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Europe sees huge Gaza protests with hundreds of thousands marching in Rome, Barcelona, Madrid (Photos)

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ROME (BN24) — Hundreds of thousands of people marched through Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and cities across Europe on Saturday protesting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, demonstrating growing international anger over the two-year-old conflict that has devastated the Palestinian territory.

The protests in nearly every major Spanish city had been planned for weeks, while the demonstration in Rome followed widespread outrage after Israeli forces intercepted a humanitarian aid flotilla that had departed Barcelona attempting to break the blockade of Gaza.

Rome police reported 250,000 attendees at Saturday’s demonstration, while organizers claimed 1 million participated in the second consecutive day of Italian protests. Italy had already witnessed more than 2 million people rally Friday during a one-day general strike supporting Palestinians in Gaza.

In Spain, officials said 100,000 people marched in Madrid while another 70,000 filled downtown Barcelona. Madrid march organizers raised their attendance estimate to 400,000, while Barcelona organizers claimed 300,000 participants.

The demonstrations across southern Europe occurred as Hamas announced it had accepted certain elements of a plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war, which has left Gaza’s largest city experiencing famine conditions and generated accusations of genocide against Israel.

While protests remained largely peaceful, several hours after Barcelona’s official demonstration concluded, clashes erupted between police and several hundred people, some of whom vandalized stores and created panic among shoppers and bystanders.

Spanish activists also called for marches in Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga and other cities throughout the country. Smaller rallies took place in Paris, Lisbon, Athens, Skopje in North Macedonia, and in London and Manchester, England.

The Rome protest followed a route near the Colosseum, organized by three Palestinian organizations alongside local unions and students. At Piazza San Giovanni, protesters chanted and applauded the name of Francesca Albanese, an Italian serving as United Nations special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territories and a vocal critic of Israel.

Although organizers requested only Palestinian flags be displayed, some banners praised militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. One read “October 7, Day of Palestinian Resistance,” referencing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war, while another large flag stated “Death, death to the IDF,” referring to Israel Defense Forces. A group also chanted the same slogan, state broadcaster RAI reported.

Opposition lawmaker Riccardo Magi, secretary of the center-left Piu Europa party who participated in the march, criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government for refusing to recognize a Palestinian state, following the example of Spain, France, the United Kingdom and other Western countries.

“Meloni cannot continue with this obscene victimhood: these are spontaneous demonstrations against the inaction and complicity of her government,” Magi told Italian media. “She must acknowledge this and begin working diplomatically for peace.”

Spain has experienced an upsurge of Palestinian support in recent weeks as its left-wing government intensifies diplomatic efforts against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government. Protests against an Israeli-owned cycling team repeatedly disrupted the Spanish Vuelta last month, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized Gaza’s destruction as “genocide” and requested banning all Israeli teams from international sporting events.

Barcelona’s day of protests began with crowds packing the wide Passeig de Gracia, the city’s main central boulevard, before noon. Numerous families attended alongside people of all ages carrying Palestinian flags. Hand-held signs bore messages including “Gaza hurts me,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Hands off the flotilla.”

More than 40 Spaniards, including a former Barcelona mayor, were among 450 activists that Israel removed from the flotilla’s boats this week. About 50 Spaniards aboard the flotilla have been detained by Israel, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public television in a Saturday broadcast interview.

María Jesús Parra, 63, waved a Palestinian flag after traveling an hour from another town to Barcelona. She wants the European Union to act against what she described as horrors she watches on television news.

“How is it possible that we are witnessing a genocide happening live after what we as Europe experienced in the 1940s?” Parra said. “Now nobody can say they didn’t know what was happening.”

Madrid marchers proceeded behind banners reading “Shame” and “Racist War, Free Palestine,” while chanting “Netanyahu is a Killer.” Marta Carranza, a 65-year-old pensioner demonstrating in Barcelona with a Palestinian flag on her back, said Israel’s policy “has been wrong for many years and we have to take to the streets.”

The Global Sumud Flotilla, intercepted Wednesday, had departed Barcelona in early September seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where a United Nations-backed hunger monitor says famine has taken hold across the territory.

