Mena Today

The United Arab Emirates has been announced as the inaugural Guest Country of DIRECT EXPO, which will take place next year in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Elias Maalouf crouched to examine a shrivelling grapevine in his ancestral vineyard in the sun-kissed plains of eastern Lebanon. Last year, Israeli air strikes kept him from picking most of the grapes. Now, a drought has slashed his harvest.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties between their two countries during a state visit by the Jordanian monarch on August 25–26, 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Turkey, the Gulf States or European countries could host any talks he may hold with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Lebanese Forces (LF) fired back on Tuesday at comments made by Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, accusing the Iran-backed group of undermining Lebanese sovereignty while refusing to disarm.

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has once again taken aim at Egypt, denouncing what it calls the abusive practice of “rotation,” in which political opponents and government critics are kept in prison beyond their legal terms by the filing of new charges.

Kosovo's parliament on Tuesday elected a new speaker, ending a six-month legislative crisis that had blocked efforts by the outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti to form a new government after an inconclusive election in February.

Lebanon will present a plan on Sunday aimed at persuading Hezbollah to disarm, with Israel expected to submit a corresponding framework for its military withdrawal, top U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack said on Tuesday.

As Israelis staged a "Day of Disruption" to pressure their government to win the release of hostages in Gaza, Doron Steinbrecher reflected on her 471 days in captivity and said she hoped all the remaining hostages would be set free soon.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday that Tehran told Europe's top three powers the revival of the "snapback" mechanism, re-mposing UN sanctions on Iran, will have consequences.

The French daily Le Monde has once again revealed its entrenched bias with the publication of a scathing piece targeting Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday Germany would not join an initiative of western allies to recognise the Palestinian state at next month's United Nations General Assembly.