Trump plans to take over the Gaza Strip and allow US vessels into the Panama Canal for free in the latest wave of White House headlines. Editor’s warning: mentions of death.

Happening in the World: Panama has denied making changes to allow US government vessels to transit the Panama Canal for free, following White House claims it had agreed to such a move. The State Department said in a statement on X that its government vessels “can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the US government millions of dollars a year”. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said it was “empowered to set tolls and other fees for transiting the canal,” adding that it had “not made any adjustments to them”. (BBC)

Happening in the US: Donald Trump restates his plan for a US takeover of the Gaza Strip, after his idea was rejected by Palestinians and leaders around the world on Wednesday. Trump’s idea for Gaza was met with skepticism from certain members of his own Republican Party, criticism from rival Democratic politicians, and condemnation within the international community. In Gaza, Palestinian demonstrators have been pictured standing outside the al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. (BBC)

Happening in NYC: Human remains have been discovered in a suitcase in the East River, according to the NYPD. Police said they discovered a man’s torso in a suitcase in the East River on Wednesday evening. The NYPD said it still did not know the man’s age and identity as of Thursday morning. Police were investigating the death as likely suspicious, but it was not immediately ruled a homicide. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: “Counter-Terrorism in the University: On the Temporality of Care” will be held on the second floor common room of Heyman Center for Humanities at 12:15 pm. Cambridge-based scholar Niyousha Bastani considers how administrators and educators have framed counter-extremism efforts as an unexceptional mode of care despite its implications of racist surveillance. Advanced registration required. 

Panama Canal via Unsplash