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‘Too late for talks, war could last forever,’ says Trump on Iran

Trump on Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States possesses an almost unlimited stockpile of weapons and is fully capable of sustaining long-term military operations whenever necessary.

In a statement released via social media, Trump said the US is fully prepared and can continue combat operations successfully for an extended period using its current arsenal.

The remarks come after four days of US and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran, escalating tensions in the region and drawing intense global scrutiny.

Trump emphasized that the US is ready for any prolonged campaign and will not retreat from its military objectives. Regarding potential negotiations with Tehran, he took a hardline stance, asserting that while Iran may now seek talks, “it is far too late.”

The president added that Iran’s air defense, naval forces, and military infrastructure have suffered significant damage, and US operations will continue. Speaking briefly at a White House event, Trump said the campaign is progressing faster than initial estimates, with a possible duration of four to five weeks—but stressed that “however long it takes, we are ready.”

Notably, Trump had campaigned on promises to avoid new wars and focus on the US economy, and he has previously criticized the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the current crisis has sparked renewed debate in American politics, particularly with midterm elections approaching.

Trump raises global tariffs to 15% despite Supreme Court ruling

Trump raises global

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced an increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15% following a recent Supreme Court verdict.

In a statement, Trump said he is raising the global tariffs previously imposed on several countries, citing decades of exploitation of the United States by these nations. He added that his administration will legally determine new tariffs in the coming months.

Earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the additional tariffs imposed on other countries were illegal, noting that the law under which they were applied was intended for national emergencies and does not authorize the president to impose extra tariffs.

Responding to the court’s decision, Trump asserted that he retains the authority to act as he sees fit, warning that the temporary satisfaction of other countries would not last.

Following the ruling, Trump had initially imposed a 10% tariff on all countries immediately, before later announcing the hike to 15%.

Stocks surge as Supreme Court blocks key Trump-era tariffs

Stocks surge

Washington: Global financial markets surged after the Supreme Court of the United States delivered a 6–3 ruling striking down most of President Donald Trump’s signature tariffs.

Following the decision, the S&P 500 climbed 0.6%, while the Nasdaq advanced 1%. The rally extended beyond the United States, with European shares, as well as markets in South Korea and India, posting notable gains.

Companies With Heavy Tariff Exposure Lead Gains

The strongest market reaction was seen among companies heavily exposed to tariffs, particularly those reliant on imports from China.

E-commerce giant Amazon rose 2%, reflecting investor optimism as nearly 70% of its goods are sourced from China. Footwear brands Deckers Outdoor, Birkenstock, and Crocs each gained more than 2%.

Furniture retailers also recorded strong performance, with Wayfair and Floor & Decor surging approximately 4%.

Uncertainty Over Tariff Refunds

Despite the positive market response, uncertainty remains regarding the potential repayment of billions of dollars in tariffs already collected.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that the ruling “says nothing about whether, and how, if so, the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected.”

Concerns have emerged that possible refunds could widen the federal deficit. Reflecting these worries, U.S. Treasury yields edged higher, with the 10-year yield rising 2 basis points to 4.096%. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar weakened slightly.

Decision Comes Amid Soft Economic Data

The court’s ruling comes at a time of underwhelming economic performance. Fourth-quarter GDP expanded at an annualized rate of 1.4%, falling short of expectations, partly due to the impact of a government shutdown.

Core inflation remained elevated at 3%, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, underscoring continued economic challenges despite the market’s upbeat reaction to the court’s decision.

US Supreme Court strikes down President Trump’s trade tariffs

US Supreme Court

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump’s global trade tariffs, ruling that he exceeded his authority when imposing them, severely impacting international trade.

According to reports, the court stated that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President the power to impose such tariffs.

The decision is being seen as a major judicial setback for Trump’s economic agenda, as tariffs were considered a key tool of his trade policy.

Experts warn that the ruling could also affect trade agreements made earlier this year, establishing new limits on what policies the President can implement without Congressional approval.

It is noteworthy that Trump had imposed tariffs on multiple countries, including Pakistan. Last month, he had warned that a court ruling against these measures could put the US at a disadvantage.

