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JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — At least one in five children arriving in South Sudan from Sudan are malnourished and more than 90% of arrivals haven’t eaten in days, the U.N. food agency said Tuesday. The World Food Program said that nearly 300,000 people have arrived in South Sudan in the last five months — the majority of whom are South Sudanese. South Sudan plunged into civil war in 2013, forcing thousands of its citizens to flee to neighboring countries, including Sudan. “We are seeing families leave one disaster for another as they flee danger in Sudan only to find despair in South Sudan,” says Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s country director in South Sudan. The WFP is appealing for additional funding of more than $120 million to meet humanitarian needs at the border.

Persons: ”, Mary, Ellen McGroarty, Abdel Fattah Burhan, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo Organizations: Food Program, South, Rapid Support Force Locations: JUBA, South Sudan, Sudan, South Sudanese, Sudan’s

☆ Controversial Egypt aid held by new Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s new chairman is going to block a controversial tranche of military aid for Egypt, he announced Saturday. Sen. Ben Cardin’s last-minute decision on the day of the September 30 deadline followed backlash over the State Department’s recent decision to use a national security waiver to bypass human rights-related restrictions imposed on $235 million in aid. The block comes after the committee’s previous chairman, Sen. Bob Menendez, was indicted on corruption charges over accusations that he accepted bribes to help Egypt obtain military aid. Critics, including Cardin, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken should not have released the $235 million balance on the $320 million tranche of military aid. The White House referred questions to the State Department, which did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: Sen, Ben Cardin’s, Bob Menendez, ” Cardin, Cardin, ”, Antony Blinken, Cardin’s, Abdel Fattah el Organizations: CNN, Relations, State, New, New Jersey Democrat, Maryland Democrat, Biden, State Department Locations: Egypt, New Jersey, Maryland, Taiwan, Lebanon

☆ India is a growing defense powerhouse, and now it's looking to cash in on it
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But it has been investing heavily in its domestic arms industry with the goal of equipping its own forces and increasing its arms sales around the world. Recent arms sales and exercises illustrate how India seeks to turn that domestic arms production into foreign sales and perhaps even take some of that market away from its biggest supplier. The leaders discussed "defense platforms" and "equipment-related linkages" and deepening cooperation between their militaries and defense industries. (Egypt and India collaborated on development of the Helwan HA-300 light supersonic interceptor in the 1960s, but that project was ultimately canceled.) After all, Indian defense exports in recent years were negligible compared to heavyweights like the US and France, and New Delhi remains heavily reliant on imports.

Persons: —, JEWEL SAMAD, Swathi, Modi, Abdel Fattah al, Egypt's, Abdel Fattah el, Sisi, Narendra Modi, MANJUNATH KIRAN, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Getty, Armenia —, Armenia, Indian Press, Anadolu Agency, Indian, Indian Air Force, Tejas, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Locations: India, New Delhi, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Armenia, East, Egypt, France, Cairo, Brahmos, Bangalore, China

☆ Senior Senate Democrat Threatens to Block Military Aid to Egypt on Human Rights Grounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Matt Spetalnick and Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Senator Ben Cardin issued the threat in a statement, saying "it is imperative that we continue to hold the government of Egypt, and all governments, accountable for their human rights violations." Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Ben Cardin, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Egypt Locations: Egypt, Washington, Israel

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) speaks at a committee meeting after assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Craig Hudson, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Senate Foreign, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Egypt, Washington, Israel

☆ Egypt’s Government Is Bulldozing the City of the Dead - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Hussein Omar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It’s the oldest continuously used Muslim cemetery in the world, and its history traces back to the seventh century. The City of the Dead has always been a city of the living as well. My visits, and the small acts of tending to the dead, helped me make meaning out of a meaningless loss. The City of the Dead does not just house my own personal memories; it is one of the last remaining open repositories of Egypt’s historical memory. Now the dead are being exhumed, the living are being evicted, and the historic buildings that house them both are being bulldozed.

