The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces announced their commitment to a 24-hour humanitarian truce, which will take effect today at 6:00 local time (4 GMT).

The office of the Sudanese army spokesman said in a press statement today (Wednesday) "The armed forces announce their agreement to a truce for a period of 24 hours, starting from six o'clock in the evening today and ending at six o'clock in the evening tomorrow (Thursday), in order to facilitate the humanitarian aspects, provided that the the other party."

For its part, the Rapid Support Command said in a press statement today, "A 24-hour truce has been approved, starting from 6:00 pm today until 6:00 pm tomorrow (Thursday), and we affirm our full commitment to a complete ceasefire, and we hope that the other party will abide by the truce."

Western diplomatic missions have called on both sides to stop hostilities immediately and unconditionally.

In a press release, the diplomatic missions called on the warring forces to cease fire and to fulfill their obligations under international law to protect civilians, diplomats and humanitarian personnel.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the two sides declared a 24-hour humanitarian truce, but the clashes between them did not stop, and each side accused the other of violating the truce.

The bloody fighting broke out on April 15, between the two largest military forces in Sudan, after the Rapid Support Forces pushed about 100 vehicles towards the Marawi base in northern Sudan, which the Sudanese army considered an illegal mobilization, and it took place without coordination with it.

The Prisoner's Club said, this evening, Wednesday, that "the occupation rearrested the prisoner Osama Al-Sallal from the town of Bani Naim in Hebron, upon his release from the Negev prison, after he had spent 17 years."

In a statement, the club pointed out that the occupation authorities started this policy mainly in Jerusalem, during the past few years, and expanded its use to include prisoners from other regions.

He stressed that the occupation authorities aim, through this policy, to try to steal the prisoner and his family's joy of freedom, as well as to target the image of the heroic prisoner in the consciousness of his people.

Maqamoon opened fire, this evening, Wednesday, at a bus of settlers near Nablus .

According to the Hebrew channel Reshet Kan, 4 bullets hit the bus, without injuries or damage.

She pointed out that the Israeli army is conducting combing operations in the area in search of the perpetrators of the operation.

Doron Turgeman, commander of the Israeli occupation police in occupied Jerusalem , claimed that during the holy month of Ramadan, 8 operations that were to be carried out by Palestinians in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City were thwarted.

Turgeman praised, during statements reported by the Hebrew Channel 13, his forces, which worked to thwart these attacks, and their efforts to establish calm and security during the month of Ramadan. as claimed.

And he indicated that his forces arrested dozens of Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Old City under the pretext of raising Hamas and other flags, and attempting what he described as "stirring riots."

Amir Al-Daly, one of the most famous Palestinian chefs in the city of Ramallah in the central West Bank , and his assistants are busy daily cooking dozens of Chinese dishes and delivering them to his customers during the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims fast about 13 hours a day in the month of Ramadan, which is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, while housewives are interested in preparing breakfast meals, in addition to Ramadan sweets and juices.

However, traditional Palestinian dishes are based on foods high in fat, which are usually rich in oils and sugars.

The 28-year-old chef, Al-Dali, told Xinhua that most of the fasting people suffer from the negative effects of fasting for long hours, such as weight problems that make them feel uncomfortable.

So the young man often adds - who wears a white robe while wearing a skullcap on his head - that Palestinians are looking for ways to find delicious food without fear of negative health effects.

Al-Dali explains that the situation has changed since Chinese food and dishes became popular in our Palestinian society as an excellent alternative to Palestinian dishes that are saturated with fat and usually cause satiety.

A few years ago, the "TikTok" platform contributed to spreading the culture of Chinese food among Palestinians, especially since many Chinese chefs resorted to natural places to cook their dishes and explain their health benefits, according to Dali.

Chinese cuisine contains many healthy ingredients, as it is rich in vitamins and proteins, and relies heavily on vegetables, meat, fish and rice.

Vegetables are widely included in most Chinese dishes and are not fully cooked in order to retain their nutritional benefits and distinctive fresh flavour.

This is what makes his restaurant crowded with customers, especially in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan, and he also delivers dozens of meals to the homes of his customers.

Among the Chinese dishes most requested by Palestinians, according to Al-Daly, are (kung pao chicken, wonton soup, spring rolls, noodles, fish, and shrimp).

Khadija Ahmed from Ramallah told Xinhua that she adopted different types of Chinese dishes on the breakfast table in Ramadan because they are delicious and healthy.

