US President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a 'Gaza Peace Board' through his social media platform Truth Social. The board is described as a key component of the second phase of Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending what he called Israel’s genocide in the besieged Palestinian territory. Trump said the board’s members will be announced soon and expressed pride in its creation, calling it the most prestigious board.

The announcement follows the creation of a 15-member technocratic committee to oversee Gaza’s post-conflict governance. This committee will operate under the supervision of the Peace Board, which Trump is expected to chair. The broader plan also includes deploying an international stabilization force to secure Gaza and train vetted Palestinian police units.

According to the report, the first phase of the US-backed Gaza peace plan was implemented on October 10, leading to a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas and a temporary halt to mass killings. However, despite the ceasefire, Israel allegedly violated the agreement and killed hundreds of Palestinians. Over two years of war, Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, January 15, 2026. During the meeting, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which she had received in 2025. Following the meeting, Trump publicly praised Machado, calling her an extraordinary woman who had endured much. The meeting and exchange were reported by ABC News.

Trump described receiving the Nobel medal from Machado as a wonderful symbol of mutual respect. On social media, he wrote that María had given him her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work. Machado confirmed to reporters after the meeting that she personally handed the medal to Trump but did not provide further details about the gesture or its purpose.

The exchange highlighted a moment of symbolic diplomacy between the two figures, though neither side elaborated on any political implications or future cooperation.

At a White House meeting on January 15, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado symbolically presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump. Machado received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in defending democracy and human rights. Following the meeting, Trump wrote on social media that the gesture represented a unique expression of mutual respect.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified its position beforehand, stating that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked. This means that even though the medal was handed to Trump, the recognition and honor remain with Machado. Speaking to reporters outside the Capitol after the meeting, Machado said the gesture symbolized the Venezuelan people's trust and gratitude toward Trump.

The event has sparked renewed discussion about political relations between the United States and Venezuela, as well as the future of the South American nation. Machado described her action as a symbol of international support for Venezuela’s struggle for freedom and democracy.

A Venezuelan man was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to city officials who confirmed the incident and urged residents to remain calm. The shooting occurred just a week after another fatal encounter involving federal agents and a U.S. woman, reigniting public tension in the city.

Officials from Minneapolis stated on social media that they understood the public’s anger and concern, while again calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to leave the city and state. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the shooting, saying the Venezuelan man, described as an undocumented immigrant, was targeted during a traffic stop and allegedly resisted arrest. TRT World reported that two individuals from a nearby apartment attacked an officer with a snow shovel and broom handle during the incident.

DHS said the officer fired a defensive shot to protect his life, hitting the man in the leg; he later died. Several elected officials from Minneapolis and Minnesota condemned the actions of ICE and other federal agents under DHS following the incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine, not Russia, is obstructing a possible peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict. In an interview with Reuters at the Oval Office on January 14, Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to conclude nearly four years of war, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is less prepared. He added that he believes Putin is ready to make a deal, but Ukraine is not.

When asked why the largest European conflict since World War II has not been resolved through U.S.-led negotiations, Trump directly pointed to Zelensky. His remarks signaled dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian leader and reflected his tendency to express more trust in Putin than in U.S. allies, a stance that has frustrated Ukraine, European capitals, and American lawmakers.

A Reuters report from December noted that U.S. intelligence agencies had warned Putin had not abandoned his goal of capturing all of Ukraine and restoring parts of the former Soviet empire, though National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard denied that assessment.

The United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from the South China Sea to the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran. According to the report, the carrier has already departed with its accompanying fleet, which includes destroyers, frigates, submarines, and other warships. News Nation reported that under Pentagon orders, the carrier strike group is expected to reach the US Central Command’s area of responsibility within a week.

The US Central Command oversees a region that includes the Middle East, northeastern Africa, and parts of Central and South Asia, covering a total of 21 countries. The deployment comes as part of Washington’s broader military posture in response to regional developments involving Iran.

The movement of the carrier strike group signals a potential increase in US military presence in the region, though the report does not specify further operational details or the duration of the deployment.

The United States has announced the suspension of all types of visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, effective from January 21, 2026. According to reports from Reuters and Fox News, the U.S. Department of State has sent instructions to consular offices in these countries to halt visa issuance indefinitely while the department reviews its current vetting procedures.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that the ministry is reassessing visa processing based on long-standing experience, aiming to prevent entry of foreign nationals who might rely on U.S. public assistance or welfare programs. The suspension follows a November 2025 directive that required consular officers worldwide to strictly enforce the “public charge” provisions of immigration law.

That directive also instructed officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to depend on public aid, including those with poor health, limited English proficiency, or long-term medical needs. The suspension will remain in place until the review process is completed, with no specified end date.

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the US Senate to prevent President Donald Trump from attempting to take control of Greenland. The legislation, titled the 'NATO Unity Protection Act,' was presented on Tuesday by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, according to TRT World. The bill prohibits the use of Pentagon or State Department funds for any blockade, occupation, annexation, or military operation against the sovereign territory of a NATO member state without its consent.

Senator Shaheen stated that any US move to seize or control a NATO ally’s territory would weaken the alliance. She added that the bill sends a clear message that recent remarks about Greenland undermine US national security interests. Senator Murkowski expressed concern that using American resources against allies is deeply troubling and should be fully rejected by Congress.

