Ahmad al-Sharaa, once detained by the U.S. for joining al-Qaida in Iraq, will be the first Syrian president to visit Washington since 1946. After leading a successful rebellion against Bashar Assad last December, al-Sharaa has worked to establish new international ties. On Monday, he is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Syria is expected to join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group. Al-Sharaa aims to push for the full removal of remaining sanctions on Syria. The visit marks a significant shift in U.S.-Syria relations and could impact regional dynamics.

President Donald Trump has hosted leaders from five Central Asian countries at the White House. Thursday's meeting focused on securing rare earth metals needed for high-tech devices. Trump and officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan held talks and a working dinner. The visit follows a temporary U.S. thaw with China over rare earth exports. Central Asia holds deep reserves of these minerals but needs investment. Trump emphasized strengthening American economic security by broadening critical mineral supply chains. Kazakhstan also agreed to join the Abraham Accords, which aims to revive diplomatic ties between Israel and other nations.

Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab and Muslim majority countries in a move aimed at boosting the initiative that was a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s first administration. Trump announced the move Thursday night. It is largely symbolic as Kazakhstan has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992 and is much farther geographically from Israel than the other Abraham Accord nations — Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. Those countries agreed to normalize relations with Israel as a result. Trump made the announcement in a social media post ahead of a summit he's hosting Thursday with the leaders of the five Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan.

Within hours of Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York’s first Muslim mayor, there were swift and harsh reactions from his Jewish critics. Notably, the Anti-Defamation League, which combats antisemitism, launched an initiative to track policies and personnel appointments of the incoming administration. The ADL said its goal was to protect Jewish residents during what it called a period of unprecedented antisemitism in New York City. Mamdani's main rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, received roughly 60% of the Jewish vote, according to the AP Voter Poll, after a campaign that highlighted Mamdani's denunciations of Israel. The poll said about 3-in-10 Jewish voters supported Mamdani.

Fresh off his historic victory in New York City’s mayoral election, Zohran Mamdani named a slate of seasoned officials to help lead his transition to City Hall. The announcement on Wednesday offered an early glimpse at how he intends to turn his ambitious campaign promises into reality. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, said he would build an administration that is “equal parts capable and compassionate.” The transition team will include two former deputy mayors, a former Federal Trade Commission chair and the head of United Way of New York City, a nonprofit focused on low-income residents. A political strategist will serve as executive director of the team.

There were signs in the AP Voter Poll that there’s plenty of room for Democrats to make up ground among groups that moved toward President Donald Trump in last year’s election. The sweeping survey of more than 17,000 voters in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City that explains who voted in each election and their views on the top issues in their state. But even with major wins, the survey also exposed fault lines for Democrats. Young men were less likely than young women to support Democrats in the governor’s races, and Jewish voters in New York City appeared wary of supporting Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani.