UAE, Belarus join Trump's Board of Peace alongside US rivals China, Russia
Norway was invitedto serve on the board as well, but refused the offer. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry did not provide an immediate explanation.
Middle East
European states see US-led Gaza base as ‘failure,’ consider pullback, diplomats say
'We'll fight side by side in Rojava,' Kurdistan Freedom Party leader tells 'Post' - interview
Is Syria’s leader Ahmed al-Sharaa a master geopolitical chess player? - analysis
Iran's parliament vows to fight 'holy war' if US targets Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in strikes
This follows a similar statement made by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who stated that "Any aggression against Khamenei is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation."
Senior Hamas officials planning 'safe exit' from Gaza Strip, Saudi media outlet reports
Senior Hamas figures are reportedly weighing a coordinated departure from Gaza following the rollout of Phase II of Donald Trump’s plan, according to sources cited by Asharq al-Awsat.
Executions in Iran soared in 2025 as regime used killings as 'tool of intimidation,' UN says
Human rights groups warned the regime stepped up executions in response to the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, which erupted in response to the regime’s murder of Mahsa Amini.
UN Human Rights Council to hold emergency meeting on Iran to discuss 'alarming violence'
An Iranian official said authorities have verified at least 5,000 deaths in the protests, which are the biggest demonstrations since 2022, prompting UN rights chief Volker Turk to condemn violence.
US estimates 200 ISIS terrorists escaped Syrian prison, US official says
The Syrian ministry said Syrian army units and ministry special forces entered Shaddadi following the breakout.
Kurdish unity: Protests erupt across Iraq in support of Syria's Rojava
The crisis in Syria is affecting Kurds all over the world, primarily due to the fear that members of the Syrian government’s security forces may commit abuses amid the new offensive.
‘Anti-Iranian criminal’: Pahlavi targets Khamenei over deaths of demonstrators in Iran protests
"You are an anti-Iranian criminal,” the crown prince said. “You have neither honor nor humanity. Your hands are stained with the blood of tens of thousands of Iranians."
Iran's internet to return to normal by Friday, official announces
Afshin declared that "by order of the president, nationwide internet access will be restored from today to tomorrow and at the latest by the end of the week," which in Iran is on Friday.
Syrian deal with SDF could lead to Turkey-PKK peace, Turkish officials say
After days of fighting, the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed on Sunday to bring Kurdish authorities under the control of Damascus.
Iran accelerates AI-driven influence campaigns amid internal unrest
Iran’s expanding use of AI in influence operations is reshaping how it targets Israel and Western countries, raising concerns about the future of cyber and information warfare.
