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Sudan’s army claims latest major victory, taking Omdurman’s key market

Sudan’s army claims latest major victory, taking Omdurman’s key market

Army claims control of Souq Libya, a pivotal commercial hub in Omdurman, solidifying gains in Khartoum’s twin city. The Sudanese army has said it seized control of a key market in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city, building on a series of recent successes in its offensive against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The announcement on Saturday comes days after it also took control of most parts of the capital in a potentially pivotal victory in the devastating two-year war that has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The army said in a statement that its forces were now in control of the market in western Omdurman, Souq Libya, having seized weapons and equipment left behind by the RSF when they fled. Souq Libya is one of the largest and most important commercial hubs in Sudan. The army already controlled most of Omdurman, home to two big military bases. It appears intent on securing control over the entire capital area, which is made up of the three cities of Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri, divided by branches of the River Nile. The RSF has not commented on the army’s advance in Omdurman, where the paramilitary forces still hold some territory. Advertisement The army senses that the recapture of Khartoum, which had been under RSF control for most of the war, will mark a shift in battlefield momentum that could spread to other areas. Still, the conflict seems far from over as the warring sides remain in control of large swaths of land each while remaining engaged in fierce clashes. Fighting is continuing in the huge Darfur region to the west of Sudan, the Kordofan region in central and southern parts of the country, and Gezira state, a strategic agricultural hub located south of the capital. Neither side has managed to strike a knockout blow to the other, and there is no sign of a political settlement or peace process in the near future, while each side continues to enjoy the support of its regional backers. In the meantime, the Sudanese army has accused the United Arab Emirates of backing the RSF, a charge found credible by UN experts and US lawmakers. On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said it would hear a case filed by Sudan demanding emergency measures against the UAE for violating obligations under the Genocide Convention by giving direct support to the RSF and implicating it in genocidal acts allegedly perpetrated by the paramilitary group against the Masalit people of Darfur. The Gulf state has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling the ICJ case “nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt“. In January, the United States accused the RSF of committing genocide in Darfur. The war in Sudan erupted amid a power struggle between the army and RSF before a planned transition to civilian rule. It uprooted more than 12 million Sudanese from their homes, and left about half of the 50 million population suffering acute hunger. Advertisement Overall deaths are hard to estimate, but a study published last year said the toll may have reached 61,000 in Khartoum state alone in the first 14 months of the conflict. In another development, Al Jazeera Arabic reports that the army evacuated hundreds of freed civilian and military prisoners held by the RSF in several detention centres in Jebel Awliya, south of Khartoum, to the city of Al-Qatana in White Nile State. Sudanese army commander Major General Mohamed Saleh Abu Halima said that the RSF detained approximately 4,700 prisoners under appalling conditions, where they suffered from malnutrition and a lack of healthcare, leading to the deaths of several of them in detention. Adblock test (Why?)

Eid Mubarak 2025: Hear greetings in different languages

Eid Mubarak 2025: Hear greetings in different languages

Eid begins on Sunday, March 30 in Saudi Arabia. Here’s how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages. With the sighting of the new moon in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries, the first day of Eid will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30. Other countries follow their own moon sightings, and those that began fasting on March 2 will announce tomorrow night whether Eid will fall on Monday, March 31. BREAKING NEWS: Eid Al Fitr 1446/2025 is tomorrow: Sunday, 30 March 2025 The Crescent for the month of Shawwal 1446 was SEEN in Saudi Arabia today subsequently tomorrow is the beginning of the month of Shawwal 1446 pic.twitter.com/6om5sAl38D — Inside the Haramain (@insharifain) March 29, 2025 Eid al-Fitr, the “festival of breaking the fast”, is celebrated at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan by Muslims worldwide. There are about 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, approximately 25 percent of the world’s population. Indonesia has the world’s highest Muslim population, with some 240 million Muslims living in the country. Pakistan is second with about 225 million Muslims, followed by India (211 million), Bangladesh (155 million), and Nigeria (111 million). Advertisement Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country. Muslims begin Eid celebrations by attending a prayer service shortly after dawn, followed by a short sermon. The day is spent visiting relatives and neighbours, accepting sweets and extending Eid greetings as they move around from house to house. The most popular greeting is “Eid mubarak” (Blessed Eid) or “Eid sa’id” (Happy Eid). Eid greetings also vary depending on the country and language. The video and graphics below show Eid greetings in 13 different languages. (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) (Al Jazeera) Adblock test (Why?)