In Dublin, several thousand people marched through the city center marking what organizers described as “two years of genocide” in Gaza. Along with Ireland, Spain ranks among Europe’s fiercest critics of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Irish speakers called for sanctions on Israel, immediate conflict cessation and Palestinian involvement in any ceasefire plan.

In London, police reported making at least 442 arrests at a gathering supporting the proscribed Palestine Action group, reflecting ongoing tensions over demonstrations related to the conflict.

Approximately 10,000 people gathered in Paris, where Helene Coron, spokesperson for the French contingent of the Sumud Flotilla, told crowds they would never stop their efforts. “This flotilla didn’t get to Gaza. But we will send another, then another until Palestine and Gaza are free,” she declared.

Meloni’s right-wing Italian government has faced criticism for perceived inaction regarding Gaza’s siege. Saturday, Meloni accused demonstrators of defacing a statue of Pope John Paul II with graffiti in front of Rome’s main railway station, calling it a “shameful act.”

On September 14, approximately 100,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators forced the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race in Madrid to halt because an Israeli team was competing. Sánchez subsequently stated Israel should be barred from international sport over the Gaza war, similar to Russia’s penalization over its Ukraine invasion.

Spain announced in September it would ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law, demonstrating the government’s increasingly critical stance toward Israeli policies.

While protests likely will not sway Israel’s government, protesters hope demonstrations could inspire additional rallies and encourage European leaders to adopt harder lines against Israeli military actions in Gaza.

The Gaza war began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack left approximately 1,200 people dead while 251 others were taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 people and wounded nearly 170,000 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government. United Nations agencies and many independent experts view these figures as the most reliable estimates of wartime casualties.

Former premier league star Eljero Elia, 38, cheats death in terrifying three-car crash that destroys £270,000 Lamborghini

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Former Premier League footballer Eljero Elia escaped without serious injury after being involved in a frightening three-car collision that left his £270,000 Lamborghini Urus destroyed on a major Dutch motorway.

The 38-year-old ex-Southampton winger was driving on the A4 motorway near Leiden on Saturday night when his luxury SUV reportedly struck two other vehicles at around 9:45 p.m., Dutch police said. The crash caused significant damage to all three vehicles and led to a large emergency response on the busy carriageway.

Authorities confirmed that no one suffered life-threatening injuries, though two drivers were taken to the police station for questioning. Elia and another man were also transported in a police van to be interviewed about the incident. Local reports said police are investigating whether alcohol may have been a factor, with the drivers of the other vehicles undergoing tests.

Elia spoke to Dutch broadcaster Omroep West after the crash, recounting the moments leading up to the collision. “I was driving in a stretch that’s normally quiet around that time,” he said. “Suddenly, I saw the traffic in front of me brake and come to a standstill. I tried to brake, but I skidded.”

He explained that he fully cooperated with police and returned home after giving his statement. “I told them what happened and then I went home,” Elia said.

The crash has drawn widespread attention in the Netherlands, given Elia’s prominence as a former international footballer. His Lamborghini Urus, valued at approximately £270,000, was heavily damaged in the incident.

Elia’s career included stints with some of Europe’s most notable clubs. He joined Southampton on loan in January 2015, making 17 appearances and scoring twice before returning to Werder Bremen. He also played for Juventus, Feyenoord, FC Twente and ADO Den Haag.

Internationally, Elia earned 30 caps for the Netherlands national team, scoring against Scotland and Hungary. He retired from professional football in 2022 after suffering a ligament injury.

Elia is married to Sanne Elia, owner of the Heavenly Beauty headspa. The couple have three children: Heavenly, Seal and Eljero Dream.

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UK immigration crackdown: Kemi Badenoch vows to deport 150,000 illegal migrants annually

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MANCHESTER, England (BN24) — Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a sweeping plan to deport up to 150,000 illegal migrants every year, pledging to create a powerful new removals force modeled on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency as part of the party’s toughest-ever border policies.

