about a simple photograph that failed to portray his tough guy image.

During Trump’s stop in Dearborn, Michigan, he toured Ford’s River Rouge plant alongside company leadership and members of his administration.

‘Lmaoooooo…I Can Never Unsee It!’: Newsom Goes for the Jugular, Blasts Trump’s ‘Unflattering’ TIME Cover in His Most Ruthless Post Yet

The visit was designed to underscore his economic agenda, highlight U.S. manufacturing, and spotlight Ford’s F-150 pickup truck as a symbol of American industry.

Trump later addressed business leaders in Detroit, framing the day around jobs, production, and domestic manufacturing. While several moments from the visit drew coverage, one image quietly took over the conversation, drawing attention almost immediately to his appearance.

One person wrote, “Got that skin texture of a rotting orange.”

got that skin texture of a rotting orange pic.twitter.com/Mu2Hx8JxJL

— Caitlin⁷ ⊙⊝⊜ (@maltiroo) January 14, 2026

Another added, “The orange is rotting quickly. The real ‘America Liberation day’ is coming soon… more than probably, before the 250th Nation’s birthday.”

Social media users zoomed in on his skin, his eyes, and his expression, turning a routine presidential appearance into a viral spectacle that moved faster than any policy takeaway.

“He’s high as f—k too. His pupils are super small,” one post claimed, while another said, “His eyes look like a predatory lizard’s.”

The reaction that stuck the hardest and spread the fastest distilled the moment into a single line: “Look at that f—king GOBBLER there.”

Trump’s neck piece has long drawn attention from critics, especially around Thanksgiving when he came face to face with someone viewers called his “twin.”

Trump is so funny man.

He channeled his WWE days when pardoning this year’s White House Turkey. pic.twitter.com/4MNYzAUjVG

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 25, 2025

Holiday-season jokes comparing his neck shape to a turkey’s wattle have become a recurring feature of online commentary, resurfacing year after year regardless of the setting. The Michigan image revived that running joke, even though the visit itself had nothing to do with the holiday.

The viral reaction also fit into a pattern that’s followed Trump through recent months.

In December, some viewers watching him speak at a formal White House event quickly stopped focusing on his remarks. Instead, online attention shifted to how tightly his collar pressed into his neck, turning a ceremonial moment into another visual talking point. Screenshots circulated faster than summaries of what he actually said.

The same thing happened again around the new year, when another widely shared photo sparked renewed scrutiny. People dissected his eyes, forehead, and overall appearance, comparing the image to earlier photos and debating what looked different. The discussion wasn’t driven by new information, just a familiar cycle of observation and reaction.

Even earlier appearances followed the same script. Official settings, formal remarks, and carefully staged visuals repeatedly gave way to online fixation once a single detail caught viewers’ attention. Shirts, collars, lighting, posture — nothing escaped commentary once the images hit social media feeds.

By the time the Michigan photo finished making its rounds, it was clear the moment had little to do with manufacturing or economic messaging.

Ultimately, the Dearborn stop underscored a familiar imbalance. Despite the careful staging, industrial backdrop, and economic messaging, the lasting impression came down to optics rather than substance. One photograph reinforced how easily Trump’s public appearances can be overtaken by the visual moments that linger long after the event itself fades from view.

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F.R.O. NEWSIndependent journalism for New Braunfels, Comal County, Guadalupe County, and The Texas Hill Country.

When churches say no

Who do churches choose to serve

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Avalon Stanley Adams reported missing