CAIRO — Fomer Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail died on Saturday at the age of 67, Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported.

Ismail had a disease in the digestive system, according to earlier official media reports. (Egypt-Sherif Ismail-Death)

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ATHENS — The opening ceremony of “2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture” was held on Saturday in Elefsina, some 20 km west of Athens.

Inspired by ancient Greek mythology it included processions of people arriving from land and sea, music and dance throughout the streets and the seafront and exhibitions hosted in old factories transformed in art galleries. (Greece-EU)

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JERUSALEM — Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday evening in several cities to protest the government’s plan to reform the judicial system.

The largest protest is being held in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, which was attended by thousands of people. (Israel-Protest-Judicial Reform)

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BUCHAREST — The “Chinese Film Days”, part of the Happy Chinese New Year celebrations, kicked off here Friday night, marking the first commercial distribution and screening of Chinese films in Romanian cinemas.

Chinese Ambassador to Romania Han Chunlin told the opening ceremony that it was the first time for the two countries to carry out film cooperation in an all-commercial mode, which provided new ideas and channels for future cultural exchanges and cooperation. (Romania-Chinese Film Days)

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KIEV — Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been freed following a latest prisoner swap, officials from both sides confirmed on Saturday.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, said in a Telegram post that 116 Ukrainians returned home, whereas Russia’s state news agency TASS said that 63 Russian servicemen were released. (Ukraine-Russia conflict)