The United States’ ‘Gold Card’ program, launched by President Donald Trump to offer rapid permanent residency for a $1 million fee, is struggling to attract wealthy applicants. According to a CNBC report, the initiative, introduced in December last year, promised record-time residency approvals but has failed to deliver. Court filings reveal that despite the high cost, applicants are not guaranteed faster visa processing, undermining the program’s main appeal.

Data from the Department of Homeland Security show that only 338 people have applied so far, with just 165 paying the $15,000 initial fee. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had earlier projected 80,000 cards and over $100 billion in revenue. Legal experts note that the program’s shaky legal basis—launched by executive order without congressional approval—has led to court challenges. Critics argue it undermines existing EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories.

Immigration consultants say the lack of expedited processing and non-refundable payment make the Gold Card unattractive compared to the EB-5 program, which allows investment-based green cards with potential returns. Despite global demand for relocation among millionaires, the program has yet to gain traction.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the ongoing ceasefire with Iran as extremely fragile, saying it is effectively on life support. Speaking on May 11, 2026, he compared the situation to a patient with only a one percent chance of survival, underscoring his pessimism about the truce’s durability.

Trump also sharply criticized Iran’s response to Washington’s peace plan, calling Tehran’s proposal foolish and laughable. He asserted that no one would accept such a plan, signaling deep dissatisfaction with Iran’s approach to negotiations.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that Trump’s remarks could further heighten tensions between Washington and Tehran. Despite continuing diplomatic efforts to preserve the ceasefire, both sides’ hardened positions have left the situation uncertain and unstable.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a major military move against Iran as peace talks between Washington and Tehran have stalled. According to reports citing American media, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations and is now giving greater weight to military options than before.

Sources close to the discussions said that the ongoing blockade in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and internal divisions within Iran’s leadership are key factors behind Trump’s dissatisfaction. He reportedly believes that these internal conflicts have weakened Tehran’s ability to make significant concessions in nuclear or diplomatic talks.

Advisers to the president indicated that the possibility of military action has become more prominent in recent weeks. They believe Iran’s leadership struggles have reduced the government’s decision-making capacity, making it harder to advance negotiations.

U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has accused former President Donald Trump of pushing the country toward an “illegal and costly” war with Iran. Schumer announced that Democrats will call another vote this week on the War Powers Resolution, aiming to withdraw American troops from the Iran conflict. He said Trump is leading the nation into a directionless and consequence-free war, and urged Congress to act to stop it.

In a post on social media platform X, Schumer stated that ending the “illegal war” is the best way to reduce costs and restore order. He warned that if Republicans vote against the resolution, they will share responsibility for Trump’s war. The War Powers Resolution was originally designed to limit a president’s authority to continue military action beyond 60 days without congressional approval.

Democrats have been trying for weeks to end the Iran conflict, but as the minority in Congress, most votes have split along party lines, making passage of the resolution uncertain.

President Donald Trump has reportedly been musing about who might succeed him within the Republican Party, often asking advisers whether they prefer Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At times, he has even joked about pairing them on the same 2028 presidential ticket. While aides say Trump is not seriously focused on the next election, the question of succession continues to attract attention.

Rubio has recently gained visibility through his handling of questions on the Iran war and a diplomatic trip to Italy, where he met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and will soon accompany Trump to China. This has fueled speculation that Rubio could challenge Vance, though both men are said to maintain a friendly relationship and may avoid direct competition. Polls show Vance enjoys higher recognition among Republican voters, but Rubio’s growing profile and multilingual communication skills appeal to some supporters.

Analysts note that Vance’s close alignment with Trump’s policies could become a liability if the party performs poorly in upcoming midterms, while Rubio’s expanding diplomatic role may strengthen his standing within the party.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at halting ongoing conflicts. Tehran had conveyed its reply through Pakistan, which acted as a mediator. Without providing details, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that he had read the response from Iran’s so-called representatives and found it completely unacceptable.

According to Iranian state television, Tehran’s reply emphasized ending fighting on all fronts, with particular focus on the situation in Lebanon and ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the response did not specify how or when the key maritime route might reopen. The U.S. proposal had sought to stop hostilities before beginning discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and other disputes.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran’s proposal included an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, assurances against further attacks on Iran, and removal of all sanctions, including those on Iranian oil sales.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected Democratic Senator Mark Kelly’s claim that the United States has run out of ammunition and weapons due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Kelly, a retired Navy captain, said in a CBS News interview that Pentagon officials informed him the country had expended a large portion of its munitions. He warned that this shortage could make America less secure if future conflicts arise with China or other nations.

Responding on social media platform X, Hegseth accused Kelly of making false and foolish remarks about a confidential Pentagon briefing. He dismissed the senator’s statements as baseless and said Pentagon legal teams would review whether Kelly violated his confidentiality oath. Kelly also noted that replenishing the stockpile could take several years.

The exchange has sparked debate over transparency and national security readiness, with Pentagon officials emphasizing that Kelly’s claims do not reflect the department’s official position.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directly rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war, according to a report published on May 11, 2026. The United States has not specified the reasons behind Trump’s decision to turn down the offer.

Iran’s proposal called for the lifting of naval blockades, removal of U.S. and international sanctions, and retention of full control over its nuclear ambitions and foreign policy. Washington had previously identified these same issues as the root causes of the conflict. Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the United States remains unwilling to compromise on any of Iran’s demands.

The report adds that the U.S. is particularly concerned about Iran’s growing nuclear ambitions and its military posture toward Israel. Washington also seeks to end Tehran’s support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and to reduce its regional influence. It remains uncertain whether Trump’s rejection will advance these objectives or shift the direction of future negotiations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the ongoing war with Ukraine is 'nearing its end' and expressed willingness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a third country once a peace agreement is finalized. He made the remarks on Saturday after the Victory Day parade at Moscow’s Red Square, where he also pledged Russia’s victory in Ukraine despite a scaled-down celebration this year.