In an attempt to change the daily routine during Ramadan, Khadija Ahmed, 48, a mother of three, invited her family, as well as her friends, to eat their Chinese meals at Dali Restaurant.

Another customer, Mamoun Al-Saeed, told Xinhua that he changed his misconception about Chinese food, saying, "I found that Chinese food is very nutritious and balanced and provides everything your body needs for metabolism."

Al-Saeed, 52, added, "Some Chinese dishes are compatible with Palestinian culture, especially those that are characterized by a spicy taste. In addition, Chinese cuisine is healthier and helps us maintain our weight."

Al-Said continued that it is good for us as Palestinians to accept other food cultures and try new types of dishes that would be healthy for us and keep up with the updates of other countries.

On Wednesday evening, a group of settlers stole 3 sheep from the village of Kisan, east of Bethlehem .

According to local sources, the settlers stole three heads of sheep belonging to Sabih Hussein Abayat.

Today, Wednesday, Hebron police arrested a suspect in armed robbery of a gold shop in the town of Al-Dhahiriya, south of Hebron.

Colonel Louay Arziqat , the media spokesman for the police, explained that on 10/4/2023, 4 people carried out an armed robbery on a gold shop in the town of Al-Dhahiriya, and they opened fire at the owner of the shop, which caused him a number of gunshot wounds, and he was transferred to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the General Investigation Branch, in cooperation with Al-Dhahiriya Police Station, conducted search and investigation procedures to uncover the circumstances of the incident.

Colonel Erzikat added that during the process of collecting information and evidence related to this crime, the General Investigation Branch was able to arrest a main suspect in this crime, and it was found that he, along with 3 other people, stalked the owner of the shop, and when he opened his shop, they shot him and stole approximately 8 kg. From the golden jewel.

Colonel Arziqat stressed the continuation of efforts to arrest the other persons in this case.

The directorates of the Ministry of Education in some areas of the West Bank announced, this evening, Wednesday, the full return to work in all schools, immediately after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

Among these areas are Tulkarm, Jenin, Jericho, the Jordan Valley, Qabatiya, and Hebron.

And the directorates of education appreciated, in separate statements, the response of male and female teachers to return to work, as they will return to work as of Tuesday 4/25/2023.

She thanked all partners and events for their efforts to reach this result.

This evening, Wednesday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested a citizen after assaulting him at the Za'tara military checkpoint, south of Nablus .

According to local sources, those forces assaulted the driver of one of the vehicles, forced him to get off his vehicle, and beat him before handcuffing him and transporting him in a military vehicle, after closing the Za'tara checkpoint in both directions, which caused a suffocating crisis.

Today, Wednesday, the Israeli occupation army announced that a closure will be imposed on the West Bank and Gaza Strip , starting on Monday 4/24/2023, at 17:00.

The closure will be lifted on the night of Wednesday and Thursday 4/26/2023.

The general closure coincides with the day of remembrance of the dead of the Israeli army and the day of "Independence" (the Palestinian Nakba).

Today, the military operations carried out by the Sudanese army against the RSF fighters have entered their second phase, which aims to secure the sovereign sites and comprehensively attack the RSF sites.

"The second phase of the process of securing the areas surrounding the General Command began to reach the center of Khartoum, in conjunction with the rest of the regions gradually," the office of the official spokesman for the Sudanese army said in a press statement today.

Marking the start of the second phase, what resembles an operation to encircle the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, began today through ground forces and air support, according to eyewitnesses and military sources.

Since the outbreak of military clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, the General Command building has formed a major center for confrontations.

The Army General Command building acquires strategic importance as it includes several important buildings, including the intelligence building, and it also houses the guest house in which the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces usually resides.

The command building is also located near the airport area, which is linked by several entrances with the general command building.
The headquarters of the General Command is located in the center of the capital, Khartoum, and it consists of five buildings: the Land Forces Building, the Naval Forces Command, the Air Force Building, Military Intelligence and the Ministry of Defense.

The Sudanese army said that today (Wednesday) it is responding to a new attack by the Rapid Support Forces on the vicinity of the army's general command in central Sudan.

"The armed forces are responding to a new attack on the vicinity of the General Command, and the enemy suffered heavy losses in lives and destroyed a number of combat vehicles," the office of the Sudanese army spokesman said in a press statement today.

