Mena Today

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.

UK low-cost carrier easyJet has announced the resumption of its flight operations to Israel beginning June 1, 2025. The airline had previously suspended all flights to Israel in April 2024 following a rocket and drone attack by Iran.

An official with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said on Friday the militant group would agree to leave northeastern Syria if the U.S.-allied Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) maintains a significant joint leadership role there.