News & Stories

The war in Sudan has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

How did the fighting begin in 2023?

Who are the two main sides?

And what are the main factors driving the war now?

Watch Start Here Sudan explainer with Sandra Gathmann to understand what is happening.

Mahitab Mahgoub – Nonresident fellow, Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy Hi

ba Morgan – Sudan correspondent, Al Jazeera English Ahme

d Soliman – Senior research fellow, Africa Programme, Chatham House Kholoo

d Khair – Founder and director, Confluence Advisory Hager Al

i – Doctoral researcher, German Institute for Global and Area Studies Alan Boswe

Comments to Indian media seem to contradict Trump report that negotiators got the impression he wanted to ‘make a deal’. Russ

ia's Putin says Ukrainian lands will be taken 'by military means or otherwise' Russ

ian President Vladimir Putin has said recent talks with United States negotiators over ending the war with Ukraine were “very useful”, while doubling down on the maximalist demands and territorial designs that are standing in the way of a solution. In advan

ce of a trip to New Delhi on Thursday, Putin told India Today TV that he planned to seize control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region by force, confirming Kremlin reports that no consensus had been reached in the previous day’s talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “It all boil

s down to this: either we will liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there,” he said in comments from the interview that were carried by state news agency Tass on Thursday. Putin sent tens

of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops in the Donbas, comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. His renewed dete

rmination to take the region appeared to pour cold water on US President Donald Trump’s earlier assertion that Witkoff and Kushner had thought the Russian leader wanted “to end the war”. “Their impression was

very strongly that he’d like to make a deal,” Trump said. Putin’s comments came amid r

eports that special envoy Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Kushner will meet top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov in Florida on Thursday as a follow-up to the five hours of talks in Moscow on Tuesday. Embattled Ukrainian President Vo

lodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been bogged down by Russia’s advance and a domestic corruption scandal, maintains that he does not have the power to sign away Ukrainian territory and that Russia should, in any case, not be rewarded for its invasion. The Ukrainian constitution also fo

Gaza has exposed the limits of US power and opened space for new centres of global diplomacy.

Humanitarian leader and political analyst from South Africa.

In Gaza, the world has seen the cost of a diplomacy that claims to uphold a rules-based order but applies it selectively.

The United States intervened late, and only to defend an occupation the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled illegal.

Alongside other Western nations that built multilateral institutions, the US increasingly pursues nationalist agendas that undermine them.

The hypocrisy is stark: one set of rules for Ukraine, another for Gaza.

This erosion of credibility marks the structural collapse of unipolar authority, symbolised by the US’s absence from the Group of 20 (G20) in South Africa this past week. As

thousands gather in Qatar over the coming days for this year’s Doha Forum under the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress”, the failure to prevent genocide demands a reckoning. The impo

sed ceasefire in Gaza has delivered neither political resolution nor safety for Palestinians. Meanwhil

e, the future of Gaza continues to be discussed without Palestinians in the room. This is

Mohammed and his daughter face the emotional fallout of his political activism in Gaza and imprisonment in Israel, that left her to grow up without him.

A fractured family tries to heal itself across borders and generations.

Palestinian Mohammed Dahman, from Gaza, served nearly 20 years in Israeli jails when he was younger.

This powerful observational film follows Mohammed and his daughter, Mai, as they confront the emotional scars left by his years of absence, both in jail and as a political activist.

Now living in Norway, Mohammed fears growing old far from Gaza and sets out to retrieve the prison letters he once sent home, hoping they might help repair his strained relationship with Mai.

His visit back to Gaza stirs memories of political struggle, friendship and sacrifice, while Mai in Norway grapples with the resentment of a childhood without him.

When he finally returns, father and daughter face the painful truths of the past as they read the letters together – moments of love, regret and longing preserved on paper. Th

eir story culminates in a quiet but hopeful attempt at reconciliation, captured in the small, tender moments of family life.

Flamengo add Brazil’s Serie A title to Copa Libertadores crown and have PSG in sight in Intercontinental Cup in Qatar. Fo

ur days after beating Palmeiras to win their fourth Copa Libertadores, Flamengo secured the Brazilian title with a 1-0 success against Ceara at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium on Wednesday. It w

as a ninth Brazilian crown for the country’s most popular football club, and their third in the last seven seasons. Samuel

Lino, the club’s record signing, scored the only goal of the game against Ceara to maintain Flamengo’s now unassailable five-point lead at the top of Serie A over Palmeiras with just one game to go. The newly

crowned champions squeezed past Palmeiras with a 1-0 win in Saturday’s Copa Libertadores final, which was staged in the Peruvian capital of Lima. They have no

w become only the fifth Brazilian side in history to complete the Serie A-Copa Libertadores double, having also done so in 2019. “In a few ye

ars (the players) will realise what they have achieved,” said Flamengo’s coach Filipe Luis. “They are eternal!

” Pele’s Santos did the

double in 1962 and 1963, and Botafogo managed it last year. Meanwhile, Neymar scored

a hat-trick for Santos in their 3-0 victory over Juventude to boost the Sao Paulo-based club’s hopes of avoiding relegation. Santos are now two points

In the first annual GCC meeting since Israel’s strike on Qatar in September, which killed six people, Bahrain’s foreign minister Abdullatif Alzayani stated that member states stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” against any threat to the bloc.

