U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order initiating the process of imposing additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba. The order, reported by TRT World, does not specify the tariff rates or identify the targeted countries, leaving those decisions to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. According to U.S. authorities, the move aims to pressure Cuba and protect American national security and foreign policy interests.

The executive order grants Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of State Marco Rubio the authority to take all necessary steps to implement the tariffs. It also allows Trump to refrain from imposing measures if Cuba or oil-supplying nations take actions consistent with U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.

Cuba, under U.S. sanctions since 1962, has relied heavily on oil imports from Venezuela. The report notes that the United States has effectively taken control of Venezuela’s oil exports after removing Havana’s key ally, Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that military action against Iran might not be necessary, indicating a preference for renewed diplomatic engagement. Speaking on Thursday at the launch of a documentary, he stated that he plans further discussions with Tehran over a potential nuclear agreement. Trump noted that U.S. military forces are currently moving toward Iran but expressed hope that they would not need to be used.

In his remarks, Trump emphasized that he had strengthened U.S. military power during his first term and reiterated his willingness to negotiate with Iran again. He urged Tehran to reach a nuclear deal quickly and warned that any future attack would be far more severe. The comments come amid heightened tensions following a 12-day war between Israel and Tehran, during which the United States reportedly bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in June.

Trump’s statements suggest a dual approach of military readiness and diplomatic outreach, leaving open the possibility of de-escalation if talks progress toward a new nuclear accord.

Israeli and Saudi defense and intelligence officials are visiting the United States this week to discuss issues related to Iran, amid growing concern over recent U.S. attacks on Iranian targets. According to Axios, citing two U.S. officials, Israel’s military intelligence chief, General Shlomi Binder, held several high-level meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday with senior leaders at the Pentagon, CIA, and White House. The main purpose of his visit was to provide information on potential Iranian attack targets at the request of the Trump administration.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is also in Washington for meetings on Thursday and Friday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Pentagon officials. The Saudi Defense Ministry said the delegation aims to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and resolving regional issues through diplomatic means. Saudi Arabia, which has been mediating messages between Washington and Tehran, reiterated that it would not allow the U.S. to use its airspace for attacks on Iran.

The visits come as tensions remain high following U.S. bombings of three Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict between Israel and Tehran in June.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the US military is prepared to implement any decision by President Donald Trump to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting on Thursday, Hegseth emphasized that it would be wrong for Iran to pursue nuclear power and that the Defense Department stands ready to fulfill the president’s expectations.

According to the report, the United States has already deployed significant military strength in the Middle East. US officials said Trump is reviewing his options but has not decided to launch an attack on Iran. The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following Iran’s recent crackdown on anti-government protests, which resulted in numerous casualties.

The developments underscore growing regional instability as both nations maintain a cautious stance. The Pentagon’s readiness signals that the situation could escalate further if diplomatic efforts fail to ease tensions.

The United States cricket team suffered a major setback ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup as star player Aaron Jones was temporarily suspended from all forms of cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on January 28, 2026, that Jones faces five charges related to corruption and improper conduct. Most of the allegations stem from the 2023–24 Bim10 tournament held in Barbados under Cricket West Indies (CWI), while two charges involve international matches under ICC jurisdiction.

According to CWI, Jones allegedly attempted to influence match outcomes during specific moments of the tournament and failed to report suspicious approaches to authorities. The ICC stated that the American batter faces serious accusations, including concealing information about corrupt proposals and obstructing investigations by hiding or altering evidence. The case is part of a broader inquiry that may implicate additional individuals.

Jones has until February 11, 2026, to present his defense. Until the case is resolved, he remains barred from participating in any cricket activities. The 31-year-old has played 100 international matches for the United States and is a familiar face in T20 leagues.

China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has warned that Beijing will take measures to protect its companies’ interests if Australia forcibly reclaims control of the strategically important northern Darwin Port. The warning came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated his government’s intention to bring the port back under national control, calling the 2015 lease to China’s Landbridge Group a short-sighted decision in terms of economic and national security.

