Saudi Arabia has executed 340 people so far in 2025, setting a new record for the second consecutive year, according to data compiled by AFP. The Saudi authorities announced three additional executions on Monday, pushing the total beyond last year’s figure of 338. The country continues to apply capital punishment for a range of offenses, including murder, drug trafficking, and terrorism-related crimes.

Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over the rising use of the death penalty, calling it the highest annual total since records began in the 1990s. Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly urged Riyadh to impose a moratorium, citing concerns over due process and fairness in trials.

Observers note that the increase in executions comes despite Saudi Arabia’s pledges to reform its justice system under Vision 2030. The trend may heighten international scrutiny and could affect the kingdom’s human rights image as it seeks greater global investment and diplomatic engagement.

Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his family have been living in seclusion and luxury in Moscow for over a year, according to a Guardian report. After leaving Syria on December 8, 2024, with Russian military assistance, Assad has resumed his earlier profession as an ophthalmologist. He is reportedly studying medicine again, learning Russian, and refining his medical skills while avoiding political activity.

The Assad family resides in Rublyovka, an elite gated community west of Moscow, home to Russia’s political and business elite. Russian authorities are said to be closely monitoring the family, restricting their external communications. Assad’s sudden departure has angered close relatives and loyalists, including his brother Maher al-Assad, who reportedly failed to reach him.

Diplomatic sources confirm that Assad is safe but barred from political or media engagement. His children are adapting to life in Moscow, with daughter Zein graduating from MGIMO University and son Hafez maintaining a low profile online. Observers say the family is adjusting to life away from power and public visibility.

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Appeals Chamber on Monday dismissed Israel’s appeal challenging the legality of investigating alleged war crimes in Gaza committed after October 7, 2023. Israel had argued that the investigation was invalid and that the prosecutor should have issued a new notice following recent referrals. The chamber ruled that the post-October 7 incidents fall under the original 2021 notification, confirming that no new notice was required.

The decision preserves the arrest warrants issued in November 2023 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Legal experts, including Professor Kevin Jon Heller of the University of Copenhagen, welcomed the ruling, noting that Israel could have exercised its complementarity rights but chose not to. The United States has already imposed sanctions on ICC officials involved in the case, including the chief prosecutor and two deputy prosecutors.

The ruling marks a significant step forward for the ICC’s ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine, potentially intensifying diplomatic tensions between Israel, the ICC, and its Western allies.

Hamas deputy chief Khalil al-Hayya stated that the group has a 'legitimate right' to retain its weapons, emphasizing that any post-ceasefire proposal for Gaza must preserve this right. Speaking on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV, al-Hayya linked the group’s armament to the broader goal of establishing a Palestinian state. His remarks come amid ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10.

Al-Hayya’s comments directly challenge international and Israeli demands for Hamas’s disarmament under a proposed U.S.-backed peace plan. The plan outlines three stages: prisoner exchanges, Israeli troop withdrawals replaced by an international stabilization force, and Gaza’s reconstruction. Israel insists Hamas must surrender its weapons before progress can be made. Al-Hayya also confirmed the death of the head of Hamas’s weapons production unit in recent Israeli attacks.

The statement underscores deep divisions over Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements. Analysts warn that Hamas’s insistence on keeping its arms could complicate ceasefire negotiations and delay reconstruction efforts in the war-torn enclave.

The United States has transferred several Afghan Black Hawk helicopters from Uzbekistan to Peru, according to Tolo News. These aircraft were moved to Uzbekistan in 2021 after the fall of Kabul and the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The Taliban government has not yet commented on the transfer, though Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi recently urged countries holding Afghan helicopters to return them for humanitarian use.

Military analyst Mohammad Zalmai Afghanier noted that Washington and its allies aim to maintain regional security and counter terrorism. He suggested that if the helicopters were returned to Afghanistan, they could be used in anti-terror operations. Following the 2021 government collapse, 46 Afghan military aircraft and helicopters were relocated to Uzbekistan, seven of which were handed over to the US in February 2023.

