BAGHDAD: Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced Friday that he would suspend the movement he leads for one year, citing “corruption” among some of his followers.
A group within the Sadrists, dubbing itself the “Owners of the Cause,” believes that Al-Sadr is Imam Mahdi, a Shiite religious leader said to have vanished more than 1,000 years ago, who is expected to return leading an army of the faithful to defeat evil in the world.

TOKYO: The UAE’s Special Envoy to Japan, Sultan Al-Jaber, who is also the UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Friday.

Al-Jaber is visiting Japan to participate in the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and the Environment in Sapporo and is also the COP28 president-designate.

The climate conference will take place in Dubai in late November and early December.

TEHRAN, Iran: Tens of Thousands of Iranians, some chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel,” marched in the capital of Tehran on Friday to mark Jerusalem Day, an annual show of support for the Palestinians.
Senior Iranian officials attended the rally, including President Ebrahim Raisi.
Since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, the rallies marking what is also known as Al-Quds Day have typically been held typically held on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

CAIRO: The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has disputed the credibility of research used to reimagine the face of the Nazlet Khater skeleton — Nazlet Khater man.

The face of an ancient Egyptian who died more than 30,000 years ago was recently reconstructed by scientists. 

The skeleton is currently on display at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo and the suggestions of two of the researchers recently raised interest on social media.

SANAA, Yemen: A multi-day operation to exchange nearly 900 prisoners from Yemen’s war held by the Houthi militia and the Yemeni government began Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said.

“Our team has assessed the health of the detainees and confirmed they are fit to travel,” tweeted the Red Cross on Friday.