US deploys largest aircraft carrier near Iran amid rising tensions

US deploys

The United States’ largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has entered the Mediterranean amid rising tensions with Iran and ongoing nuclear negotiations between the two nations.

Naval Deployment Amid Rising Tensions

According to international news agencies, the second round of US-Iran nuclear talks has begun, but tensions remain high. Monitoring websites reported that the USS Gerald R. Ford, part of a Carrier Strike Group, is currently transiting the Strait of Gibraltar, signaling rapid movement toward the Middle East.

The deployment follows orders from US President Donald Trump, who last week instructed the carrier strike group to move toward the region as military options against Iran were being considered.

US defense officials expect the carrier to reach the Middle East within a few days, becoming operationally ready for potential missions against Iran.

Operational Readiness

Images released by the US Department of Defense show F/A-18F Super Hornet jets taking off from the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean, highlighting the carrier’s operational preparedness.

With tensions escalating in the region, this deployment is considered a critical strategic move by the United States as the nuclear negotiations continue.

Trump posts offensive AI video targeting Barack and Michelle Obama

Trump posts offensive

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama in a highly offensive manner, but later deleted it following widespread criticism on social media.

The video, which portrayed the Obamas in a derogatory way, was reportedly posted in error by a White House staff member, according to official statements, and was promptly removed.

Former Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris criticized the White House’s attempt to downplay the incident, saying, “No one is convinced by this explanation. We all know who Trump is and what his views are.”

Meanwhile, Democratic leader Bernie Sanders condemned the video, asking, “Will Republican colleagues continue to kneel before this racist individual?”

Responding to the controversy, Trump stated that he had not fully watched the post before it went up. “As soon as I realized, we took it down. It wasn’t a mistake. I look at thousands of things,” he added.

This incident adds to ongoing tensions between Trump and his political rivals, highlighting the increasingly controversial use of AI-generated media in political discourse.

Melania Trump documentary faces box office flop ahead of release

Melania Trump

The upcoming documentary on First Lady Melania Trump has faced a major setback even before its release at the US and UK box offices.

Produced at a cost of $75 million, the film is scheduled to release on January 30, 2026, but ticket sales in major cinemas in New York and London have been extremely low. Reports suggest that many showings had zero bookings, with only a few seats reserved in some theaters.

The documentary reportedly covers the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, and claims that Melania Trump was paid $28 million for her role.

Amazon reportedly spent $40 million to acquire rights for the film, along with $35 million on marketing, promotion, and distribution.

The film highlights Melania Trump’s life, business ventures, philanthropy, and family responsibilities, and how she helped establish the East Wing of the White House.

 However, some hosts and critics have mocked the film, noting changes made to the historic East Wing during renovations.

Despite promotion on President Trump’s social media accounts urging audiences to watch, ticket sales remain dismal. In New York’s Times Square theaters, evening shows priced at $25 per ticket reportedly sold none.

Social media users have shared images of empty theaters, turning what was intended as a showcase of Melania and Donald Trump’s prominence into a source of public ridicule.

Industry insiders have also criticized the documentary, with some staff members reportedly removing their names from credits over concerns about the film’s propaganda-like tone and impending backlash.

Critics have further targeted Melania for promoting the documentary during significant national events, such as the Minnesota shooting that killed Alex Paretti. Many observers view the film’s poor reception as an ill omen for Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Early projections estimate the film could earn only $1–2 million in its first week, marking a disappointing start for what was intended to be a major cultural and political release.

Trump warns of severe consequences if Iran attempts to kill him

Trump warns

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face devastating consequences if any attempt were made on his life.

Speaking in an interview with American media, Trump was asked about alleged threats from Iran. He said he did not believe the Iranian government would take such a step, but added that he had already prepared a formal notification regarding the matter.

“If Iran kills me, the United States will completely destroy Iran,” Trump stated.

In a recent statement, Iran’s Supreme Leader had blamed President Trump for deaths and damages that occurred during recent protests in Iran.

Meanwhile, a few days earlier, former US ambassador Dan Shapiro claimed that Trump might attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the coming weeks — a claim that further heightened tensions between the two sides.