The Darwin Port was leased to Landbridge for 99 years in 2015, a move that sparked intense domestic debate in Australia and led to stricter oversight of foreign ownership of critical infrastructure. Xiao Qian told Australian media that if Landbridge is forced to relinquish the lease, Beijing will act to safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese companies. He cautioned that such a move could harm Chinese investment, cooperation, and trade in the region, ultimately affecting Australia’s own interests.

Darwin is one of Australia’s closest cities to its Asian neighbors and hosts a U.S. Marine base. The port lease had previously drawn criticism from Washington for lack of prior consultation.

The United States has decided to return a recently seized oil tanker to Venezuela, according to two unnamed U.S. officials who confirmed the decision on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters. The vessel, identified as MT Sophia, is a Panama-flagged supertanker. No official explanation has yet been provided for why the U.S. is returning the ship.

Over the past several months, the United States has conducted operations targeting oil tankers linked to Venezuela. Since late last year, at least seven such vessels have been seized. MT Sophia was captured on January 7 this year during a joint operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and military while it was carrying oil. At that time, U.S. authorities described it as a “stateless and sanctioned dark fleet tanker.” It remains unclear whether the tanker currently contains oil.

Neither the U.S. Coast Guard nor Venezuela’s communications ministry has issued any immediate comment regarding the decision or the vessel’s current status.

France has advised its citizens to avoid downtown Minneapolis, citing risks of major protests against the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. The French Foreign Ministry said local authorities have urged residents to stay away from central areas and avoid gatherings. The advisory, first issued on January 24, remains in effect, according to Newsweek.

Germany and Ireland have issued similar warnings. Germany’s advisory noted that enforcement of Trump’s immigration policies has created public order risks in Minneapolis and other cities, sometimes leading to violent clashes between protesters and security forces. Ireland’s Foreign Ministry, in an update on January 15, urged caution for Irish citizens traveling to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.

The alerts follow an incident on January 27, when U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked during a speech in Minneapolis after criticizing Trump’s immigration policies. Omar was unharmed and continued her address, later describing herself as a survivor. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the attack as a result of racist and Islamophobic incitement.

After beginning his second term as U.S. president in early 2025, Donald Trump issued a wave of executive orders reversing 78 of his predecessor Joe Biden’s directives. He withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization, lifted restrictions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and tightened border security. Trump’s administration also imposed sweeping tariffs, including a 10 percent levy on all imports and up to 50 percent on goods from 57 countries, triggering global economic turmoil.

Trump’s foreign policy actions have further heightened tensions worldwide. He attempted to end the Russia-Ukraine war, intervened in Gaza to broker a ceasefire, and launched attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In early 2026, he ordered the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and threatened Iran’s leadership. He also expressed intentions to acquire Greenland, even considering military force before retracting the idea.

At the Davos Economic Forum, Trump announced the creation of a new organization called the “Board of Peace” to rebuild Gaza, which many observers viewed as an attempt to undermine the United Nations and reshape global governance under U.S. influence.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the selection of 26 countries as founding members of his administration’s newly created “Peace Board.” The announcement followed the board’s formal launch a week earlier at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and the opening of its official account on the U.S. social media platform X. The founding members include nations from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Caucasus, such as Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye.

Notably absent from the list are major powers linked to China and Russia, as well as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which have clashed with the Trump administration over environmental and trade policies. The exclusions have reportedly heightened diplomatic tensions between Washington and several European capitals. Belarus accepted an invitation to join, while Russia did not, despite President Vladimir Putin’s earlier statement offering $1 billion from frozen Russian assets to the board’s budget. The U.S. also withdrew Canada’s invitation after its prime minister criticized economic coercion by major powers.

