Region of western Sudan; a long-running humanitarian and security flashpoint
Nusrat Osman has been rescued in a police operation in Blantyre after being abducted last week. Four suspects were killed in the clash, and a senior officer was wounded. Osman has been reunited with her family and is undergoing medical checks.
Sudanese authorities say Egyptian forces have detained hundreds of miners near the Sudan-Egypt border, with reports of casualties and seizures of mining equipment. Sudan’s leadership calls for investigation while experts highlight regional instability and the role of unregulated gold mining in fueling conflict.
The RSF is expanding its presence around El-Obeid, raising alarm of potential offensives. The UN and other bodies warn of atrocity risks while drone strikes disrupt civilian life and humanitarian access.
The Independent has documented a surge in LGBTQ+-targeted violence in Nigeria, where gangs entrap, extort, and torture individuals on camera for ransom. As aid cuts bite, clinics and shelters are collapsing, threatening life-saving HIV treatment for survivors. The documentary features testimonies from survivors and advocates, highlighting a humanitarian crisis intensified by policy shifts.
Drone strikes around El Obeid in North Kordofan have escalated, targeting fuel depots, water points and humanitarian aid convoys. The city, housing hundreds of thousands and thousands of displaced, faces risk of a Darfur-style catastrophe as both SAF and RSF intensify operations. International agencies warn civilians face escalating harm amid access challenges and potential siege.
Amnesty International has documented crimes against humanity during the RSF siege of el-Fasher in North Darfur, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and forced displacement. The report relies on interviews with 247 victims and witnesses between 2024 and 2025 and calls for a nationwide ceasefire and an international civilian protection force.
The UN Human Rights Council is debating Sudan’s El-Obeid crisis after warnings of a fresh siege and potential atrocities. Volker Türk has described signs from El-Obeid as a clear red alert, urging world leaders to act amid 18 months of siege-like conditions and drone strikes affecting civilians and infrastructure. A draft resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access.
The fighting between the SAF and RSF has intensified around El-Obeid in North Kordofan, disrupting power and water supplies, threatening civilians, and triggering new displacement. UN and aid groups warn of escalating humanitarian needs as drone strikes and sieges press civilians and aid workers.
Drone attacks on El-Obeid and surrounding areas have escalated, hitting civilian targets including wedding-related vehicles and water transport. The fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF continues to displace thousands, disrupt essential services, and raise fears of a humanitarian catastrophe as drones disrupt infrastructure and supply routes.
South Sudan marks 15 years since independence as violence and economic strain persist. Leaders face delayed elections, inflation bites, and ongoing intercommunal clashes, with calls for accountability and reforms to unlock progress.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has found that the RSF’s siege of El Fasher in Darfur, and related abuses, include killings, mass rape and deliberate starvation. The findings build on February’s report and warn that similar patterns are emerging around El Obeid as RSF forces mass around the city. Leaders say the international community must act to prevent further catastrophe.
Refugee camps across East Africa and the Sahel are facing deepening challenges as funding shortfalls reduce aid, disrupt health services, and force difficult choices on displaced Sudanese and other refugees. New arrivals strain systems already stretched by years of conflict. The situation risks a wider humanitarian crisis if funding does not rebound.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at 74, Qatar's Amiri Diwan has announced. He has been credited with transforming Qatar into an energy and diplomatic power by expanding LNG production, founding Al Jazeera, building sovereign investment vehicles and stepping down voluntarily in 2013 to hand power to his son.
The Port Sudan court has convicted RSF leader Daglo (Hemedti) and 15 other senior RSF figures of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in absentia. The ruling also targets RSF assets and seeks Interpol notices for arrest. The case centers on the June 2023 killings in El Geneina and related atrocities against the Masalit community. The verdict marks the first conviction of RSF leadership since the conflict began in 2023.
The UK has sanctioned individuals and entities linked to networks financing Sudan's war economy, targeting RSF and SAF-linked actors and key mining operations. The move aims to curb illicit gold flows that fund fighting, with officials warning of mass harm to civilians as El Obeid faces fresh peril.
Three years after the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, rights groups say the pact has intensified border controls and serious human rights violations, amid calls to suspend the agreement and reassess safeguards. Reports detail intercepted departures, abuses, and restricted asylum access, with EU funding tied to Tunisian authorities.
The Sudan conflict between the army and the RSF has escalated, intensifying a humanitarian crisis. WFP reports food rations are stretched as aid access narrows; millions remain displaced, with fears of renewed attacks around key cities like El-Obeid and El Fasher. International bodies warn of mass atrocities and rising hunger.
Los Angeles prosecutors have presented texts, photos and forensic evidence at a preliminary hearing accusing singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, of murdering and sexually abusing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Evidence shown has included long-running messages, indications of a pregnancy and abortion, purchases of tools and a body bag, and DNA matches tying blood in Burke’s garage and a Tesla to the victim.
The UN and world powers are pressing for governance reform as demand for critical minerals rises. Leaders warn that without local processing and stronger rule of law, mining profits will bypass local communities and fuel conflict. New commitments aim to channel wealth into public services and jobs amid a global scramble for cobalt, lithium, nickel and rare earths.
The International Criminal Court has withdrawn charges against Abdallah Banda after prosecutors say key witnesses are no longer credible and new testimony could not sustain a conviction. Judges have approved the withdrawal, stressing it does not preclude later charges for similar facts. The decision affects 103 victims and comes amid broader scrutiny of the ICC.