The Sudanese army officially announced today the extension of its control over the Merowe airport and the air base attached to it in northern Sudan.

Video clips published by the Sudanese army showed that the army fighters took control of the airport and the base and were deployed there.

Clashes continued today between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in central Khartoum around the headquarters of the Sudanese army's general command.

Violent explosions sounded in the vicinity of the General Command in central Khartoum, while columns of smoke rose around the area.

A smoke cloud spreads over Khartoum International Airport due to the ignition of fuel tanks inside the airport, according to eyewitnesses.

Violent clashes also broke out this morning in the Kafouri camp of the Rapid Support Forces in the city of Khartoum North.

The two sides announced yesterday (Tuesday) their commitment to a humanitarian truce proposed by international parties for a period of 24 hours, but the clashes are still continuing.

The bloody fighting broke out on April 15, between the two largest military forces in Sudan, after the Rapid Support Forces pushed about 100 vehicles towards the Marawi base in northern Sudan, which the Sudanese army considered an illegal mobilization, and it took place without coordination with it.

And the Sudan Doctors Syndicate announced that the death toll from the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has risen to 174.

The Syndicate noted that there are a number of injuries and deaths that are not included in this statistic, due to the inability to reach hospitals due to the difficulty of movement and the security situation in the country.

Today, Wednesday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh stressed the need for the success of the upcoming donors' conference , which is chaired by Norway, and for producing results that force Israel to abide by its promises and agreements signed with it.

This came during his reception in his office in Ramallah, the Norwegian Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East, Hilda Haraldstad , to discuss the latest political developments and developments in the situation, in the presence of the Norwegian representative to Palestine, Torn Vesti.

Shtayyeh stressed that the Palestinian issue will remain in the forefront, despite all Israeli attempts to divert attention from it and the conflict in the region, and that the key to peace and stability in the region is through ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and establishing an independent state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

Just before Eid Al-Fitr , crowds of shoppers begin to flock to the markets of Nablus , in an atmosphere full of joy and happiness. Shops are crowded, and the streets are filled with street vendors and stalls.

The city’s markets witness a wide commercial movement until the dawn hours, so that people can buy clothes, sweets, coffee and nuts, as well as salted fish, which is considered the favorite meal on the morning of Eid.

However, this festive atmosphere has become mixed with the taste of sadness, and the people's joy of receiving the holiday has become incomplete after the martyrdom of a group of the governorate's youth by the bullets of the occupation army, who died since the beginning of this year.

Therefore, Um Jawad Al-Afouri, who owns and her husband a sweets shop in the city center, believes that the current season is not the same as it was in previous years, referring to the difficult conditions the city went through and the incursions of the occupation army and the erection of checkpoints to besiege it, which reflected on the economic situation.

She told Al-Quds.com: "The city witnessed very painful events, during which it lost many young people in the prime of their lives this year, so Nablus remains sad and there is no joy for Eid and joy is incomplete, and God has mercy on the martyrs."

And Al-Afouri continued: “With the approach of every Eid, we always specialize in preparing maamoul and cakes stuffed with dates, pistachios or walnuts, in addition to all kinds of sweets, such as baklava and kalaj. We also care that our sweets are accessible to everyone at reasonable prices, but the general atmosphere in the city is not Encouraging,” hoping that God will spread goodness and peace to everyone.

On Eid, the children's joy is complete by buying new things such as toys, as the merchant, Muhammad Hamami, explained that the latter becomes a basic requirement in the market and the child rejoices in them, just as parents cannot prevent their children from buying them on this special day, and he said: "Eid is for children."

Hammami is optimistic about this season, hoping that the situation will remain stable in the city, as the festive atmosphere that people have always been accustomed to cannot be dispensed with, and he prays to God to bestow goodness on everyone in these blessed days.

And in the middle of Martyrs' Square, where stalls and peddlers' carts gather and display various goods that delight shoppers, the boy Ahmed Shakhshir sits behind his stall selling bags of different shapes and sizes.

Al-Shakhshir says: "I wanted to open this stall before the Eid, and from it I get my livelihood, and I also enjoy the beautiful Eid atmosphere that characterizes the city day and night, as people come to it from different cities during this period, and it is important that we serve visitors and shoppers."

People are preparing to buy new clothes before the Eid so that they can beautify themselves with the best clothes, so clothing stores witness a great turnout in the last days of Ramadan.

