The conflict in Sudan has reached a critical level, with former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok warning that it could become worse than the wars in Syria and Libya if it continues. The Sudanese army is attacking the capital Khartoum from all directions, using heavy artillery, and almost two weeks of fighting has left hundreds dead and tens of thousands fleeing the country. Despite diplomatic efforts by neighbouring countries, as well as the US, UK, and UN, the 72-hour ceasefire extension has not held, with reports of air, tank, and artillery strikes continuing in parts of Khartoum. Speaking at a conference in Nairobi, Mr Hamdok called for a unified international effort to persuade the Sudanese military leader and the head of a rival paramilitary force to hold peace talks. He emphasized the need for urgent action, stating that the conflict was not just between an army and a small rebellion but almost like two well-trained and well-armed armies. The fighting broke out on 15 April due to a bitter power struggle between the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Army commander Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo disagree about the country’s proposed move to civilian rule and, in particular, the timeframe of the 100,000-strong RSF’s inclusion into the army. The violence has left millions of people trapped in Khartoum, where there are shortages of food, water, and fuel. The army has urged people to remain indoors and stay away from windows as it deploys tanks and other artillery in an effort to recapture areas held by the RSF. Violence is also reported to have been particularly bad in El Geneina, a city in Darfur in western Sudan, with claims that militia groups have looted and torched markets. Hemedti, the RSF chief, has told the BBC that he will not negotiate until the bombing stops. He blames army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for the violence and says his fighters are being relentlessly bombed since the truce was extended. Despite the chaotic scenes in Port Sudan, where people are desperate to board ships, the UK government said it was winding up its evacuation efforts on Saturday evening. The situation is dire, and there is an urgent need for a unified international effort to bring peace to Sudan. With millions trapped and facing shortages, it is imperative that the international community steps up to protect the people of Sudan and put an end to the fighting.
“Texas Man Kills 5 Neighbors After Ignoring Request to Stop Firing Shots in His Yard”
A tragic incident occurred in southeast Texas early Saturday morning, where a man shot and killed five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old child, inside their home. At least three other individuals were injured. Francisco Oropeza, a 38-year-old resident of Cleveland, Texas, is the primary suspect and has fled the scene. The San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office has requested public assistance in locating him since they believe he is no longer in the county. According to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers, the suspect lived next door to the victims and opened fire after a neighbor asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard due to the noise level, as an infant was trying to sleep. The suspect, armed with an AR-15 style rifle, argued that it was his property and later approached the front door of his neighbor’s house. Four people were discovered dead inside the residence, including three women and a man, with all five having gunshot wounds to the head. The child was declared dead at a local hospital. The sheriff’s department has indicated that two people who were inside the home during the incident were evaluated at the scene and discharged, while the remaining three were hospitalized. The sheriff also disclosed that his office had previously visited the suspect’s house and warned him about “shooting his gun in the yard.” This is an unfortunate and distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Expresses Pride in Son-in-Law Chris Pratt’s Latest ‘Guardians’ Movie
Arnold Schwarzenegger took to Twitter to congratulate his son-in-law Chris Pratt on his latest performance as Star-Lord in the new Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Schwarzenegger praised Pratt’s performance, calling it a “non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action.” Pratt is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger, and the couple shares two children. Schwarzenegger previously spoke about his admiration for Pratt, describing him as “a strong guy” and “a really kind man and kind to my daughter.” Meanwhile, Pratt joked about being proud to be the first person to drop an F-bomb in a Marvel movie and hoping that his son will finally think he’s cool after seeing the film.
After a transgender lawmaker’s censure, Montana prohibits gender-affirming care for minors.
On Friday, Montana became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, following controversy that led to the state House censuring one of the state’s first openly transgender lawmakers. Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed the bill into law after it comfortably passed the state House and Senate earlier this month, making Montana one of 17 states that have enacted legislation barring transgender youth from accessing at least some form of gender-affirming care. According to the Movement Advancement Project, which tracks state legislation on LGBTQ issues, the law states that minors may not be provided with gender-affirming medical treatments, including surgical procedures, doses of testosterone or estrogen, or puberty blockers. Exceptions are made for minors with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development. Medical providers who violate the law could face disciplinary action and suspension from practicing medicine for at least a year. The parents or guardians involved in the minor receiving care could also be subject to civil action. Despite lobbying from his son, who identifies as gay and nonbinary, and uses “he” and “they” pronouns, Governor Gianforte signed the bill. The bill’s signing came after the Montana House voted to censure state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D), for a comment she made against the gender-affirming care ban. Zephyr condemned the bill’s signing as being “cruel as it is unconstitutional.” She predicted that it would be struck down in the court system. The bill is set to take effect on October 1st.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/XDTZS4NMLNIFJGHGMFO3DQU4K4.jpg "According to a recent interview with a blogger, the founder of Russia’s Wagner group has revealed that the organization may soon come to an end.")