Persons: grievers, Cairenes, I’ve, Abdel Fattah el Locations: Cairo, al, City, Egypt

☆ Menendez says the cash found in his home was from his 'personal savings account' which he kept for 'emergencies' due to his family 'facing confiscation in Cuba'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bob Menendez spoke publicly about his bribery indictment for the first time on Monday. He says the cash that feds found stuffed into envelopes actually came from his own bank account. He cited the "history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba." AdvertisementAdvertisement"For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies, and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba," Menendez said at a press conference in Union City. In the wake of the indictment, Democrats in New Jersey — including Gov.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, —, Menendez, Fulgencio Batista, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Menendez's, John Fetterman, Donald Trump, he's, Abdel Fattah El Organizations: Service, Gov, state's, Democratic, New, Menendez's Democratic, The New, The New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Cuba, New Jersey, Egypt, Union City, United States, Pennsylvania, The, The New Jersey

☆ Egypt says IMF agrees to merge first two reviews of reform program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Egypt said it had agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to merge the fund's first and second reviews of its economic reform programme, after the first review was repeatedly delayed amid questions over Egypt's progress in meeting the IMF's terms. The IMF in December approved a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility loan for Egypt, which has been under acute financial pressure since long-standing problems were exposed by economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Disbursements under the 46-month program are subject to eight reviews, the first of which, originally scheduled to take place in March, has yet to happen amid reports the IMF was unhappy with Egypt's progress in fulfilling the terms of the agreement. It added that negotiations with the IMF were proceeding "fruitfully and positively" in accordance with the terms of the program concluded with the Fund. In June, Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appeared to rule out a further devaluation anytime soon, saying such a move could harm national security and hurt Egyptian citizens.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Hatem Maher, David Holmes Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Egypt, Fund, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Ukraine, Disbursements

War between the army and the RSF broke out in mid-April over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army, four years after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a popular uprising. Burhan has made a series of foreign visits in recent weeks after remaining in Sudan for the first months of the war. The purpose was to seek solutions, not military support, though he had asked other states to block external backing that he asserts the RSF is receiving, he said. The RSF has denied it is behind the violence in Darfur, and will hold its men accountable for abuses. Burhan said he told the governor to seek protection at a military camp, but the governor had rejected that.

Persons: Abdel, Fattah Al, Burhan Abdelrahman Al, Burhan, Eduardo Munoz, Abdel Fattah al, Omar al, Bashir, RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Daphne Psaledakis, Khalid Abdelaziz, Aidan Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: Transitional Sovereign, General Assembly, REUTERS, NEW YORK, Reuters, Rapid Support Forces, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, West Darfur, CAIRO, New York, Saudi Arabia, United States, Jeddah, Sudan, Darfur, El Geneina, Cairoa

☆ Sudan's Army Chief Says He Favours Negotiated Settlement to War
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

War between the army and the RSF broke out in mid-April over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army, four years after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a popular uprising. Burhan has made a series of foreign visits in recent weeks after remaining in Sudan for the first months of the war. The RSF has denied it is behind the violence in Darfur, and will hold its men accountable for abuses. Burhan said that army deployment in El Geneina, which suffered the worst mass killings in Darfur, has been limited, hindering their ability to respond. Burhan said he told the governor to seek protection at a military camp, but the governor had rejected that.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Khalid Abdelaziz NEW, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Omar al, Bashir, RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalid Abdelaziz, Aidan Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: Khalid Abdelaziz NEW YORK, Reuters, Rapid Support Forces, United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Locations: CAIRO, New York, Saudi Arabia, United States, Jeddah, Sudan, Darfur, El Geneina, West Darfur, Cairoa

☆ Sudan's Rapid Support Forces Fully Ready for Ceasefire and Political Talks -Hemedti
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fully prepared for a ceasefire and to engage in comprehensive political talks for an end to its civil conflict with the army, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said in a rare video appearance on Thursday. Dagalo, known as Hemedti, made the comments in a recorded video message addressed to the U.N. General Assembly and released by the RSF shortly before army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was due to give a speech to the assembly in New York. Most of Hemedti's recent communications have been audio messages, and his whereabouts have been a source of speculation since war between the army and the RSF erupted in mid-April. In the video released on Thursday he appeared in military uniform, seated behind a desk with a Sudanese national flag behind him as he read out his speech. (Reporting by Khalid Abdeaziz, Yomna Ehab and Enas Alashray; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Persons: Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Dagalo, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Khalid Abdeaziz, Yomna, Aidan Lewis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Support Forces, General Assembly, Sudanese Locations: CAIRO, New York, Sudan