The remarks have once again fueled concerns over escalating hostility between Washington and Tehran.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump’s plane was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departing for Switzerland night due to a minor electrical malfunction, the White House confirmed. The decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that Air Force One landed back at Andrews Base around 0400 GMT following a brief flight. Journalists traveling with Trump reported that cabin lights went off for a few moments shortly after takeoff.

Despite the technical issue, Trump did not cancel his trip. Instead, he switched to a backup plane and departed again on Wednesday morning to attend the Davos Forum. The new aircraft left Andrews Base approximately two and a half hours after the initial flight.

Air Force One, widely regarded as one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world, has been in service since 1990 as a Boeing 747-200B.

Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the current planes, and delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft had prompted his administration to explore alternative options. Reports also indicated that some of these options raised constitutional, ethical, and security concerns.

The incident caused only minor disruption, and Trump continued his schedule as planned, highlighting the precautionary protocols followed during presidential travel.

Trump widens diplomatic outreach for Gaza ‘Board of Peace’

Trump widens

US President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a Board of Peace to manage interim governance and oversight of state affairs in Gaza.

According to international news agencies, the board will be directly supervised by President Trump, with a majority of its members expected to be Americans.

However, President Trump has also formally invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join the Gaza Board of Peace.

 The Turkish Presidency confirmed that President Erdogan has received an official letter offering him the role of a founding member of the board.

In his letter, President Trump emphasized Turkey’s potential role in maintaining the Gaza ceasefire, ensuring peace, overseeing interim governance, and contributing to reconstruction efforts.

President Erdogan has not yet responded to the proposal and is currently consulting with his close aides. Although Erdogan maintains cordial ties with President Trump, he is known as one of Israel’s strongest critics and has repeatedly described Israel’s actions in Gaza as crimes against humanity.

Due to this stance, Israel has previously opposed any active Turkish role in Gaza-related affairs.

In addition to Turkey, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also received an invitation to join the Board of Peace. Egypt’s foreign minister stated during a press conference in Cairo that the proposal is under review and a decision will be made after considering all aspects.

The White House said the Board of Peace is being established following the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The board’s mandate includes overseeing temporary governance in Gaza, restoring security and law and order, ensuring fair distribution of humanitarian aid, supervising reconstruction, supporting economic recovery, and preparing a framework for Gaza’s future political administration.

Trump names members of Gaza Peace Board amid Middle East plan

Trump names

WASHINGTON / GAZA: Under US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, the governance of Gaza will be managed by a newly formed Gaza Peace Board, replacing Hamas’s administrative role.

 The board will include international leaders and experts to oversee transitional governance and implement the peace plan.

According to global news agencies, President Trump announced the members of the Gaza Peace Board, marking the second phase of the Gaza peace initiative. Trump has appointed himself as chairman of the board, taking responsibility for guiding transitional governance and advancing the peace plan.

Notable International Members

Sir Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister (1997–2007), will serve as an international board member.

US Senator Marco Rubio, a close Trump ally, has been appointed as a member to play a key role in administrative oversight.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, is included as a board member.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for Middle East peace, will also participate in the board.

Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, will provide guidance on international financial support and investment strategies.

Mark Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, will handle economic development, investment, and financial assistance matters.

Robert Gabirel, US Deputy National Security Advisor, will serve as security adviser for strategic and security affairs in Gaza.

Nikole Miladinov, former Bulgarian diplomat and UN Special Representative for the Middle East, will act as a liaison between the board and international committees.

Palestinian Leadership

Dr. Ali Shath, a prominent Palestinian technocrat, has been appointed head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, tasked with daily administration, restoring essential services, and rebuilding institutions.

Executive Board and International Cooperation

An additional Gaza Executive Board has been formed, including international Muslim and Israeli figures:

Hakan Fidan, Turkish Foreign Minister

Ali Al-Thawadi, Qatari diplomat

Gen. Hassan Rashid, Egypt’s intelligence chief

Reem Al-Hashimi, UAE Minister

Yakir Gabe, Israeli businessman

Segerdo Kaag, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands

This executive board will assist the Peace Board in governance, service delivery, and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.