Originally designed to oversee Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction efforts, the board’s mandate has been expanded to promote peace in all conflict-affected or at-risk regions, though its leadership structure and timeline remain undisclosed.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey that he was “playing with fire” after Frey reiterated that the city would not enforce federal immigration laws. Trump made the remark in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, claiming he had previously had a positive conversation with Frey. He urged the mayor’s associates to advise him that such a stance could constitute a serious legal violation.

Responding on social media platform X, Frey said local police are responsible for ensuring public safety, not enforcing immigration laws. He cited the case of Ecuadorian asylum seeker Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in January, as an example of why local enforcement should focus on community safety. Frey also said he had a productive meeting with “border czar” Tom Homan, emphasizing that Minneapolis would continue prioritizing neighborhood security over federal immigration operations.

The exchange came amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers, which sparked protests. The White House said Homan would oversee ICE field operations to continue arresting “the most dangerous criminal illegal immigrants.”

Palestinian-supporting US Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday. According to Reuters, an unidentified man sprayed an unknown dark-colored liquid on her while she was calling for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Police arrested the assailant on third-degree assault charges. Authorities have not yet disclosed details about the substance used, though Omar was not injured.

C-SPAN footage showed the attacker rushing the stage as Omar demanded the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Omar later said the liquid had a terrible smell but confirmed she was fine and planned to undergo a medical checkup. Returning to the stage, she reaffirmed her resilience, saying Minnesota remained strong despite such acts. She also posted on X that she would not be intimidated.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Republican Representative Nancy Mace condemned the attack, emphasizing that violence has no place in political discourse. Omar, a Somali-American and former refugee, has long faced opposition from conservatives for her progressive stances on immigration and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, warned Iran that “time is running out” and that the next attack would be “much worse.” In a lengthy post on Truth Social, he urged Tehran to quickly reach a deal, reiterating that a large U.S. naval fleet led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was moving toward Iran. Trump described the fleet as advancing with speed, strength, and purpose, claiming it was larger than the one previously sent to Venezuela.

Trump cautioned that the fleet was ready to use force if necessary to achieve its objectives. He called on Iran to negotiate a “fair and just” agreement that would ensure the absence of nuclear weapons and benefit all parties. He also referenced a previous operation, “Midnight Hammer,” which he said had caused significant damage to Iran, warning that the next strike would be worse.

The report noted that Trump gave mixed signals about possible U.S. intervention following Iran’s crackdown on protests and internet shutdowns. It also recalled Washington’s involvement in a June conflict supporting Israel’s 12-day war aimed at weakening Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the 2026 Australian Open after Italian opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired due to injury during their quarterfinal match in Melbourne. Musetti had taken a commanding two-set lead, winning 6-4 and 6-3, before suffering thigh and groin injuries that forced him to withdraw while trailing 1-3 in the third set. The Serbian star, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, advanced by walkover to his 13th semifinal appearance at the tournament.

Djokovic’s path to the last four was marked by unusual fortune. In the previous round, he progressed without playing after Czech player Jakub Mensik withdrew with stomach pain. The 38-year-old has now won a record 103 singles matches at the Australian Open, surpassing Roger Federer. Djokovic will face second seed Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, after the Italian defeated American Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

In the women’s singles, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and American Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals, while Poland’s Iga Swiatek was eliminated following a straight-sets loss to Rybakina.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin considers the meeting significant as it seeks to secure the future of its military bases in Syria. The discussion will cover bilateral relations, cooperation in various sectors, and the current situation in the Middle East.

The meeting comes amid ongoing tension over the fate of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his wife, who remain under Russian protection. Shara has repeatedly pressed Moscow to extradite them. The issue has become sensitive since Assad’s ouster in 2024, which weakened Russia’s influence in the region. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that all matters related to Russian troop presence in Syria would be discussed but declined to comment on Assad.

Analysts cited in the report believe the talks could shape Russia’s position in Syria and define its relationship with the new Syrian leadership, especially as Moscow recently withdrew forces from the Kurdish-held Qamishli airport, leaving only its Hmeimim and Tartus bases on the Mediterranean coast.