Middle East & North Africa

Saudi-led coalition lets four fuel ships dock at Yemen's Hodeidah port: sources

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition has allowed four fuel ships to dock at Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah, two sources familiar with the matter said, after the Houthi group said it would only agree to a ceasefire proposal if an air and sea blockade were lifted.

Four vessels, including two carrying a total of 45,000 tonnes of gas oil, a ship loaded with 5,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and a fourth tanker with 22,700 tonnes of fuel oil have received clearance from the coalition, the sources said.

China plans to invite Palestinians and Israelis for talks - Al-Arabiya

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Chinese government plans to invite Israelis and Palestinians to hold talks in China, Al-Arabiya TV channel quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday as saying in an interview.

Wang, who started a Middle East tour this week, also voiced support for a Saudi initiative announced on Monday to end the war in Yemen, according to the Saudi-owned, Dubai-based channel.

Libya's eastern-based government delivers office to new unity government

TRIPOLI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The eastern-based government of Libya on Tuesday officially handed over office to the new Government of National Unity.

A delegation of the Government of National Unity, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Al-Gatrani and a number of ministers, arrived in the eastern city of Benghazi, and officially received office from the eastern-based government, according to a statement issued by the Government's information office.

Netanyahu claims victory in Israeli elections

JERUSALEM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night claimed victory in the country's fourth elections in two years.

The announcement came fewer than two hours after exit polls on Israel's main three TV channels indicated no immediate winner in the unprecedented elections amid a prolonged political deadlock.

"A huge victory to the right-wing and the Likud (party) under my leadership," Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.

UAE: Massive cargo ship turns sideways, blocks Egypt’s Suez Canal

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A massive cargo ship turned sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for global shipping, according to satellite data accessed Wednesday.

Traffic on the narrow waterway dividing continental Africa from the Sinai Peninsula stopped Tuesday after the MV Ever Given, a Panama-flagged container ship with an owner listed in Japan, got stuck.

No clear winner in Israeli election, signaling more deadlock

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli parliamentary elections on Tuesday resulted in a virtual deadlock for a fourth time in the past two years, exit polls indicated, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an uncertain future and the country facing the prospect of continued political gridlock.

Muslim Brotherhood accepts Turkey mediation with Egypt

22 Mar 2021; MEMO: Deputy General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ibrahim Munir, has said that his group trusts Turkey and accepts its mediation efforts with the regime of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Anadolu reported yesterday.

Turkey and the Turkish leadership "respect the political refugees" and "we are sure that this will never change as Turkey is credible and does not carry out manoeuvers."

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