Middle East & North Africa

Turkey’s Erdogan cancels 3rd day of election appearances

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled his election appearances for a third day Friday after falling ill with what officials described as an intestinal infection.

Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for two decades as prime minister and then president, is seeking a third presidential term in Turkey’s May 14 elections. He had been due to appear at a bridge opening and a political rally in the southern city of Adana, but his schedule changed to show he would attend the opening ceremony via video link.

UAE: Guards on famous yacht mistakenly shoot at Yemen Coast Guard

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Private armed guards aboard a famous yacht once owned by the late Welsh actor Richard Burton opened fire on Yemeni Coast Guard members Friday after mistaking them for pirates, sparking a gunfight in the Gulf of Aden, authorities said. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was wounded.

The incident off Yemen shows the danger faced by both shippers and security forces in the waters off the Arab world’s poorest country, even as it remains crucial for global commerce.

Egypt: Heavy clashes rock Sudan’s capital despite truce extension

CAIRO (AP) — Heavy explosions and gunfire rocked Sudan’s capital, Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman early Friday, residents said, despite the extension of a fragile truce between the county’s two top generals whose power struggle has killed hundreds.

After two weeks of fighting that has turned the capital into a war zone and thrown Sudan into turmoil, a wide-ranging group of international mediators — including African and Arab nations, the U.N. and the United States — were intensifying their pressure on the rival generals to enter talks on resolving the crisis.

India: Court to pass order on Manish Sisodia's bail plea on Friday

New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) A court here is likely to deliver on Friday its order on the bail application of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

Special Judge M K Nagpal had reserved the order after hearing arguments on Sisodia's plea seeking relief claiming that his custody was no longer required for investigation.

Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute: Mathura court to hear case on May 9

Mathura, Apr 27 (PTI) A fast-track court here on Thursday could not hear arguments in a case related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute due to paucity of time and posted the matter for hearing on May 9.

Civil judge (senior division) of the fast-track court was scheduled to hear arguments on sending Amin (a revenue department official) to the mosque but it could not take place due to paucity of time and the court posted the matter for hearing in May, District Government Counsel Sanjai Gaur said.

Israel: Division widens as soldiers allowed to participate in demonstration

27 Apr 2023; MEMO: The Israeli occupation army has allowed its soldiers to participate in a demonstration today in support of the judicial amendments that Benjamin Netanyahu's government wants to push through. The march is the first major demonstration of popular support for the occupation state's prime minister, who has faced mass protests against the judicial review for more than four months.

Ursula Von der Leyen slammed for 'You have literally made the desert bloom' message to Israel

27 Apr 2023; MEMO: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been slammed for repeating anti-Palestinian, far-right, Israeli talking points in a video message celebrating the 75-year anniversary of the apartheid state. Von der Leyen is a German politician who has been serving as the president of the European Commission since 2019.

Israel: Proposed bill seeks to make Zionism the 'guiding principle' of government's activities

27 Apr 2023; MEMO: One of Israel's far-right ministers is seeking to make Zionism the "guiding principle of the government's activities." If passed, the move will entrench the principle of Jewish supremacy deeper than it already is in the policies and practices of Israel. According to Haaretz, the Israeli cabinet is supposed to decide whether to advance the resolution and, if so, how, tonight.

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