Mena Today

Syria's new leader, Ahmad el-Chareh, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a phone call on Friday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations.

Israel's cabinet approved a deal with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas for a ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Saturday, a day ahead of the agreement's scheduled start.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said his inauguration on Monday will be held inside the U.S. Capitol rather than outdoors because of severe cold.

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam said on Friday the formation of a new government would not be delayed, indicating a very positive atmosphere in discussions over its composition.

Chinese automotive giant Geely has officially announced plans to export 30,000 vehicles in the near future, a move that aligns with the inauguration of its newly established factory in Egypt. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Poland on Friday ahead of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the site which is seen as a symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed issues including TikTok, trade and Taiwan in a phone call on Friday, just days before Trump takes office again promising tariffs that could ratchet up tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

Companies transporting their products around the world are not ready to return to the Red Sea trade route in the wake of a Gaza ceasefire deal because of uncertainty over whether Yemen's Houthis will continue to attack shipping, industry executives said.

Under the Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel has agreed to release Palestinians held in Israeli jails in return for freeing hostages taken by the militant group Hamas in their Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has maintained a steadfast stance against terrorism, reflecting its firm belief that combating terrorist groups and their supporters is a shared responsibility crucial for the survival of human civilization.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his unwavering support for the families of French nationals Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi, who are among the 33 hostages set to be released during the first phase of the Gaza agreement. 

The Israeli security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal on Friday, paving the way for the return of the first hostages from Gaza as early as Sunday and bringing a halt to 15 months of conflict that have devastated the coastal strip.