Mena Today

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Iran's nuclear programme on Tuesday with the visiting leader of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, a Kremlin official was quoted as saying.

Syrian authorities have detained two senior members of the Palestinian militant faction Islamic Jihad, which took part in the October 2023 attacks on Israel from Gaza, the group's armed wing and a Syrian official said on Tuesday.

Members of Gaza's tiny Christian community said they were "heartbroken" on Monday at the death of Pope Francis, who campaigned for peace for the devastated enclave and spoke to them on the phone every evening throughout the war.

An Israeli drone strike south of the Lebanese capital killed a top commander from militant group Jama'a Islamiya, the group said in a statement on Tuesday.

Several major Gulf institutions, including Saudi Arabia’s $925 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), are preparing to issue new bonds in the coming weeks, defying recent volatility in global debt markets triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.

European powers told the United States last week which aspects of a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia would be non-negotiable for them, ahead of a new round of discussions on Wednesday, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday in St. Peter's Square, Roman Catholic cardinals decided on Tuesday, setting the stage for a solemn ceremony that will draw leaders from around the world.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will visit China on April 23 at the invitation of China, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.

On Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty led a delegation to Riyadh for a session of the Political Consultation and Follow-up Committee with Saudi Arabia, headed by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

In a move that has sparked both interest and debate, France and Qatar have signed multiple agreements to bolster cultural collaboration, according to a joint statement released on Monday by the French Ministry of Culture and Qatar Museums, the organization responsible for managing and developing Qatar’s museums. 

The head of Israel's domestic intelligence service said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to sack him followed his refusal to fulfil requests that included spying on Israeli protesters and disrupting the leader's corruption trial.

Israir, planning to launch its New York flights by Passover 2026, must now contend with both El Al’s entrenched market presence and Arkia’s head start in offering budget-friendly transatlantic options.