US President Donald Trump unveiled his new 'Board of Peace' at the Davos Economic Forum this week, declaring it a platform to end decades of global suffering and build lasting peace. The initiative, originally conceived during US-led efforts to end the Gaza war, was approved by a UN Security Council resolution but has since expanded into a broader global project. A leaked draft charter shows Trump will serve as lifelong chairman with sweeping powers, including appointing members, creating or dissolving sub-bodies, and naming his successor. Permanent membership reportedly costs $1 billion.

The launch drew mixed international reactions. Poland’s prime minister warned against manipulation, while Hungary’s Viktor Orbán praised Trump’s leadership. The UK, Sweden, and Norway voiced concerns or withheld participation, and a coalition of Muslim-majority nations joined citing hopes for Gaza’s reconstruction—though the leaked charter made no mention of Gaza. France’s Emmanuel Macron faced tariff threats from Trump for hesitating to join, and Slovenia called the move a dangerous interference in global order.

UN officials described the initiative as reflecting the UN Security Council’s failures but cautioned that inclusivity is vital. Secretary-General António Guterres lamented the rise of power politics over rule of law, while observers questioned whether Trump’s board could replace the UN.

Belgium has imposed a ban on aircraft carrying weapons and military equipment to Israel from using its airspace. The restriction took effect on Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency. Local newspaper Le Soir reported that the decision was initiated by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot. Under the new rule, all information related to flights transporting military goods to Israel must be submitted in advance to Belgian authorities.

The report stated that the main objective of the ban is to prevent the transport of Israeli arms and military goods. Inspection operations will be carried out by the Customs Authority and the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport (SPF Transport). In Belgium, regional governments control arms export licenses, but the federal government oversees transport and transit activities. Therefore, this federal measure is expected to effectively limit the use of regional export licenses.

The decision comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which began in October 2023. The conflict has reportedly resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with Israel continuing restrictions on essential supplies despite a ceasefire.

Several leading international airlines have suspended flights across the Middle East following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a powerful American naval armada is heading toward Iran. The move comes amid growing fears of a possible military confrontation between the United States and Iran. Airlines including KLM, Lufthansa, and Air France have temporarily halted services to key destinations in the region.

According to NDTV, the cancellations have severely disrupted air connectivity to major hubs such as Israel, Dubai, and Riyadh. Air France announced that its Dubai-bound flights on July 23 and 24 would not operate due to the current situation. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has indefinitely suspended flights to Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Tel Aviv, rerouting aircraft to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and several Gulf countries. United Airways and Air Canada have also stopped flights to Israel amid concerns of a potential U.S. strike on Iran.

The White House stated that Tehran’s decision to suspend executions of protesters has not altered Washington’s military planning, further intensifying regional tensions.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos last Thursday. Lula said Trump is attempting to create a “new United Nations” under his own control rather than reforming the existing UN. He refused to join the initiative, which requires a $1 billion payment for permanent membership and places Trump as chairman.

According to the report, 19 countries’ leaders and representatives signed the founding charter of the Board of Peace. Although initially described as a body to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, its charter suggests a broader scope that could rival the UN. Lula emphasized multilateral cooperation and warned against the use of power in global politics, echoing a recent phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who urged maintaining the UN’s central role.

France and the United Kingdom, both close U.S. allies, have expressed doubts about the plan. London objected to Russia’s inclusion due to the Ukraine war, while Paris said the council’s charter conflicts with its international commitments and UN membership obligations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that U.S. President Donald Trump is the only leader capable of forcing Israel to stop its offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip. In an interview with journalist Hadley Gamble on the program 'On the Record,' Fidan argued that if President Trump uses Washington’s influence, it would be effective in ending the conflict. He also noted that Israel has violated ceasefire agreements multiple times.

Fidan emphasized that Turkey believes Trump is the only person who can exert real pressure on Israel. When asked about the possibility of Turkey sending troops to Gaza, he referred to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s earlier remarks, saying Ankara is ready to do everything within its capacity to advance a peace plan.