Speaking at her first party conference as leader, Badenoch outlined the £1.6 billion proposal aimed at reversing the Conservatives’ slump in support and stopping voters from defecting to Reform UK. “We must tackle the scourge of illegal immigration to Britain and secure our borders,” Badenoch told party members gathered in Manchester. “That is why the Conservatives are setting out a serious and comprehensive new plan to end this crisis.”

Under the plan, a newly formed “Removals Force” would be granted sweeping powers to identify and deport illegal migrants within one week of arrival. Facial recognition technology would be deployed to detect individuals, and police would be required to conduct immigration checks on everyone they stop.

Illegal migrants would be barred from claiming asylum, and refugee status would only be granted to those facing state persecution or threats to their lives. Immigration tribunals would be abolished, and legal aid would be denied to those subject to removal.

Badenoch has also vowed to take the United Kingdom out of the European Convention on Human Rights, which has often been used to challenge deportation orders in British courts.

The Conservatives are framing the crackdown as a direct contrast to their rivals. “Labour offer failed gimmicks like ‘one thousand in, one out.’ Reform have nothing but announcements that fall apart on arrival,” Badenoch said.

The strategy echoes elements of U.S. border enforcement under President Donald Trump, whose administration removed or facilitated the voluntary departure of more than two million illegal immigrants since his second term began in January.

Badenoch’s hardline stance has drawn comparisons to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s policies on immigration and net zero, intensifying debate within the party. Some Conservative MPs are reportedly holding letters of no confidence to use after Badenoch completes her first year as leader on Nov. 3, though others believe a leadership challenge would be more likely after the May local elections.

Asked whether Badenoch could face a leadership revolt after further electoral setbacks, Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho defended her. “Kemi’s had one of the toughest jobs in politics,” Coutinho told The Sun on Sunday. “If you’re someone who takes over a party after it’s lost an election, it’s a pretty rough ride. We’re now taking on energy and you’ll see even more from us on immigration. Those are the things that I think the public care about.”

The announcement came as London Assembly member Keith Prince became the latest Conservative to defect to Reform UK on the eve of the party conference, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing Badenoch’s leadership.

The opposition Labour Party sharply criticized the proposals. “The Conservatives’ message on immigration is; we got everything wrong, we won’t apologise, now trust us. It won’t wash,” a Labour spokesperson said.

Heavy rains and landslides kill 22 in Nepal, block roads and disrupt flights

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Torrential rains over the past 36 hours have unleashed landslides and flash floods across Nepal, killing at least 22 people, washing away bridges, blocking highways, and leaving dozens missing, officials said Sunday.

Eighteen people were killed in a series of landslides in eastern Nepal’s Ilam district, which borders India, police spokesperson Binod Ghimire said. Three others were struck and killed by lightning in the country’s southern plains, and another person died in floods in Udayapur district, also in the east.

At least 11 people were swept away by floodwaters and remain missing since Saturday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). “Rescue efforts for them are going on,” NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Mahat told Reuters.

The severe weather has paralyzed transportation networks across the mountainous nation. Several major highways have been blocked by landslides or washed out by floods, stranding hundreds of passengers in remote areas. Domestic flights have been largely suspended, though international flights at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport continue to operate, airport spokesperson Rinji Sherpa said.

In southeastern Nepal, water levels in the Koshi River — one of the largest rivers in South Asia — rose sharply above the danger mark. The river regularly causes deadly floods in the neighboring Indian state of Bihar. Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the district governor of Sunsari, said water flows were more than double the usual volume, prompting authorities to open all 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage to release excess water. Normally, only 10 to 12 gates are opened during regular flow conditions. Authorities are preparing to ban heavy vehicles from crossing the barrage bridge as a precaution.

In the capital, Kathmandu, which sits in a ring of hills, swollen rivers flooded roads and inundated houses, cutting off the city from the rest of the country by road.

Landslides and flash floods are common in Nepal during the monsoon season, which typically begins in mid-June and lasts until mid-September. Hundreds of people die each year during the seasonal rains, which are intensified by the country’s rugged terrain and often inadequate infrastructure.

