Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
President Donald Trump began his Gulf tour with a major announcement: the U.S. will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, marking a dramatic shift in foreign policy. The move follows a request by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and comes after rebels led by new President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad in December.
Speaking in Riyadh at an investment forum, Trump also revealed a $600 billion Saudi commitment to invest in the U.S. economy and confirmed a historic $142 billion arms deal—America’s largest-ever defense agreement. The broader partnership spans defense, energy, mining, and communications and could surpass $1 trillion with future deals.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the sanctions lift as a “new start” for the war-torn country. Trump is expected to briefly meet President Sharaa during his stop in Saudi Arabia.
The visit also included U.S. business leaders such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Larry Fink, and Stephen Schwarzman, highlighting strong commercial ties. Trump praised bin Salman as an “incredible man” while avoiding mention of the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which had strained U.S.-Saudi relations.
Trump urged Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel but acknowledged internal challenges due to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s opposition to a Palestinian state. The former president reiterated his hard stance on Iran, calling it the region’s “most destructive force” and warning against its nuclear ambitions. While open to negotiations, Trump promised “maximum pressure” if diplomacy fails.
Trump’s regional tour continues with stops in Qatar and the UAE, focusing on economic cooperation amid rising tensions and shifting alliances in the Middle East.
