The United States has withdrawn hundreds of troops from major military bases in Qatar and Bahrain amid concerns over a possible war in the Middle East. The New York Times reported on Friday, citing Pentagon sources, that several hundred soldiers were pulled from Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and from the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. However, American forces remain stationed in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The move is being viewed as a precautionary measure in anticipation of a potential US strike on Iran. Analysts cited in the report suggest that if Washington attacks, Tehran could retaliate by targeting US forces deployed across the region. In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Iran’s mission chief warned that any attack on Iran would make all enemy bases and assets in the region legitimate targets, holding the United States fully responsible for any resulting consequences.

Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the largest US military installation in the Middle East, hosting around 10,000 troops and serving as a key hub for regional air operations.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The 6–3 decision restricted a key economic and foreign policy tool Trump had used to pressure other nations. In response, Trump announced on Friday that he would impose a new 10% tariff on all countries worldwide, using what he described as alternative legal powers.

Speaking at the White House, Trump sharply criticized the court, claiming some justices lacked the courage to do what he considered right for the country. He said foreign nations that had taken advantage of the United States were celebrating the ruling but warned their joy would be short-lived. Trump stated he would sign an executive order to implement the new tariffs and initiate multiple trade investigations under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows tariffs against unfair or discriminatory trade practices.

The Supreme Court’s decision significantly curtailed Trump’s ability to use tariffs as leverage in trade and diplomatic negotiations, a strategy he had relied on since his first year in office.

US President Donald Trump has criticized the Supreme Court and announced plans to introduce more tariffs. The statement reflects his continued focus on trade measures and his dissatisfaction with recent judicial developments.

The brief update indicates that Trump’s comments link his trade agenda with his stance toward the judiciary, though no further details were provided about the specific tariffs or the court issue involved.

The live coverage of the event has concluded, and no additional information or reactions were included in the source.

United States President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the Supreme Court after a 6-3 ruling struck down his global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Speaking at a Friday news conference, Trump called the court a “disgrace” and accused it of being influenced by foreign interests. He said he would continue his tariff policy using the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, announcing a new 10 percent global tariff for 150 days to replace some of the duties invalidated by the court. The new measure is expected to take effect within three days.

The Supreme Court majority, comprising three liberal and three conservative justices, ruled that only Congress can levy tariffs in peacetime. The decision dealt a major blow to Trump’s economic agenda, which had projected $3.6 trillion in tariff revenue from 2026 to 2035. Oxford Economics estimated the ruling would immediately lower the effective tariff rate from 12.7 percent to 8.3 percent. Trump, however, insisted that his powers under the Trade Expansion Act could yield even higher revenues.

Experts warned that the ruling complicates the administration’s ability to impose tariffs quickly, creating uncertainty for businesses and consumers. Analysts said Trump’s alternative approach may sustain tariff burdens but with reduced flexibility and scope.

Australia concluded its T20 World Cup campaign with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Oman. Batting first, Oman were bowled out for just 104 runs in 16.2 overs, with Adam Zampa leading the attack by taking four wickets for 21 runs. In reply, Australia chased down the target in only 9.4 overs, finishing at 108 for 1. Captain Mitchell Marsh remained unbeaten on 64 off 33 balls, while Travis Head scored 32 from 19 deliveries before being dismissed just 13 runs short of the target.

The win equalled the record for the fastest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history, matching England’s 9.4-over chase against the United States in the 2024 edition. Zampa’s bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award, as Australia’s bowlers set up the victory with disciplined and aggressive spells.

This result marked a strong finish for Australia in the tournament, highlighting their batting depth and bowling strength as they exited the competition on a high note.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In a 6–3 decision issued on Friday, the Court stated that the IEEPA does not grant the president the power to impose tariffs. The justices noted that if Congress had intended to give the president such extraordinary authority, it would have explicitly done so, as it has in other trade-related laws.