Weather officials forecast continued heavy rainfall through Monday. Authorities said they are taking “maximum care and precautions” to assist affected communities and mitigate further damage.

Death Toll Rises to 37 in Indonesia Boarding School Collapse as Rescuers Search for Missing Students

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Indonesian rescue teams are racing to find dozens of missing students after the collapse of a prayer hall at a century-old Islamic boarding school in East Java killed at least 37 people, officials said Sunday.

Authorities said 23 more bodies were pulled from the rubble over the weekend, nearly a week after the structure at Al Khoziny school in Sidoarjo district crumbled on Sept. 30. Rescuers continued to search for 26 students who remain unaccounted for.

Using jackhammers, circular saws, and at times their bare hands, search crews worked through the debris to reach trapped victims. The building fell on top of hundreds of students — mostly boys aged 12 to 19 — who had gathered in the prayer hall. Only one student survived without injuries, while 95 others were treated and discharged. Eight students remained hospitalized with serious injuries as of Sunday.

Police said the collapse was caused by unauthorized construction. Two additional levels had been added to the original two-story structure without a permit, creating a fatal structural overload. The incident has sparked public outrage across Indonesia over illegal building practices.

“The construction couldn’t support the load while concrete was being poured for the third floor. It didn’t meet safety standards, and the entire 800-square-meter structure gave way,” said Mudji Irmawan, a construction expert at the Tenth November Institute of Technology. He added that students should never have been allowed inside the hall during construction.

Sidoarjo district chief Subandi confirmed that the school failed to obtain the necessary building permit. “Many traditional boarding schools in rural areas build without permits,” he said.

Indonesia’s 2002 Building Construction Code requires that permits be secured before construction begins. Violators face fines and prison sentences, and if a violation causes deaths, penalties can reach up to 15 years in prison and 8 billion rupiah (about $500,000) in fines.

The school is overseen by Abdus Salam Mujib, a respected cleric in East Java. In a rare public appearance the day after the collapse, he apologized and called for patience, saying, “This is indeed God’s will. We must be patient, and God will reward those affected by this incident with great rewards.”

Criminal investigations involving Islamic clerics are particularly sensitive in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

East Java Police Chief Nanang Avianto said investigators are working with construction experts to determine whether negligence by the school’s management contributed to the deaths. “We will investigate this case thoroughly,” he said.

No additional statements have been issued by the school’s officials since the collapse.

Iran executes 6 alleged Israeli agents amid record wave of death sentences

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TEHRAN, Iran (BN24) — Iran executed six death-row inmates on Saturday, alleging they carried out deadly attacks in the country’s oil-rich southwest on behalf of Israel, in what rights groups describe as part of the largest wave of executions in decades.

The executions came months after the 12-day Iran–Israel war in June, which ended with Tehran vowing to strike its enemies both at home and abroad. Activists say Iran often relies on coerced confessions and closed-door trials, particularly in cases involving accusations of espionage or collaboration with Israel.

Iranian authorities claimed the six men were responsible for killing police officers and security personnel, and for coordinating bombings at sites in and around Khorramshahr, a city in the restive Khuzestan province. State television aired footage showing one of the men detailing the alleged attacks, saying it was the first time such information had been revealed.

The Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw reported the executions and identified all six as Arab political prisoners who were detained during the 2019 nationwide protests. The group said Iranian authorities accused them of belonging to the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, a separatist faction that has previously attacked oil pipelines and security targets in the region.

According to Hengaw, the men were subjected to severe torture and forced to give televised confessions under duress. The Arab population of Khuzestan has long complained of systemic discrimination by Iran’s central government, and the province has repeatedly been a flashpoint for anti-government demonstrations.

In a separate case on Saturday, Iran executed another prisoner accused of killing a Sunni cleric in 2009 in Kurdistan province.

Human rights groups say Iran is executing prisoners at a pace not seen since 1988, when thousands were killed at the end of the Iran–Iraq war. The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights group and the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran estimate that over 1,000 people have been executed in 2025, though the actual number may be higher because Tehran does not disclose every execution.

Independent United Nations human rights experts have also condemned Iran’s use of the death penalty, citing a lack of due process and fair trials.