Turkiye protests: Iconic scenes and divided coverage

Turkiye protests: Iconic scenes and divided coverage

We unpack the Turkiye protests with voices from both sides of a split political and media landscape. Turkiye is witnessing its largest protests in more than a decade. Millions have taken to the streets after the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu – who is seen as the biggest challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s presidency. Nearly 2,000 people have been detained so far, including journalists. But despite myriad official efforts to suppress news coverage, protesters keep pouring onto the streets. Contributors:Mehmet Celik – Editorial Coordinator, Daily SabahOnur Erim – Political Adviser and President, Dragoman StrategiesEce Temelkuran – Author and JournalistAmberin Zaman – Chief Correspondent, Al-Monitor On our radar: Israel this week killed another two journalists in Gaza – Al Jazeera Mubaser’s Hossam Shabat and Mohammed Mansour from the newspaper Palestine Today. The death toll of Palestinian media workers since October 7 now stands at more than 230. Tariq Nafi reports. One year into Javier Milei’s presidency, Argentina is reeling from his radical economic policies and his escalating war on the press. Milei has targeted journalists, shut down the state news agency, and bypassed traditional media in favour of online platforms. Advertisement As his government tightens its grip on information, Argentina’s media landscape is shifting. We hear from two journalists on opposite ends of the political spectrum about what Milei’s crackdown means for press freedom in Argentina. Featuring:Marcelo Longobardi – JournalistJulia Mengolini – Founder and presenter, Futurock Adblock test (Why?)

Republican lawmaker confronted over Signal chat leak, responds sharply

Republican lawmaker confronted over Signal chat leak, responds sharply

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., had a quick response when someone attempted a “gotcha” question. In a viral video, a young man is seen running up to the congressman with a phone, presumably filming, before asking about the Signal chat leak that has rocked Washington, D.C., for the last week. The unidentified man asked the congressman whether he could “trust Trump’s national security team to keep our war plans top secret?” Rather than ignore the man or try to answer his question, the congressman hit him with a snappy response. “Do you trust your mother every night to fix your Hot Pockets and make sure your Game Boy is turned on?” he fired back. GOP REP. BURCHETT SLAMS FEDERAL JUDGES FOR HALTING DEPORTATION FLIGHTS Burchett’s retort seemed to shock the man, who stopped walking as the insult was hurled, while the congressman continued on. The Tennessee congressman posted a video of the exchange on X and got several responses supporting him and cheering on his response. Texas congressman Wesley Hunt, R, simply replied, “Savage brother.” TRUMP TEAM’S SIGNAL SNAFU SPARKS DEBATE OVER SECURE COMMS The video posted on Friday does not appear to be the congressman’s only interaction with the man behind the camera. On March 25, Burchett posted another video featuring a man who appeared to be the same person in Friday’s video. In Monday’s exchange, the man behind the phone camera asked the same question that he would later repeat on Friday: “Do you trust Trump’s national security team to keep our war plans secret?” The congressman replied, “I do — but I do not trust your wardrobe adviser.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP There are a number of videos on Burchett’s X account that feature someone who appears to be the same man who asked the congressman a question on Friday. Fox News Digital reached out to Burchett’s office to confirm if the videos feature the same person, but did not receive an immediate response, as it was outside office hours.