After returning to office last year, Trump used emergency economic powers to impose new tariffs on nearly all of the United States’ trading partners, including Mexico, Canada, and China. His administration claimed the measures were linked to controlling illegal drug flows and immigration. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling does not apply to tariffs on specific sectors such as steel and aluminum, where formal investigations into possible future tariffs are ongoing.

Lower courts had previously declared the tariffs illegal, and a federal trade court had suspended their implementation. The Supreme Court’s decision upholds those earlier rulings, marking a significant setback for Trump’s economic strategy, in which tariffs were a central tool.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a limited military strike against Iran as part of a strategy to pressure Tehran into agreeing to a new nuclear deal, according to a report published Thursday. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter, said that if approved, an initial operation could begin within days, targeting a limited number of Iranian military or government sites. The goal would be to increase pressure while avoiding a full-scale war.

The report added that Trump has warned of broader military action if Iran does not halt its uranium enrichment activities, and that destabilizing Tehran’s government could also be among the objectives. One source indicated that the president may pursue a phased escalation strategy—starting with limited strikes and expanding if necessary—to compel Iran to abandon its nuclear program or weaken its regime.

Several U.S. officials and analysts have cautioned that such action could provoke Iranian retaliation, potentially drawing the United States into a wider regional conflict and endangering allied nations.

At the first meeting of the Peace Board held in Washington, D.C., and chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, nine member countries pledged a total of $7 billion for the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza Strip. The session also saw five countries agree to deploy troops as part of an international stability force for Palestinian territories. According to the report, the United States will contribute $10 billion to the Peace Board, though Trump did not specify how the funds would be used.

Trump named Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait as the nations contributing the initial down payment for Gaza’s rebuilding. He stated that every dollar would be spent to establish stability and that the Peace Board demonstrates how a better future can be built. The estimated total cost for Gaza’s reconstruction is around $70 billion, making the pledged amount only a fraction of what is needed.

Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania have pledged to send troops to the international force, while Egypt and Jordan have agreed to train police officers as part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced on Thursday that the state has reopened its investigation into possible illegal activity at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch near Stanley. The decision follows the release of more than three and a half million government files by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30, which included previously sealed FBI documents. Torrez’s office said the new revelations warranted further examination of the earlier state probe, which was halted in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, the same year Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges.

The renewed investigation coincides with the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a former UK royal, on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to allegations of sharing confidential documents with Epstein. The Epstein scandal has triggered political fallout in the UK but not in the U.S., where critics have accused the Justice Department of lacking transparency. In New Mexico, lawmakers have formed a truth commission to investigate Epstein’s ties to the state and why he was not registered as a sex offender there after his 2008 conviction.

Torrez’s office said it will cooperate with the commission and seek full access to unredacted federal case files to determine whether further legal action is warranted.

Emails released in newly published United States Department of Justice files reveal that Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, was offered the chance in 2016 to buy into a large building complex tied to the Department of Defense. The 84,710-square-metre site, located about one mile from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, was described as a mission-critical property capable of meeting the Defense Department’s infrastructure needs. The proposed $116 million deal would have made Epstein a co-owner and landlord to the U.S. government, though there is no evidence the transaction occurred.

The documents also show Epstein’s extensive ties to Israel, including a decade-long relationship with former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and financial support for Israeli organizations such as Friends of the Israeli Army and the Jewish National Fund. An FBI informant memo described Epstein as a “Mossad agent.”

The Pentagon-linked offer was forwarded by businessman David Stern, who also proposed a separate 2015 investment in FBI field offices and courthouses. Both property proposals were originated by real estate investor Jonathan D Fascitelli.

The United States trade deficit widened sharply in December, reaching a five-month high of $70.3 billion, according to the Commerce Department. The goods trade shortfall for 2025 hit a record $1.24 trillion, despite tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on foreign-manufactured products. Imports rose 3.6 percent in December to $357.6 billion, driven by higher purchases of industrial supplies, copper, crude oil, and capital goods such as computer accessories and telecommunications equipment. Exports fell 1.7 percent to $287.3 billion, though semiconductor and pharmaceutical shipments increased.