Nearly 500 arrested in London as pro-Palestine protest goes ahead despite pleas

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Nearly 500 people were arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London Saturday as protesters defied police pleas to postpone the rally following a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue two days earlier.

The Metropolitan Police reported 492 arrests throughout the day, with detainees ranging in age from 18 to 89 years old. The force said 297 remained in custody while the rest were released on bail following the demonstration organized by Defend Our Juries to protest the government’s ban on Palestine Action.

Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square to call on the government to reverse its July decision to add Palestine Action to the United Kingdom’s list of proscribed terrorist groups. Protest organizers claimed 1,000 people attended the event to “oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban.”

Six people were arrested before the demonstration even began after unfurling banners reading “I oppose genocide” and “I support Palestine Action” on Westminster Bridge. The bulk of arrests occurred in Trafalgar Square, where protesters held placards expressing support for the banned organization.

The Metropolitan Police said a separate group of protesters also gathered in Whitehall before attempting to reach Trafalgar Square, where the main demonstration was taking place.

Many of those arrested throughout the day were older individuals. Photographs showed people with walking sticks or in wheelchairs being assisted by police, while others were physically carried to processing areas after refusing to cooperate with officers.

Mike Higgins, a 62-year-old blind protester who uses a wheelchair, told the PA news agency that demonstrators remained determined despite the arrests. “We are going to win this battle, by the way, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “The problem for me is that I want to win it now to try and bring an end to the suffering in Palestine.”

The Metropolitan Police had urged Defend Our Juries to postpone the event in light of the Manchester synagogue attack that occurred in Crumpsall two days before the planned demonstration.

Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley expressed concern that resources would be stretched and the force’s ability to protect communities would be compromised as a result of the protest. His warning reflected heightened tensions in Jewish communities following the Manchester attack.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a statement on X Saturday morning urging anyone considering protesting to “recognise and respect the grief of British Jews.” Jewish community leaders characterized the decision to proceed with the demonstration as “phenomenally tone deaf” given the timing.

In a letter to Ade Adelekan, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Defend Our Juries defended their decision to proceed with the protest as planned. The organization stated that “the protection of our democracy and the prevention of countless deaths are critical issues” that necessitated moving forward despite police requests.

The protest highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding Palestine Action, which the UK government designated as a proscribed terrorist organization in July. The group has faced legal action for activities targeting companies connected to Israel’s defense industry.

The demonstration represented one of the largest mass arrest operations by the Metropolitan Police in recent memory, with the force detaining protesters for displaying support for a proscribed organization. British law prohibits expressing support for groups on the government’s terrorism list.

The arrests included individuals from diverse age groups, though the significant presence of elderly protesters drew particular attention. Images of senior citizens being processed by police sparked discussions about protest rights and government restrictions on political expression.

Defend Our Juries organized the demonstration specifically to challenge the government’s proscription of Palestine Action, arguing that the designation threatens democratic freedoms and the right to political dissent. The group maintains that Palestine Action’s activities constitute legitimate protest rather than terrorism.

The timing of the protest, coming just two days after the Manchester synagogue attack, created significant controversy within Jewish communities who viewed the demonstration as insensitive to their security concerns and grief. Jewish leaders had called for the protest to be postponed or canceled entirely.

The Metropolitan Police faced the challenging task of balancing protest rights with community sensitivities while managing security concerns raised by the recent synagogue attack. The force’s decision to proceed with policing the demonstration while making hundreds of arrests reflected the difficult position authorities occupied.

The protest and resulting arrests are likely to fuel ongoing debates about the limits of political expression in the United Kingdom, particularly regarding contentious international conflicts and the government’s use of proscription powers to restrict certain forms of activism.

Palestine Action has previously engaged in direct action targeting facilities and companies it claims are complicit in Israeli military operations, leading to property damage and disruption. Supporters characterize these actions as legitimate protest, while critics and law enforcement view them as criminal activity warranting the group’s terrorist designation.

