International

The Sudanese government accuses the paramilitaries of killing more than 430 civilians in the south-central part of the country

The Government of Sudan accused on Tuesday the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FAR) of murdering 433 civilians, including several babies, in attacks perpetrated “in recent days” in villages in the state of the White Nile, in the south-central part of the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced, in a statement, that this “brutal massacre is the worst” committed by the FAR against civilians since the beginning of the war in the country, in April 2023, after other “criminal massacres” in other regions, including the Zamzam displaced camp, in North Darfur (west).

“The terrorist militia has committed in recent days a horrible massacre in the villages of the Al Gitaina region, in the state of the White Nile. Its (fatal) victims are so far 433 people, including babies,” says the note.

However, he took the opportunity to implicitly accuse the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and African countries, such as Kenya, of “complicity”, as well as to warn against the intention of the FAR and other opposition groups to sign a document for the creation of a parallel government in the regions controlled by the paramilitaries.

“This atrocious massacre confirms that the war of the militia (of the FAR) is directed against the entire people of Sudan (…) and makes it clear that every person who participates in or supports the militia or its political document, supervised by its regional sponsor (…) is complicit in its crimes and atrocities against the Sudanese people,” the statement said.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

For his part, the Sudanese Minister of Information, Jaled al Eayser, demanded that the international community classify the FAR as a “terrorist organization” for “the crimes committed by these mercenaries supported by foreigners.”

Both the Army and the FAR have been accused of “war crimes,” but several local and international NGOs have accused paramilitaries in recent weeks of killing hundreds of civilians during their withdrawal from villages in the east and south of Sudan in the face of the advance of government troops in those regions.

The FARs were also accused of murdering dozens of civilians in their attempts to control Al Fasher, capital of North Darfur, even in refugee camps, such as Zamzam, which is home to more than half a million people displaced by the war.

The war in Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and forced some 12 million people to leave their homes, more than 3 million of them to other nations, which has made the country the scene of the worst displaced crisis on the planet, according to the United Nations.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.