News

Trump ousts Waltz, names Rubio national security adviser

Trump replaces national security adviser Mike Waltz with Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid a significant White House shake-up.

Published

9 months ago

May 2, 2025

Ahron Young

Trump replaces national security adviser Mike Waltz with Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid a significant White House shake-up.

In Short

President Trump has dismissed national security adviser Mike Waltz, appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim replacement.

Waltz is being nominated for U.S. ambassador to the UN amid internal criticism and ongoing challenges for the administration.

U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the interim replacement. This change marks a significant reshuffling within Trump’s administration since his inauguration in January.

In a social media announcement, Trump expressed his intention to nominate Waltz for the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, commending him for prioritising national interests. Reports indicate that Trump’s decision to remove Waltz stemmed from internal criticism, particularly relating to a scandal involving a chat among national security aides.

Another departure

Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, an expert on Asia, is also departing from his role. Rubio’s temporary dual role as both Secretary of State and national security adviser is notably significant, recalling the era of Henry Kissinger in the 1970s, who held both titles simultaneously.

The national security adviser position is influential and does not require Senate confirmation, reflecting the executive’s direct control over this key role. The shakeup comes amid ongoing challenges that the administration faces on various fronts.

This change in leadership highlights the fluid nature of Trump’s team and the emphasis on aligning national security strategy with the administration’s broader goals. The implications of this appointment and Waltz’s transition to a UN role will be closely monitored in the coming days.

News

Ukraine and Russia set for U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi

Published

20 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that new peace talks with Russia will take place in Abu Dhabi later this week. The discussions are part of U.S.-led efforts to find a path toward ending the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is prepared for meaningful dialogue aimed at achieving peace. The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty over the timing of the meeting.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff described prior discussions with Russian officials as productive, though major disagreements over territorial issues remain unresolved.

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News

Tensions rise as Iran threatens conflict and U.S. increases naval forces

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Published

21 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Iran has warned of a potential regional conflict if the U.S. launches an attack, while labelling European armies as terrorists. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted that threats from President Trump will not intimidate the Iranian people.

The U.S. has ramped up its naval presence in the Middle East in response to mounting threats, amid speculation over Iran’s next moves. Iranian officials have denied claims of imminent naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to global uncertainty.

#MiddleEastCrisis #IranUS #Geopolitics #NavalTensions #Trump #AyatollahKhamenei #EuropeanUnion #GlobalConflict

News

Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest man to complete career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Published

21 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Carlos Alcaraz has stunned the tennis world by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.

The world number one beat Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set match, finishing 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. Djokovic missed out on claiming his 25th Grand Slam title. To mark the milestone, Alcaraz revealed he plans to add a new tattoo of a kangaroo on his leg, joining his existing Eiffel Tower and Wimbledon strawberry tattoos.

#CarlosAlcaraz #AustralianOpen #GrandSlam #TennisHistory #NovakDjokovic #SportsNews #TennisTattoo #YoungChampion