*) Gunfire punctures ‘armistice’ as death toll from Sudan fighting climbs

Explosions have shaken Sudan’s capital despite claims of a ceasefire on the fourth day of fighting that has killed nearly 270 people and wounded 2,600 others.

After international mediation, Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo promised to support a 24-hour “armistice” on Tuesday, which the army denied any knowledge of before later blaming the RSF for breaking it.

By 1600 GMT, the time of the supposed start to the ceasefire, gunfire could still be heard throughout the capital Khartoum, according to several witnesses, and it continued into the evening.

*) South Korea opens door for possible military aid to Ukraine

South Korea might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if it comes under a large-scale civilian attack, President Yoon Suk-yeol has said.

The South Korean president’s statement has signalled a shift in his stance against arming Ukraine for the first time.

In an interview with the Reuters ahead of his state visit to the US next week, Yoon said his government has been exploring how to help defend and rebuild Ukraine, just as South Korea received international assistance during the 1950-53 Korean War.

*) Mexico’s Obrador accuses US of ‘spying’ on his govt

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has accused the Pentagon of spying on his government following leaks in US media.

Obrador said he would begin classifying information from the armed forces to protect national security.

His comments came several days after the Washington Post reported on apparent tensions between Mexico’s Navy and the Army, citing a US military briefing that was revealed in online leaks of secret US military records.

*) Hamas-Saudi relations in focus as Haniyeh visits kingdom for the first time

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh has arrived in Saudi Arabia for his first visit to the kingdom in years.

Haniyeh, who touched down in the kingdom late on Monday, is accompanied by a high-profile delegation that includes former political chief Khaled Meshal, a Hamas source told Anadolu Agency.

The Hamas delegation will hold talks with Saudi officials to discuss the latest Palestinian developments and Hamas-Saudi relations, the source said.

*) Rebuilding Türkiye after deadly quakes top priority: Erdogan

Türkiye’s president has hailed his government’s achievements with regards to post-quake rebuilding efforts, energy sector and foreign policy, while listing future goals as the country prepares for May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections.

In a wide-ranging interview with TRT, Recep Tayyip Erdogan touched upon the rebuilding efforts following the deadly February 6 earthquakes and said rebuilding areas affected by the quakes is his foremost priority.

The Turkish president said the government has mobilised its largest contingent in the reconstruction phase and will ensure that the needs of everyone affected will be addressed.

*) UN says nearly 200 dead, 1,800 wounded in Sudan as rival forces battle

Fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed around two-hundred people and wounded one-thousand-eight-hundred, damaging hospitals and hampering aid after three days of urban warfare.

A weeks-long power struggle exploded into deadly violence on Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup.

Battles have taken place throughout the vast country, and there are fears of regional spillover.

*) Ennahda's leader Ghannouchi arrested for interrogation in Tunisia

Tunisia’s security forces have arrested the country’s largest political party Ennahda’s leader Rached Ghannouchi, taking him in for interrogation at a National Guard building in the capital Tunis.

Tunisian authorities have yet to comment on the arrest.

On February 21, Ghannouchi appeared before the Judicial Pole of Counter-Terrorism in Tunis to answer accusations of incitement against security forces, but he was set free after giving testimony.

*) Iran invites Saudi King Salman to visit Tehran amid thaw in ties

Iran formally invites Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to visit Tehran, following a reconciliation agreement reached last month between the two sides.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said President Ebrahim Raisi had “invited the Saudi King to visit Iran” adding that the Iranian president had already received an invitation to visit the kingdom.

The spokesman also expressed hope that Iran and Saudi Arabia would reopen their respective diplomatic missions by May 9th, as scheduled in the China-brokered agreement.

*) As a trade bridge, Istanbul can link financial markets: Turkish president

With a new landmark financial centre in Istanbul, Türkiye’s president has said that the metropolis could help to form ties between financial markets in the world.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first phase of the Istanbul Finance Center, Erdogan said the centre of global finance was clearly shifting from West to East.

Increasing commercial competition between Asia and Europe and the geopolitical position of Türkiye creates new opportunities for Istanbul, the president noted.

*) End of an era: ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ bows out after 35 years

The final curtain came down on New York’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ending Broadway’s longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, and gold and silver confetti bursting from its famous chandelier.