Shadi al-Sarwan, a clothing salesman at the "Rosella" store in the Nablus municipality complex, explained that the commercial activity in general is not the same as it was in the previous holidays.

These preparations are not limited to the markets only, but the municipality begins with the help of the people to clean and decorate the streets, and families in various regions of the governorate gather to clean the graves of their relatives, in addition to placing palm trees and roses on them, and thus they evoke old memories with their relatives of the martyrs and the dead and express their longing for them.

Public gardens and parks are also prepared to receive visitors during the Eid days, as they are very popular on those days.

Women and girls begin the task of cleaning and decorating houses with the help of some men sometimes, and they also prepare cakes themselves, and some of them gather and share the task together, so that its pleasant smell spreads to the surroundings, announcing the approach of Eid, despite the deterioration of the economic conditions experienced by most families.

Um Jamil (65 years) from Askar camp says: "Cake on Eid is considered a tradition that everyone adheres to, and it is like clothing. Women are busy preparing it, with the participation of all members of her family as well as her neighbors."

She added that she does not let a holiday of the year pass without making cakes and maamoul, so that it will always be one of the sweets that she puts on the hospitality table.

She explained that despite the great effort required to make cakes at home, she prefers to make them and not buy them ready-made, noting that their smell alone is enough to create a happy atmosphere in the house, as it is one of the most important rituals that Palestinians practice on Eid Al-Fitr.

And she added, "Also, when we prepare it, the time passes quickly, and we do not feel bored at all. Umm Muhammad makes tea for us, while my daughter cuts the cake dough, stuffs it with dates, and then carves it, while my neighbor Umm Al-Abd bakes it, and thus we all cooperate and enjoy an atmosphere full of love and happiness."

However, this tradition was absent from many homes in the city, especially after the development of lifestyles and the presence of Eid cakes and made in sweet shops, which saved a lot of time and effort in preparing it, especially for female employees and workers, and the demand for buying it instead of making it is increasing little by little.

The employee, Laila, explained: "I work all week and arrive at my house exhausted, and I don't have enough time to prepare sweets at home, so I have to buy them ready-made from stores, and I hardly prepare breakfast."

Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh affirmed that the Palestinian, wherever he goes, is a success story, pointing out that the Union of the People of Ramallah is a role model for unity, cooperation, and clinging to the homeland.

This came during his reception, today, Wednesday, in his office in Ramallah, a delegation from the Ramallah Sons Union in the United States, where he briefed them on the general situation, especially the latest political developments.

Shtayyeh was briefed by the delegation on the most important activities and events carried out by the Union, whether at the local level through the support provided to institutions, society and individuals, and organizing visits for the people of our community to the homeland, or at the American level through the efforts undertaken by the Union and the members of the community in the context of influencing the American public opinion towards the Palestinian cause and its support.

Shtayyeh praised the efforts made by the Union in championing their cause, in addition to the support it provides to his country in various fields, especially in terms of health and education.

US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Tuesday that he will deliver a speech to a full session of the Israeli Knesset during his upcoming visit to Israel on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba and the establishment of Israel.

McCarthy, known for his close relations with the Israeli lobby, AIPAC, said in a tweet on Tuesday, "My first trip abroad (a foreign country) as Speaker (House of Representatives) will be to return to Israel to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the state. The relationship between the United States and Israel is as important as any Ever since, I am proud to have accepted an invitation from @AmirOhana, Speaker of the Knesset, to become the second [US Speaker of the House of Representatives] in history to address the Knesset.”

McCarthy, who became speaker of the US House of Representatives last January after the Republicans won a narrow majority in the November midterm elections last year, is the first speaker of the US House of Representatives to address the Knesset in 25 years. When Newt Gingrich spoke to the public, in 1998 (the first and last time the President of the US Congress spoke in the Knesset).

According to the American "Axios" website, "McCarthy is expected to arrive in Israel on April 30 with a bipartisan delegation, consisting of 20 members, as part of Israel's celebrations of the 75th Independence Day."

Axios revealed that the leader of the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries (Democrat from New York), who is also known for his solid relationship with the Israeli lobby AIPAC, will travel to Israel several days before McCarthy's visit.

In turn, Ohana, the speaker of the Israeli Knesset, said in a statement that "Parliament Speaker McCarthy's speech in the Knesset will be a sign of the strong and unbreakable relationship between Israel and the United States," according to Axios, who attributed to an Israeli official as saying that talks about a possible speech to the Knesset by McCarthy began in Last January immediately after receiving the site.

