The United States has deployed its second carrier strike group, Gerald R. Ford, to the Mediterranean, amid escalating tensions with Iran. According to reports, the Gerald R. Ford is considered the world’s largest aircraft carrier, and it was ordered by President Donald Trump to be stationed in the Middle East. The US already has another carrier strike group, the Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the region.
The move comes as President Trump indicated last week that he was considering limited military strikes against Iran. He also set a 10- to 12-day deadline for Iran to agree to a deal, failing which, US aircraft have been positioned at airbases in Portugal. British news agency reports have suggested that the US military may attempt to overthrow the Iranian government.
The US ambassador to Jordan, Mike Huckabee, has reportedly said that Israel’s control over the entire Middle East might be acceptable. However, experts warn that a significant snowstorm could impact air travel in the northeastern United States, with over a foot of snow possible in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
In other news, a disturbing incident of violence against Muslim citizens has been reported in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. US President Donald Trump has announced a 15% increase in global tariffs from the current 10%.
The Indian media has reported that a major Indian airline has not paid around 42 billion rupees in taxes. Russia has reportedly developed intercontinental ballistic missiles and short-range ballistic missiles at a plant.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been voted as one of the most unpopular leaders in the world by citizens of 58 countries, including the US and European nations.
Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham has expressed his doubts about the morality of the Gaza attack, stating that he does not believe it aligns with Christian values. As tensions escalate, the US has positioned aircraft at airbases in Portugal.
Additionally, the Saudi-based organization, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, has announced that it will provide online registration for those wishing to participate in the upcoming fast. Iranian officials have expressed differing views on the issue of lifting sanctions, with the US and Iran reportedly at odds over a reasonable timeline for negotiations.
In Pakistan, opposition leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have held a joint press conference in Islamabad, criticizing the government’s economic claims as baseless. Former Minister of Finance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and PTI leader, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, has expressed his skepticism over the government’s ability to address the country’s economic issues.
