The snap election was triggered after parliament failed to resolve a months-long dispute over the election of a new president, leading to the legislature’s dissolution in April and extending a period of political uncertainty in Europe’s youngest nation.

Analysts expect Kurti’s Vetevendosje movement to emerge as the largest party once again, although its ability to translate electoral success into effective governance remains uncertain. Even if it secures another victory, the party is expected to require cooperation from rivals to obtain the two-thirds parliamentary majority necessary to elect a president and end the institutional stalemate.

Kosovo has spent much of the past year without a fully operational government as fragmented political forces repeatedly failed to agree on key leadership appointments. The inability to elect first a parliamentary speaker and later a head of state has deepened concerns about governance and reform implementation.

Kurti’s Vetevendosje party won 51.1% of the vote in the December election, improving on its 42% result in February 2025. However, the party was unable to secure support from opposition groups for a presidential candidate, resulting in another collapse of the political process.

The European Union has repeatedly urged Kosovo’s political leaders to establish stable institutions capable of advancing reforms required for eventual membership in the bloc. Political instability has raised concerns in Brussels about the pace of governance, judicial and economic reforms.

Since first taking power in 2021, Vetevendosje has pursued a nationalist and welfare-oriented agenda while maintaining Kosovo’s broadly pro-Western foreign policy orientation. The party has also resisted making additional concessions in negotiations with Serbia, which continues to reject Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence and remains at odds with Pristina over a range of political and security issues.

According to Kosovo’s election commission, more than 900 candidates from 17 political parties and three coalition groups are contesting seats in the 120-member parliament.

More than 2.1 million voters are registered to cast ballots, a figure exceeding Kosovo’s resident population of roughly 1.6 million because of a large diaspora community concentrated mainly in Western Europe. The diaspora has traditionally been an important source of support for Kurti and his party.

The election is being closely watched by European officials and regional observers seeking signs that Kosovo can overcome repeated political deadlocks and restore institutional stability after more than a year of recurring electoral contests.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the updated guidance is expected to encourage more European visitors and support the tourism sector, a key pillar of Jordan’s economy.

The UK Embassy in Amman also welcomed the return of British tourists and business travelers, while advising visitors to check official travel guidance before their trips.

Jordan is home to major attractions including Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. Officials said tourism facilities across the country are fully prepared to receive visitors despite regional tensions that have affected travel across the Middle East.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told a press briefing in Islamabad that the projects demonstrated an effort by New Delhi to use water resources as a strategic tool, warning that any move endangering Pakistan’s water security would be met with measures to protect national interests.

“These projects confirm that India seems to weaponize water,” Andrabi said, adding that the initiatives carried serious implications for Pakistan’s economy, regional peace and international security.

The dispute centers on two Indian projects linked to the Chenab River, one of the western rivers allocated to Pakistan under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Islamabad says India failed to consult Pakistan before proceeding with the developments.

In May, India’s state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation issued a tender for a proposed tunnel project designed to transfer water from the Chenab River to the Beas basin. Earlier this year, India’s power ministry also announced sediment-removal work at the Salal Power Station on the Chenab, stating that the activity followed New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

India maintains that it is acting within its rights regarding waters under its control. New Delhi has also insisted that its decision to place the treaty in abeyance remains effective despite objections from Pakistan.

The water-sharing agreement, brokered in 1960, has long been regarded as one of the few enduring frameworks of cooperation between the two rivals, surviving multiple wars and periods of severe political tension.

Pakistan argues that the treaty remains legally binding and has repeatedly rejected India’s suspension of the accord. Andrabi said there was no provision allowing either country to unilaterally withdraw from the agreement.

“Any illegal measure to endanger Pakistan’s water, food and economic security as well as the survival and wellbeing of its 250 million people is unacceptable,” he said.

He added that Pakistan would retain all available options to safeguard its rights under the treaty, though he did not specify what actions Islamabad might pursue.