"At that time, Ohana sent a message to McCarthy congratulating him on his election as speaker of the House of Representatives and inviting him to speak in the Knesset. Since then, McCarthy and Ohana have kept in touch via text," the Israeli official said, "according to Axios."

Sorrow prevails in Thailand on Wednesday, mourning the last panda in the country, the 21-year-old giant panda Lin Hui , whose life captivated the kingdom for years until she died at night in Chiang Mai Zoo in the north of the country.

Lin Hui, who was loaned to Thailand by China, was the last of three pandas in Thailand.

She has lived under constant surveillance from cameras in an air-conditioned enclosure at the zoo since 2003.

The female panda's snout began to bleed on Tuesday evening, and her condition deteriorated at night until she passed away, said the park's director, Wotichai Muangman.

“We helped Lin Hui as much as we could until she left us,” he said. Chinese and Thai experts will jointly conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Social networks were flooded Wednesday with messages of sadness over the passing of Lin Hui, who deprived Thailand of the last pandas on its territory.

"I used to watch her all the time on TV. She was the source of my excitement. Rest in peace Lin Hui," wrote one Twitter user.

Another tweet read: "I only visited her last week at the zoo. I am so saddened by the news of her passing. Rest in peace."

The panda Lin Hui, who was loaned to the Chinese city of Chengdu as part of what is known as "panda diplomacy", was covered by an insurance contract worth half a million dollars. It was supposed to be returned in October.

Over the years, persistent attempts were made to encourage her to marry her partner, Shuang Shuang, who died in 2019 due to a heart attack. However, these efforts, which included showing them films showing mating between pandas, did not succeed in stimulating desire in the male partner.

After artificial insemination, Lin Hui finally gave birth to a cub named Lin Bing in 2009, which sparked a panda-like state in the kingdom, as many animal lovers watched the "Panda Channel", which broadcast snapshots of the family's life around the clock between 2009 and 2012. Lin Ping's panda was returned to China a year later.

Giant pandas are known for their poor appetite for mating, and they are among the most threatened species in the world.

Their life expectancy ranges between 15 and 20 years in nature, but pandas may live up to the age of 30 in captivity, according to the World Fund for Nature Conservation.

Today, Wednesday, a number of citizens suffocated after the Israeli occupation forces fired toxic gas canisters massively at the entrance to Aqabat Jaber camp, south of Jericho .

Local sources said that the occupation forces stormed al-Quds Street in the southern area of Jericho, stationed at the main entrance of Aqabat Jabr camp, and began firing sound and gas bombs intensively, which led to the injury of a number of citizens at the entrance to the camp.

Dr. Bishara Domani has resigned from his position as President of Birzeit University .

Hanna Nasser, Chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, said in a press statement that Domani submitted his resignation, and it was accepted out of necessity due to his commitments to Brown University, in which he bears the name of the Mahmoud Darwish Chair.

It will become effective at the end of the current academic year at the end of July.

Hanna indicated that a new president will be named to lead the university, starting at the beginning of the next academic year.

Hanna praised Domani's tenure and the qualitative leap he brought about in the university.

Today, Wednesday, settlers, protected by Israeli soldiers, demolished a number of shops in the Old City of Hebron .

Local sources said that settlers, under the protection of the occupation forces, demolished about five shops located in the market known as Al-Ataq “Al-Raish” market, near Al-Sunniyya Mosque, inside the Old Hisba area.

It is noteworthy that this area has been completely closed and isolated by the occupation forces for more than 25 years, and citizens and its owners are prohibited from entering or accessing it. On the other hand, it is completely open to settlers, who, under the protection of the occupation forces, demolished 5 of it, in preparation for seizing the land and building units. New settlement in its place.

The prisoner, Sheikh Khader Adnan (44 years), from the town of Arraba / Jenin, continues his hunger strike for the 74th day in a row, in rejection of his arrest, and continues his refusal to take supplies and medical examinations.

The Captive Club confirmed that the prisoner Adnan has reached a very dangerous health stage, and that the risks of his exposure to martyrdom are escalating, day after day, as he is in (Ramla) prison, in tragic conditions, and is being held in a cell equipped with cameras, and the guards deliberately break into his cell repeatedly.

