The United States military confirmed on Monday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying warships have arrived in the Middle East, strengthening the country’s military presence and capabilities in the region. The deployment was ordered amid Iran’s harsh crackdown on widespread protests that began in late December over economic grievances and later turned into a major anti-government movement.

President Donald Trump initially considered but later withdrew a decision for direct military action against Iran, while maintaining that all options remain open. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X that the carrier strike group was deployed to reinforce regional security and stability. Trump told Axios that a powerful US naval fleet is positioned close to Iran and claimed Tehran has shown interest in dialogue. A senior US official also said Washington is ready to engage if Iran reaches out.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned against US interference, asserting confidence in Iran’s own capabilities and saying that such military displays cannot weaken the nation’s resolve.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an increase in tariffs on imports from South Korea, raising the rate from 15 percent to 25 percent. He stated that South Korea failed to properly implement the terms of a bilateral trade agreement, prompting this decision. The announcement was made Monday through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he said the measure targets cars, wood, pharmaceuticals, and other goods.

It remains unclear whether the new tariff has taken immediate effect, as no confirmation was available. CNN reportedly contacted the White House for comment but received no response. South Korea is one of the largest exporters to the United States, with exports worth about 132 billion dollars in 2024, including cars, auto parts, semiconductors, and electronics. Analysts fear the new tariffs could raise prices of these products in the U.S. market.

Trump’s authority to impose broad tariffs on multiple countries is currently under legal scrutiny in the U.S. Supreme Court. A ruling against the administration could limit his ability to unilaterally alter import tariffs in the future.

A powerful snowstorm has caused widespread disruption across the United States, leaving at least 30 people dead and millions without electricity. The storm has led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and prompted weather-related emergency declarations in at least 25 states, according to the Associated Press. The extreme cold and heavy snowfall have affected areas from New York and Massachusetts in the northeast to Texas and North Carolina in the south.

Snowfall reached up to 18 inches in some regions, with temperatures dropping to minus 18 degrees Celsius. The storm directly impacted about 118 million people, while more than 150 million were advised to remain cautious. New York reported the highest number of fatalities, with five deaths. Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard in New York City, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to assist those in need. Deaths were also reported in Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts, and Kansas.

The U.S. National Weather Service said the storm’s main system was moving toward the Atlantic Ocean but warned that new Arctic air could bring more snow and rain to the northeast in the coming days.

A powerful snowstorm has paralyzed large parts of the United States, leaving at least 10 people dead and causing widespread disruption from Texas to New England. The storm forced the closure of schools and roads nationwide, canceled thousands of flights, and left millions without electricity. The U.S. National Weather Service said conditions were unlikely to improve before Monday morning and urged residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.

According to reports, two people in Louisiana died from hypothermia, while one person died in Texas. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said five deaths occurred over the weekend, though it was unclear if they were weather-related. Major U.S. media outlets, citing the National Weather Service, reported that heavy snow covered most of 15 states, including Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee. Freezing rain also hit the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states, placing about 185 million people under winter weather alerts.

Airlines canceled around 11,000 flights scheduled for Sunday, and more than 900,000 customers lost power, including 250,000 in Tennessee.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the United States could impose 100 percent tariffs on all goods imported from Canada if Ottawa finalizes its new trade agreement with China. He issued the warning on Sunday, reinforcing a similar threat made a day earlier by President Donald Trump. Speaking on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Bessent said Washington would not allow Canada to become a gateway for cheap Chinese products entering the US market.

The warning follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January 16 announcement in Beijing of a “new strategic partnership” and preliminary trade deal with China. Under the agreement, China would reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil from 84 percent to about 15 percent by March 1 and grant visa-free entry to Canadian citizens. In return, Canada would import 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at new tariff rates. The deal comes amid rising trade tensions between the US and Canada, as the Trump administration has imposed tariffs on various imports.

President Trump also commented on social media, claiming China was taking over Canada and expressing dismay at the development.

Former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have expressed deep concern over the killing of American citizen Alex Pretty by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. They described the incident as a wake-up call to defend the nation’s core values and urged citizens to speak out. Pretty, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot during a scuffle on Saturday, just weeks after another local resident, Renny Good, was killed in a separate shooting.

The Trump administration claimed Pretty tried to harm federal agents and was armed, but verified social media footage showed he did not draw a weapon before being shot within seconds of being pinned down. President Donald Trump blamed Minnesota’s Democratic leadership for the unrest, while Pretty’s parents denounced the administration’s account as a “vile falsehood.” Protests erupted in Minneapolis on Sunday, with demonstrators chanting against ICE.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called for a full investigation, and Republican senators urged cooperation with local authorities. The incident occurred amid “Operation Metro Surge,” which deployed thousands of ICE agents in the Democrat-led city, sparking growing voter dissatisfaction, according to recent polls.

Large protests broke out in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretty during a federal immigration enforcement operation. Governor Tim Walz renewed his call for President Donald Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, describing the moment as a turning point. Demonstrators gathered in the city center, chanting against federal immigration officers and vowing to continue until the agents leave. Vehicles passing by honked in support of the protesters.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections rejected claims by federal officials that the operation targeted a man with a criminal record, saying the individual had no connection to state custody or convictions. Border Patrol Commander Graig Bovino stated that all agents involved remain on duty but have been relocated for safety. President Trump, in a social media post and later in an interview, praised the agents’ work and hinted they would eventually leave Minneapolis, though he gave no timeline.

The University of Minnesota expressed sorrow over Pretty’s death, calling it a painful time for the community and offering condolences to his family and loved ones.

A man named Alex Pretty was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday. The Trump administration claimed Pretty, a nurse, was armed and had threatened to kill federal officers. However, videos recorded by witnesses show a different account. In the footage, Pretty appears to be holding a mobile phone, not a gun, when agents tackled him to the ground. The Department of Homeland Security later released a photo of a gun, which President Donald Trump identified online as belonging to Pretty.

