Middle East & North Africa

Israel settlers burn Palestinian house in occupied West Bank

26 Apr 2023; MEMO: Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian house in the West Bank on Wednesday, in the latest attack on Palestinian properties in the Occupied Territory, according to a local official, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"The entire house was destroyed in the fire," Ghassan Daghlas, who is in charge of monitoring settlement building in the northern West Bank, told Anadolu.

Iran says diplomat jailed in Belgium to be freed in prisoner swap

26 Apr 2023; MEMO: An Iranian diplomat sentenced to 20 years in jail in Belgium is set to be released in a prisoner swap between Brussels and Tehran, Iran's judiciary announced on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

At a weekly press conference in Tehran, judiciary spokesman, Masoud Setayeshi, said a deal has been finalised with Belgium on the transfer of prisoners and necessary documents have been prepared as well.

Sudan: Ousted President Bashir in Military Hospital, Army says

26 Apr 2023; MEMO: Ousted Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, is being held in a Military Hospital in the capital, Khartoum, the Army confirmed on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

A military statement said Al-Bashir was moved to Aliaa Military Hospital on the recommendation of medical staff in Kober prison before the outbreak of clashes between the Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

US confirms death of second American amid ongoing fighting in Sudan

26 Apr 2023; MEMO: The US confirmed, Wednesday, the death of a second American in Sudan amid ongoing violence between warring parties, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"We can confirm the death of a second American citizen yesterday. We extend our deepest condolences to the family," White House National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, told reporters.

WHO chief hails cease-fire reached in Sudan

26 Apr 2023; MEMO: The World Health Organisation (WHO) welcomed the cease-fire reached in Sudan, urging the parties to the conflict to "fully" respect it, the Director-General said on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"The bloodshed we have seen in the past 10 days in Sudan is heartbreaking," Tedros Ghebreyesus told a press briefing." WHO welcomes the cease-fire agreed between the parties. We urge all parties to fully respect the cease-fire. Already, the violence has taken a terrible toll on health."

Turkiye President awards Medal of Supreme Sacrifice to Qatar International Search and Rescue Group

26 Apr 2023; MEMO: Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, honoured the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) for its efforts in search and rescue operations and humanitarian support in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster that struck southern Turkiye last February, Peninsula Qatar reports.

Sudan army agrees 'in principle' to talks with RSF

27 Apr 2023; MEMO: Sudanese army chief, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, has agreed "in principle" to holding talks with the commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), South Sudan's Interim Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng said yesterday.

Israel: hackers leak thousands of personal details as Netanyahu's Facebook account targeted

27 Apr 2023; MEMO: The Facebook account of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hacked into on Wednesday evening, and the identities and names of tens of thousands of Israelis were leaked, following another cyber-attack targeting the country's Atid group. The cyber-attack came as Israel celebrates its Independence Day.

Sudan crisis: Boat with 1,687 fleeing civilians reaches Saudi – foreign ministry

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia), April 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, the largest rescue effort by the Gulf kingdom to date.

The group was “transported by one of the Kingdom’s ships, and the Kingdom was keen to provide all the basic needs of foreign nationals in preparation for their departure,” the ministry said in a statement.

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