The move may complicate US–Taliban relations and raises questions about the redistribution of former Afghan military assets. No official US statement has clarified the purpose of Peru’s acquisition.

Pakistan’s security forces killed 13 militants in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province between December 12 and 13, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The operations took place in Mohmand and Bannu districts, targeting members of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by the military as ‘Fitna al-Kharij’. Seven militants were killed in Mohmand and six in Bannu after intense firefights.

The ISPR claimed the militants had received backing from India, an allegation that could further strain bilateral relations. Pakistan’s security agencies have intensified counterterrorism efforts following a surge in militant attacks across the northwest. Last month, 22 militants were killed in a similar operation in Bannu. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 ranked Pakistan second worldwide for terrorism impact, with a 45% rise in deaths from attacks compared to the previous year.

Analysts warn that despite frequent operations, militant networks remain resilient in border regions, posing ongoing security and diplomatic challenges for Islamabad.

At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured when a school bus carrying students and adults fell into an 80-meter-deep ravine in northern Colombia’s Antioquia region. The bus was returning from a graduation trip to the Caribbean town of Tolú and was en route to Medellín when the accident occurred early Sunday morning near El Chispero, on the Remedios–Zaragoza road.

Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián confirmed the tragedy on social media, describing it as a devastating loss for the community during the holiday season. The victims included students from Liceo Antioqueño High School and the driver, Jonathan Taborda Cocacolo, who worked for the tourism company Preculture. Local authorities said the injured, aged between 16 and 27, were taken to hospitals in Segovia and Remedios.

Officials stated that the trip was privately organized by students, not a school-sponsored event. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, while local leaders and the tourism network have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the affected community.

Israeli forces shot and killed a 23-year-old Palestinian man near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The victim, identified as Muhammad Wael al-Sharouf, was reportedly killed after Israeli troops alleged he attempted a stabbing attack. The Israeli military described the incident as the neutralization of a 'terrorist' in the Hebron area.

The killing follows another fatal shooting a day earlier, when Israeli forces killed a 16-year-old boy in the northern West Bank, claiming he had thrown an explosive device. Palestinian authorities identified the teenager as Muhammad Iyad Abahra and accused Israeli forces of withholding his body. The incidents come amid escalating violence across the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

According to Palestinian data, at least 1,093 Palestinians have been killed and around 11,000 injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023. The continued clashes highlight the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in the occupied territories.

Thailand has declared martial law in several districts of its eastern Trat province following escalating border clashes with Cambodian forces. According to Thai media reports on Sunday, the move came after a Thai army staff sergeant was killed by a BM-21 rocket strike while on duty near the frontier. The Defense Ministry confirmed that the navy has also imposed curfews across four districts as fighting continues to intensify.

Under martial law, Thai security forces have been granted expanded powers to detain suspects, search vehicles, and inspect properties without prior authorization. Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaipan of the Thai Navy stated that marine units had regained control over key areas in Cham Rak subdistrict after heavy combat. Senior military officials emphasized that Thailand’s strategic goal is to prevent Cambodia from posing a long-term security threat.

Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, however, accused Thailand of shelling multiple villages and conducting airstrikes using F-16 fighter jets. Regional observers warn that the escalation could destabilize cross-border trade and humanitarian conditions if diplomacy fails to de-escalate tensions.

A Sydney resident, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, has been hailed as a hero after confronting and disarming a gunman during a deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach. Video footage circulating online shows Al-Ahmed, dressed in a white shirt, rushing toward an armed man in a parking area, tackling him from behind, and seizing his rifle. The footage also shows Al-Ahmed placing the weapon on the ground as the assailant retreats toward a nearby bridge.

The attack left 11 people dead, according to local reports. Australian media identified Al-Ahmed, 43, as a local fruit shop owner and father of two. Relatives said he was shot twice during the confrontation. Social media users and community members have widely praised his bravery, crediting his intervention with preventing further casualties.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, while community leaders have called for unity and resilience in the wake of the tragedy. Al-Ahmed’s actions have sparked national discussions about civilian courage in crisis situations.