He added that Turkey is willing to participate in an international stabilization force in Gaza, but any troop deployment would depend on broader international consensus.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that Ankara is prepared to send troops to Gaza if conditions become favorable. In an interview with a Turkish television channel on Friday, he stated that while Ankara opposes taking a direct role in Gaza, its efforts regarding the situation will continue. The statement was reported by TRT World.

Fidan described Gaza as Turkey’s top priority and expressed willingness to provide military assistance if the situation allows. He also mentioned that the Rafah border crossing could reopen early next week. The report noted that displaced Palestinians are enduring harsh winter conditions in tents.

When asked about the possible disarmament of Hamas, Fidan said the issue must be part of any broader roadmap. He emphasized that Ankara’s highest priority is ensuring that Gaza’s residents can remain on their land.

Delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States met in the United Arab Emirates to discuss ways to end the ongoing war. The meeting, held on Friday in Abu Dhabi, marked the first direct and public discussion between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks focused mainly on Russia’s demand for control over parts of Ukrainian territory. The U.S. delegation included three representatives, among them Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The specific agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he was in contact with his country’s representatives during the talks. Earlier, he expressed optimism that the meeting could be a step toward ending the conflict. Speaking in Davos, Zelensky said the core issue remained territorial division, emphasizing that both Ukraine and Russia must be ready for compromise. Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede about 25 percent of the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control, while Ukraine proposed creating an economic zone in Donbas and sought security guarantees in exchange for conditional troop withdrawal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel is looking for an opportunity to attack Iran, warning that such an action could further destabilize the region. He made the remarks in a television interview on Friday, emphasizing that he hopes Israel will choose a different path. Fidan clarified that his observation applies specifically to Israel, not necessarily to the United States.

Fidan added that during his recent visit to Iran, he directly conveyed these concerns to Iranian officials, describing his approach as that of a true friend who speaks hard truths. His comments followed a phone call on Thursday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s opposition to any foreign intervention in Iran and its commitment to the neighbor’s peace and stability.

On Friday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would consider any attack by its enemies as a declaration of total war against Iran.

More than three months after a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli forces have continued attacks and restrictions on humanitarian aid, according to a United Nations briefing on Thursday. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that about 230,000 women and girls, including 15,000 pregnant women, are being denied essential reproductive health services due to Israeli military actions and blockade. The UN Population Fund reported that the destruction of hospitals, clinics, and health centers, along with displacement and flooding, has severely limited access to medical and psychological support.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with civilians suffering from cold and lack of shelter. A six-month-old child reportedly died in Khan Younis due to extreme cold, bringing the winter death toll to 11. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli shelling continued across Gaza, including in Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 477 people have been killed and 1,301 injured in the three months since the ceasefire, with total casualties from the conflict reaching over 71,000 dead and 171,000 injured.

Israeli operations have also intensified in the occupied West Bank, where several Palestinians were recently arrested in Nablus and Bethlehem.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has become a focal point of global attention due to its vast mineral wealth and strategic Arctic location. Following renewed threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to seize the island, Denmark has deployed additional troops there. Despite Trump later withdrawing a tariff threat against eight European nations opposing his stance, tensions between the United States and Europe over Greenland remain high. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials, while China and Russia are closely monitoring the situation.

A 2023 survey found that 25 of the 34 critical raw materials listed by the European Commission exist in Greenland, including one of the world’s largest rare earth deposits in the southern Gardar province. These minerals are vital for green energy technologies and defense industries. However, environmental restrictions, bureaucratic hurdles, and opposition from indigenous communities have slowed development. Greenland’s mineral potential positions it as a key player in global supply chains for electric vehicles and renewable energy, but sustainable extraction and careful governance will be essential to avoid social and ecological conflict.

