A landslide in Sudan's Darfur wipes out a village, killing more than 1,000 people

A landslide in Sudan's Darfur wipes out a village, killing more than 1,000 people

CAIRO (AP) — A landslide wiped out a village inSudan's western region of Darfur, killing an estimated 1,000 people in one of the deadliest natural disasters in the African country's recent history, a rebel group controlling the area said late Monday. The tragedy happened Sunday in the village of Tarasin in Central Darfur's Marrah Mountains after days of heavy rainfall in late August, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army said in a statement. "Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than one thousand people. Only one person survived," the statement read. The village was "completely leveled to the ground," the group said, appealing to the U.N. and international aid groups for help to recover the bodies. Footage shared by the Marrah Mountains news outlet showed a flattened area between mountain ranges with a group of people searching the area. The tragedy came asa devastating civil war has engulfed Sudanafter tensions between the country's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. Most of the Darfur region, including the Marrah Mountains, has become mostly inaccessible for the U.N. and aid groups given crippling restrictions and fighting between Sudan's military and the RSF. The Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, centered in the Marrah Mountains area, is one of multiple rebel groups active in theDarfur and Kordofan regions. It hasn't taken sides in the war. The Marrah Mountains are a rugged volcanic chain extending for 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of el-Fasher, an epicenter of fighting between the military and the RSF. The area has turned into a hub for displaced familiesfleeing fighting in and around el-Fasher. The conflict haskilled more than 40,000 people, forced more than 14 millions to flee their homes and leftsome families eating grassin a desperate attempt to survive as famine swept parts of the country. It has been marked by gross atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the United Nations and rights groups. The International Criminal Court said it was investigatingalleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The village of Tarasin is located in the central Marrah Mountains, a volcanic area with a height of more than 3,000 meters at its summit. A world heritage site, the mountain chain is known for its lower temperature and higher rainfall than surrounding areas, according to UNICEF. It's located more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) west of the capital city of Khartoum. Sunday's landslide was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Sudan's recent history. Hundreds of people die every year in seasonal rains that run from July to October.

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September 01, 2025

A landslide in Sudan's Darfur wipes out a village, killing more than 1,000 people

A landslide in Sudan's Darfur wipes out a village, killing more than 1,000 people CAIRO (AP) — A landslide wiped out a village inSudan...

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Chicago braces for federal immigration enforcement operation while Trump criticizes local officials

Chicago braces for federal immigration enforcement operation while Trump criticizes local officials

Officials in Chicago are bracing for a major federalimmigration enforcement operationthat could begin as soon as this week, with the city's mayor signing an order over the weekend aimed at resisting the Trump administration's planned crackdown. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday such a move would be an "invasion" and that he has had no communication with the Trump administration about reported plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago. "No one in the administration – the president or anybody under him – has called anyone in my administration, or me. So, it's clear that in secret they're planning this – well, it's an invasion with US troops, if they in fact do that," Pritzker said Sunday. The operation isexpected to kick offin Chicago by this Friday and could involve agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and potentially be backed by guard forces in a peacekeeping role, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning. "We've already had ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago and throughout Illinois and other states, making sure that we're upholding our laws, but we do intend to add more resources to those operations," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. An immigration operation in the city would further escalate a clash between the White House and Democratic-led cities and comes as President Donald Trump and his aides have repeatedly slammed Chicago over policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement. Asked about expanding these operations beyond Chicago, Noem said that the Trump administration has "not taken anything off the table," and specifically named San Francisco and Boston in addition to Chicago. She suggested that Republican-led cities with crime problems were "absolutely" also being evaluated. Chicago has been preparing to try to resist Trump's planned immigration crackdown with Mayor Brandon Johnsonsigning an executive orderSaturday providing guidance and directives to the city's agencies and law enforcement "in the midst of escalating threats from the federal government." The mayor's order "affirms" that Chicago police will not "collaborate with federal agents on joint law enforcement patrols, arrest operations, or other law enforcement duties including civil immigration enforcement." It also "urges" federal law enforcement officers to use body cameras and refrain from wearing masks. "We may see militarized immigration enforcement. We may also see National Guard troops. We may even see active duty military and armed vehicles in our streets. We have not called for this. Our people have not asked for this, but nevertheless, we find ourselves having to respond to this," Johnson said before signing the executive order on Saturday. White House officials have made clear that these immigration enforcement plans are distinct from the ideathe president has floatedover the past week to use federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to carry out a broader crime crackdown in Chicago, similar to the current surge in Washington, DC. Trump took to social media Monday morning with a post celebrating what he called a massive victory over crime in the nation's capital and taking sharp aim at Democratic leaders across the country for refusing his floated plans for an aggressive federal anti-crime strategy in their states as well. He contrasted politicians who are resisting his plans with what he sees as a more welcoming stance from Washington DC's leadership. In theTruth Social post, Trump said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's "statements and actions were positive, instead of others like Pritzker, Wes Moore, Newscum, and the 5% approval rated Mayor of Chicago, who spend all of their time trying to justify violent Crime, instead of working with us to completely ELIMINATE it." Trump officials have been quick to criticize the Illinois governor and defend potential federal policing in the state by pointing to crime statistics. Noem pointed to homicide statistics in Chicago on Sunday in a dig to the governor, saying Pritzker "can talk about what a great job he's doing as governor, but he's failing these families. … This seems like it's more about Gov. Pritzker's ego now rather than actually protecting his people." In a warning to Pritzker on Saturday, Trump told the governor to quickly "straighten" out crime in Chicago or the federal government will intervene. "Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn't need help in preventing CRIME. He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we're coming!" Trumpposted on Truth Social. At least 56 people were shot – seven of them fatally – in Chicago over the holiday weekend. Roughly 34 shootings have been reported since Friday at 10:32 p.m., with victims ranging in age from 14 to 48, according to incident notifications published by the Chicago Police Department. Meanwhile, the Chicago mayor's office last weektouteda 21.6% decrease in overall violent crime and a 32.3% decrease in homicides so far this year. CNN's Angélica Franganillo Díaz, Betsy Klein, Priscilla Alvarez, Alayna Treene, Hannah Rabinowitz, Haley Britzky, Alejandra Jaramillo and Dakin Andone contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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September 01, 2025

