Mena Today

Saudi Arabia decided on Wednesday to cancel fees for issuing commercial activity licenses for hotels, hotel apartments and residential resorts in the kingdom, state news agency SPA reported.

Romania's coalition government approved a series of measures on Wednesday to improve revenue collection and curb a widening budget deficit, including a partial debt amnesty and waiving penalties on unpaid tax.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Ankara on Wednesday for talks with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, the first such presidential visit in 12 years, amid a warming of long-frozen relations between the regional powers.

Morocco's Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, is in Beijing to participate in the China-Africa Summit, which is being held from September 4 to 6, in the presence of numerous African leaders.

Former Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh, who was arrested on Tuesday over alleged financial crimes, will remain in detention until a hearing is scheduled, likely next week, two judicial sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

Tunisia's public prosecutor ordered the detention of presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel on Wednesday pending trial, Zammel's lawyer said.

Pope Francis on Wednesday urged political leaders in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, to guard against religious extremism, which he said distorted people's religious beliefs through "deception and violence".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will welcome his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in Ankara on Wednesday, marking a historic visit aimed at cementing the reconciliation between the two countries, the Turkish presidency announced on Tuesday.

One of the worst massacres in Burkina Faso's history has provoked a fierce public outcry from victims' relatives and religious leaders, piling pressure on the ruling junta of a country where spiralling insecurity has already stoked coups.

The parent company of U.S. government-funded Arabic language broadcaster Al Hurra has cut 160 jobs and is merging its Iraq channel after a 20% budget cut mandated by the U.S. Congress, its CEO said in a note to staff.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday the 2025 state budget will feature steep spending cuts as the government tries to balance fiscal responsibility with a need to finance Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

Britain's decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel was roundly criticised on Tuesday with some British politicians and Jewish groups accusing the Labour government of abandoning Israel, while others said the decision did not go far enough.