The UN says the visit comes ‘at a crucial time for the region’, as it seeks to bolster ties with Syria. A Un

ited Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation has arrived in Syria for its first-ever trip to the country, reported state media, just days before the war-ravaged nation marks the first anniversary of the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. The

UNSC delegation arrived via the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing between Lebanon and Syria and “is scheduled to meet a number of Syrian officials” and members of civil society, state news agency SANA reported on Thursday. Shortly

afterwards, the agency said the delegation was visiting the capital Damascus’s heavily damaged suburb of Jobar. The diplom

ats will meet Syria’s new authorities, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, before visiting neighbouring Lebanon on Friday and Saturday. Al Jazeera’s

Assed Baig, reporting from Damascus, said the UNSC delegation will also visit some of Damascus’s historical sites. “This gives them

[the UNSC delegation] the opportunity to look at Syria away from the political and military dynamics, it shows them the cultural heritage of Syria but also the history that has been damaged during the civil war,” as the country embarks on the initial phases of post-civil war reconstruction. The UNSC visit has b

een “very well” received in Syria, said Baig. “What it does is tell ev

erybody that Syria is trying to reestablish itself on the international stage, it is trying to build relations with the United Nations. It has the support of neig

hbouring countries as well as Arab regional countries. It has the support of the

Dispute over Israeli plan for one-way opening of Gaza's Rafah Crossing

Israel says the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open in the coming days, but only for Palestinians leaving Gaza.

The UN is urging a full reopening of Rafah, and Egypt says it will only cooperate if movement is allowed both in and out.

Africa’s minerals and young workforce are attracting global interest as China, the US and Europe compete for influence. Fo

r decades, Africa was defined by aid, debt and development debates. To

day, the continent’s critical minerals, rising consumer markets and young workforce are turning it into one of the world’s most strategic economic battlegrounds. China,

the United States and Europe are all vying for influence there – from infrastructure to clean energy and digital networks. But acro

ss the continent, the focus has shifted – leaders want partnerships that deliver real industry, real jobs and real value for African people. So as glob

al rivals step up their game, can Africa finally choose partners on its own terms?

Instamed Philippines is excited to introduce its new line of Regenerative Peptides Without Injection.

These innovative products combine InstaRelease™ Technology with oral, sublingual peptide strips for an easy, non-invasive alternative to traditional injectable peptides. Th

e product range includes Thymosin Alpha-1, PT-141+, CJC-1295, GHK-Cu, and BPC-157, each designed to support various aspects of health, from immune function to tissue repair and overall rejuvenation. Th

ese oral strips are designed for quick absorption, ensuring that users receive the full benefits of the peptides without the need for needles. In

stamed’s new product line aims to make regenerative health treatments more accessible, practical, and effective for everyone. Whet

her you’re looking to boost your immune system, enhance your energy, or improve your skin health, these products are designed to meet the needs of today’s health-conscious individuals. The upco

ming product launch will showcase the benefits of these oral peptide strips and demonstrate how they can seamlessly integrate into a daily wellness routine. Attendee

s will have the opportunity to learn more about the science behind the technology, see live demonstrations, and hear firsthand from users who have experienced positive results with Instamed’s products. Instamed P

hilippines is proud to bring these cutting-edge wellness solutions to the market, continuing its commitment to providing accessible, science-backed health innovations. To learn m

ore about the full peptide line, visit the Instamed website and explore how these products can support your wellness goals: www.instamedph.com. Spotlight

Isla Lipana & Co.

/PwC Philippines amplifies its corporate sustainability efforts in conjunction with the PwC global network’s “Community First” campaign, seeking to create meaningful impact on underserved and vulnerable communities across the world. The Ph

ilippine member firm joins the PwC global network in simultaneous initiatives in key cities around the globe, with a hefty lineup of programs under the pillars of community engagement, education, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship. PwC Ph

ilippines Chairman and Senior Partner Roderick Danao shares that the firm’s corporate sustainability efforts reflect the PwC global network’s commitment to building trust and solving important problems in society. “Most, if

not all, societal problems are rooted in inequality. While we can

not put an end to this on our own, we share the vision and do our part in closing the gap. In the space

of that effort, we hope to inspire and create long-term change for our beneficiaries,” Rick says. As the nation

confronts a massive shortage of 165,000 classrooms along with other basic school assets based on 2025 data from the Department of Education, PwC Philippines thus boosted its implementation of “Seat of Hope.” Since 2013, over 1

0,220 chairs have been donated to 122 under-resourced schools nationwide, reaching as far as Zamboanga del Sur. In FY2025 alone, 1

,200 chairs were provided, benefiting approximately 2,400 students and fostering a conducive learning environment. Meanwhile, with a

Fuji-Haya Electric Corporation of the Philippines proudly participated in the 50th Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE) Annual National Convention and 3E XPO, held at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, from Nov.

26-29, 2025.

This landmark gathering of electrical practitioners and industry leaders marked the golden anniversary of the IIEE—celebrating five decades of integrity, innovation, empowerment and excellence. As

one of the country’s leading providers of power protection and electrical distribution solutions, Fuji-Haya Electric reaffirmed its commitment to innovation, reliability, and engineering excellence through its impressive exhibit lineup. This

year’s booth featured the AIDA System, Ring Main Unit (RMU), Transformers, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), Fully Type-Tested Low Voltage Switchgear (LVSG), Busducts, and Unit Panels—all designed to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable power for various modern mixed use developments and infrastructures. Carrying

its 2025 corporate theme, “Beyond Expectations: Powering Progress, Expanding Horizons,” Fuji-Haya Electric celebrated its continued growth and 46 years of service in the Philippines. The theme re

flects the company’s ongoing mission to go beyond conventional standards—developing power solutions that drive progress, enhance sustainability, and empower engineers to build smarter, more resilient energy systems. Throughout the f

ive-day convention, the Fuji-Haya booth became a hub of engagement, attracting hundreds of engineers, industry professionals, and trade visitors. Attendees had th

e opportunity to explore the company’s technical displays, witness live demonstrations, and engage in discussions with Fuji-Haya’s team of experts. These interactions r

einforced the company’s reputation as a trusted partner in power protection, energy efficiency, and system reliability. The IIEE Annual Nation