The UAE’s first ambassador to Israel arrived in Tel Aviv for a three-day visit Monday, heralding a new step in the normalization of relations between the two countries formalized by the signing of the Abraham Accords last year, Reuters reports. UAE ambassador Mohamed Al Khaja said he would be scouting for a suitable location for the country’s embassy. Israel opened its first embassy in the UAE in Abu Dhabi last January.

Also worth knowing this morning:

• Yemen is getting less than half of its usual aid package from the UK this year, with the kingdom set to send GBP 87 mn instead of GBP 214 mn, citing disruptions from the pandemic. The decision was met with outrage given the threat of famine and death facing mns of people in Yemen.
• Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted yesterday for corruption and influence-peddling, but plans to appeal his three- year prison sentence, France24 reported.

IN DIPLOMACY: General Intelligence chief Abbas Kamel talked combating terrorism in Africa during a visit to Chad yesterday, the local press reported.