Chicago braces for federal immigration enforcement operation while Trump criticizes local officials

Chicago braces for federal immigration enforcement operation while Trump criticizes local officials Officials in Chicago are bracing for a m...

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Asian shares are mixed and gold sets a fresh record high of over $3,550 per ounce

Asian shares are mixed and gold sets a fresh record high of over $3,550 per ounce

BANGKOK (AP) — The price of gold hit a new record and world shares were mixed on Tuesday after U.S. markets were closed for the Labor Day holiday. The spot price of gold, traditionally ahaven for investorsin times of uncertainty, gained 1.4% to $3,571.50 per ounce early Tuesday. That surpassed an intraday record of $3,509.90 an ounce set in April. PresidentDonald Trump's challenges to the U.S. Federal Reserve and other institutions has shaken faith in the U.S. dollar, prompting a shift into other investment optionssuch as gold. "That's not just a price tick; it's the market's confession that faith in fiat is wobbling," Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. He noted that the price of the precious metal has nearly doubled since early 2023. Investors have beenshifting awayfrom U.S. Treasuries for years but that shift has accelerated this year due to worries over U.S. government debt, trade tensions and geopolitical risks, said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. Since Wall Street was shuttered for the day, analysts said traders also were still focusing on the potential implications of a ruling by a U.S. court against Trump's highertariffson many countries around the world. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 edged 0.1% higher to 42,229.39 as investors snapped up bargains following recent losses. An auction of 10-year Japanese government bonds was expected to test the stability of that market. Markets in China fell back from recent gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.6% to 25,460.16, while the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.8% to 3,844.84. Chinese leaders were holding a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization whichbrought in alliessuch as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jung Un in a "defiant show" of solidarity with pledges of closer ties, Ong Ju Hong of Mizuho Bank said in a commentary. The "pledges of closer cooperation at the Tianjin Summit in China set the stage for a collision course withDonald Trump," Ong wrote. South Korea's Kospi advanced 0.9% to 3,170.18, while the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia gave up 0.3% to 8,902.70. India's Sensex rose 0.4% and the SET in Bangkok gained 0.7%. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuitruled Friday, 7-4, that Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to justify imposing sharply higher import taxes on almost every country on earth. The ruling largely upheld a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York, but it rejected part of that ruling striking down the tariffs immediately, giving the Trump administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. European markets gained on Monday, with Germany's DAX up 0.6%. But the CAC 40 in Paris and Britain's FTSE 100 edged just 0.1% higher. Updates on U.S. durable goods orders, manufacturing, jobless claims and other data that may provide insights into how the economy is holding up under the higher tariffs are due this week. European manufacturing data and a preliminary consumer price index reading for the countries using the euro also are on the agenda this week. In other dealings early Tuesday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 89 cents to $64.90 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, advanced 26 cents to $68.41 per barrel. The U.S. dollar rose to 147.75 Japanese yen from 147.18 yen. The euro fell to $1.1693 from $1.1711.