☆ Sudan: Ukraine's special services 'likely' behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces, a Ukrainian military source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Victoria Butenko Nima Elbagir Gianluca Mezzofiore Tamara Qiblawi Allegra Goodwin Andrew Carey Pallabi Munsi Mahamat Tahir Zene Barbara Arvanitidis Alex Platt Lauren Kent | Victoria Butenko | Nima Elbagir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Covert strikes by Ukraine in Sudan would mark a dramatic and provocative expansion of Kyiv’s theater of war against Moscow. Aside from a string of Ukrainian drone attacks that hit deep inside Russian territory, Ukraine’s ongoing counter-offensive has been focused on the country’s occupied east and south. A high-level Sudanese military source said he had “no knowledge of a Ukrainian operation in Sudan” and did not believe it was true. What appears to be a DJI MAVIC 3 drone can be seen in the videos filming the drone strikes. Six drone strikes targeted pickup trucks driving on Shambat bridge.

Persons: Wagner, Sudan ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo –, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Wim Zwijnenburg, ” Zwijnenburg, Zwijnenburg, Hemedti, Gen, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Wagner’s, General Khalifa, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Andrey Averyanov, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba Organizations: Chad CNN, CNN, Sudanese, Kyiv, Rapid Support Forces, Ukrainian, Central African, PAX, AK, CAR, PMC Wagner, Reuters Analysts, Kremlin, Agence France, Presse Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, N'Djamena, Chad, Ukrainian, Sudan’s, Russian, Sudan, Moscow, Omdurman, Khartoum, balaclava, British, al, Zurug, Russia, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Ombada, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Latakia, Bangui, “, Syria, Burkina Faso, St . Petersburg, Eritrea

☆ Prominent Egyptian activist and govt critic jailed for six months
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hisham Kassem, a former newspaper publisher publisher and political activist, speaks during an interview with Reuters TV at his family's cemetery, in Cairo, Egypt, June 13, 2023. Kassem is a leader of al-Tayar al-Hurr, or Free Current, a newly formed liberal group. No serious challenge is expected against Sisi, a former army chief who has continued backing from the security forces. Kassem, a former publisher of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper, had started then suspended a hunger strike while in detention. Sisi has presided over a far-reaching crackdown on political dissent that has swept up critics from across the political spectrum.

Persons: Hisham Kassem, Ahmed Fahmy, Abdel Fattah al, Kassem, Nasser Amin, Amin, Sisi, Masry, Aidan Lewis, Omar Abdel, Nick Macfie Organizations: Reuters TV, REUTERS, Rights, Saturday, Sisi, Authorities, U.S, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, Rights CAIRO, United States

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday that Egypt's poor human rights record hasn't improved, but it won't withhold as much military aid as it did last year regardless. Egypt has been a top recipient of U.S. military aid since it signed a U.S.-brokered peace deal with Israel in 1979. Congress in recent years has attached restrictions meant to pressure Egyptian leaders to curb human rights abuses to a comparatively small portion of the more than $1 billion in annual military aid to the country. Rights groups and some congressional Democrats had urged the Biden administration to take a hard line against Egypt on human rights, while some lawmakers said strategic interests should be prioritized. U.S. officials said the decision announced Thursday did not signal that the U.S. believed Egypt had made progress on human rights.

