Middle East & North Africa

KHARTOUM, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The World Bank halted disbursements for operations in Sudan on Wednesday in response to the military's seizure of power from a transitional government, while state oil company workers, doctors and pilots joined civilian groups opposing the takeover.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets since Monday's coup led by armed forces chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and several have been killed in clashes with security forces.

CAIRO, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Moscow-bound EgyptAir flight returned to Cairo shortly after takeoff on Wednesday due to a threatening message found onboard, the airlines said in a statement.

"Flight MS728 has returned safely to Cairo International Airport some 22 minutes after takeoff. The flight was heading to the Russian capital," EgyptAir, the flag carrier of Egypt, said in the statement.

"The written message was found on a seat of the Airbus A220-300," it added.

All the passengers arrived safely and necessary measures have been taken, it noted.

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Wednesday announced it has suspended the membership of unrest-hit Sudan.

In a press statement, the peace and security council of the AU, said Sudan's membership has been suspended due to Monday's "unconstitutional change of government", which it said was an affront to the shared values and democratic norms of the continental body.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A settlement monitor said Wednesday that an Israeli committee approved about 3,000 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, a day after the Biden administration issued its strongest condemnation yet of the proposed construction.

Word of the approval came from Hagit Ofran from the anti-settlement group Peace Now. An Israeli security official who was not authorized to speak publicly also said the plan had been approved, but details were not immediately released by the Defense Ministry.

27 Oct 2021; MEMO: Turkish police yesterday seized at least five ancient copies of the Torah with golden inscriptions.

The anti-smuggling teams conducted an operation in the southeastern province of Mardin after receiving information that the manuscripts had been brought to the country illegally.

The provincial Security Directorate released footage showing the ancient holy books which are estimated to be about 1,000 years old and processed with gold on different animal leathers.

27 Oct 2021; MEMO: Supporters of the Christian Lebanese Forces party today blocked roads to leader Samir Geagea's residence as he failed to turn up for a hearing at army intelligence over fatal clashes in Beirut, Reuters reports.

27 Oct 2021; MEMO: An Israeli flight landed in Saudi Arabia for the first time yesterday morning, Israeli Public Broadcaster Kan reported.

According to the Times of Israel, this came only one day after the first flight from Saudi Arabia landed in Israel.

Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have official relations, but they have been exchanging secret visits and holding talks.

27 Oct 2021; MEMO: Workers at Sudan's state petroleum company Sudapet said today they would join a nationwide civil disobedience movement called by trade unions in response to the military's overthrow of the government, and doctors also announced a strike, Reuters reports.

A group of neighbourhood committees in Khartoum have announced a schedule of further street barricades and protests leading to what it said would be a "march of millions" on Saturday.

27 Oct 2021; MEMO: Israel is preparing plans to strike Iran's nuclear plants should negotiations and diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal fail, Israeli Public Broadcaster Kan reported yesterday.

According to Anadolu, Kan reported that the Israeli government asked the security agencies to prepare the plan in order to be ready if the nuclear talks with Iran fail.

27 Oct 2021; MEMO: Israeli authorities have postponed a meeting due to be held today to approve the construction of more than 3,000 new settlement units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, Israel Hayom reported.

According to the news site, the Israeli Planning, Organisation, and Construction Council postponed its meeting following US pressure on the Israeli government related to the settlement expansion project.