The musical — a fixture on Broadway since opening on January 26, 1988 — has weathered recessions, war, terrorism and cultural shifts.

But critics say the prolonged pandemic may have been the last straw, since it is a costly musical to sustain, with elaborate sets and costumes as well as a large cast and orchestra.

*) US naval destroyer sails through Taiwan Strait

The US Navy said its guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius had sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a "freedom of navigation" operation carried out days after China staged massive war games around the island.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the self-ruled island under its control one day.

Beijing launched three days of military exercises around Taiwan on April 8 in which it simulated targeted strikes and practised a blockade of the island.

*) UN chief demands justice for staff deaths as fighting rages in Sudan

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned clashes in Sudan that have left dozens of civilians dead including three workers for the global body's food agency, demanding swift justice over the killings.

Guterres "strongly condemns the deaths and injuries of civilians, including the death of three staff members of the World Food Programme in North Darfur, with a further two seriously injured," the UN chief's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The top UN official also reiterated his call for an immediate halt to the fighting and "a return to dialogue," stressing he remains engaged with regional leaders and with Sudanese stakeholders "to find a way out of this crisis," he added.

*) Tens of security forces members killed in Burkina Faso

At least 40 people were killed and 33 others were wounded in an attack by gunmen on an army detachment in northern Burkina Faso, local authorities said.

The attack by unidentified armed men targeted a detachment of soldiers and the civilian volunteers on Saturday.

Burkina Faso remains plagued by insecurity, largely due to an insurgency that has spilled over from neighbouring Mali.

*) Saudi Arabia to host Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh visits Saudi Arabia for the first such visit in years, according to a Palestinian source.

There was no official confirmation yet from Riyadh.

The delegation will hold talks with Saudi officials on a number of Palestinian and regional issues as well as bilateral relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia, the source said.

*) Turkish athlete Cansu Bektas breaks 3 European junior weightlifting records

Turkish weightlifter Cansu Bektas has won three European junior record-breaking gold medals at the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships.

Bektas, who competed in women's 45 kg, broke three European junior records with 72 kg in the snatch, 90 kg in the clean and jerk, and 162 kg in total.

European Weightlifting Championships, which has been held since 1896, is an annual event organised by the European Weightlifting Federation.

*) US air force employee in custody over classified Pentagon documents leak

The FBI has arrested an employee of the US Air Force National Guard over leaks of classified documents.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the FBI arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira in connection with the online leaks, which the Pentagon called a "deliberate, criminal act”.

Some of the most sensitive leaked details are related to Ukraine's military capabilities and shortcomings, as well as information about US allies including Israel and South Korea.

*) Ukraine reports unrelenting Russian attacks on besieged Bakhmut

Russia's military has pressed on with its unrelenting attacks on the war-ravaged eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut while continuing to shell the southern city of Kherson.

Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said heavy fighting gripped all parts of the eastern front. She said pro-Kiev forces repelled attacks in most areas.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials are pressing allies for more weapons that Kiev hopes will enable it to launch a major counter-offensive later this year.

*) Brazilian President Lula slams US dollar in China tour

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has criticised the outsized role of the US dollar in the world economy during an official visit to China.

Lula questioned who decided that the dollar would be the world’s currency and why countries should be tied to it for trade.

He made the remarks in Shanghai during the inauguration of his political ally, Dilma Rousseff, who has been named president of the new development bank set up by BRICS nations to counter the IMF and the World Bank.

Lula also had strong words for the IMF, alluding to accusations that the organisation forces harsh spending cuts on cash-strapped countries in exchange for bailout loans.

*) North Korea tests new solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18

North Korea said it successfully tested for the first time a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile known as Hwasong-18, hailing it as a key breakthrough for the country's nuclear counterattack capabilities.

All of Pyongyang's previously known intercontinental ballistic missiles have been liquid-fuelled.

Such solid-fıuel missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch and thus harder to detect and destroy preemptively.

South Korea's military had earlier said that a launch conducted by the North was likely a new type of ballistic missile. The launch briefly triggered a seek shelter order in parts of Japan.