Putin’s comments came as Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day ceasefire and a prisoner exchange of 1,000 detainees each, following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump described the truce as a possible beginning of the end of the long and deadly conflict. Zelensky responded with a satirical statement allowing Russia to celebrate Victory Day and pausing Ukrainian attacks on Red Square, which the Kremlin dismissed as a 'bad joke.'

The war, ongoing for more than four years, has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and massive destruction across Ukraine, while also damaging Russia’s $3 trillion economy. Currently, about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory remains under Russian control.

By the end of 2025, a total of 352,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in the war in Ukraine, according to figures released on Saturday by Russian media outlets Meduza and Mediazona. The conflict has become Europe’s deadliest since the Second World War.

The report noted that the figure does not include those killed in 2026, nor does it cover foreign fighters or members of militia groups formed in occupied Ukrainian territories who fought on Russia’s side. Earlier, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that by the end of 2025, about 325,000 Russian and 140,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the conflict.

The report also stated that Russia is continuing efforts to maintain troop levels on the battlefield, including recruiting fighters from Africa and other regions and enlisting university students to strengthen its expanding drone forces.

An analysis cited by Al Jazeera indicates that the United States may ultimately withdraw from the ongoing war against Iran. The report argues that continuing the conflict could lead to disastrous consequences that Washington would be unable to sustain.

According to the analysis, renewed escalation could destroy vital oil, gas, and water refinery infrastructure across the region, triggering a prolonged global crisis. It claims Iran possesses the capability to inflict damage beyond what the United States or the world could tolerate. The report also notes that the original U.S.-Israeli war plan aimed to eliminate Iran’s top leadership through a “decapitation strike.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly assured U.S. President Donald Trump that such joint strikes would cripple Iran’s government, nuclear program, and senior Revolutionary Guard leadership, paving the way for a pro-Western administration in Tehran.

However, the analysis concludes that current circumstances point toward a U.S. retreat from the conflict.

Former US National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent has alleged that the United States launched its military operation against Iran under pressure from Israel and its influential lobby. According to a Fox News report, Kent wrote on social media that before the conflict began, US intelligence agencies had assessed that Tehran was not developing nuclear weapons and had warned that an attack could provoke Iranian retaliation against American bases and disrupt the Strait of Hormuz.

Kent said professional intelligence assessments were ignored in favor of Israel’s political agenda, arguing that strikes on Iranian leadership would strengthen, not weaken, the regime. He resigned in March citing ethical reasons, reiterating that Iran posed no immediate threat to the US. The White House, through spokesperson Davis Ingle, dismissed Kent’s claims as baseless and misleading, asserting that President Donald Trump acted on strong intelligence and prioritized American safety.

Trump also denied that Israel pressured him into war, saying his decision followed regional tensions after October 7, 2023, and concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Kent’s remarks have reignited debate in Washington over the true motivations behind the Iran conflict and the role of intelligence assessments.

The United States and Iran are moving toward a possible agreement to end their ten-week war, but President Donald Trump’s recent actions have intensified strains with long-standing allies. His decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, threats to reduce forces elsewhere in Europe, and his downplaying of Iran’s recent attack on a Gulf partner have raised doubts about Washington’s reliability in future crises.

European governments, alarmed by Trump’s unpredictable behavior and his questioning of NATO’s value, are strengthening defense cooperation and exploring ways to reduce dependence on the United States. Analysts say Trump’s approach has weakened alliances and eroded trust, particularly after his trade tariffs, pressure on Denmark over Greenland, and reduced military aid to Ukraine. The Pentagon has even hinted at punitive measures against NATO members that failed to support the Iran campaign.

The conflict has also unsettled Asian partners such as Japan and South Korea, who fear diminished U.S. commitment in any future confrontation with China. Meanwhile, Russia and China are watching closely, seeking to exploit the strategic vacuum and present themselves as more stable global partners.

An international survey released on Friday by the Denmark-based Alliance of Democracies Foundation found that the United States’ global image has deteriorated for the second consecutive year under President Donald Trump. The report indicates that global perceptions of the US are now more negative than those of Russia. The annual Democracy Perception Index, conducted by polling firm Nera Data between March 19 and April 21 across 98 countries, gathered responses from over 94,000 people.

According to the foundation, the survey asked which country is seen as the greatest threat to the world, with the US ranking third after Russia and Israel. The organization’s founder and former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the rapid decline in America’s image is regrettable but unsurprising, citing US policies that strained transatlantic relations, imposed broad tariffs, and threatened to seize NATO ally Greenland. The report also noted reduced US support for Ukraine and rising oil prices linked to US-Israel actions against Iran.

The index shows US favorability dropping from plus 22 percent two years ago to minus 16 percent, compared with Russia’s minus 11 percent and China’s plus 7 percent. The findings were published ahead of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit scheduled for May 12.

The United States is arranging a special evacuation flight to bring home American citizens aboard a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel, MV Hondius, is currently heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands and is expected to arrive in Tenerife on Sunday, according to AFP. A spokesperson for the US State Department said the government is coordinating with Spanish authorities and other federal agencies to ensure the safe repatriation of the passengers.

The ship’s operator reported that 17 US citizens are on board, though the State Department has not confirmed the number. Three people—a Dutch couple and a German woman—have died, and several others have been infected with Andes virus, the only hantavirus known to spread between humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the repatriated passengers will first be taken to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, before being transferred to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

CDC and Nebraska Medicine said the risk to the US public remains very low, and those under observation are currently healthy and symptom-free.