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September 01, 2025

Asian shares are mixed and gold sets a fresh record high of over $3,550 per ounce

Asian shares are mixed and gold sets a fresh record high of over $3,550 per ounce BANGKOK (AP) — The price of gold hit a new record and worl...

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Verdict and sentencing phase of 'historic' election conspiracy trial of Brazil’s Bolsonaro to begin

Verdict and sentencing phase of 'historic' election conspiracy trial of Brazil's Bolsonaro to begin

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The fate ofBrazil's former President Jair Bolsonarohung in the balance Tuesday as the verdict and sentencing phase of his trial for allegedlyleading a conspiracyto stay in power was set to begin. ASupreme Court panelscheduled sessions on five days through Sept. 12 to decide whether the far-right ex-leader is guilty of seeking to overturn the 2022 presidential election result, when he wasnarrowly defeatedby PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro,who denies any wrongdoing, was charged with five counts related to attempting to stage a coup. He isunder house arrestand has repeatedly said the trial is politically motivated. That argument made headway withPresident Donald Trump,who directly tied a 50% tariffon imported Brazilian goods to his ally's judicial situation. Trump has called the proceedings a "witch hunt" against a political opponent, triggering nationalist reactions from many Brazilian politicians. Bolsonaro is accused of attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and two counts involving destruction of state property. A guilty verdict on the coup plot charge alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years. Seven other close allies of Bolsonaro are being tried alongside the former president, including his former running mate and defense ministerWalter Braga Nettoand former defense minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira. Brazil's top electoral court has alreadybanned Bolsonaro from running in electionsuntil 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system. A federal police investigation said efforts to disseminate fake news about Brazil's voting system were part of a multipronged plan to keep Bolsonaro in office. Part of that plot includeda plan to kill Lula and a Supreme Court justice, the prosecution alleges. It also says thatthe Jan. 8 riotwhen Bolsonaro supporters ransacked top government buildings a week after Lula took office was an attempt to force military intervention and oust the new president. The prosecution finished presenting its case in July and the defense wrapped up its arguments mid-August. Shortly thereafter, police accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of obstruction of justice in a separate case. They said the ex-president oncewanted to flee to Argentinaand request political asylum. Eduardo Bolsonaromoved to the U.S.earlier this year despite holding a seat in Brazil's Congress and has sought sanctions against Justice Alexandre de Moraes who oversees his father's case. Trump's administrationimposed such measuresin late July. Authorities see Bolsonaro as a flight risk. In the lead up to the verdict and sentencing phase, the Supreme Court ordered further security measures. On Saturday, De Moraes permitted the inspection of vehicles leaving Bolsonaro's residence and mandated in-person surveillance of the area surrounding his home. Experts havelabeled Bolsonaro's trial as 'historic'and highlighted that it's the first time high-ranking officials accused of an attempted coup are being subjected to a criminal trial. A military dictatorship ruled Brazil for more than two decades between 1964 and 1985, an era for which Bolsonaro has expressed nostalgia. The government passed a sweeping Amnesty Law in 1979 and Brazil never prosecuted any of the military officials responsible for the widespread human rights violations during that era. Brazil's violent pasthas yet to be fully reckoned with, but this trial marks a historic departure from impunity, said Lucas Figueiredo, the author of several books about the country's most recent dictatorship. "History will tell whether it is 100% successful, but what we are seeing today is a movement that breaks with a tradition of military coups," he said.

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September 01, 2025

Verdict and sentencing phase of 'historic' election conspiracy trial of Brazil’s Bolsonaro to begin

Verdict and sentencing phase of 'historic' election conspiracy trial of Brazil's Bolsonaro to begin RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The fa...

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Final preparations for trial of man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida

Final preparations for trial of man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A man charged withtrying to assassinatePresidentDonald Trumplast year in South Florida is set to represent himself during a pretrial conference on Tuesday, as final preparations are made for trial. Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off onRouth'srequest to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh's attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges ofattempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations. Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot. Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said. Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press. In the early days of thewar in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a "weapon of mass destruction," which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse. In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence. In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

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September 01, 2025

Final preparations for trial of man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida

Final preparations for trial of man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in Florida FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A man charged withtrying ...

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