The disagreement has intensified since India suspended its participation in the treaty following an April 2025 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for supporting the attack, an allegation Pakistan denied.

The diplomatic fallout contributed to a sharp military escalation in May 2025, when the two countries exchanged drone, missile and artillery fire, leaving nearly 70 people dead on both sides.

The treaty dispute has also reached international arbitration. Pakistan welcomed a May 15 ruling by a Hague-based arbitration body that it said reinforced the treaty’s continued validity. India rejected the decision, describing the tribunal as illegally constituted and reiterating that its suspension of the agreement remained in force.

Analysts have increasingly warned that water management could become a major source of friction in South Asia as climate change, population growth and agricultural demand place mounting pressure on shared river systems.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Abdelatty said Egypt maintains balanced relations with major powers, including the United States, China, Russia and European countries, based on national interests and international law.

He described the Palestinian issue as central to regional peace and stability, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for increased aid deliveries and early recovery efforts. He also urged progress toward a broader political solution to the conflict.

Abdelatty called on Japan to play a larger diplomatic role in the Middle East, praising Tokyo as a neutral and trusted partner capable of supporting dialogue and regional de-escalation.

During his visit, the minister held meetings with senior Japanese officials, business leaders and development agencies to strengthen economic, educational and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

During a telephone conversation, Motegi stressed the importance of preserving the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran and concluding an agreement swiftly, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry. He also reiterated Japan’s support for ongoing U.S.-Iran dialogue and said Tokyo would continue coordinating with Qatar and the broader international community.

The talks came at a sensitive moment in regional diplomacy following reports that the United States and Iran had reached a preliminary understanding on extending a ceasefire and launching negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, pending final approval from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Motegi described the discussion with Sheikh Mohammed as timely given the critical stage of U.S.-Iran relations and praised Qatar’s mediation role in regional diplomacy.

Both ministers emphasized the strategic importance of ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital energy shipping lanes. Concerns over maritime security in the Gulf have intensified in recent weeks amid military tensions involving Iran and the United States.

Motegi also underscored the long-standing energy partnership between Japan and Qatar, requesting continued cooperation to maintain stable energy supplies for Japan, which remains heavily dependent on imported liquefied natural gas and crude oil from the Middle East.
The Japanese minister additionally conveyed condolences over the death of former Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, crediting him with playing a major role in developing Qatar’s liquefied natural gas industry and strengthening bilateral ties.

Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to diplomacy and dialogue as the preferred means of resolving regional disputes, according to statements released after the call. He said Doha would continue working with Tokyo to ease tensions and contribute to stability around the Strait of Hormuz.

The Qatari prime minister also expressed support for expanding bilateral cooperation with Japan, particularly in the energy sector, as both countries pledged continued coordination aimed at promoting long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Jaipur, Rubio said discussions involving Iranian representatives were continuing in Qatar and suggested that negotiations had entered a detailed phase focused on the wording of a potential agreement.

“There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress,” Rubio said, adding that discussions were centered on specific language in an initial draft document and could require several more days to conclude.

Rubio said President Donald Trump remained committed to securing an agreement but would only support terms acceptable to Washington.
“The president’s expressed his desire to make it. He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” Rubio said.

The comments came after new U.S. strikes on Iranian-linked targets raised questions about the durability of efforts to halt hostilities. The military action coincided with the arrival of senior Iranian negotiators in Doha for another round of talks intended to end the conflict that has destabilized the region and disrupted global energy markets.

A central issue in the negotiations remains the status of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime energy corridors. The waterway handles a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and has become a focal point of the crisis after Iran moved to block transit through the strait.

Rubio said reopening the route was essential for international commerce and global economic stability.
“The straits have to be open,” he said.
He described the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as unlawful and unsustainable, arguing that freedom of navigation must be restored regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

“They’re going to be open one way or the other,” Rubio said. “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”
The latest remarks underscore Washington’s attempt to balance military pressure with diplomatic engagement as negotiators seek a framework that could end the conflict while addressing concerns over maritime security and regional stability.