The Prisoner's Club pointed out that the prison administration refuses to allow his family to visit him, and refuses to transfer him to a (civilian) hospital, despite the extreme danger he has reached.

According to the last visit that the lawyer made to him, the prisoner Adnan suffers from several apparent symptoms, represented by his frequent loss of consciousness, severe weakness and emaciation, great difficulty in concentrating, and he vomits continuously.

A session was held for him on Monday, in the (Salem) Military Court, to consider his request for his release on bail, and during the session, the occupation prosecution threatened to implement forced treatment against him, and during the session it expressed its strict position in maintaining his detention, and at that time the court decided to postpone its response to the request until Thursday.

It is noteworthy that the prisoner Adnan has been detained since the fifth of last February, and he had announced his hunger strike since the moment of his arrest, and later the occupation authorities issued an indictment against him, in contrast, Sheikh Adnan rejected all of what was stated in the indictment.

The Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Fadi Al-Hadmi, called on the international community to take action to stop the occupation's violations and attacks in the city of Jerusalem, which are taking a dangerous upward trend.

This came when he received in his office, today, Wednesday, the Head of the Representative Office of the Republic of Finland in Palestine, Pävij Pelkoski.

During the meeting, Al-Hidmi reviewed the serious developments that took place during the past few weeks, especially the attacks on worshipers, and the restriction of prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during Holy Saturday.

He said, "The occupation police brutally assaulted worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and imposed restrictions on the worshipers' entry, in order to clear the way for settlers' incursions into the mosque."

He added, "I also assaulted the participants in the Holy Saturday celebrations and prevented large numbers of them from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."

The Minister of Jerusalem Affairs warned of extensive settlement plans being prepared in various Israeli committees, including a plan to demolish dozens of commercial establishments in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood, to implement the so-called "Silicon Valley" plan, and to build hundreds of settlement units on Palestinian lands in the city.

Al-Hadmi pointed out, "Once again, recent developments in the occupied city of Jerusalem have proven beyond any doubt that the occupation is the cause of the conflict in the city, and that settler violence and violations are the fuel of this conflict."

And he continued: "The desired security and stability in the city will be achieved in the event of ending the occupation, and the international community is required to intervene effectively and immediately to stop the attacks, and as a first step, the international community must provide international protection for the Palestinian people until they achieve their rights to freedom and independence and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."

Netflix , which now has 232.5 million subscribers, is beginning to convince the market that offering more diversified and user-friendly subscription packages pays off in the long run.

On Tuesday, the streaming video giant published financial results that did not carry major surprises, as revenue rose slightly year-on-year to $8.16 billion, with a net profit of $1.3 billion (down 18%).

And Paul Verna, an analyst at Insider Intelligence, considered that these "somewhat tepid" numbers do not prove that the company will be able to activate its activities through advertisements and the imposition of a financial fee for sharing passwords.

He also noted that the number of new subscribers attracted by the platform was lower than what the market expected during the first three months of the year, 1.75 million instead of 2.2 million.

After the big boom during the pandemic, Netflix faced a very difficult year in 2022, which prompted company officials to focus more on diversifying revenue sources rather than increasing users.

In November, the network launched a new, cheaper subscription that included ads with the programmes.

Netflix said in its earnings statement that "interest in this new format has exceeded our expectations, and we're seeing very few existing subscribers switch" to this lower-cost offer.

The giant American group has noticed, in particular, that the subscription formula with ads generates more profits for it in the United States compared to traditional subscriptions.

But Thirdbridge analyst Jamie Lumley noted that "implementation appears to be very slow". "Our experts are counting on 10 to 20 million ad subscriptions annually, instead of the initial ambition of 40 million," he added.

The platform also seeks to force users to pay to add new profiles to their accounts, rather than sharing their password for free.

Implementation of this new approach has been slightly delayed, but is expected this quarter in most countries, including the United States.

The results of the tests on this formula and its publication in Latin America and finally in Canada have been positive, according to the co-general manager of the network, Greg Peters.

"First, the subscriptions get cancelled," Peters told an analyst conference. "Then people who were using pseudonymous profiles create their own accounts and add private profiles, and we get our strength back in terms of subscriptions and revenue."

Ultimately, both initiatives "encounter obstacles and will take time for widespread adoption," says Paul Verna.

Insider Intelligence estimates that Netflix will generate $770 million in ad revenue in the US this year, and more than $1 billion in 2024.

