Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces say they have killed hundreds of army soldiers and allied militiamen in fighting around a strategic axis that links the capital with North Kordofan and White Nile State.
The axis is used by Sudan's military to supply its forces in North Kordofan, where it is fighting the RSF to defend the regional capital Al Obeid – which has come under growing pressure from the paramilitary.
Maintaining control of Al Obeid is essential to the military's plans to seize western and Southern Kordofan and later move to recapture the western region of Darfur, most of which is in the hands of the RSF.
The army and the RSF have been fighting each other since April 2023. The war has devastated the vast Afro-Arab nation, killing tens of thousands, displacing more than 13 million and creating a grave humanitarian crisis that has left some 25 million people – half the population – facing acute hunger.
In a statement, the RSF said its fighters have killed at least 600 soldiers and militiamen in the fighting this week at Raheed Al Nubah and Jabrat El Sheikh. Both locations are west of Omdurman which, together with the cities of Khartoum and Bahri make up the Sudanese capital's greater region.
Although the fighting is about 250km from the capital, seizing the area would significantly undermine the army's situation in North Kordofan, where fierce fighting has raged this week.
There was no word from the army on the fighting west of the capital and it was not immediately possible to verify the RSF's claim of victory or the relatively high death toll in the army's ranks.
RSF video clips shared online purport to show its fighters celebrating their defeat of the army, but show only one pickup lorry with armed forces markings on its side and one motionless body on the ground.
After 29 months of fighting, the army is in control of the "tripartite" capital, as well as the eastern, northern and central regions of the country. The RSF was thrown out of the capital and the central region earlier this year, but remains in control of Darfur, except the city of El Fasher, and parts of Kordofan.
Intense fighting has been taking place in and around El Fasher for months, with the RSF slowly closing in on the local army garrison – home to the 6th Infantry Division – but unable to seize it due to stiff resistance by the troops and their allies.
Al Shafie Ahmed reported from Kampala, Uganda
The view from The National
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
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Name: Zinah Madi
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Name: Razan Nabulsi
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
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Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
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Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
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Price: Dh136,814
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