European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has warned that Russia could create a real conflict scenario in Europe within the next three to four years. Speaking after a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Kubilius described the situation as a potential 'conflict test' for Europe and urged rapid strengthening of the continent’s defense capabilities.

Kubilius emphasized that Russia’s economy has effectively become a wartime economy, posing a long-term security threat to Europe. He identified two major challenges: the potential for Russian aggression and the United States’ call for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security as Washington shifts focus toward the Indo-Pacific. He noted that while progress is being made through new financial tools and strategic planning, Europe still heavily depends on U.S. intelligence and satellite systems.

Kubilius also proposed initiating discussions on a European Defense Union that could include the UK, Norway, and Ukraine, stressing that Europe must prepare for greater responsibility within NATO and consider the long-term goal of a unified European army.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to securing membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). During a meeting with newly appointed Thai Ambassador Thitiporn Chirasawadi in Dhaka, Yunus expressed optimism that Thailand would support Bangladesh’s membership bid. The government has already applied for ASEAN’s Sectoral Dialogue Partner status as part of the accession process.

The discussion covered expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, maritime connectivity, cybersecurity, and people-to-people exchanges. The Thai envoy indicated Bangkok’s interest in initiating talks on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could enhance Thai investment and trade with Bangladesh. Plans were also revealed to launch a direct shipping route between Ranong Port in Thailand and Chattogram Port in Bangladesh by March, following formal consultations in February.

Yunus emphasized the importance of issuing more visas for Bangladeshi nationals traveling to Thailand for medical, business, and educational purposes. The initiative is viewed as a strategic step toward linking South and Southeast Asia through stronger economic and diplomatic ties.

Israeli forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian boy during a late-night raid in the Silat al-Harithiya village of the Jenin governorate in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs. The victim, identified as Muhammad Iyad Abahra, was reportedly struck by live fire, and Israeli authorities have not yet released his body to his family.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops used live ammunition and stun grenades during the operation. Palestinian statistics indicate that since October 2023, at least 1,093 Palestinians have been killed, around 11,000 injured, and 21,000 detained across the West Bank and East Jerusalem amid escalating Israeli military and settler actions.

The incident comes despite a declared ceasefire and follows a July ruling by the International Court of Justice declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. The continued clashes underscore the fragility of the truce and the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in the region.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with Bangladesh following the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers in a drone attack in Sudan. He conveyed his condolences during a phone call with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Sunday evening, Bangladesh time.

According to the Chief Adviser’s press wing, the two leaders also discussed Bangladesh’s upcoming general election. Dr. Yunus assured Guterres that the interim government is committed to holding a free, fair, and peaceful election on February 12. Guterres expressed hope that Bangladesh would successfully complete the electoral process. During the call, he requested Yunus to convey his sympathy to the victims’ families and confirmed that injured peacekeepers were receiving medical care, with arrangements underway for their transfer to advanced facilities.

Dr. Yunus thanked the UN for its support and urged swift repatriation of the deceased. The conversation also recalled Guterres’s visit to Bangladesh during the last Ramadan, underscoring the ongoing cooperation between Dhaka and the UN.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Australian government of contributing to the conditions that led to the recent Sydney attack. Speaking at a public event in southern Israel, Netanyahu claimed that Canberra’s policies had encouraged antisemitic sentiment, which he linked to the violence that occurred on Sunday.

Netanyahu revealed that three months earlier he had written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, warning that Australia’s stance on recognizing a Palestinian state was ‘pouring fuel on the fire’ of antisemitism. His remarks follow Australia’s August announcement that it would move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood, a decision that drew mixed international reactions.

The comments have added diplomatic tension between Israel and Australia, as both governments face scrutiny over their handling of Middle East policy and domestic security. Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s statements may reflect growing Israeli frustration with Western allies perceived as softening their positions on Palestinian recognition.