The talks in Qatar are being closely watched by energy markets and regional governments, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and its role in global oil and gas supplies.

Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, said in a post on X that the deployment had taken place over the past few days following U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Wu said China was undermining the status quo and threatening peace and stability in the region.

A Taiwan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Chinese vessels had been detected before the Beijing summit but that the number operating in the region had risen above 100 in recent days.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, has repeatedly stated that it reserves the right to use force to bring the island under its control.

Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only its people can determine the island’s future.The reported increase in Chinese maritime activity came days after Trump referred to “the Taiwan problem” when asked whether he would discuss arms sales with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

Trump said he would speak with Lai and noted that he had held what he described as a productive meeting with Xi during his state visit to China.“We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem,” Trump said on Wednesday.

Taiwan has frequently reported heightened Chinese military and coast guard operations around the island, activities that Taipei says are aimed at increasing pressure on its government and testing regional security responses.

The latest deployment, according to Taiwanese officials, extended across multiple strategic waterways in East Asia, underscoring Beijing’s expanding maritime presence at a time of heightened geopolitical scrutiny in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding seas.

The discussions in Tehran came as Iran said it was reviewing Washington’s latest position on ending the conflict that erupted after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and has remained paused under a fragile ceasefire since April 8.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian and Naqvi reviewed “the latest regional developments and the diplomatic consultations related to the Iran-U.S. talks,” while emphasizing continued political coordination and regional cooperation.

Naqvi conveyed the “messages and views” of Pakistani officials regarding ongoing negotiations and the importance of maintaining dialogue, IRNA reported.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary since the conflict began, hosting rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials last month as Islamabad intensified diplomatic outreach aimed at preventing renewed escalation in the Gulf region.

Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s efforts to support regional stability and stressed the importance of continued coordination between Tehran and Islamabad, according to Iranian media.
The war, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic energy corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

Although direct fighting halted under the ceasefire agreement, negotiations have shown limited progress in recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said military action remained an option if Tehran failed to respond positively to U.S. proposals.

“Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press.
Asked how long Washington would wait, Trump replied: “It could be a few days, but it could go very quickly.”

Trump also reiterated that the United States would not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“We’re in the final stages of Iran,” Trump said earlier. “Either have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty.”

Iran said it was examining Washington’s latest views after submitting a new proposal this week. Iranian officials indicated the offer included demands previously rejected by Trump, including sanctions relief, compensation for war-related damage, release of frozen assets and changes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have received U.S. views and are reviewing them,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted as saying by Nour News.

The uncertainty surrounding negotiations has contributed to volatility in global energy markets and increased political pressure on Trump ahead of U.S. midterm elections later this year amid rising fuel prices.

Three loud blasts were heard in the Iraqi capital, according to an AFP reporter on the ground. A security source said the artillery fire was ceremonial and intended to mark the establishment of the new administration.

The celebratory firing came days after Iraq finalized the formation of a new government following extended political negotiations among rival factions.

Earlier on Friday, Antonio Guterres welcomed the creation of the new Iraqi government and reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the country’s economic and social development efforts.

The formation of the cabinet under Al-Zaidi is viewed as a key step in efforts to stabilize Iraq’s political landscape amid continuing economic challenges, regional tensions and security concerns.

In a statement issued by Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, Guterres said he looked forward to working with the new Iraqi administration to advance the aspirations of the Iraqi people.

The statement said the UN chief remained committed to supporting Iraq in its efforts toward development, governance and long-term stability.

The announcement follows the formation of a new Iraqi government after months of political negotiations and comes at a time when Baghdad faces economic challenges, reconstruction demands and regional security pressures.

The United Nations has maintained a long-standing political and humanitarian presence in Iraq, assisting with institutional development, humanitarian coordination and post-conflict recovery initiatives.