*) Trump testifies for seven hours in New York fraud lawsuit

Donald Trump has testified under oath for around seven hours in a New York civil case that accuses him and three of his children of business fraud.

The behind-closed-doors deposition on Thursday came a week after the former US president’s historic arraignment on criminal charges in a Manhattan courtroom in a separate case.

The 76-year-old Republican is facing a slew of state, federal and congressional probes that threaten his bid to regain the presidency in next year's election.

*) Saudi Arabia, Syria discuss ways to end Damascus' diplomatic isolation

Saudi Arabia and the Syrian regime’s foreign ministers have held talks "to end Damascus' diplomatic isolation", the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported.

At a meeting in Saudi Arabia, both sides said they discussed "the necessary steps" to end Damascus's diplomatic isolation in the Arab world since the civil war began in 2011.

On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting the Syrian regime attend an Arab League summit next month.

Meanwhile, an Iranian technical delegation arrived in Riyadh for the reopening of Tehran's embassy in the Saudi capital.

*) Qatar, Bahrain agree to resume diplomatic ties in Riyadh talks

At another meeting in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain have decided to resume their diplomatic ties after talks between their officials in Riyadh.

The two sides confirmed that this decision stems from “the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations” and enhance the Gulf Cooperation Council’s unity.

The move comes over two years after an Arab boycott of Doha was lifted.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in January 2021 ended a 3-1/2-year embargo of Qatar, however, all but Bahrain had restored travel and trade links with its neighbouring kingdom.

*) Zelenskyy seeks Russia's frozen assets to rebuild Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the efforts of forces defending Bakhmut and other areas in the east as the war enters its 414th day.

Addressing a meeting of international financial institutions, Zelenskyy called for faster assistance to help rebuild the country and restore normal life after the war ends.

One of his appeals was to use Russia's frozen assets to compensate Ukraine for the damage Moscow inflicted on it.

*) Seoul says North Korea's ballistic missile launch 'possibly solid fuel'

North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, "possibly solid fuel", South Korea's military has said.

South Korea's military said it had "detected one ballistic missile with a medium range or longer fired from the Pyongyang area on Thursday.

The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by Pyongyang, which has fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year.

*) New York police re-introduce robotic canine for 'risky' tasks

New York City officials have unveiled new high-tech policing devices, including a robotic dog, a GPS tracker for stolen cars and a cone-shaped security robot.

Digidog, the city's first robot police dog, was leased in 2020 but the city's contract for the device was cut short after critics derided it as creepy and dystopian.

But starting this summer, the remote-controlled Digidog will be deployed in risky situations like hostage standoffs.

*) Myanmar confirms deadly air strike that is feared to have killed 100

Myanmar's ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out an air strike on a village in which some 100 people were reported to have been killed.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the strike that hit the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region.

Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. Turk said it included schoolchildren.

The junta claimed that some of the dead were anti-coup fighters.

*) US seeks to reassure allies after Ukraine-related documents leak

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken and defence chief Lloyd Austin have spoken with their Ukrainian counterparts to reassure them after secret documents leaked online.

The breach includes classified information about Ukraine's battle against Russian forces, as well as secret assessments of US allies.

One document reviewed by the AFP news agency highlighted US concerns about Ukraine's capacity to keep defending against Russian strikes.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that another document expressed doubts about the success of an upcoming offensive by Kiev's forces.

*) Pakistan slams India's decision to hold G20 meet in disputed Kashmir

Pakistan has condemned India's decision to hold Group of 20 meetings in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir next month.

Its Foreign Ministry accused India of acting in "disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law."

India's Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the statement from Pakistan.

*) Türkiye's Erdogan unveils AK Party's election manifesto

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced his governing Justice and Development Party’s manifesto ahead of the May 14 elections.

Speaking in the capital Ankara, Erdogan unveiled a 23-point election manifesto, which firstly focuses on support for earthquake victims in southern Türkiye.

He said 81 provinces will be transformed into disaster-resilient cities using what he called a "national risk shield model."

*) NASA unveils 'Mars' habitat for year-long experiments on Earth

Four small rooms, a gym and a lot of red sand – NASA has unveiled its new Mars-simulation habitat at the space agency's research base in Texas.

