Large demonstrations took place across several US cities on Sunday as Iranian expatriates protested against Iran’s deadly suppression of anti-government movements and expressed solidarity with demonstrators inside the country. According to AFP, thousands marched in Los Angeles, home to the world’s largest Iranian diaspora, while hundreds gathered in New York. Protesters carried placards reading messages such as “New Holocaust,” “Ongoing Genocide,” and calls to end the Iranian government’s “terror.” One participant, Pery Faraj, said his cousin was killed during protests in Iran earlier in the week.

The protests followed unrest that began in late December over economic hardship and quickly turned into a broader anti-government movement. Iran’s communications blackout and security crackdown since January 8 have largely subdued the demonstrations. The human rights group Iran Human Rights reported verifying 3,428 protester deaths at the hands of security forces, though the actual number may be higher.

Many demonstrators voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former Shah, though experts noted his influence remains limited inside Iran. The rallies aimed to draw international attention to the repression, while observers stressed that Iran’s future will ultimately depend on its people.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to establish an international organization called the 'Board of Peace' as an alternative to the United Nations, according to a Bloomberg report. The draft charter obtained by Bloomberg states that Trump would serve as the first chairman with full veto power over membership selection and removal. Countries would be required to pay one billion dollars to become permanent members, while general membership would last three years.

The draft charter argues that existing international structures have failed to maintain peace and calls for a more flexible and effective global peace body. Analysts believe this initiative signals Trump’s intent to create a parallel framework to the UN. The Board of Peace is described as an organization aimed at ensuring stability, lawful governance, and sustainable peace in conflict-prone regions.

According to the report, several countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada, have been invited to join the board to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and interim governance. Egypt is still considering the invitation, while Canada has expressed interest.

US President Donald Trump plans to charge countries one billion dollars each to become permanent members of his proposed 'Board of Peace', according to a Bloomberg report. The draft charter states that Trump would serve as the board’s first chairman and hold veto power over membership decisions. Countries paying the full amount within the first year would secure permanent membership, while others would have three-year terms.

The draft charter argues that existing international structures have failed to maintain peace and calls for a more flexible and effective global peace organization. The language has raised concern that Trump may be attempting to create an alternative to the United Nations. The board is described as an international body aimed at ensuring stability, lawful governance, and sustainable peace in conflict-prone regions.

Trump has already invited several world leaders to join the board, including those from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada. Egypt’s foreign minister said the proposal is under consideration, while a senior aide to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed interest in accepting the invitation.

US President Donald Trump has appointed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to a newly formed 'Peace Board' tasked with overseeing Gaza’s governance and reconstruction. The seven-member board, chaired by Trump, also includes US envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The announcement was made as part of the second phase of a broader peace plan.

According to Middle East Eye, Blair’s inclusion has sparked significant controversy across the region, as many in the Middle East view him as a war criminal due to his role in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Blair’s consultancy, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), has also faced criticism for advising authoritarian governments in Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and for alleged financial links to controversial entities. TBI has denied these allegations.

The appointment comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where Israeli restrictions on aid and harsh winter conditions have led to rising Palestinian casualties. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 71,400 deaths and 171,000 injuries since October 7, 2023.

NASA has moved its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, marking a major step toward sending humans to the Moon for the first time in over five decades. The transfer, lasting about 12 hours, positions the Artemis-2 mission for final testing before a possible launch on February 6. The mission will carry three American astronauts and one Canadian on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon without landing.

The Artemis-2 mission, announced during former President Donald Trump’s first term, is viewed as a key milestone in the United States’ renewed lunar ambitions. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen attended the rollout, expressing excitement about the upcoming flight. Engineers will now conduct a series of safety tests, including a full simulation, before liftoff. NASA previously completed the uncrewed Artemis-1 mission in November 2022.

The report notes that China is also advancing its lunar program, aiming to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. Analysts suggest U.S. urgency stems partly from China’s progress, while uncertainty remains over the 2027 Artemis-3 mission due to delays in SpaceX’s Starship rocket development.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 10 percent tariff on imports from eight European countries, citing their opposition to his position on Greenland. The affected nations are the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland. The tariffs will take effect on February 1, with plans to raise the rate to 25 percent on June 1. Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.