Across Sudan, fighting between the army and RSF continues to disrupt aid, with El-Obeid and Darfur seeing sieges and drone strikes. Civilians suffer from hunger, water scarcity, disease, and sexual violence, while the UN and human rights groups push for ceasefire and humanitarian access.
AP and Independent report reveal that six former child soldiers in Khartoum recount being forced to fight with the RSF, trained by Colombian mercenaries. They describe being shackled to anti-aircraft guns and artillery, with civilians cited as targets. UAE-linked groups are accused of arming the RSF; UAE denies it, calling shipments humanitarian. Events illustrate a wider deployment of foreign mercenaries in Sudan.
Drones have targeted civilian sites in Darfur amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF. Emergency Lawyers report casualties at a customary court in Garra al-Zawaya, North Darfur, while authorities warn of mass atrocities and widespread displacement across the region.
Fighting and humanitarian collapse intensify in Sudan’s North Kordofan as El Obeid faces encirclement, displacement rises, and aid deliveries struggle amid funding gaps. Civilians seek safety while the UN and partners press for de-escalation and sustained access.
The Sudanese conflict persists as fighting between the army and RSF continues to upheave daily life. Civilians confront displacement, blocked routes, and humanitarian struggles, while international voices call for action.
The African Union Peace and Security Council has returned to Khartoum to press for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a Sudanese-led political process. The SAF has recaptured parts of Khartoum and central Sudan, while RSF remains entrenched in Darfur. Preparations for a broad national dialogue are underway with regional and civil society actors, amid ongoing fighting and shifting alliances.
Warfare in Blue Nile State has escalated as RSF fighters and allied SPLM-N forces seize Kurmuk while the army withdraws. Drones and artillery have battered the town, causing new displacements as the conflict widens along border routes with Ethiopia.
Colombia is joining the Shield of the Americas coalition, aligning with the US-led effort against drug cartels. The announcement comes as the Trump administration urges allies to reject the ICC, arguing the court intrudes on sovereignty. Rights groups warn of legal and civilian risks amid intensified regional security operations.
Sudan's army-backed authorities are promoting a national dialogue while critics demand a ceasefire and addressing root causes. The AU and regional actors are intensifying mediation efforts, with civilians calling for guarantees, justice, and inclusive participation. The landscape remains fragmented as fighting continues.
The Sudanese war enters a new phase as SAF advances in key fronts, RSF defections rise, and regional powers face ongoing calls for a humanitarian truce. Drones and long-range strikes continue to target civilians and critical infrastructure, prompting fresh international concern.
A UNMISS patrol in Jonglei state has been ambushed, killing two peacekeepers and injuring seven others, including police and civilian staff. The incident adds to a rising toll of aid workers since January, with 36 killed this year, outweighing all of 2025. UNMISS condemns the attack and calls for a prompt investigation as regional instability deepens the risk of renewed conflict in South Sudan.
The United States proposes expanding the UN arms embargo to cover all of Sudan and drone-related technology, while the Security Council weighs tougher measures amid intensifying drone strikes and external support. Darfur remains a flashpoint as the embargo’s future hinges on a veto-wielding Security Council.
Blackheath captain Peter Melhuish is aligning a wedding in North Wales with a villages final at Lord’s as his team aims for glory in the Cawston Press Village Cup. Supporters have raised funds to fly him to London if necessary.
The Quintet envoys have met Sudanese leaders and civil society in Khartoum to discuss de‑escalation and a negotiated ceasefire. Officials say dialogue remains the pathway to sustainable peace, with focus on detainee exchanges, civilian protection, and a unified national process.
South Sudan’s electoral commission has appointed a new chair while the transitional timeline remains in flux. Observers warn that leadership changes could affect voter registration and the credibility of December polls, as legal procedures for removal are scrutinised.
MSF and other aid groups warn that funding cuts are shrinking health responses in Sudan, forcing facility closures, longer patient journeys, and rising disease outbreaks amid ongoing conflict. Facilities are closing or operating on empty funds, leaving refugees and local communities with limited care as violence continues.
Declassified Spain-CNI documents reveal warnings of mass migrant entries before the Ceuta border rush on July 30-31, 2026. Governments dispute the scale, with Spain defending its actions while opponents call for accountability as thousands remain in Ceuta amid protests and EU border funding talks.
The U.N. Security Council has extended the Darfur arms embargo for one month as negotiations continue on potential changes. The United States is pushing for a countrywide ban and stronger sanctions on arms flows and aid workers, while Russia and other members push back. The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
A broad drought and disrupted harvests threaten millions in Sudan, with aid groups warning of rising malnutrition and possible famine. Supplies remain constrained as conflict, rising prices, and limited humanitarian access amplify hunger across Darfur and neighboring regions.
The UN and aid agencies warn that Sudan’s humanitarian response could collapse within weeks as funding dries up, despite ongoing operations that reach millions. WFP and IOM officials say the scale of hunger and displacement is worsening while resources dwindle, threatening vital shelter, food and medical aid.
A collapse at the El Zara (Al-Zaraa) gold mine in West Kordofan has killed dozens and left many others missing. Survivors say several shafts remain unrecovered; rescue teams lack heavy equipment, and operations are ongoing under RSF-controlled areas. The death toll could still increase as authorities and medical networks monitor the situation.
Sanctions on Eritrean individuals and the Red Sea Trading Corporation have been removed, with officials saying the measures were unwarranted. The move comes as shipping in the Red Sea faces new pressures from Houthi advances and regional security concerns.