Sudanese Army, RSF, Agree to Extend Truce for 72 Hours Amid Mass Evacuation
Erdogan suspends election campaign due to illness, Iran committed brutal crackdown on children, Cristiano Ronaldo set to leave Saudi Arabia, and much more.
Welcome to Inshallah, your weekly source for the latest and most newsworthy news from the Middle East. I'm Dario Sabaghi, and I've got my eye on the most impactful stories of the week just for you.
Join me on this journey of discovery and stay ahead of the curve with the most insightful news from the region. Best of all, subscribing to Inshallah is free.
Sudanese Army, RSF, Agree to Extend Truce for 72 Hours Amid Mass Evacuation
Sudan's two warring factions have agreed to extend a ceasefire agreement by 72 hours, but violence continues in Khartoum and Darfur. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused hundreds of deaths and displaced tens of thousands of people. Despite a partial calm in fighting during the first ceasefire, air strikes and anti-aircraft fire were heard in the capital and nearby cities. Many foreigners are still in Sudan, while some countries have evacuated their nationals via air or road from Port Sudan. Sudanese civilians are fleeing Khartoum due to the shortage of basic necessities.
Turkish President Erdogan Suspends Election Campaign Due to Illness
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey suspended the election campaign after falling ill during a live TV interview, citing serious stomach flu after two days of intense campaigning.
His toughest election campaign yet pits him against opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has been chosen to run for a group of six political parties.
The health minister confirmed that Erdogan had infectious gastroenteritis but would resume daily programs soon.
The election's first round will take place on May 14, with a possible presidential run-off two weeks later.
Russia's Putin and Turkey's Erdogan Inaugurate Turkey's First Nuclear Power Plant
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Erdogan virtually inaugurated Turkey's first nuclear power plant, built by Rosatom.
The $20 billion Akkuyu project includes four reactors and will allow Turkey to join countries with civil nuclear energy.
Erdogan thanked Putin and expressed interest in building two more plants soon.
Despite Turkey's NATO membership, Erdogan has maintained friendly relations with Putin and even brokered a deal to resume Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports.
Iranian Security Forces Committed Brutal Crackdown on Child Protesters, HRW Reports
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that Iranian security forces committed heinous acts against children during the past seven months of protests and dissent in the country.
According to the watchdog, children have been killed, tortured, sexually assaulted, and disappeared, while others have been arrested, detained, interrogated, and prosecuted without proper legal procedures.
The families of these children have been barred from hiring lawyers, and some children have been tried outside of youth courts.
Additionally, some children have been prevented from returning to school, while others have had their families' social welfare cut off, forcing them to work.
HRW investigated 11 cases of abuse between September 2022 and February 2023 and documented new details about two previously reported cases.
The abuses include beatings, sexual assault, burning, whipping, and torture. Injured children have been denied medical treatment, and family members have been threatened to keep quiet about the abuses.
This crackdown on protests and dissent began after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022.
Turkey and Syria Hold Talks on Normalizing Ties in Russia
The defense and intelligence chiefs of Turkey and Syria met in Moscow on Tuesday, April 25, to discuss steps towards normalizing ties between Ankara and Damascus, according to a statement from Turkey's Defense Ministry.
This is the first time the word "normalization" has been used publicly in reference to their ties since they were severed following Syria's violent crackdown on protests in 2012.
The meeting was described as constructive and included discussions on strengthening security in Syria, combating terrorism, and returning Syrian refugees to their homeland.
Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, controls a significant portion of northern Syria, while Iran and Russia support the Syrian government.
Lebanon's Inflation Surges to Over 350% Annual Rate After Devaluation
Lebanon's first currency devaluation in 25 years leads to a 350% annual increase in food and beverage prices, aggravating an already dire economic situation. The decision to allow the Lebanese pound to weaken by 90% in February has resulted in surging inflation, which rose to nearly 264% in March. This has further impoverished three-quarters of Lebanon's population, who are already struggling due to a severe financial crisis caused by the country's economic collapse that started in late 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo Set to Leave Saudi Arabia and Return to Madrid, reports say
Numerous reports say Cristiano Ronaldo may leave Saudi Arabia to return to Madrid due to sports results, struggles adapting to the local culture, and the language barrier.
After his Manchester United contract was terminated, he joined Al-Nassr in 2023 on a two-and-a-half season deal worth €200 million per year.
However, Al Nassr's loss to Al Wehda in the King Cup of Champions further added to Ronaldo's woes in the kingdom, where his signing had generated considerable excitement but failed to deliver trophies.
Some reports also say that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has assured Ronaldo of a return to Santiago Bernabeu, offering him an ambassadorial role at his former club.
Thanks for tuning in to this week's edition of Inshallah, your go-to source for Middle Eastern news. Don't forget to share and subscribe to stay informed, all for free!
About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.
Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.
You can follow me on Twitter: @DarioSabaghi
Did I miss any important news from the Middle East? DM me on Twitter.
Cover photo: Photo: AFP/Getty Images - CNN