ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including US President Donald Trump weighing sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, intensifying pressure on Iran amid diplomatic talks, Iran’s top security official holding talks in Oman following nuclear negotiations with the US, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revoking the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinians in a first-of-its-kind move.

TOP STORIES

• Trump weighs sending 2nd aircraft carrier to Middle East

US President Donald Trump said he is considering the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, intensifying pressure on Iran amid diplomatic talks.

"We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going," Trump told Axios, confirming that he is thinking about an additional deployment.

A US official corroborated that internal discussions regarding a second strike group are underway, which would join the USS Abraham Lincoln currently stationed in the area.

Trump framed the choice for Iran as a binary one, asserting: "Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time," referring to US strikes last June, when American forces carried out airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

• Iran’s top security official holds talks in Oman

Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, held talks in Oman, days after the conclusion of the first round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

An Omani Foreign Ministry statement said Sultan Haitham bin Tarik met with Larijani and discussed the latest developments in the Iran-US negotiations and “pathways to achieve a balanced and equitable agreement for all parties.”

The discussions also addressed “the critical importance of resuming dialogue and returning to the negotiating table to bridge perspectives and resolve outstanding differences through peaceful means,” the statement said.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said Larijani’s talks with Sultan Haitham took place in a "constructive" and "positive" climate, addressing ways to boost bilateral cooperation.

• Netanyahu revokes citizenship of 2 Palestinians in Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an order revoking the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinians, with Israel’s public broadcaster saying they will be deported to the Gaza Strip in a first-of-its-kind move.

Writing on the US social media company X’s platform, Netanyahu said: “This morning I signed the revocation of citizenship and deportation orders for two Israeli terrorists.”

Netanyahu, who himself is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Gaza, claimed that the two "carried out stabbing and shooting attacks against Israeli civilians."

“Many more like them are on the way,” he warned, threatening additional measures against Palestinians.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had separate phone calls with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar, diplomatic sources said, on developments related to the West Bank, Gaza and ongoing talks between Iran and the US as well as the latest on the Cyprus issue.
• The Netherlands condemned recent Israeli measures aimed at expanding control over the occupied West Bank as a "clear violation of international law."
• The UN reported continued Israeli airstrikes, shelling and gunfire across the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, warning that attacks on residential areas are putting civilians at serious risk.
• France condemned recent Israeli measures aimed at expanding control over the occupied West Bank as "a serious blow to the two-state solution."
• Syria’s Army Operations Command said the army has begun withdrawing from the outskirts of Hasakah in northeastern Syria, with internal security forces deploying in implementation of an agreement with the terror group YPG/SDF.
• At least 18 people died in New York City during a cold snap over the weekend, with one additional fatality reported since Friday, said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
• Palestine presented the highest civil award to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares in recognition of his support for the Palestinian cause.
• Lawyers and human rights representatives involved in Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said the West African country submitted what they described as the most comprehensive body of genocide evidence ever presented to the court, highlighting the case’s significance for Myanmar and future genocide trials.
• China's top political advisor called for "efforts to unite Taiwan compatriots and firmly support patriots on the island who advocate reunification" during a work conference on Taiwan affairs in Beijing, according to the state-run China Daily.
• Egypt’s parliament approved a cabinet reshuffle proposed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi covering 17 ministerial portfolios and creating a new post of deputy prime minister for economic affairs.
• An influential Emirati businessman exchanged messages with disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein for years, continuing well over a decade after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses in the US, according to a media report.
• The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that more than 200 million children in over 130 countries will require humanitarian assistance in 2026 -- one of the most severe global crises facing children.
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed a dispute with the United States about a bridge project linking the province of Ontario and the US state of Michigan, emphasizing cooperation and shared benefits for both countries.
• The European Commission was recently targeted by a cyberattack on its central mobile infrastructure, resulting in unauthorized access to staff names and mobile phone numbers.
• South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the defense sector during a phone call, the presidential office said.
• The European Union is considering a new accession model that would allow Ukraine to take part provisionally in certain areas of the bloc before completing the full membership process, according to media reports.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Lufthansa pilots, cabin crew to strike Thursday

Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew announced a coordinated one-day strike for Thursday, a move expected to ground hundreds of flights across Germany.

The unions VC and UFO said in a statement that the walkout will run from 00.01 am to 11.59 pm local time (2301–2259GMT). The strike affects all flights departing from German airports operated by Lufthansa’s core brand and its cargo division, Lufthansa Cargo.

The pilot union VC, which represents approximately 4,800 employees, is demanding higher employer contributions to occupational pensions. Members authorized the strike in a ballot last fall. Lufthansa’s management has rejected the demands, citing high costs and falling profits.

• US household debt up to $18.8T in 4th quarter of last year

US household debt rose 1% to $18.8 trillion in the fourth quarter of last year, according to data released by the New York Federal Reserve.

The increase showed a $191 billion rise from the previous quarter, also climbing $740 billion on an annual basis.

Mortgages continued to take the largest share of household debt in the US, rising last October-December to $13.2 trillion.