The Guardian reviewed several videos of the incident and found inconsistencies between the footage and official statements. While Pretty had a legal permit to own a firearm, it remains unclear whether he had one during the confrontation. Witnesses said he was filming the agents when they surrounded and assaulted him before one agent shot him at close range. The videos show agents killing a man who was recording their actions.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged President Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, criticizing their conduct and warning against further violence.

A powerful snowstorm has struck across the United States, leaving at least three people dead and causing widespread disruption. As of Sunday afternoon local time, around 900,000 customers were without electricity, and more than 10,000 flights had been canceled nationwide, according to a BBC report. The National Weather Service said adverse conditions extended from Texas to New England, forcing the closure of schools and roads across multiple states.

Two people in Louisiana reportedly died from hypothermia, while another fatality occurred in Texas. The storm brought heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain that could persist for several days, potentially affecting more than half of the country’s population. Meteorologist Allison Santorelli from the National Weather Service told CBS News that melting would be slow, hindering snow removal efforts.

Authorities warned that the hazardous weather could continue to disrupt transportation and power services in the coming days as cleanup operations face delays due to persistent cold and ice.

Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta has dismissed Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of senior Iranian official Ali Larijani. The student-run newspaper Emory Wheel reported on Saturday that Dean Sandra Wong confirmed the decision in an email to faculty on January 24, stating that the physician, known as the daughter of a high-ranking Iranian government figure, is no longer employed by the university.

The report said the decision followed protests by Iranian-American demonstrators outside Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute opposing her appointment, amid ongoing unrest in Iran. Before her departure, Ardeshir-Larijani served as an assistant professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Her faculty and healthcare web pages have since been removed.

Andrea Clement, associate director of public relations at the Winship Cancer Institute, described the matter as personnel-related and emphasized that Emory remains committed to patient care, research, and education in compliance with state and federal laws. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was sanctioned by the United States on January 15 for his alleged role in suppressing peaceful protests in Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday praised British soldiers as “very brave” and “warriors,” marking a reversal from his earlier remarks about NATO forces in Afghanistan. The shift came a day after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump’s previous comments “offensive and appalling.” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that British troops have always stood by the United States and described those killed or wounded in Afghanistan as among the greatest warriors.

Trump had earlier sparked outrage across Europe by claiming that European soldiers were not on the front lines in Afghanistan. His comments drew strong criticism from political and military circles in Britain and beyond. Afghanistan was Britain’s deadliest foreign conflict since the 1950s, with 457 British troops killed, many of them leading allied operations in Helmand province.

According to the British Prime Minister’s Office, Trump and Starmer spoke on Saturday about the issue. Starmer emphasized that the sacrifices of British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan must never be forgotten.

A powerful snowstorm has disrupted daily life across several regions of the United States, leaving more than 230,000 customers without electricity, mostly in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, and New Mexico. Nearly 13,000 flights have been canceled as the storm continues to affect transportation and utilities. The report, citing Reuters, said the storm began Saturday and is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England through Monday.

Former President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency disaster declaration for multiple states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. On social media, he stated that authorities are monitoring all states in the storm’s path and maintaining communication with them.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states and Washington, D.C., have declared weather emergencies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said thousands remain without power in southern states, and restoration work is underway as quickly as possible.

Widespread protests broke out across the United States after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot an American citizen named Alex Pretty in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident marked the second death of a US citizen in the city this month involving ICE officers. The shooting occurred a day after about 10,000 people demonstrated in Minneapolis against the Trump administration’s strict anti-immigration operations.

Following the shooting, hundreds of protesters gathered at the scene, prompting ICE officers to fire tear gas and flashbang grenades. Demonstrations soon spread beyond Minneapolis to New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco. Federal officials claimed Pretty had a firearm, but local leaders questioned that assertion.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the incident as horrific and said the federal government could not be trusted to investigate it. He and other local officials demanded an immediate halt to anti-immigration operations.

A commentary published on January 25, 2026, in Amader Desh Online criticizes U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Gaza Peace Board,” describing it as an empty and unethical initiative that turns peace into a financial transaction. The article states that draft charters were quietly distributed to about 60 countries, seeking up to one billion dollars in membership fees. It argues that the proposal shifts from moral peacebuilding to a long-term management project over a devastated Gaza, without addressing justice or Palestinian self-determination.

According to the analysis, the board’s structure is financially driven, with membership determined by payment and authority concentrated in the chairman’s hands. Palestinians are excluded from decision-making, and the plan omits references to international law, the Geneva Conventions, or UN resolutions. The piece warns that the initiative bypasses the UN system to avoid accountability, creating a parallel governance model that privileges control and profit over transparency.

The article concludes that true peace in Gaza requires an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, accountability for crimes, and Palestinian-led reconstruction under international law, not externally imposed financial schemes.

The United States Department of Defense has announced a major shift in its strategic priorities under the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), released on Friday. According to the document, China will no longer be considered the top defense priority for the U.S. military. The Pentagon plans to focus more on defending U.S. territory and the Indo-Pacific region while reducing the scope of military cooperation with allies in Europe and other regions. Partner nations are expected to take primary responsibility for their own defense, with the U.S. providing limited but strategically important support.

The 34-page report marks a significant departure from the 2018 NDS, which identified China as the primary long-term challenge and Russia as a severe threat. The new strategy describes Russia’s security risk as “steady but manageable” and emphasizes building a “respectful relationship” with Beijing based on strength rather than confrontation. Notably, the report omits any mention of Taiwan. It also highlights border security as a national priority, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

The revised strategy signals a more inward-looking U.S. defense posture, emphasizing domestic security and selective global engagement.