Mena Today

Over the past year, three of the Middle East and North Africa's (MENA) largest sovereign wealth funds—the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company—have significantly increased their investments in artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring the region's commitment to technological advancement and economic diversification.

U.S. President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday over the group's attacks against Red Sea shipping, killing at least 31 people at the start of a campaign expected to last many days.

At least nine Palestinians were killed, including two local journalists, and others wounded on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza's northern Beit Lahiya town, Gaza's health ministry said, as Hamas' leaders hold Gaza ceasefire talks with mediators in Cairo.

The United States has expelled South Africa's ambassador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, calling the envoy a "race-baiting politician" who hates America and President Donald Trump.

The United States is proposing a "bridge" plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza into April beyond Ramadan and Passover and allow time to negotiate a permanent cessation of hostilities, the White House said in a statement on Friday.

Some of the Syrians who sought sanctuary at a Russian air base from sectarian killings are trickling home to devastated villages. Many others remain inside, fearing for their lives.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is hosting talks next week in Geneva to discuss the future of Cyprus, with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, and representatives from Greece, Turkey and Britain, a U.N. spokesperson said on Friday.

The United Nations Security Council has agreed to a statement condemning widespread violence in Syria's coastal region and calling on Syria's interim authorities to protect all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion, diplomats said on Thursday.

Ex-central banker Mark Carney will be formally sworn in as prime minister of Canada on Friday, putting him in a position to fight tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump that could devastate the trade-dependent Canadian economy.

The U.S. and Israel have contacted officials of three East African countries to discuss using their territories for resettling Palestinians from Gaza, the Associated Press reported on Friday, citing U.S. and Israeli officials.

China and Russia stood by Iran on Friday after the United States demanded nuclear talks with Tehran, with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats saying dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect" and all sanctions ought to be lifted.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Ukraine saw Turkey as a partner in security guarantees for his country, and added that Kyiv was ready to ratify a free trade agreement between the states.