WATCH: Dems struggle to name the leader of the Democratic Party

WATCH: Dems struggle to name the leader of the Democratic Party

Top voices in the Democratic Party, as well as average Democratic voters, have struggled to answer who the party’s leader is when asked during interviews. A video from the conservative opposition research organization, America Rising, highlighted comments from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin on the matter, including average Americans, almost all of whom struggled to give a clear answer. “People know me, I’m pretty straightforward. I don’t think it’s a secret that Democrats have been on their heels since Trump won the election. I don’t think that’s something hidden. And I think it’s on us to be clear about not only leadership, and there’s lot of leaders in both parties, but also a strategy, right?” Slotkin said in a “Meet the Press” interview earlier this month, which is in the clip. SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN TELLS ‘THE VIEW’ DEMOCRATS NEED TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM At the time, she added that the party is still “finding their footing.” Slotkin, who won her competitive Michigan seat in November, came into the national spotlight after responding to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress on March 4. “I think there’s a lot of discontent with the Democratic leadership, and I think with the entire Democratic Party,” Sanders said in an interview with CNN. Others asked in the video struggled to answer the question, except for one woman who said that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is the current leader of the party.   BERNIE SANDERS GETS UP DURING INTERVIEW AFTER ‘NONSENSE’ QUESTION ABOUT AOC “Nobody. There isn’t one,” another person said in the video. The progressive “Squad” leader recently held numerous “Fighting Oligarchy” events in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada with Sanders in opposition to the Trump administration. However, the jury is still out as to who, if anyone, can emerge as a uniting voice for progressives and moderates in the party while still maintaining staunch opposition to the Trump White House. CHUCK SCHUMER FACING ‘UPHILL FIGHT’ AMID LEADERSHIP DOUBTS: ‘MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF’ Meanwhile, some in the clip outright objected to the notion that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who’s technically the highest-ranking Democrat in the United States, is the actual leader. Schumer has faced some calls to step down from his position after voting in favor of a continuing resolution backed by the Trump administration to avert a government shutdown – a move that many Democrats in his own caucus disagreed with.  A recent CNN poll of 504 Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents muddies the water even more, with Ocasio-Cortez getting the highest percentage of being considered the leader at 10%, with former Vice President Kamala Harris at 9% and Sanders at 8%. The same poll showed a 29% favorability for the Democrats, compared with 54% viewing them unfavorably. 

How Trump-blocking judges managed to get past Senate judiciary hawks

How Trump-blocking judges managed to get past Senate judiciary hawks

As federal judges exceed records with an onslaught of nationwide orders blocking President Donald Trump’s orders, some have revisited how each was confirmed, and whether Republicans could have foreseen their rulings or done anything more to block them.  Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital in an interview, “This is why I think I voted against every Biden judge.” He acknowledged that many of the judges in question were confirmed before his time, given he was first elected in 2018.  SCOOP: TOP REPUBLICAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SETS PROMPT HEARING ON JUDGES BLOCKING TRUMP “People said to me, ‘Why don’t you ever vote for any of Biden’s judges?‘” he said. “This is why.” “Because if they’re not faithful to the rule of law, then you can bet they’ll just be looking for opportunities to intervene politically.” Since Trump entered office, he has faced a slew of nationwide injunctions to halt actions of his administration, which exponentially outweighs the number his predecessors saw. So far in his new term, the courts have hit him with roughly 15 wide-ranging orders, more than former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden received during their entire tenures.  Some of those who have ordered the Trump administration to halt certain actions are U.S. District Judges James Boasberg, Amir Ali, Loren AliKhan, William Alsup, Deborah Boardman, John Coughenour, Paul A. Engelmayer, Amy Berman Jackson, Angel Kelley, Brendan A. Hurson, Royce Lamberth, Joseph Laplante, John McConnell and Leo Sorokin. There are 94 districts in the U.S. and at least one district court in each state. These courts are where cases are first heard before potentially being appealed to higher courts.  SENATE CONFIRMS DR MARTY MAKARY AS TRUMP’S FDA CHIEF Several of these judges were confirmed in the Senate in a bipartisan manner, and some even prevailed with no opposition. There were others who were opposed by every Republican senator.  One of the most controversial judges, Boasberg, known for blocking a key immigration action by the Trump administration, was confirmed by a roll call vote after being nominated by Obama in 2011. The vote was 96-0 and no Republicans opposed him.  Former Trump attorney Jim Trusty told Fox News Digital, “I don’t think the Republicans ever expected quite the onslaught of lawfare that we’ve seen when President Trump is in office.” “The activist nature of some federal district court judges – issuing nationwide injunctions against the Executive Branch on a minute’s notice – is unfortunate and puts pressure on appellate courts, including SCOTUS, to fix these problems,” he explained. However, he said the real problem is “an army of lawyers” who he said are trying to “bend and twist legal principles.” “They are spending their days devoted to stopping President Trump’s agenda even if it means siding with Venezuelan gang members who illegally entered the US,” Trusty claimed.  GOP SENATOR SAYS DR OZ IGNORED HIS QUESTIONS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES, ABORTION Andy McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney and a Fox News contributor, told Fox News Digital, “Republicans could have done a much better job blocking Biden’s judicial appointments.” He pointed to Biden’s recent time as a lame-duck president, specifically referring to nominees that “squeaked by” due to Republican absences.  “Biden’s nominees were very radical and should have been opposed as vigorously as possible,” he said. “These are lifetime appointments and the progressives filling these slots will be a thorn in the nation’s side for decades.” However, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, made a point of saying, “There was no way to know how they would rule in future cases like these.”  He argued that senators can conduct their due diligence to the best of their abilities, but they can’t see into the future.  “The Senate has the right to reject nominees whom it thinks will interpret the Constitution incorrectly, but nominees also have an obligation not to promise how they might rule on cases once they join the bench,” Yoo said.  Thomas Jipping, senior legal fellow with the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, noted to Fox News Digital that senators “can’t use the filibuster to defeat the judge,” which makes blocking controversial nominees even more difficult.  “The only way to actually defeat someone’s confirmation is to have the majority of the votes,” he explained. “If Republicans are in the minority, there has to be at least a few Democrats voting against the Democratic nominee to defeat someone.” Fox News Digital reached out to former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to comment on how these judges were able to get confirmed.  TOP DEM USED SAME APP USED IN ATLANTIC SCANDAL TO SET UP CONTACT WITH STEELE DOSSIER AUTHOR The senators were asked if they were still happy with how the judges were confirmed and their individual votes. They were also asked whether there was anything alarming in the judges’ records and if Republicans did enough to block certain confirmations.  McConnell’s office pointed Fox News Digital to comments he made over the legislative recess at a press conference in Kentucky.  “The way to look at all of these reorganization efforts by the Administration is what’s legal and what isn’t… they’ll be defined in the courts,” he told reporters in response to the legality of potentially shutting down the Department of Education. “I can understand the desire to reduce government spending. Every Administration – some not quite as bold as this one – have tried to do that in one way or another. This is a different approach… and the courts will ultimately decide whether the president has the authority to take these various steps. Some may have different outcomes, I’m just going to wait – like all of us in effect are going to wait, and see whether this is permissible or not.” Grassley’s office pointed to a previous statement from the senator’s spokesperson, Clare Slattery.  “The recent surge of sweeping decisions