The scale of arrests Saturday demonstrates the Metropolitan Police’s commitment to enforcing laws prohibiting support for proscribed organizations, even as civil liberties advocates question whether such restrictions unduly limit political speech and peaceful assembly rights.

Sudanese city under siege as civilians bear brunt of escalating conflict

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El-Fasher, Sudan (BN24) — In the besieged city of el-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region, the thump of artillery echoes through makeshift camps where civilians huddle in fear. Among them is 13-year-old Ahmed Abdul Rahman, lying in pain from injuries caused by a recent shelling. His body is riddled with shrapnel, and like many in the war-torn city, he is caught in a worsening humanitarian crisis as paramilitary forces close in.

Ahmed’s mother, Islam Abdullah, lifts her son’s shirt to reveal deep wounds across his emaciated frame, injuries worsened by hunger and the lack of medical care. “His condition is unstable,” she says, her voice heavy with helplessness. Medical facilities in the city have been damaged or shut down, and the little that remains is running dangerously low on supplies.

El-Fasher, once a relatively stable urban center in Darfur, has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for 17 months. The RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, is engaged in a brutal power struggle with the Sudanese army. As the army clings to a shrinking perimeter around the city’s airport, tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped, facing daily bombardments, food shortages, and constant fear.

The siege intensified after RSF forces lost ground in Khartoum earlier this year. Now they are pushing hard to capture el-Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in western Sudan, and are making tactical gains. Verified footage shows RSF fighters operating from what has been identified as the Sudanese military’s armored corps headquarters.

For those caught in the fighting, survival is increasingly tenuous.

Hamida Adam Ali was left immobilized on a road for five days after a shell tore through her leg. She was eventually brought to a displacement camp, where she now lies with an untreated, festering wound. “I don’t know if my husband is dead or alive,” she says. “My children have been crying for days. Sometimes they find food, sometimes they go to bed hungry. I have nothing.”

Initial reports suggested Hamida had died in a subsequent shelling incident. But a BBC journalist later confirmed she had survived, though a woman beside her was killed.

Recent RSF advances have raised fears of a complete takeover. Sudanese military divisions, including the Sixth Infantry, are still defending scattered bases. Soldiers were recently filmed celebrating the arrival of supplies dropped from the air. Yet in the propaganda war, RSF media continues to portray an imminent victory.

Sudanese political analyst Kholood Khair says the strategic value of el-Fasher is immense. Capturing the city would allow the RSF to solidify control across Darfur and reestablish supply routes through southern Libya. “From el-Fasher, the RSF could launch renewed offensives into the Kordofan region and potentially toward Khartoum,” Khair said. “This would significantly strengthen their military position.”

For local militias aligned with the army, known as the Joint Forces, the fight is existential. “If they lose Darfur, they lose their political claim to it,” Khair said. “It’s a battle for their survival.”

But as the military maneuvers continue, civilians are bearing the cost.

Drone strikes — reportedly using equipment supplied by the United Arab Emirates, despite denials, have targeted both military and civilian areas. One verified video shows a drone hitting an informal market. In another attack, more than 75 people were killed when a mosque was struck during morning prayers. The RSF has not claimed responsibility.

Samah Abdullah Hussein buried her young son, Samir, in a mass grave after that mosque strike. He had been hiding in a schoolyard with his brother. “His brain came out,” she says, describing the shrapnel wound that killed him. Her other son survived but was badly injured, as was she.

The United Nations has warned of possible mass atrocities if El-Fasher falls. Thousands have already fled, facing robbery and violence along escape routes. Human rights groups accuse the RSF of targeting non-Arab ethnic groups, including the local Zaghawa community — allegations the RSF denies.

Meanwhile, the RSF is circulating videos showing fighters distributing aid and welcoming fleeing civilians. One refugee watching from abroad was startled to recognize people in the footage, a soccer teammate, a musician, even his own relatives.

“It devastated me,” he said. “I will be worried until I hear they are safe. But it’s not just about my family, it’s about my city, my memories. It’s like a nightmare.”

El-Fasher remains on edge. With food and medicine dwindling, and frontlines closing in, those still trapped can do little but wait.