Persons: —, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, ” Amr Magdi, ” Magdi, Hisham Kassem, Sen, Chris Murphy, Sisi, Kassem, Jamal Khashoggi, “, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, State Department, Human Rights, Connecticut Democrat, Freedom, U.S . State Department, PEN, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Saudi, Newsweek Locations: Egypt, U.S, Israel, Connecticut, Taiwan, Ukraine, PEN America, Saudi Arabia

☆ Blue Nile: Ethiopia says it has filled the reservoir on its highly controversial megadam project
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Ethiopia announced on Sunday it had completed the fourth and final phase of filling a reservoir for its huge and controversial hydroelectric power plant on the Blue Nile, a project that Egypt and Sudan have long opposed. Construction of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) began in 2011 and Ethiopia sees the project as crucial to powering its economic development. Egypt and Sudan, however, consider the project a serious threat to their vital water supplies. “Congratulations to all on the fourth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. With a projected capacity of more than 6,000 megawatts, Ethiopia sees GERD as the centerpiece of its bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter.

Persons: GERD, Abiy Ahmed’s, Abdel Fattah el, Abiy, …, ” Organizations: Reuters, ” Locations: Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan

☆ Turkey's Erdogan, Egypt's Sisi discuss energy cooperation at G20 Summit- Turkish presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ANKARA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan met with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of a G20 summit in the Indian capital New Delhi on Sunday, Erdogan's office said in a statement. Erdogan and Sisi discussed bilateral ties and energy cooperation between Turkey and Egypt, as well as regional and global issues, it said. Egypt and Turkey upgraded their diplomatic relations by appointing ambassadors to each other's capitals in July after a decade of tension. Appointment of ambassadors marked a "new era" between Ankara and Cairo, Erdogan told Sisi during their meeting, according to the Turkish presidency's statement. Erdogan also told Sisi that Turkey attaches importance to reviving cooperation with Egypt in the fields of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear energy.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Abdel Fattah al, Erdogan, Sisi, Egypt's, Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi, Huseyin Hayatsever, Hugh Lawson, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Thomson Locations: ANKARA, New Delhi, Turkey, Egypt, Ankara, Cairo

☆ Ethiopia says it has completed filling of disputed dam project's reservoir
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Dawit Endeshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Sunday it had completed the fourth and final phase of filling a reservoir for its planned massive hydroelectric power plant on the Blue Nile, a project that Egypt and Sudan have long opposed. Construction of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) began in 2011 and Ethiopia sees the project as crucial to powering its economic development. "Congratulations to all on the fourth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. With a projected capacity of more than 6,000 megawatts, Ethiopia sees GERD as the centrepiece of its bid to become Africa's biggest power exporter. Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: GERD, Abiy Ahmed's, Abdel Fattah al, Abiy, Dawit Endeshaw, Elias Biryabarema, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Thomson Locations: ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan

☆ Factbox: Who is attending the G20 summit in New Delhi?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People stand infront of Nataraja, a statue of Hindu lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer, installed next to 'Bharat Mandapam', the main venue of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Leaders from the Group of 20 (G20) major economies kick off an annual summit meeting on Saturday to coordinate policy on food security, debt problems of vulnerable countries and climate action. Here is a list of those attending and some key leaders who are skipping the meeting in the Indian capital, New Delhi. G20 LEADERS:ARGENTINA'S PRESIDENT ALBERTO FERNANDEZ AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE BRAZIL'S PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVABRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZINDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI INDONESIAN PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODOITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONIJAPANESE PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMANSOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT YOON SUK-YEOLTURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDENEUROPEAN UNION: PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, CHARLES MICHELSPECIAL INVITEES:BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINAEGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISIMAURITUIUS PRIME MINISTER PRAVIND KUMAR JUGNAUTHNETHERLANDS PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU OMAN'S SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK AL-SAID SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG UAE PRESIDENT SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYEDOTHERS ATTENDINGU.S. Treasury Secretary Janet YellenThe heads of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Health Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, the International Labour Organisation, the Financial Stability Board and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. NOTABLE MISSING GUESTSCHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING (represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang)MEXICAN PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADORRUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN (represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov)Sources: Reuters, officials, state media and domestic mediaCompiled by Aftab Ahmed and Shivangi Acharya; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shiva, Bharat Mandapam, Altaf Hussain, ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, ANTHONY ALBANESE, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, JUSTIN TRUDEAU, EMMANUEL MACRON, OLAF SCHOLZ INDIAN, NARENDRA MODI, JOKO, GIORGIA, FUMIO KISHIDA, FUMIO KISHIDA SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, YOON SUK, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, JOE BIDEN, URSULA VON DER, CHARLES MICHEL SPECIAL, SHEIKH HASINA, ABDEL FATTAH, PRAVIND KUMAR, MARK RUTTE, BOLA TINUBU, HAITHAM BIN TARIK, LEE HSIEN LOONG, SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED, Janet Yellen, XI JINPING, Li Qiang, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ, VLADIMIR PUTIN, Sergei Lavrov, Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Sanjeev Miglani, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA BRITISH, FUMIO KISHIDA SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SOUTH, TAYYIP ERDOGAN U.S, OF, EUROPEAN, CHARLES MICHEL SPECIAL INVITEES, ABDEL FATTAH AL, Treasury, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation, International Labour Organisation, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Foreign, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, BANGLADESH, SHEIKH HASINA EGYPT, NETHERLANDS, SINGAPORE, LEE HSIEN LOONG UAE, MEXICAN, RUSSIAN