Border community reveals what Trump admin still needs to accomplish as crisis calms down: ‘Undue burdens’

Border community reveals what Trump admin still needs to accomplish as crisis calms down: ‘Undue burdens’

It’s morning again in the border community of Yuma, Arizona, but there’s still work to be done to ensure long-term security and to clean up leftover challenges. Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines explained the challenges faced in the wake of a high influx of migrants into the community at times throughout the Biden administration. “Chaos first, and abandoned second,” Lines, a Republican, said of the border under former President Joe Biden, but said it is “controlled” under President Donald Trump. ICE NEARING HISTORIC DEAL WITH IRS TO AID IN DEPORTATIONS: REPORT In the Yuma sector alone, there were hundreds of thousands of migrant encounters during the Biden administration. In February, there were 8,326 illegal border crossings marked down by United States Customs and Border Protection. The number of people placed a strain on local resources in the area, including the local hospital. “The message is that we’d like our not-for-profit hospital to be reimbursed to the tune of about $32 million. That’s auditable costs… it caused undue burdens here in our local communities,” Lines said. Fox News Digital reported in 2023 that the Yuma Regional Medical Center had to deal with millions in unpaid medical costs given the number of illegal immigrants that came in for care. HUD ENDS FHA MORTGAGES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: ‘SHOULD BENEFIT AMERICANS WHO PLAY BY THE RULES’ “Our food bank was impacted, as well as kind of the medical community as a whole, just because of fentanyl,” Lines said. “We’ve seen a significant impact of fentanyl here in the community. One of my best friends just lost his oldest nephew two weeks ago. The pills are being sold for about $2.50. There needs to be serious consequences for the Chinese and for the cartels that are dealing and pushing this product into the United States,” he added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE In 2022, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey placed metal storage containers along some of the gaps in Yuma, which were eventually taken down because of legal action from the federal government. Now, construction of permanent border wall panels in gaps along the border in the area is underway, following a reversal of Biden’s policies once Trump retook office. COLOMBIA AGREES TO SHARE MIGRANT DATA WITH US AFTER ‘CANDID’ TALKS WITH KRISTI NOEM “As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction, we’re going to continue to make America safe again,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a video posted to X on March 16. The region became a key focal point for politicians on the 2024 campaign trail, with many stopping for visits despite not running in geographical border states themselves — a key indicator that border security and immigration were a top issue for American voters. “Every state has been impacted by the human trafficking as well as the trafficking of narcotics. For the last four years, as I’ve traveled throughout the United States, every single community leader or member of a community has approached me saying that they have never seen such an impact from narcotics and from illegal immigration in their communities, and that their resources to provide for the individuals in their community have been exhausted,” Lines said.