Inter Milan tops Cremonese 4-1 to move level at top of Serie A

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MILAN (BN24) — Lautaro Martinez continued his prolific form with a milestone goal as Inter Milan defeated previously unbeaten Cremonese 4-1 on Saturday, pulling level atop the Serie A standings.

The win marked Inter’s fifth straight across all competitions and pushed them to 15 points alongside AC Milan, Napoli, and Roma, all of whom play their weekend fixtures on Sunday.

Martinez opened the scoring just six minutes into the match at San Siro, finishing a swift counterattack with a first-time strike. The goal brought his tally to 158 across all competitions for Inter, moving him into a tie for fifth on the club’s all-time scoring list with Luigi Cevenini. Only Giuseppe Meazza (284), Alessandro Altobelli (209), Roberto Boninsegna (171), and Sandro Mazzola (161) are ahead of him.

Inter extended their lead through Ange-Yoan Bonny, who headed in a cross from Federico Dimarco late in the first half. Bonny, filling in for the injured Marcus Thuram, also registered three assists in a standout performance.

Dimarco added a third for Inter shortly after halftime with a low drive following a corner, and Nicolò Barella made it 4-0 moments later after a flowing team move. Cremonese pulled one back through Federico Bonazzoli, but the result was already beyond doubt.

The defeat ended Cremonese’s unbeaten start to the campaign. The newly promoted side had stunned AC Milan at San Siro on the opening weekend but found no such luck against Simone Inzaghi’s Inter.

Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy came off the bench in the 58th minute for Cremonese but was unable to change the outcome.

Elsewhere in Serie A

In Rome, Lazio and Torino played to a dramatic 3-3 draw that was decided by Danilo Cataldi’s penalty 13 minutes into stoppage time. Torino had taken the lead three minutes earlier through Saúl Coco.

Matteo Cancellieri scored twice for Lazio in the first half, becoming the youngest Lazio player to score a brace since Sergej Milinkovic-Savic did so in 2018 at age 22.

Lecce earned their first victory of the season with a 1-0 win at Parma, sealed by a first-half goal from Riccardo Sottil.

Atalanta hold Como to 1-1 draw despite injury crisis and missing coach

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BERGAMO, Italy (BN24) — Atalanta overcame a long list of absentees to secure a 1-1 draw with Como in Serie A on Saturday, with both sides trading early goals before fading in an uneventful second half.

La Dea entered the match severely depleted, missing nearly an entire starting XI due to injuries, and was without head coach Ivan Juric on the touchline. Meanwhile, Como were also without their own manager, Cesc Fabregas, who served a one-match suspension.

The hosts struck first just six minutes in through Lazar Samardzic. The Serbian midfielder exchanged a neat one-two with Ederson on the edge of the box before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Elia Caprile. It was Samardzic’s first Serie A goal in nearly a year and his second in four days following his midweek European strike.

Como equalized in the 19th minute with a stroke of fortune. Maxi Perrone’s driven ball from the right side, which appeared to be a cross, struck the far post and bounced over the line. Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi got a hand to it and pushed it onto the crossbar, but goal-line technology confirmed the ball had already crossed.

The rest of the match played out cautiously, with both teams struggling to create scoring chances. Atalanta managed only one shot on target in the second half — the same as Como. The best opportunity fell to Ademola Lookman, making his first Serie A start of the season after featuring in the Champions League midweek. He combined well with Kamaldeen Sulemana on a quick set piece but was denied by Como’s recovering defenders.

Despite their limited resources, with only seven players on the bench, including two goalkeepers, Atalanta held firm in the second half. Juric’s side was without key figures across the field, including Charles De Ketelaere, Gianluca Scamacca, Raoul Bellanova, Giorgio Scalvini, Odilon Kossounou, and Sead Kolasinac.

Fabregas handed league debuts to several summer arrivals, including €25 million signing Martin Baturina, Nico Paz, Jayden Addai, and Anastasios Douvikas.

The result leaves Atalanta sixth in the Serie A table with 10 points, just one ahead of Como, who remain in seventh on nine points after an encouraging start to their debut top-flight campaign.

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