☆ US Sanctions Deputy Leader of Sudan's RSF Over Abuses
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Michelle NicholsN'DJAMENA (Reuters) - The United States is imposing sanctions on the deputy leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over human rights abuses, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations will announce during a trip to Chad's border with Sudan on Wednesday. Previous sanctions, levied on companies, also targeted the army. While the sanctions carry political weight, it is unclear that they would have any impact on the course of the current conflict. In June, the U.S. imposed sanctions on companies it accused of fuelling the conflict in Sudan. The U.S. Treasury Department targeted two companies affiliated with Sudan's army and two companies affiliated with the RSF, accusing them of generating revenue from the conflict and contributing to the fighting.

Persons: Michelle Nichols N'DJAMENA, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, RSF, Dagalo, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Washington, Omar al, Bashir, Abdelrahim Dagalo, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Nafisa Eltahir, Daphne Psaledakis, Aidan Lewis, William Maclean Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, United Nations, Reuters, Thomas, SAF, United Arab, The U.S . Treasury Department Locations: United States, U.S, Sudan, West Darfur, Sudan's Darfur, Darfur, Chad, Khartoum, Hemedti, United Arab Emirates, Russia, The U.S

☆ Sudan's army launches strikes to cut off paramilitary's supply routes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 3 (Reuters) - The Sudanese army staged a large scale attack on its paramilitary rival's supply routes on Sunday, eyewitnesses said, as its leader appeared to reject a negotiated solution. The almost five-month war since April 15 has devastated Sudan, worsening hunger, destroying infrastructure, and killing hundreds of civilians. Strikes also continued in southern Khartoum, after a local volunteer group said 20 people were killed late on Saturday in an air raid. Burhan emerged from army headquarters for the first time since the war began late last month, after fierce battles over the army's only other stronghold in the capital. The RSF said on Sunday it controlled part of that stronghold, the Armoured Corps base in southern Khartoum.

Persons: Strikes, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, RSF, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Sudanese, Rapid Support Forces, Armoured Corps, Thomson Locations: Sudan, Omdurman, Darfur, Bahri, Khartoum, Kassala

The two discussed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's offer to mediate the conflict during a short meeting in the coastal city of El Alamein, an initiative Burhan said he welcomed, according to an Egyptian presidency statement. In brief comments from El Alamein, Burhan said he wanted to end the war, but did not mention the possibility of talks. "We ask the world to take an objective and correct view of this war. This war was started by a group that wanted to take over power, and in the process it has committed every crime that could come to mind," Burhan said. The RSF has denied the accusations but said that any of its fighters found involved in abuses would be brought to justice.

