The Sudanese army announced significant advances against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, breaking an 18-month siege on its General Command headquarters in Khartoum and the Signal Corps base in Bahri. They followed fierce battles in central Bahri.
In a statement, the General Command of the Armed Forces said its troops completed a second phase of their operations by connecting forces from Bahri with those at HQ.
The army said it also expelled RSF fighters from Al Jeely oil refinery, 70km north of Khartoum, after advances on Wednesday. The paramilitary group seized the refinery, Sudan's largest, soon after the fighting began in April 2023.
The military on Friday released pictures and video of its generals at the General Command headquarters after breaking the RSF siege.
Sudan's Information Minister Khalid Ali Aleisir said the army's victories in Khartoum marked a turning point in efforts to restore security and stability. However, the RSF dismissed the army's claims as an attempt to raise the morale of its forces.
The army regained control of the city of Wad Medani, capital of the agricultural Al Gezira state south of Khartoum, this month.
In the western region of Darfur, fighting intensified between the army and its local ally, the Joint Force, against the RSF in Al Fasher, capital of North Darfur, after the RSF's 48-hour ultimatum for its opponents to surrender or leave expired on Friday.
A spokesman for the Joint Force, Maj Ahmed Hussein Mustafa, said they repelled an RSF attack on five fronts. He said more than 400 RSF fighters were killed and more than 30 military vehicles destroyed.
In a related development, an adviser to RSF leader Gen Mohamed Dagalo resigned on Friday, blaming the force's targeting of civilians in the conflict.
Ayub Osman Nahar said the RSF attacked civilians with artillery and drones, particularly in North Darfur state, and burnt villages and killed civilians in North Darfur and Al Gezira.
Sudan's war is escalating tension with neighbouring South Sudan. Khartoum is accusing Juba of supporting the RSF and fuelling an escalation in the conflict.
The diplomatic dispute follows reports of 16 Sudanese citizens, including a doctor, killed across four provinces in South Sudan and allegations of civilians from the Darfur region being killed in areas of Sudan recently regained by the army.
Fighting between the army and the RSF has devastated Sudan and created a severe humanitarian crisis.
The UN says nearly 1.5 million people have fled across Sudan's borders, and more than 6.1 million are internally displaced, making Sudan the world's worst displacement crisis.
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
How Beautiful this world is!
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
THE%20FLASH
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