Rival platform Disney Plus also added a new format with ads at the end of last year.

But according to the research firm, competition is also taking place, above all, with other entertainment services.

In March, the company predicted that in 2024, adult US users of TikTok would spend an average of 58 minutes per day on the app, behind Netflix in the rankings with 62 minutes, and ahead of YouTube (48.7 minutes).

Analysts also noted the “second screen” phenomenon, where “viewers often watch clips on TikTok while Netflix is playing in the background. Advertisers considering buying ads on Netflix should be aware that some viewers may get distracted to the point of abandoning the broadcast program.” gushing".

Last January, Spencer Newman, the company's chief financial officer, expressed his hope that ads would quickly represent 10% of Netflix's sales volume at the start, and "much more after that."

Netflix also announced Tuesday that it will end by next September the mail-in DVD rental, a service it launched 25 years ago.

The company explained, "Our goal has always been to provide the best service to our members. But it has become very complicated with the decline in this activity."

US President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he had invited a black boy, who was seriously wounded by gunshot wounds, to the White House after knocking on the wrong door of a house in Missouri.

"Ralph, we'll see you in the Oval (office) when you feel better," Biden wrote in a tweet, noting that he had called the 16-year-old the day before.

Ralph Jarl was about to pick up his brothers at a friend's house around 10 pm on April 13 in the large city of Kansas City, in the state of central Missouri, in the central United States, when the doorbell of a house accidentally rang.

The owner of the house, who is in his eighties, shot the young man from behind a glass door, hitting him in the arm and head, according to court documents seen by Agence France-Presse.

Lawyers for the boy's family said in a statement that he was recovering "despite the seriousness of his injury". Among the lawyers is Ben Crump, who specializes in defending African Americans, who are victims of police violence in particular.

Zachary Thompson, the lawyer for Andrew Lister, 84, who shot the boy, told a news conference that his client had been charged with two charges on Monday, one of which carries a life sentence.

In a statement sent to AFP, the county sheriff's office said Lester came to the detention center on Tuesday. He was later released on bail.

Today, Wednesday, the Israeli occupation authorities notified a halt to work and construction on three houses and two barracks in the town of Ni'lin, west of Ramallah .

According to local sources, the occupation authorities stormed the southern area of the town, and delivered notices to stop construction on three houses, belonging to: Ahmed Subhi Amira, Hamad Muhammad Musa, and Mahmoud Muhammad Musa.

Al-Khawaja added: The occupation forces handed the citizens Atta Mousa and Mukhlis Shahwan two notices to stop construction and work in Brixin for livestock breeding.

New car sales in Europe recorded a steady increase in March, exceeding one million cars, for the first time since June 2021, according to figures published by the Manufacturers Association on Wednesday.

Sales in the continental bloc last month amounted to 1,87,939 cars, an annual increase of 28.8 percent.

The markets of all EU countries witnessed an increase in sales, led by Spain (66.1 percent) and Italy (40.7 percent).

This increase is due to the remarkable improvement in the availability of electronic components, the shortage of which last year almost paralyzed the sales markets during March 2022.

The increase in sales comes even though this problem has not yet been fully resolved.

In the first quarter of 2023, new car sales in the European Union amounted to approximately 2.7 million vehicles, an increase of 17.9 percent over last year. The most significant increase was also recorded in Spain and Italy, with 44.5 and 26.2 percent, respectively, followed by France, with an increase of 15.2 percent.

Electric cars accounted for 13.9 percent of total sales in March. Within a year, sales of cars with electric motors increased by 58 percent.

However, cars with fuel engines still occupy the largest share of the market, as sales of those operating on gasoline amounted to 37.5 percent, and those operating on diesel 14.5 percent.

At the level of manufacturers, the German "Volkswagen" was the strongest performer, with an increase in sales of 35 percent.

Today, Wednesday, the judicial police in Hebron managed to arrest a wanted person, due to the issuance of a judicial warrant against him in the amount of 4 million shekels in the city of Hebron.

Colonel Louay Arziqat, the media spokesman for the police, explained that this wanted fugitive was a fugitive from justice two years ago, and a detention order was issued against him, with a sum of 4 million shekels. The judicial police managed to arrest him while he was hiding inside a house in Hebron.

Colonel Arziqat confirmed the reservation of the arrested person until he was referred to the competent authority to follow up on the necessary legal procedures against him.

