Former U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence. The U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination on Wednesday with a 52-48 vote. Gabbard’s appointment is seen as a significant victory for Trump, as she has been one of the most controversial figures in his cabinet. At 43 years old, she becomes the 14th Trump nominee confirmed since January 20. Gabbard will oversee 18 intelligence agencies and serve as the President’s top intelligence advisor. Trump remarked that she would focus on strengthening the intelligence community to ensure the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.

The U.S. Senate website announced on Wednesday that Paul Kapoor, an Indian-American diplomat, has been nominated for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. The nomination, made by the Trump administration, is pending Senate approval.

If confirmed, Kapoor will oversee U.S. relations with countries in South and Central Asia. He is widely recognized as an expert on India and Pakistan and has previously served as a faculty member at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Additionally, he has worked as a visiting professor at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and advocate for fiscal reform, has warned that the United States will face bankruptcy if significant budget cuts are not implemented. According to AFP, Trump's administration has issued multiple executive orders to reduce government spending, but legal battles over their legitimacy have emerged. Musk further stated that as part of cost-cutting measures, only one government employee will be hired for every four who retire.

In a Fox News interview, Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine may or may not reach a peace deal and could potentially become part of Russia in the future. He demanded that Ukraine repay the vast financial aid it received from the U.S., proposing that the country use its rich agricultural land and natural resources to settle the debt.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that if all hostages held by Hamas are not released by February 15 at noon, the ceasefire agreement should be canceled. He further suggested that even if it leads to complete destruction, the decision should stand. In response, Hamas, the Palestinian armed resistance group, has suspended the hostage exchange, accusing Israel of violating the agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since held discussions with top security officials, and a security cabinet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Amidst this tense situation, Trump’s remarks have added further controversy.

The U.S. Senate is considering a ban on the Chinese AI assistant ‘DeepSeek’ due to national security concerns. Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bill that imposes severe penalties on businesses and government agencies using the chatbot. Violators could face a personal fine of up to $1 million and a 20-year prison sentence, while corporations could be fined up to $100 million. U.S. authorities claim that DeepSeek’s parent company shares user data with the Chinese government, prompting the move toward an outright ban.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. According to a Reuters report, the White House is set to make the official announcement on Monday. Trump stated that the U.S. would impose retaliatory tariffs on any country that levies tariffs on American goods, aiming to create trade balance. U.S. government data indicates that Canada is the country’s largest supplier of duty-free goods. The new tariffs are expected to hit Canada and Mexico the hardest.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will assist in exposing corruption worth hundreds of billions of dollars within government agencies. In a televised interview on Sunday, Trump emphasized that American citizens demand an end to wasteful government spending, and Musk is playing a crucial role in this initiative. Trump revealed that in his second term, he has tasked Musk with leading a newly established 'Department of Government Efficiency' to identify and eliminate financial misconduct in public offices.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders have faced multiple legal challenges. On Saturday, a U.S. court blocked restrictions on the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. Additionally, a federal judge temporarily halted Trump’s order to withhold hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants and loans. The court also blocked an order revoking birthright citizenship and a decision to send 2,200 USAID employees on unpaid leave. Trump, however, clarified that Prince Harry would not be deported as part of the immigration crackdown.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled that the Ukraine war may soon end after a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is the first direct communication between the leaders in years. Trump also proposed that Ukraine share its mineral resources in exchange for U.S. support. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is open to negotiations, seeking U.S. security guarantees, and could meet with Trump soon. He stresses the importance of direct talks with Trump before any discussions with Putin.

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to suspend American aid to South Africa. According to Reuters, this move criticizes the South African government’s law that allows for the expropriation of land from white farmers, a policy the Trump administration deems discriminatory. Trump accused the South African government of seizing land from minority white farmers through legislation passed in January. Johannesburg has denied these allegations. Trump also expressed frustration over South Africa’s stance on the genocide accusations against Israel and its alliance with Iran.

Billionaire entrepreneur and close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, has stated that he has no interest in acquiring TikTok’s operations in the United States. His remarks, made via video link from Germany in January, surfaced a week later. Musk clarified that he has no plans for TikTok, as he doesn’t use the platform. According to AFP, TikTok is facing legal pressure in the U.S. that could force its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to either divest its ownership or shut down operations in the country.

Billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk has criticized the U.S. military’s inefficiency, warning that without urgent reforms, America will face a devastating defeat in the next war. He described the military as “incompetent” despite its massive $850 billion budget. Musk emphasized that outdated strategies and bureaucratic inefficiencies are weakening national security. Speaking at West Point, he highlighted drones and AI as the future of warfare, citing Ukraine as an example. He also echoed Trump’s past concerns about wasted military spending in West Asia.

The US State Department has officially notified Congress of a planned $7.4 billion arms sale to Israel. The deal will be delivered in two phases. The first shipment, worth $6.75 billion, includes precision-guided munitions, 166 small-diameter bombs, 2,800 500-pound bombs, fuses, and other military equipment, all set to be delivered this year. The second phase, scheduled to begin in 2028, involves 3,000 Hellfire missiles valued at $660 million.

Amid ongoing debate over Elon Musk’s influence in the Trump administration, TIME magazine has featured the billionaire on its cover, seated behind the Resolute Desk in the White House. The article highlights Musk’s unprecedented authority as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a position that has led to mass layoffs as part of his policy implementation. While the White House has yet to comment, speculation is rife that Trump might be displeased. This follows a 2017 TIME cover featuring Steve Bannon as the “Great Manipulator,” after which Bannon was eventually ousted from Trump’s administration.