GAZA -- An official in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ) announced on Saturday that an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire agreement had been reached between the movement and Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the ceasefire would come into effect at 10:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) and would end the five-day confrontation that started on Tuesday. (PIJ-Israel-Ceasefire)
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TEHRAN -- The Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers said the determination of the two countries to expand bilateral relations is evident in the measures and steps they have taken so far toward normalizing ties, the Iranian Foreign Ministry website reported on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud Friday evening held a phone call to discuss the latest progress toward the implementation of a Beijing-brokered agreement in March. (Iran-Saudi Arabia-Ties)
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KHARTOUM -- Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday extended the closure of Sudanese airspace until May 23 amid continued armed conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
"The Civil Aviation Authority has decided to extend the closure of Sudanese airspace until May 23, excluding humanitarian aid and foreign nationals' evacuation," the authority said in a notice to airmen (NOTAM) on Saturday. (Sudan-Extension of Airspace Closure)
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RAMALLAH -- Two Palestinians were killed on Saturday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the Balata refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics and eyewitnesses said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that Sa'ed Mashah, 32, and Wasim El-A'raj, 19, were killed after they were shot by Israeli soldiers during clashes that broke out in the refugee camp. (Palestine-Israel-Clashes)