Persons: Burhan, Sisi, Abdel Fattah al, General Abdel Fattah al, RSF, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Mohamed Waly, Maggie Michael, Clauda Tanios, Jacqueline Wong, Andrew Heavens, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, United, MSF, Nafisa, Thomson Locations: Egypt, Nyala, Sudan, El Alamein, Saudi Arabia, United States, El, Alamein, El Geneina, West Darfur, Western, Khartoum, South Darfur, Dubai, Cairo

☆ Sudanese paramilitary force backs ceasefire and talks on country's future
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Deputy head of Sudan's sovereign council General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo speaks during a press conference at Rapid Support Forces head quarter in Khartoum, Sudan February 19, 2023. The United Nations has warned of a "humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions", with rising hunger, collapsing healthcare, and wrecked infrastructure. Under his "Sudan Reborn" plan, Dagalo committed the RSF to previously floated principles such as federal, multicultural rule, democratic elections, and a single army. Pro-democracy politicians warned Burhan against announcing a new government, saying it would prompt the RSF to form a parallel authority. Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo and Khalid Abdelaziz in Dubai; Editing by Giles ElgoodOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah, Omar al, Bashir, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Dagalo, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Nafisa Eltahir, Khalid Abdelaziz, Giles Elgood Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, REUTERS, Rights, Sudan's, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Khartoum, Sudan, Rights CAIRO, West Darfur, Saudi, U.S, Port Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United States, Cairo, Dubai

☆ In Push to Modernize Cairo, Cultural Gems and Green Spaces Razed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Vivian Yee | More About Vivian Yee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Gardens have vanished, and with them many of Cairo’s trees. Few cities live and breathe antiquity like Cairo, a sun-strafed, traffic-choked desert metropolis jammed with roughly 22 million people. But President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is modernizing this superannuated city, fast. And he considers the construction as one of the major accomplishments of his tenure. “There is not a single place in Egypt that has not been touched by the hand of development,” Mr. el-Sisi proclaimed in a recent speech.

Persons: Abdel Fattah el, Mr, Sisi Locations: Cairo, Egypt

☆ Sudan's military ruler Burhan begins tour as UN warns of war spreading
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stands among troops,in an unknown location, in this picture released on May 30, 2023. Burhan, who is also armed forces chief, plans to chair a cabinet meeting. The army circulated videos on Friday of Burhan visiting the Atbara artillery base, north of Khartoum in River Nile state. The $2.6 billion Sudan appeal is just 26% funded, a U.N. spokesperson told a Geneva briefing, calling on donors to speed up promised aid. These acts of brutality contribute to an emerging pattern of targeted ethnic violence," the department said in a statement.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Martin Griffiths, Griffiths, Susanna Borges, Khalid Abdelaziz, Emma Farge, Nafisa, Moaz Abd, Kirsti Knolle, Angus MacSwan, Mike Harrison, William Mallard Organizations: Sudanese Armed Forces, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Rapid Support Forces, Sans Frontieres, Washington, State Department, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, Khartoum, Sudan, Port Sudan, Omdurman, Nile, Kordofan, Darfur, Geneva, Chad, West Darfur, Dubai, Cairo

CNN —Oil powers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to become members of the BRICS group of developing nations in its first expansion in over a decade. Total bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and BRICS nations exceeded $160 billion in 2022, the Saudi foreign minister said. It also means Russia and Saudi Arabia — both members of OPEC+, a group of major oil producers — will join each other in a new economic bloc. The BRICS countries have also been talking about a common currency, an idea analysts have described as unworkable and “unlikely” in the near future. Existing BRICS members have “had enough difficulty trying to agree just between the five of them,” he added.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, ” Ramaphosa, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Xi Jinping, ” Jinping, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Narendra Modi, Saudi Arabia —, —, Putin, Goldman Sachs, Jim O’Neill, ” O’Neill, “, ”, I’m, ” BRICS, Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Abdel Fattah el, Sisi, — Manveena Suri, Mostafa Salem, Lizzy Yee, Mengchen Zhang, Nadeen Ebrahim Organizations: CNN, Oil, United Arab, Saudi Foreign, Indian, OPEC, West, Western, Bloomberg, New Development Bank, United Arab Emirates, BRICS Locations: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, South, Johannesburg, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Russian, BRICS, Saudi, United States, UAE

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