Iran has warned that any attack against it will be treated as an all-out war. The statement came from a senior Iranian official in response to the movement of a large US naval fleet toward the Gulf region. The unnamed official said Iran is fully prepared for any situation and remains on maximum alert.

The warning followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who told reporters aboard Air Force One that a massive naval fleet was advancing toward the Gulf to monitor Iran. The Iranian official expressed hope that the deployment was not intended to provoke conflict but emphasized that the Iranian military was ready for the worst-case scenario.

The official added that any violation of Iran’s sovereignty or territorial integrity by the United States would be met with a strong response. He declined to specify what form that response might take but said Iran would use maximum force to repel any attack.

At least 27 people were killed in separate airstrikes carried out by Myanmar’s military junta on a wedding gathering and a funeral, according to a report by local outlet The Irrawaddy on Thursday. The attacks occurred in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township and Magway Region’s Aunglan Township, leaving many others injured, including women and children.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) stated that 22 civilians died and at least 28 were injured when the junta bombed Kaung Zar village in Hpakant during a funeral. The village, home to displaced families, lies near the Irrawaddy River close to Hpakant town. KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu said there were no KIA members in the area and accused the junta of deliberately targeting civilians. Earlier the same day, another airstrike on a wedding preparation in Magway’s Tat Kone village killed at least five people, including a child.

Days earlier, the junta also bombed a prison run by the Arakan Army in Rakhine State, killing 21 detained soldiers and relatives and injuring 30 others.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is set to visit Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, where she will meet with Greenland’s Prime Minister and other top leaders. The visit comes at a sensitive time following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of threats to take control of the Arctic island. According to AFP from Copenhagen, Frederiksen will travel to Nuuk after completing her Brussels trip, where she met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte early Friday.

Earlier in the week, Rutte reportedly reached a verbal understanding with Trump in Davos regarding the Greenland issue. During their Brussels meeting, Rutte and Frederiksen agreed on the need to strengthen NATO’s activities to enhance security in the Arctic region. Following an agreement on a NATO “framework,” Trump reversed his earlier stance on Greenland.

Although details of the plan have not yet been disclosed, Trump has claimed that the United States achieved all its objectives and that the understanding will remain permanently effective.

At least 21 people were killed and 28 others injured when Myanmar’s military junta carried out an airstrike on a village near Bhamo in northern Kachin State. The attack occurred Thursday afternoon in Hotilin village, west of Bhamo, during a prayer ceremony for the dead. According to Colonel Naw Bu, spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a jet bombed the mourning site, a camp for displaced people, a school, and a market. Around 500 people, including displaced residents, were present at the time, and several of the wounded are in critical condition.

The strike comes amid ongoing conflict across Myanmar since the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on February 1, 2021. Following the coup, peaceful protests were met with deadly force, pushing many opposition groups to take up arms. Non-governmental data indicate that more than 7,700 people have been killed by security forces since then.

The KIA, allied with pro-democracy forces, has been fighting the junta, which has recently intensified air attacks ahead of a planned election in Bhamo. KIA claims control of the city’s outskirts, making the vote unlikely to proceed.

The United States is considering a complete withdrawal of its troops from Syria following the collapse of the YPG and SDF forces and the takeover of northeastern Syria by President Ahmed al-Shara. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the Pentagon is reassessing the effectiveness of its ongoing mission in Syria amid rapidly changing developments. Citing three U.S. officials, the report said questions have arisen about the justification for maintaining American troops after the SDF’s defeat.

According to the report, senior U.S. officials see no reason to keep troops in Syria if the SDF fully disintegrates. The Pentagon had previously stated in July that around 1,500 U.S. troops were deployed in Syria. Earlier, after beginning his second term in January, President Donald Trump said he would make a decision regarding the troop deployment. When asked about the matter, a Pentagon official told Anadolu Agency that they had no comment and do not speculate on future operations or hypothetical situations.

The report indicates that the Pentagon’s reassessment could lead to a significant shift in U.S. military engagement in Syria if the withdrawal proceeds.