In his post, Trump claimed that it is time for Denmark to “return” Greenland and argued that the current situation poses a threat to world peace. He alleged that China seeks to take over Greenland and that Denmark is incapable of responding effectively. Trump also accused the European countries of playing a “very dangerous game” in Greenland and said strong measures are needed to end the situation quickly.

During a White House meeting on Friday, Trump reiterated that any country disagreeing with his stance on Greenland could face tariffs, emphasizing the island’s strategic importance to U.S. national security.

Senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump have criticized Canada’s decision to permit imports of up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) under a new trade deal with Beijing. Speaking at a Ford factory event in Ohio, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Canada would regret the move, while Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the vehicles would not be allowed into the United States. The Canadian Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

The decision follows Canada’s earlier 2024 imposition of 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs, mirroring US duties. However, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new agreement reduces tariffs to 6.1 percent on most-favoured-nation terms. The deal also includes China lowering tariffs on Canadian canola seed to about 15 percent by March 1. US officials expressed concern that the policy could give China a stronger foothold in North America despite Washington’s tougher stance on Canadian vehicles and parts.

Greer noted that new US cybersecurity rules for internet-connected vehicles, effective January 2025, would make it difficult for Chinese cars to enter the American market. Lawmakers from both parties, including Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, voiced strong opposition to Chinese vehicles being sold in the US.

A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed in the state to limit certain tactics used against protesters and observers. The injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez, prohibits federal agents from arresting or detaining peaceful demonstrators or observers without reasonable suspicion of a crime or interference with law enforcement. It also bans the use of pepper spray, tear gas, or other crowd-control weapons against peaceful participants. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been given 72 hours to bring its Minneapolis operations into compliance.

The ruling follows heightened tensions after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, during a neighborhood patrol organized by activists monitoring ICE activities. The decision marks a legal victory for local activists in Minneapolis, two weeks after the Trump administration deployed 2,000 immigration agents to the area, a number that has since grown to nearly 3,000. DHS has described the operation as the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

As protests continue, President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military to manage unrest, though he stated there was no immediate need to do so.

President Donald Trump announced that several European allies will face a series of escalating tariffs for opposing United States control of Greenland, intensifying his campaign to acquire the Danish territory. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said 10 percent tariffs would begin on February 1 for Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, rising to 25 percent on June 1 and remaining until an agreement is reached for the US to buy Greenland. He accused these nations of playing a “very dangerous game” through visits to Greenland and linked the acquisition to the planned US missile defense shield, the Golden Dome.

The announcement came as thousands protested across Denmark and Greenland against Trump’s repeated threats to take control of the Arctic island. Demonstrations in Copenhagen and Nuuk drew large crowds calling for self-governance and rejecting US ownership. Al Jazeera correspondents described the move as unprecedented and a serious escalation against close US allies.

A bipartisan US congressional delegation in Copenhagen sought to reassure Denmark and Greenland of continued American support, but the tariff threat has raised concerns of deepening rifts within NATO and heightened tensions over Arctic security.

United States President Donald Trump has invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to join his proposed “board of peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition. The invitations were confirmed by authorities in Ankara and Cairo, with Erdogan receiving his on Friday and Egypt’s foreign minister saying Cairo was reviewing a similar offer. The board, part of Trump’s plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza, is expected to supervise temporary governance in the territory.

The White House announced that Trump will chair a “founding executive board” including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Additional members include World Bank President Ajay Banga and UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who will serve as high representative for Gaza. A UN Security Council resolution in November authorised the board and an international stabilisation force under US command.

Reactions have been mixed. Rights experts criticised the plan as resembling a colonial structure, while Palestinians in Gaza voiced concern that the board’s members could prioritise control over justice and reconstruction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed the board’s composition, saying it was not coordinated with Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that oppose American control over Greenland. Speaking at a rural healthcare event at the White House on Friday, Trump warned that he could take similar action to the tariffs previously imposed on the pharmaceutical industry. He stated that if allies do not support the United States in taking control of Greenland, tariffs could be applied against them, emphasizing that the island is essential for U.S. national security.