Earlier, Trump had argued that the United States should acquire Greenland to prevent Russia or China from taking it and described the move as vital for US economic security. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark with strategic importance and rich mineral resources.

The United States government announced on Tuesday that it is canceling the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals residing in the country. As a result, Somalis who lose their legal protection must leave the United States by March 17. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the decision in a post on social media platform X, stating that those who do not return voluntarily will be deported.

According to AFP, the move is part of an ongoing tough campaign against immigrants, with the greatest impact expected in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the US. The state has recently become a focal point for immigration raids and searches. Last week, protests erupted in Minneapolis after an officer fatally shot a local woman during a raid. In response, Minnesota filed a court petition seeking a temporary injunction against ICE operations.

Nearly 2,000 people have reportedly been arrested in these operations. Washington has recently taken a stricter stance toward Somali immigrants in Minnesota, where about 80,000 Somali-origin residents live, amid allegations of large-scale welfare fraud.

The United States has officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organizations. On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department identified the Jordanian and Egyptian branches as 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists,' while the State Department blacklisted the Lebanese branch as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' (FTO). The move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in November to blacklist these groups.

According to the Trump administration, the decision was taken due to the Brotherhood’s alleged support for the Palestinian group Hamas and involvement in activities opposing Israeli interests in the Middle East. The Treasury Department stated that although the Brotherhood presents itself as a legitimate social organization, it directly assists terrorist groups like Hamas. The State Department added that the designation would cut off the Brotherhood’s financial sources and bar its members from entering the United States.

Senator Marco Rubio described the action as the first step in a long-term effort to counter the Brotherhood’s violent and destabilizing activities worldwide. The decision effectively freezes the organizations’ financial transactions and imposes a permanent entry ban on their members.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of all scheduled meetings with Iranian officials, citing Iran’s ongoing crackdown on protesters. In a social media post on January 13, he urged Iranian demonstrators to take control of state institutions and said that “help is coming,” though he did not clarify what form that assistance would take. Trump has also indicated in recent days that he is considering ordering military action against Iran.

The decision follows escalating U.S. measures against Tehran. On Monday, Trump declared that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25 percent tariff when trading with the United States. The following day, the U.S. State Department advised American citizens to leave Iran immediately due to rising tensions. When asked by reporters to explain his “help is coming” remark, Trump declined to elaborate.

Protests in Iran began in December after a sharp currency decline and soaring inflation, evolving into a broader anti-government movement. Official figures report more than 2,000 deaths in the ensuing violence.

United States fast bowler Ali Khan has claimed that his visa application to enter India was rejected ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Pakistan-born cricketer shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo with a humorous caption implying he did not get the Indian visa but did get KFC. The tournament is set to begin in less than a month, and the US team is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in India, including one against the hosts in Mumbai on February 7.

Reports suggest that several Pakistan-origin players representing other countries have faced similar visa difficulties due to strained India-Pakistan relations. Ali Khan’s case has brought the issue into public attention. Since his debut in 2019, he has played 15 ODIs and 18 T20Is for the United States and is considered a key part of their pace attack, though the final squad has not yet been announced.

Social media discussions and reports indicate that other US players, including Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil, and Mohammad Mohsin, may also face visa complications. The US cricket board may approach the ICC for assistance if the issue persists.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranian protesters to continue their demonstrations and take control of state institutions. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump described the protesters as patriots and urged them to preserve the names of those responsible for killings and abuses, saying they must pay a heavy price. He also announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops, adding that help is on the way.

A few hours after the post, reporters in Washington asked Trump what he meant by 'help is on the way.' He declined to elaborate, saying they would have to find out. Later the same day, in an interview with CBS News, Trump said the United States had not yet received verified information on casualties in Iran. He explained that the lack of confirmed data was the main reason Washington had not made any final decision regarding a possible operation in Iran.

Trump told CBS that while the number of casualties appeared significant, the U.S. still lacked confirmed figures.

US defense officials have briefed President Donald Trump on several potential military and intelligence measures against Iran, according to CBS News citing Pentagon sources. Options reportedly include long-range missile strikes, cyber operations, and psychological campaigns. The discussions come as Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on goods from countries trading with Iran, while human rights groups report over 600 deaths in recent anti-government protests.

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran remains open to talks with Washington but is also prepared for war. The White House confirmed that an Iranian official contacted Trump’s envoy, though it noted a difference between Iran’s public and private messages. Trump has warned that further protester deaths could prompt a “very strong option,” and US citizens in Iran have been urged to prepare evacuation plans.

Economic turmoil and currency collapse have intensified domestic anger toward Iran’s leadership. Analysts suggest new US tariffs could worsen shortages and inflation, adding pressure on Tehran as it faces both internal dissent and external threats.

Minnesota state authorities have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over what they describe as harsh immigration enforcement measures. The case was filed on Monday following the death of a female protester who was shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis last week, according to AFP.

State Attorney General Keith Ellison alleged that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had unusually increased the presence of immigration officers in the Democrat-led state, creating safety risks for residents. At a press conference, Ellison said thousands of poorly trained, armed, and aggressive federal agents had been deployed in local communities, making the state less secure.

Ellison further claimed that Minnesota was being targeted because of its political differences, diversity, and democratic stance, calling the move a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also accused Republican President Donald Trump of deliberately targeting the state as part of his immigration crackdown program.