The report showed that trade made little or no contribution to fourth-quarter GDP growth. American companies boosted imports of computer chips and other technology goods from Taiwan to support large-scale investments in artificial intelligence. While the goods trade deficit with China dropped nearly 32 percent to $202 billion amid ongoing tensions, trade shifted toward Taiwan and Vietnam, where deficits rose sharply. Factory employment declined by 83,000 jobs between January 2025 and January 2026, underscoring limited benefits from tariffs.

Economists noted that strong imports may reflect robust business investment, particularly in AI-related infrastructure such as data centers, suggesting continued demand for technology equipment.

The United Nations announced that the United States has paid about $160 million toward its nearly $4 billion in outstanding dues. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the payment will go to the organisation’s regular operating budget. The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has questioned its commitment to the UN and cut funding for international programmes. However, during the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, DC, Trump said he intended to help ensure the UN remains viable.

According to the UN, the US owes about $2.196 billion to its regular budget, including $767 million for the current year, and another $1.8 billion for peacekeeping operations. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned that the UN faces an “imminent financial collapse” unless member states pay their dues, noting that the regular budget could be depleted as early as July. The US, as the largest donor, accounts for roughly 95 percent of the arrears.

Trump’s creation of the Board of Peace, officially tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, has drawn criticism from those who see it as a rival to the UN Security Council. Critics argue it could undermine the UN’s authority and global operations.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran has about 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement with Washington or risk further military strikes. Speaking at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, DC, Trump linked last year’s joint Israeli-US strikes on Iran to the Gaza ceasefire and said those attacks paved the way for regional peace. He added that his aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had held productive meetings with Iranian representatives, emphasizing the need for a “meaningful deal.”

The warning follows a second round of indirect US-Iran talks in Geneva, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said both sides made good progress and reached broad agreement on guiding principles. Despite this, the US continues to build up military assets in the Gulf, while Iran insists its missile program is non-negotiable and denies seeking nuclear weapons. Washington opposes any uranium enrichment by Tehran.

Tensions have remained high since late 2025, when Trump vowed to strike Iran again if it rebuilt its nuclear or missile programs. Although negotiations resumed in Oman in February, both sides continue to exchange threats amid fragile diplomacy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran to reach an agreement with the United States within 10 to 15 days or face a potential military strike. Speaking at the inauguration of a peace board in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Trump said that last June’s joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran had paved the way for a ceasefire in Gaza. He claimed that without U.S. action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, peace in the Middle East would have been difficult to achieve.

In response, Iran issued a counter-threat through its permanent representative to the United Nations, who wrote to Secretary-General António Guterres stating that any attack on Iran would trigger retaliatory strikes on all U.S. bases and infrastructure in the Middle East. The envoy emphasized that Iran does not seek war but would respond if attacked, holding the United States responsible for any consequences.

According to a Wall Street Journal report cited on Friday, the United States is considering an initial limited strike targeting Iranian government buildings and security infrastructure to pressure Tehran into a nuclear deal. If Iran refuses, a broader campaign could aim to topple Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow will not accept the sanctions imposed against Cuba. He made the remarks during a meeting in Moscow with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. Putin emphasized that Russia’s foreign ministry has clearly and unequivocally expressed its position on the new sanctions, stressing that Russia will not tolerate such measures.

Putin described relations between Russia and Cuba as positive and special, noting that Moscow has always supported Havana in its struggle to preserve independence and sovereignty. He acknowledged the hardships faced by the Cuban people over decades in defending their right to live by their own rules and protect national interests.

The statement comes as the United States has strengthened energy sanctions on Cuba, leading to severe fuel shortages after supplies from Mexico and Venezuela were halted. In response, the Russian embassy in Havana announced that Russia will soon send oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid, a move expected to deepen bilateral ties and influence international politics.