During three planned experiments, volunteers will live in the habitat for a year at a time to test what life will be like on future missions to Mars.

Four volunteers will begin the first trial this summer, during which NASA plans to monitor their physical and mental health to better understand astronauts' "resource use" on Mars.

*) North Korea leader calls for expansion of war deterrence capabilities

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for expanding the country's war deterrence capabilities to counter what it called "frantic" aggression by the United States and South Korea.

Kim's call on Tuesday comes as Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests.

These tests included nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles.

North Korea last year declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks.

*) Turkish, Russian, Syrian, Iranian FMs likely to meet in May in Moscow

A meeting between foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia, Iran, and Syria is likely to be held in early May in Moscow.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said this in an interview on Monday.

He said the aim of these talks is to revive the political process, lasting stability and peace, fight against terrorism, and guarantee Syria's border and territorial integrity.

*) Five killed, at least 6 injured in Kentucky shooting attack

Five people were killed and at least six others hospitalised following a shooting targeting a bank on Monday in downtown Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky.

A short while after confirming the attack, police said the shooter was dead, without giving further details.

It was unclear whether the death toll of five people included the shooter.

The incident triggered a massive police deployment outside the Old National Bank building.

*) China completes Taiwan war games aimed at 'sealing off' island

China says it has "successfully completed" three days of war games around Taiwan.

The three-day show of force saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the self-ruled island.

Chinese ally Russia defended the drills, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying Beijing had a "sovereign right" to respond to what Moscow called "provocative acts".

Beijing's exercises were a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.

*) News anchor generated with AI appears in Kuwait

A Kuwaiti media outlet has unveiled a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence with plans for it to read online bulletins.

"Fedha" appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News website on Saturday as an image of a woman, her light-coloured hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt.

The site is affiliated with the Kuwait Times, founded in 1961 as the Gulf region's first English-language daily.

*) Russian forces step up strikes on two key Ukrainian cities

Russia's forces have kept up a barrage of attacks along the front concentrated in two Ukrainian cities in the eastern Donetsk region.

Fighting was heaviest along the western approaches to Bakhmut, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said.

Battle also raged in Avdiivka, that Russia's military has been targeting.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced Russian air strikes, saying Moscow was further isolating itself from the world.

*) China holds live-fire exercises near Taiwan

China has held live-fire drills to round off three days of military exercises in response to Taiwan's president's meeting with the US House speaker.

Dubbed "Joint Sword", the three-day operation has included rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan, according to the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen denounced the drills, which come after she met last week with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy outside Los Angeles.

*) Saudi delegation in Yemen's capital for talks with Houthis

A Saudi delegation is in Yemen's capital to negotiate a potential new truce with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control the city.

Houthi media showed the group's political leader, Mahdi al Mashat, shaking hands and meeting with Saudi officials including the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber.

The Saudi officials are "in Sanaa to discuss moving forward to create peace in Yemen," said a Yemeni diplomat based in the Gulf region, information that was confirmed by a second diplomat.

*) Hezbollah, Hamas leaders meet in Lebanon amid Al Aqsa raids

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has held talks with Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Beirut, Lebanon amid escalating Israeli military violence in occupied East Jerusalem.

Nasrallah and Haniyeh discussed the latest Palestinian developments, “events at Al Aqsa Mosque, and the escalating resistance in the occupied West Bank and Gaza,” according to a Hezbollah statement.

Violence rose across the territories after Israeli forces last week forcibly removed worshippers from inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

*) "Super Mario" movie hops to a huge North American opening

Universal's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" has racked up huge numbers in its North American opening weekend. The analysts say it could top the list for all of 2023.

The animated film sold an estimated 146.4 million dollars in tickets over the Easter weekend, and 204.6 million in its first five days across North America.

In second place for the weekend was Lionsgate's neo-noir "John Wick: Chapter 4," at 14.6 million dollars.

*) Israeli warplanes strike besieged Gaza, Lebanon following Al Aqsa raids

The Israeli military has struck besieged Gaza and southern Lebanon.

This followed a day of rocket fire from the Palestinian territory and from Lebanon in reaction to Israel's back-to-back raids into the Al Aqsa Mosque that injured Palestinian worshippers.