Fifteen migrants of Tunisian origin went missing and four others were rescued after a boat sank off the eastern coast of the country, the coast guard said in a statement on Wednesday.

The testimonies of the survivors stated that all those on board were Tunisians who set off "from the coast of Kerkennah Island (east) with 15 other people on the night of April 17, when their boat was exposed to water leakage."

The four survivors, who were swimming, were found and rescued by a sailor on Tuesday about 21 nautical miles (about 34 km) from the area's fishing port, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter to search for the missing.

The participants in the illegal immigration process of Tunisian nationality live in marginalized interior governorates that record the weakest development rates and the highest youth unemployment rates in the country, such as Sidi Bouzid (center), Kasserine (west) and Kairouan (center).

And with the improvement of weather conditions, there has been an increase in recent times the frequency of attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea by migrants hoping to reach the nearby Italian coasts.

For its part, the Tunisian National Guard announced earlier that it had rescued or intercepted "14,406 people, including 13,138 of them from sub-Saharan Africa, and the rest are Tunisians," during the first three months of the year.

This number is nearly five times what was counted during the same period in 2022, and according to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, more than 14,000 immigrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year, compared to more than 5,300 during the same period last year, and 4,300 in 2021.

A fake song by Canadian singers Drake and The Weeknd has garnered millions of streams online since its release on Friday, prompting Universal Music to request its removal, and raising the issue of intellectual property in light of the development of artificial intelligence technologies.

The song “Heart on my sleeve”, which was initially published on TikTok and garnered more than 15 million views, was removed from the list provided by the music streaming platforms “Spotify” and “Apple Music”, at the request of “Universal”. Music Group" which represents Canadian singers, which cited copyright infringement.

"I used AI to create Drake's song with The Weeknd," wrote an anonymous person who called himself Ghostwriter977 in a video clip of a person disguised in a white hood and wearing sunglasses.

The original video has since been removed from social networks, but many netizens still post it across various platforms.

"This is only the beginning," Ghost Writer 977 wrote on his TikTok account, while new videos including the song are repeatedly posted.

The song, which mixes hip-hop and rap, reproduces the voices of the two artists by simulating a dialogue between them about the actress Selena Gomez, with whom the singer The Weeknd recently had a short relationship.

And Universal Music Group considered, in a statement to Agence France-Presse, that this issue “raises the question about the side on which it wants all stakeholders in the music system to be: the side of artists, fans, and human creative expression, or the side of deep forgery, fraud, and depriving artists of financial allowances.”

Last March, the company sent emails to broadcasting platforms, including “Spotify” and “Apple”, asking them to prevent artificial intelligence services from using copyrighted melodies and lyrics from artists’ songs, according to the “Financial Times” newspaper, which reviewed the information. This correspondence.

The use of artificial intelligence in music is sparking debate in the music community, as some denounce the legal violations involved, while others praise the capabilities of technology in this field.

In one of his recent performances, French DJ David Guetta used artificial intelligence to generate the voice of rapper Eminem. Gita did not put this song on the market, explaining to the BBC that he wanted to "open the door for discussion to raise awareness."

A man at Auckland Zoo in New Zealand was arrested Wednesday for breaking into an African wildebeest enclosure and bathing in the moat alongside rhinos and antelopes, the site said.

Footage of the incident posted on social media shows the aforementioned individual wearing an undershirt paddling in the water, before washing his face and hair.

The barn includes animals such as rhinos and Nyala antelopes with curved horns.

"The rhinos and nyalas were understandably taken aback by the intrusive visitor," a spokesperson for Auckland Zoo said.

The man remained in the water for several minutes before complying with the orders of the park rangers and returning to the visitors' area. He was then handed over to the police.

Zoo director Kevin Pooley said he was "very relieved" that no members of the public or the animals were injured.
"We hope the man in question will receive the help and support he clearly needs," he added.

CNN reported Monday that as more communities experience deadly mass shootings, there is evidence that trauma from gun violence in the United States is collectively affecting the mental health of the country's population.

"Research published this year indicates that the negative mental health effects of mass shootings may extend beyond the survivors and the community directly affected by them to a much larger population," the report states. .

The Armed Violence Archive reports that mass shootings have escalated to a record pace in the United States, with at least 162 reported in 2023. It's been a week since the fatal mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky. , and more than a dozen accidents have occurred since then.