Mass arrests, silencing dissent, and prisons for hire; six years on, President Nayib Bukele’s unique brand of populism remains wildly popular in El Salvador. The Listening Post’s Elettra Scrivo reports on the price some journalists have had to pay for it.

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for the funeral of the late Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who were killed in Israeli airstrikes last year. The event signalled the party’s continued influence despite Israeli attacks and regional pressures. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem noted the strong logistical organisation, demonstrating Hezbollah’s operational strength. The ceremony also sent a political message, emphasising Hezbollah’s broad support base. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem’s speech hinted at diplomatic and resistance strategies without a clear direction. Iran’s presence, including high-ranking officials, reinforced its backing of Hezbollah. The event highlighted Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon’s power dynamics. Observers suggest the party remains a key regional player.

Israel has postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners. Hundreds of family members had gathered in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, waiting for hours to receive their loved ones, before being told they weren't coming.

Former US President Donald Trump delivers closing remarks at annual Conservative Political Action Conference. The three-day gathering has been a key platform for right-wing leaders, with Trump as the main highlight. He addresses core conservative issues, including immigration, the economy, and his political future.

US president Donald Trump has ruffled many feathers since he announced his proposal to take over Gaza. According to him, more than two million Palestinians should leave 'to somewhere nice and safe' like Jordan or Egypt—while he builds a Riviera on the Mediterranean in Gaza. This idea has angered the inter-national community, and the Arab world has downright rejected it. A meeting of Gulf nations in Riyadh, joined by Egypt and Jordan... ended with no concrete counter-proposals. They will be meeting in Cairo in the coming weeks now. But will they be able to make him change his mind?

senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights the US stance under Donald Trump, noting that while Trump aims to assert his leadership, his position ultimately aligns with Netanyahu’s interests. He empha-sizes the ongoing coordination between Israel and the Trump administration, pointing to key meetings between Israeli and US envoys as crucial to decision-making. Bishara suggests that Netanyahu seeks unwavering American support to ensure strategic backing, reducing reliance on other international players.

The far-right AfD threatens to breach the political "firewall" that has long kept it out of power, as election disinformation from both the US and Russia disrupts the German media’s election coverage.

Arab leaders are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss countering US President Donald Trump’s plan for United States control of the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip and the expulsion of its people, diplomatic and government sources have said. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has invited the leaders of Gulf Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan for the meeting in the capital, Riyadh, on Friday, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.

The US president has said in a radio interview with Fox News that he was “a little bit surprised” that Jordan and Egypt have voiced opposition to his plan to “take over” Gaza and displace Palestinians. “I’ll tell you, the way to do it is my plan – I think that’s the plan that really works,” Trump said. “But I’m not forcing it, I’m just going to sit back and recommend it. “And then the US would own the site, there’d be no Hamas, and there’d be development and you’d start all over again with a clean plate.”

Israeli captives Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert and Omer Shem Tov have appeared on stage at the handover location in Nuseirat. They are smiling and gesturing to a cheering crowd of Palestinians. One of the captives kissed the forehead of a Palestinian fighter standing next to him.