According to a recent interview with a blogger, the founder of Russia’s Wagner group has revealed that the organization may soon come to an end.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia’s private Wagner militia, made a statement in a video released on Friday to a Russian war blogger, Semyon Pegov. He said that Wagner, which has been leading the attack on Bakhmut in Ukraine and has been active in Africa, could soon cease to exist. It is unclear when Prigozhin made these comments and how serious he was being, as he withdrew comments earlier this week that he had claimed were a joke. Prigozhin has been critical of how Russia is conducting the war in Ukraine and has repeatedly complained about the regular armed forces not providing his men with the ammunition they need, sometimes even accusing top brass of betrayal. In his statement, he said, “Now, with regard to the need in general for shells at the front, what we want. Today we are coming to the point where Wagner is ending,” and added, “Wagner, in a short period of time, will cease to exist. We will become history, nothing to worry about, things like this happen.” Pegov posted the clip on his Telegram channel, and Wagner did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prigozhin, who is known for his combative style and ironic sense of humor, said on Thursday that he had been joking when he said his forces would stop shelling Bakhmut to allow Ukrainian forces to show the city to U.S. journalists. Last week, Prigozhin expressed concern about a counter-attack by well-equipped Ukrainian troops at Bakhmut, and this week he said his troops were suffering heavy casualties due to a lack of support from Moscow. Wagner has previously dispatched soldiers to fight in Syria and in conflicts across Africa. In January, the United States formally designated Wagner as a transnational criminal organization, freezing its U.S. assets for helping Russia’s military in the Ukraine war.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/ZH4BQTE2G5KWJHLVHDVJFETXAU.jpg "The major fuel depot fire in Crimea is being attributed by Russia to a drone attack launched by Ukraine")
The major fuel depot fire in Crimea is being attributed by Russia to a drone attack launched by Ukraine
A fuel storage facility in Sevastopol, Crimea was set on fire by a drone strike reportedly carried out by Ukraine on Saturday, resulting in a large column of black smoke. The governor of Sevastopol accused Ukraine of the attack, but claimed that the fire was put out before any major disaster occurred. According to a Ukrainian military intelligence official, more than 10 oil product tanks with a capacity of approximately 40,000 tonnes, intended for use by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, were destroyed. This attack comes as Ukraine is preparing for a counter-offensive to push Russian forces back from the territory they invaded in February 2022. Ukraine insists that control of all its legal territory, including Crimea, is essential for any peace deal. In response, Moscow has accused Kyiv of launching aerial and seaborne drone attacks on Crimea. Ukrainian officials generally do not take responsibility for such attacks, but do celebrate them using euphemistic language. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to hold those responsible for the attack on Uman accountable, and did not refer directly to the ongoing fighting for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
EPISODE #1: THE WISE FARM FROM GHANA (PART 1)
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rIuk-XJoUo[/embedyt] Hello and welcome to today’s episode of “Stories from Around the World.” I’m your host, and in this episode, we will be taking a journey to Ghana, a country located in West Africa, to hear the story of the wise farmer. Once upon a time, in a small village in Ghana, there was a wise farmer who was known for his intelligence and problem-solving skills. One day, a group of villagers approached him with a problem. Villager 1: “Greetings, wise farmer. We are in trouble, and we seek your help.” Villager 2: “Our crops are not growing as they should, and we fear that we will not have enough food to last us through the season.” Villager 3: “We have tried everything we know, and nothing seems to work.” Wise Farmer: “I understand your concerns, my friends. Let me take a look and see what I can do.” [Sound of footsteps as the wise farmer walks towards the field] The wise farmer observed the fields and quickly identified the problem. He noticed that the soil was depleted of nutrients and suggested that the villagers use a natural fertilizer made from compost. Villagers: “What is compost, wise farmer?” Wise Farmer: “Compost is a mixture of organic matter that has decomposed over time. It is rich in nutrients that plants need to grow. You can make it by collecting and mixing things like leaves, grass, and food scraps.” The villagers followed the wise farmer’s advice, and soon their crops were growing again. They were grateful to the wise farmer for his help and asked him how they could repay him. Villager 1: “Wise farmer, how can we repay you for your kindness and knowledge?” Wise Farmer: “My reward is seeing you all prosper. However, there is a lesson to be learned from this experience.” Villager 2: “What is the lesson, wise farmer?” Wise Farmer: “The lesson is that sometimes, the solutions to our problems are right in front of us, but we fail to see them. We must be open-minded and willing to learn new things if we want to grow and prosper.” And so, the wise farmer taught the villagers a valuable lesson, which they carried with them for the rest of their lives. They learned to approach problems with an open mind, be willing to try new things, and most importantly, to seek help when needed. That’s all we have time for today on “Stories from Around the World.” Join us again next time for another inspiring story. Thanks for listening.