Trump reiterated that Greenland’s strategic location and vast mineral resources make it vital to U.S. interests. He did not rule out the possibility of using force to secure control of the island but mentioned tariffs for the first time in this context. The president also said he was discussing the issue with NATO, stressing that without Greenland, there would be a significant gap in U.S. national security.

The remarks mark an escalation in Trump’s rhetoric regarding Greenland, linking economic pressure with geopolitical objectives.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced several members of the new Gaza Peace Board, which will oversee the interim administration in the war-torn territory. The seven-member founding executive board includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Trump will chair the 15-member board himself, describing it as the most prestigious of its kind.

The board stems from Trump’s 20-point peace plan introduced in late 2025, which led to an initial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and a prisoner exchange. The plan calls for an international “Board of Peace” to supervise a Palestinian technocratic body managing Gaza’s governance during the transition period. However, the White House has not yet detailed the board’s specific responsibilities.

Residents of Gaza have expressed skepticism about the recently announced second-phase ceasefire, citing unfulfilled promises from the first stage of the agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump will not change his stance on acquiring Greenland even after the formation of a European military mission on the island, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, she said European troop deployments would not affect Trump’s decision-making process. A meeting was held Wednesday between the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where both sides agreed to form a working group for technical discussions on the issue.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated that while all parties agree on strengthening Arctic security, there are disagreements over methods, emphasizing that people are not commodities to be traded. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any U.S. attempt to forcibly take Greenland could threaten NATO’s existence. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen viewed ongoing dialogue positively, calling diplomacy the right path forward.

Meanwhile, Denmark landed two military transport planes in Nuuk as part of the NATO “Arctic Endurance” exercise, with European allies deploying troops to Greenland. Trump reiterated that U.S. control of the island is vital for national security against potential Russian and Chinese threats.

After more than a decade of fluctuating relations, the United States is struggling to maintain its economic position in Africa, according to Turkish academic Yunus Turhan of Haci Bayram Veli University in Ankara. Citing U.S. Census Bureau data, he noted that trade between the U.S. and Africa has seen major ups and downs from 2014 to 2025, with exports reaching 34 billion dollars and imports 37.8 billion dollars by November 2025. Despite this, Africa accounted for only 1.1 percent of America’s total trade volume of 7.37 trillion dollars in 2024.

Turhan highlighted that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), launched in 2000, has played a key role by allowing 32 African nations to export over 1,800 products duty-free to the U.S., contributing about 500 billion dollars in exports between 2002 and 2022. The U.S. House of Representatives recently extended AGOA for another three years. However, Turhan observed that U.S.-Africa trade remains largely oil-dependent.

He added that China and Russia have become Washington’s main competitors in Africa, with China’s trade reaching 314 billion dollars in 2025 and Russia’s 24.5 billion dollars in 2024. Turhan suggested that the U.S. should work closely with partners like Turkey to balance strategic rivalry and development goals in Africa.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the 19th-century Insurrection Act, which would allow the deployment of the military within the country. The warning came as protests spread across Minnesota following the shooting of a man by federal agents on Wednesday and the earlier death of a woman last week. Demonstrators in the Democrat-leaning northern cities have been protesting against violence linked to the Trump administration’s extensive immigration enforcement operations.

Trump reiterated his threat on social media, saying he would use the Insurrection Act if Minnesota’s politicians failed to uphold the law and prevent attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. He expressed frustration over court obstacles to deploying the National Guard and over the ongoing protests, signaling a tougher stance in advancing his anti-immigration agenda.

Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz sharply criticized the Trump administration, accusing federal agents of conducting a “brutal campaign” against residents. In a video message, he cited incidents of home raids, mistreatment of pregnant women, and the killing of 37-year-old Renny Good. Walz urged peaceful demonstrations and called on Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to end what he described as an occupation.