Middle East & North Africa

16 Apr 2023; MEMO: The Arab League is set to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss ongoing clashes in Sudan, Anadolu reports.

Arab League Assistant Secretary General Hossam Zaki said the meeting will be held at the level of permanent delegates in Cairo upon a request from Egypt and Saudi Arabia to discuss the latest developments in Sudan.

Fighting broke out on Saturday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum.

16 Apr 2023; MEMO: The president of the Houthi-led government in Yemen, Mahdi Al-Mashat has stated yesterday that another round negotiations with Saudi Arabia will take place after Eid Al-Fitr next week, which marks the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan.

JERUSALEM, Apr 16 (NNN-MA’AN) – The Israeli Astronomical Association (IAA) yesterday, reported a bolide explosion seen in daylight in the country’s sky.

The bolide, a particularly bright meteor, was seen flashing across the sky at 17:16 local time (14:16 GMT), according to reports, photos, and videos received at the IAA.

ABU DHABI, April 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s president on Sunday said he had discussed joint mediation for Russia’s war in Ukraine with China and the United Arab Emirates, accusing the United States and Europe of prolonging the conflict.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was wrapping up an official visit to China and the UAE after returning for a third term in office, said the two countries and others should join a “political G20” to try to end the war.

JERUSALEM, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a joint statement on Saturday evening, asserting that the country's economy remains "solid," despite Moody's recent downgrade of Israel's credit outlook.

Moody's lowered Israel's economic outlook from positive to stable on Friday, citing concerns over the "deterioration of Israel's governance" amid ongoing upheaval over the government's controversial judicial reforms.

KHARTOUM, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The armed conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues into the night on Saturday in the capital Khartoum, sparking concerns for a wider conflict in the country.

The initial gunfire near an RSF base south of Khartoum in the morning quickly spread to other areas in the capital, including the Sudanese Army General Command and Khartoum International Airport.

JERUSALEM, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Walking into the Abraham Hostel in downtown Tel Aviv, you will find an industrial-style underground gallery, decorated with artistic paintings about China and Israel.

For Israeli artist Sveta Dorosheva, the exhibition is like a vehicle bound for Shanghai, loaded with her love for the Chinese metropolis.

ALGIERS (AP) — Syria’s chief diplomat has started a visit to Algeria and Tunisia as part of efforts to revive diplomatic relationships in the Arab world, more than a decade after his country was globally isolated amid President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on mass protests against his rule.

Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad was welcomed on Saturday in the lounge of Algiers airport by his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s crown prince announced Sunday the transfer of a 4% stake of the oil giant Saudi Aramco to a subsidiary of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, further boosting its coffers as the kingdom tries to expand its economy beyond oil.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s decision, announced by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, sends the stake to the Saudi Arabian Investment Co., known as Sanabil Investments. Sanabil is under the sovereign wealth fund known as the Public Investment Fund.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli demonstrations against the government’s plan to overhaul the judiciary continued on Saturday, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to pause the contentious proposals.

Tens of thousands of people participated in the main protest held in the central city of Tel Aviv, while smaller demonstrations took place across the country.

Protest organizers, who have held these weekly protests for over three months, aim to maintain momentum and increase pressure on Netanyahu and his government until the proposed changes are scrapped.