Large-scale rallies were held on Friday in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and other areas controlled by the Houthi group, with demonstrators expressing support for Iran and celebrating the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.
Crowds gathered at Al-Sabeen Square in southern Sanaa and other Houthi-held territories, chanting slogans in celebration of the 10-day ceasefire that took effect at midnight local time (2100 GMT) between Thursday and Friday. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the demonstrators were separated only by large flags representing Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq, and Iran, held facing the sky.
The truce aims to end more than a month of deadly escalation between Israel and Hezbollah that has claimed over 2,000 lives.
On April 8, a ceasefire involving Iran, the United States, and Israel was announced following 40 days of fighting. The first round of U.S.-Iran negotiations took place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11–12, but failed to produce an agreement. A new round of discussions is scheduled for Monday in Pakistan.
"There is no doubt that the temporary ceasefires achieved by Lebanon and Iran reflect their resilience and determination. They also demonstrate success in confronting the United States and resisting its blatant interference. The U.S. has been forced to halt its actions because it has not achieved any substantive results," said Rashad Al-Watiri, a military expert.
Large-scale rallies held in Yemen to support Iran, celebrate Lebanon-Israel ceasefire
Smart products are a big draw at the ongoing 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, currently underway in Guazhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province.
On Friday, the smart technology zone at the expo continued to draw growing attention.
Among the highlights, the service robot section became a focal point, with 46 companies showcasing a wide range of smart robot products.
Over the past two days, the zone attracted an average of more than 24,000 visitors daily.
The current edition of the Canton Fair, running from April 15 to May 5, features three distinct phases, each focusing on different product categories themed on "advanced manufacturing", "quality home life" and "better life".
The first phase has introduced four new sections -- consumer drones, smart wearables, display technology, and agricultural drones -- which collectively showcase China's innovative achievements in the field of smart technology.
"I also see a lot of new developments, especially in products that are AI-related. The Chinese products, Chinese factories are investing a lot in new developments. And I think this is really, really going fast. And I think these products, which are AI-related, will change consumer electronics markets. That's why I think it's it's a big advantage," a Dutch buyer at the expo.
The Canton Fair is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou since its founding in 1957, and has been seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.
The longest-established trade fair in China has seen record participation across its exhibition metrics this time - over 32,000 companies are exhibiting, including about 3,900 first-time participants.
Tech-driven innovations took the center stage among the more than 4.65 million products showcased, with new, green and independently developed products accounting for 23 percent, 22 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Smart products steal limelight at 139th Canton Fair
