International
The Sudanese Army takes a Khartum neighborhood in an offensive to recover the capital
The Sudanese Army announced on Sunday the capture of a residential neighborhood located in northwestern Khartum as part of a large-scale offensive to recover the capital of Sudan, in the hands of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR) since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces Armored Corps, which operates from the Al Shajara military zone, has successfully taken control of the Al Ruwad residential complex,” the military institution announced in a brief statement published on its official Facebook account.
During the offensive, Army soldiers and fighters of allied armed groups “inflicted great losses” on the FAR, although the Armed Forces indicated that they respected “international law and its rules of intervention to guarantee the security of private and public property.”
The advance of the Army in northern Khartoum comes one day after the military regained control of the strategic city of Wad Madani, the capital of the central state of Al Yazira located south of the capital of Sudan and which had been under the control of the FAR since December 18, 2023.
The recovery of Wad Madani, the second largest city in Sudan in terms of population, was possible after four months of army offensive in the state of Al Yazira and after the withdrawal of the paramilitaries from the city, where hardly any fighting was recorded after the entry of government troops on Saturday.
This is an important development for the Sudan war and for the Army’s plans to “liberate” Khartum, where it is carrying out an offensive from the north and will now be able to advance to the Sudanese capital from the south after the capture of Wad Madani.
The leader of the Sudanese Army, Abdelfatah al Burhan, said on Sunday that his forces will recover “every inch” of Sudan, while the head of the paramilitaries, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo – alias Hemedti – has promised that his fighters can continue fighting for more than two decades if necessary.
The war in Sudan has caused tens of thousands of deaths and forced more than 14 million to flee their homes, which has made the country the scene of the worst displaced persons crisis on the planet, according to the United Nations.
International
Pope Leo XIV to skip COP30 in Brazil but plans future visit, Lula confirms
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that Pope Leo XIV will not attend the COP30 climate summit in Belém, but will visit Brazil “at the right moment,” following their meeting on Monday at the Vatican.
“I invited him to come to COP30, considering the historic importance of hosting a Climate Conference for the first time in the heart of the Amazon. Due to the Jubilee, the Pope told us he will not be able to attend,” Lula wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Although the pontiff will not be present at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, he assured that the Vatican will be represented and confirmed his intention to visit Brazil in the near future.
“We were very happy to hear that His Holiness intends to visit Brazil when the time is right. He will be warmly welcomed with the affection, hospitality, and faith of the Brazilian people,” the president said.
Lula also congratulated the Pope on his first exhortation, Dilexi Te, which focuses on poverty, and emphasized that “faith cannot be separated from love for the poor.”
“I told him we need to build a broad movement of indignation against inequality, and I see this document as a reference that should be read and practiced by everyone,” Lula added.
International
Venezuela calls for continued global pressure to secure ‘just peace’ for Palestine
The Venezuelan government stated on Monday that international pressure “must continue” until a “just peace” is achieved for Palestine, as the official end of the war in Gaza is expected to be signed later today—an agreement that follows the release of surviving Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
In an official statement, President Nicolás Maduro’s administration emphasized that “the global popular mobilization, along with political and diplomatic pressure from the international community—including Arab and Muslim nations—has been decisive in paving the way for this peace process.”
The statement further urged that “such mobilization must continue until the full implementation of international law, particularly the United Nations Security Council resolutions that call for the withdrawal of occupying forces from territories invaded in 1967 and the establishment of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
The Venezuelan government noted that the agreement comes “after the near-total destruction of the Gaza Strip, where more than 65,000 people—mostly children, women, and defenseless civilians—were killed by the criminal bombings of Zionist occupying forces, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”
“Venezuela maintains that true peace can only be achieved through the application of international justice, which must include the investigation and prosecution of war criminals and human rights violators responsible for the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people,” the statement concluded.
The peace accord is expected to be signed Monday in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Neither Israel nor the Palestinian group Hamas will attend the ceremony, which will be attended by around thirty heads of state, government leaders, and representatives of international organizations.
International
Mexico reports 64 dead, 65 missing after devastating central region floods
The Mexican government reported on Monday that 64 people have died and 65 remain missing following the heavy rains that struck five central states between October 6 and 9. The storms left thousands affected and caused severe damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure across 111 municipalities.
According to Laura Velázquez, head of the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), the fatalities were distributed as follows: Veracruz (29), Hidalgo (21), Puebla (13), and Querétaro (1). The figures were confirmed during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press briefing.
Velázquez also stated that 65 individuals are still unaccounted for in the states of Veracruz (18), Hidalgo (43), and Puebla (4). “We understand the population’s anguish and concern. Everyone will receive assistance. Cleanup operations will be carried out in full, with no resources spared,” President Sheinbaum assured.
The Civil Protection chief explained that the rainfall report from October 6 to 9 showed maximum precipitation levels on October 8 — 280 millimeters in Veracruz and 286 millimeters in Puebla — causing rivers and streams to overflow in surrounding areas.
The updated report also detailed 111 municipalities affected: Veracruz (40), Hidalgo (28), Puebla (23), Querétaro (8), and San Luis Potosí (12).
Since October 10, the Mexican government has been holding continuous emergency sessions in coordination with state authorities to address the crisis and provide relief to affected populations.
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