Hamas, which governs the tiny coastal strip of Gaza, said several air strikes had been carried out in the blockaded enclave early on Friday. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes.

Later, at least three explosions were heard in Lebanon's Tyre region, as Israel's military said it was carrying out strikes there.

*) Iran, Saudi Arabia foreign ministers hold landmark meeting in Beijing

Iran and Saudi Arabia's top diplomats have met in Beijing, the first official meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years.

After years of hostility, the two countries agreed to end their diplomatic rift and re-open embassies in a major deal facilitated by China last month.

In a joint statement following the recent meeting, the ministers said that their agreement to normalise ties would help bring "security and stability" to the Middle East.

*) China's Xi, France's Macron call for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have called for Russia-Ukraine peace talks to take place "as soon as possible".

The pair, who held talks in Beijing, also reaffirmed their opposition to the use of nuclear weapons during the conflict.

Macron began a series of meetings with Chinese leaders on a visit with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen that could set a course for the bloc's future relations with China.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to battle in Bakhmut, the devastated eastern city which has become a symbol of Kiev's defiance.

*) China sends warships and aircraft around Taiwan for second day

China has sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day, Taipei said.

This comes after President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which angered Beijing

Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said.

In addition, a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone

*) 'Horrified': Australia mayor mulls first defamation case against ChatGPT

An Australian mayor may become the first person to sue the creators of ChatGPT over claims the AI-powered chatbot falsely labelled him a criminal.

Before taking office, Brian Hood had helped expose bribery and other crimes at his former employer, Note Printing Australia.

But when ChatGPT was asked about the scandal and Hood's role, it falsely claimed he had been jailed for corruption.

People have been using ChatGPT’s artificial intelligence to streamline everything from answering mundane emails to cheating on school exams.

*) Israel troops storm Al Aqsa Mosque for second night targeting Palestinians

Israeli troops have stormed Al Aqsa Mosque compound for the second time and attacked Palestinian worshippers inside Islam's third-holiest site.

Witnesses said the Israeli forces raided the Al Qibli Prayer Hall after the tarawih prayers, a special prayer during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, beating up Palestinian worshippers.

They also fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to force them out of the complex.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society in occupied East Jerusalem said its medical teams treated six Palestinians, two of whom were hospitalised.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli troops arrested hundreds of people in a police incursion at the mosque. This sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes, with fears of further escalation.

*)China deploys warships near Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting in US

China has sent warships through waters around Taiwan as it vowed a "resolute response" to the island's president meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Three additional warships were detected in waters separating the self-governing island from mainland China on Thursday, while an anti-submarine helicopter had also crossed its air defence identification zone.

On Wednesday, the Chinese carrier, the Shandong, was also spotted around 200 nautical miles (370km) off Taiwan's east coast.

Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen had held talks with McCarthy in California on Wednesday.

China had repeatedly warned both sides that the meeting should not take place.

*)Macron, von der Leyen to press China's Xi on Ukraine

French and EU leaders will seek to make Europe's case for bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine in a Beijing meeting with Xi Jinping, a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will have a trilateral meeting with the Chinese president. This will follow a one-on-one meeting between Macron and Xi.

Macron, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon for a three-day state visit, said he wants to "be a voice that unites Europe" over Ukraine.

*) Zelenskyy gets new pledges of military support from Poland

Meanwhile in Ukraine, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his troops are facing a difficult situation in the battle for Bakhmut as the war rages on.

He refuted claims by Russian forces that the city had been captured, but said the military would take "corresponding" decisions to protect them if they risked being encircled by Russian forces.

On Wednesday, Zelenskyy won new pledges of military and economic cooperation during a state visit to Poland.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw has provided four fighter jets to Ukraine, with another ten expected soon.

*) ​Canada agrees to $17B settlement over mistreatment of Indigenous families

Canada has agreed to pay $17 billion to Indigenous children and families for discrimination in the child welfare system.

The revised deal, announced on Wednesday by the Canadian government and Indigenous groups, boosted the settlement from the nearly $15 billion agreed last year.

Some 300,000 children, adolescents and families are expected to receive the settlement.

The deal also closed a case brought before a human rights tribunal more than 15 years ago that found the government had underfunded Indigenous children's services.