Protest outside Azerbaijani Embassy in London features Iranian flags and hijab placards
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy...
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce the creation of a Gaza “Board of Peace” next week as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, according to reports.
The board will be chaired by President Trump and is set to include around 15 international leaders, U.S. officials told Axios.
Its mandate will be to supervise the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic government and oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, according to officials familiar with the plan.
Invitations to prospective member countries are already being issued, and the board’s formation is a key element of advancing the ceasefire framework reached in late 2025. The international authority is expected to operate under a two‑year, renewable United Nations mandate.
Alongside the board, a committee of Palestinian technocrats will be established to manage day‑to‑day administration in Gaza once hostilities have ceased and reconstruction begins.
Reportedly, former UN envoy to the Middle East, Nikolay Mladenov, is set to serve as the board’s representative on the ground.
Preparations for the announcement follow diplomatic engagement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have signalled progress toward advancing to the next phase of the peace plan.
The timing and composition of the Board of Peace could still shift as negotiations continue with regional partners and with the Palestinian Authority.
The initiative has drawn scrutiny from some Arab leaders who emphasise the importance of clear peacekeeping mandates and robust humanitarian support.
The initiative forms part of a broader U.S.‑brokered ceasefire that has already led to significant reductions in violence and moves toward post‑war governance and reconstruction arrangements in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025, months of intense hostilities were paused which made way for phased hostage and prisoner exchanges, as well as limited Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of the Strip.
While the process reduced immediate tensions, diplomats and analysts warn that the ceasefire remains fragile.
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
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