Diary

Security situation in northeastern Syria

Syrian Army begins deploying forces in Jazira region to secure the area under a ceasefire and integration deal btween the government and the SDF group.

Humanitarian situation in Gaza amid extreme weather

A new low-pressure weather system affecting the Gaza Strip, accompanied by rain and thunderstorms, has further complicated the humanitarian conditions of displaced people living in tents.

Turkish president to attend awards ceremony in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend a presentation ceremony for the Culture and Tourism Ministry's Special Awards, and the Living Human Treasures Awards at the Bestepe Nation’s Congress and Culture Center in Ankara.

European Parliament holds plenary session on AI deepfakes

European Council and Commission will address AI deepfakes and online sexual exploitation, stressing full enforcement of EU digital rules and follow-up on lawmakers’ discussion.

The session follows controversy over xAI’s Grok chatbot on X, accused of generating and spreading sexually explicit deepfakes, prompting the EU Commission to warn Elon Musk’s platform of urgent regulatory action if the issue is not addressed.

European Parliament holds plenary session on Greenland

The European Council and European Commission will deliver statements on “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on several European countries starting Feb. 1 for opposing US acquisition of the territory.

European Commission discusses Digital Networks Act

European Commission members will meet for a weekly meeting to discuss the Digital Networks Act and the Cybersecurity Act. A press conference will follow the discussion.

US house speaker addresses UK lawmakers

Mike Johnson is expected to address UK lawmakers as part of the commemorations of the 250th anniversary of US independence. He will become the first US House speaker to address the UK parliament.

World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos is taking place from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23, bringing together global political and business leaders for high-level discussions on the global economy, security, and geopolitics.

Russian, US envoys expected to hold talks on Ukraine in Switzerland

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriyev is expected to meet US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the Ukrainian settlement.

Russia's top diplomat to hold news conference

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hold an annual news conference in Moscow to present an overview of the results of his country's diplomacy in 2025, including ongoing Ukraine peace talks under US mediation. The event will begin at 11 am local time (0800GMT).

Kazakh president to hold meeting on transformation of parliament

Kazakh President Kassim-Jomart Tokayev will take part in the National Kurultai, a platform for dialogue between the government and society, in the city of Kyzylorda. Attendees will focus on the proposed transformation of Kazakhstan's parliament from a bicameral to a unicameral system.

Trump to depart US for Davos, Switzerland

US President Donald Trump will leave the US en route to Davos, Switzerland, where he will deliver remarks at the World Economic Forum. He is also expected to take questions from reporters during the journey.

Before his departure, Trump will sign legislation in the Oval Office. The event is currently listed as closed to reporters.

An exclusive interview of Trump by broadcaster NewsNation is also expected to be aired.

Japan heads to snap elections

Japan's first female Premier Sanae Takaichi announced snap general elections to be held on Feb. 8 after she dissolves parliament later this week.

THE ECONOMY

UK unemployment

UK to release monthly unemployment data for November. In October, the unemployment rate was up to 5.1%.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Trump’s first year back: ‘Unfiltered’ 2nd term reshapes global order, domestic policies

Report comparing US President Donald Trump’s second term with his first time in the White House, which analysts say has accelerated into a far more aggressive and centralized agenda.

The story outlines Trump’s sweeping use of executive power – including a record pace of executive orders – to drive an “unfiltered” project of institutional overhaul. It also focuses on his foreign-policy turn toward a revived Monroe Doctrine and 19th-century “Manifest Destiny” logic, reflected in hard-power moves from Venezuela to Greenland.

The report has comments from Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, an associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.

Trump’s first year back: Carrot-and-stick tactics bring US to global spotlight

Report on how US President Donald Trump’s return to power has thrust Washington back into the center of global attention, as analysts assess the consequences of his second-term foreign policy style defined by threats, deal-making and strategic unpredictability.

The story explains how Trump has used tariffs, blunt rhetoric and sudden interventions alongside overtures for peace talks and “wins,” creating a high-visibility approach that experts say simultaneously boosts America’s profile while eroding trust among allies and raising fears of instability.

It also explores whether Trump’s carrot-and-stick strategy represents a deliberate doctrine for extracting concessions from rivals, with comments from Inderjeet Parmar of the University of London, Roseanne McManus of Penn State, and David Andersen of Durham University.

Will Trump’s latest Iran tariff threat work?

Report on US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on any country doing business with Iran, exploring whether the move can meaningfully tighten pressure on Tehran or will mostly deepen hardship for ordinary Iranians without shifting state policy.

The story outlines the response from Iran’s key partners China and Russia – who denounced the plan as coercive and destabilizing – and explains how the threat layers onto years of US sanctions that have already restricted Iran’s oil exports, global banking access, and foreign currency flows.

The story has comments from Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, economics professor at Virginia Tech University, and Hossein Askari of George Washington University on the likely limits and impact of the strategy.​​​​​​​