The Japanese government approved the removal of sanctions on 16 organizations connected to Syria, signaling support for the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The decision follows Japan's lifting of sanctions on four Syrian entities in May 2025, with the original measures imposed in 2011 against the Assad regime.
The United States has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq after more than two decades, with Baghdad declaring four days of national holidays called 'Sovereignty Days' to mark the exit. The withdrawal raises questions about Iraq's future security amid concerns over militia influence and Iran's growing role in the country.
The Trump administration's Board of Peace presented a six-month, $2.45 billion plan to begin rebuilding Gaza, though officials acknowledged major implementation challenges including security concerns and the requirement that Hamas disarm before reconstruction can proceed.
Nepal's government estimates reconstruction costs at $4.78 billion following the August 26 glacial flood that killed over 1,400 people. Prime Minister Balendra Shah will address the UN General Assembly on climate change impacts, calling for international support.
Thousands gathered in Belgrade for the funeral of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander convicted of genocide by a UN court. The elaborate funeral drew international criticism for glorifying a war criminal, though Serbia proceeded without official state honors or serving government officials.
International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors visited previously undeclared Assad-era nuclear sites in Syria for the first time this week, with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi reporting the discovery of several tons of nuclear materials. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated the material is not dangerous as Damascus pledges to strengthen safeguards.
António Guterres arrived in Syria on Saturday for a three-day visit, marking the first time a serving UN Secretary-General has visited Damascus since 2009, before the civil war that killed hundreds of thousands. Guterres met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and appealed to the international community to support Syria's reconstruction and political transition.
Austria officially inaugurated Adolf Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn as a police station, completing a years-long effort to prevent the building from becoming a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazis. The conversion aims to 'neutralize' the building's toxic historical legacy.
Three weeks after two powerful earthquakes struck central Venezuela, the confirmed death toll has risen to approximately 4,829-5,000 people, with the UN estimating 50,000 remain missing and thousands displaced as rescue efforts transition to rebuilding.
President Trump said he would remove Syria from the state sponsor of terrorism designation during a bilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit in Turkey, clearing the way for private-sector investment in Syria.
Two bombs exploded near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Damascus during the first visit to Syria by a major Western leader since Assad's fall, wounding at least 18 people including security personnel.
Hamas announced the dissolution of its governing body in Gaza after nearly two decades in power, clearing the way for a technocratic committee backed by the UN to take over civilian administration. Israel dismissed the move as a 'stunt.'
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed the final 70 members of Syria's new 210-member parliament, completing the chamber that will convene for its first session. Two-thirds of the lawmakers were previously chosen by regional electoral colleges, with 21 women among the total membership.
The European Union has released an initial payment of approximately €3 billion as the first installment of a €90 billion loan commitment to support Ukraine's post-war recovery and defense capabilities. The announcement was made at a conference on Ukraine's recovery held in Poland.
A major conference on Ukraine's post-war reconstruction opened in Poland without President Volodymyr Zelensky, who boycotted the event amid a diplomatic dispute with Warsaw over historical differences, including World War II-era issues. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko attended instead as Polish PM Donald Tusk called for 'mutual respect' between the allies.
Gulf states are adapting to a shifting regional landscape following a US-Iranian memorandum of understanding, while expressing concern over funding Iran's $300 billion reconstruction and Israel's significant territorial expansion into Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria since 2023.
A Syrian court held its first public hearing in the trial of ousted president Bashar al-Assad and senior officials from his former government. Former security chief Atef Najib appeared in person, while Assad and his brother Maher are being tried in absentia.
A joint EU-UN assessment found that more than $71 billion will be needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, with devastation affecting housing, health, education, commerce, and agriculture sectors.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 of Ukraine's allies have committed to deploying troops as a "reassurance force" for Ukraine once fighting with Russia ends. The pledge emerged from a summit of Western leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused on post-war security guarantees for Kyiv.
