International
Paramilitaries kill more than 100 people in a village in central Sudan, according to an NGO
The paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR) killed more than 100 people on Wednesday during the assault on the village of Wad al Nura, in the central state of Gezira, causing chaos and the displacement of hundreds of people, denounced the resistance committee of the area.
“The brutality against unarmed civilians caused the death of 104 people and more than 90 injured, in a new massacre that adds to the crimes of the Rapid Support Forces,” this citizen organization in charge of counting victims and displaced persons in the state of Gezira reported in a statement.
According to the note, FAR fighters bombed Wad al Nura with heavy weapons “for hours” and, subsequently, broke into the village in combat vehicles and motorcycles, from where they “fired indiscriminately at the citizens.”
The resistance committee reported that the paramilitaries committed various “massacres” in Gezira since in December they took control of several areas, as well as the state capital, Wad Madani, which until then had become one of the places of refuge for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war.
He also accused the Sudanese Army of “negligence” after the citizens asked the military for help in the face of the advance of the FAR, to which the Armed Forces only made some air raids.
“No ground force intervened to save the lives of civilians, despite the presence of a military base in an area not far away,” the resistance committee said.
According to the NGO, the FAR “invaded” the village and looted the properties and vehicles of the civilians before withdrawing from the area to “loot other adjacent villages” from Wad al Nura.
Both the Sudanese Army and the paramilitaries have accused them by numerous international organizations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity – including the use of sexual violence and ethnic cleansing – which has led to sanctions by countries such as the United States for both opposing parties.
The Army and the FAR have been facing each other in a war since April 15, 2023 that has resulted in at least 30,000 deaths, according to the Sudanese Medical Union, and has caused the internal and external displacement of more than 9 million people.
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.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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