Sudan Violence, France Protests, & A Tiny Nuclear Reactor
May 2, 2023
Chaos Continues In Khartoum
As the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue their struggle for power in Sudan, citizens living in the nation’s capital of Khartoum are suffering the consequences. On Monday, the United Nations said that the conflict could displace 800,000 people, while doctors and aid agencies working in Khartoum warned that the country’s healthcare system was on the verge of collapse.
Later that same day, Volker Perthes, the top U.N. official in Sudan, said that both sides have agreed to send representatives to direct peace talks – though the two sides haven’t been shy about continuing violence even after repeatedly agreeing to ceasefires since the conflict broke out. According to Perthes, talks will first focus on establishing a “stable and reliable” ceasefire before any resolution to the conflict might be achieved. Unfortunately, there are a variety of roadblocks to even starting peace talks, including the simple task of bringing SAF and RSF leaders to the table together. In-person talks would be held in either Saudi Arabia or South Sudan, but moving leadership through enemy territories “is very difficult in a situation where there is a lack of trust.”
On Sunday, both sides agreed to extend a ceasefire by 72 hours, though the ceasefire really existed in name only. Skirmishes and bombardments have continued into Monday in Khartoum and across the nation, with the nation’s health ministry estimating that the conflict has killed 528 people and wounded 4,599 others – though the U.N. says the damage is much worse.
“UNHCR, with governments and partners, is preparing for the possibility that over 800,000 people may flee the fighting in Sudan for neighbouring countries,” tweeted U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The country’s doctors’ union said that Khartoum was experiencing “an environmental catastrophe,” with bodies piling up on the streets and water supplies running low.
Some Good News
- When a mom ran down the street holding her shot 3-year-old son, a good Samaritan jumped into action (ABC)
- Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist Hisham Abdel Aziz after four years (BBC)
A May Day Mayday In France
- On Monday – International Workers’ Day – some 782,000 French workers across the nation joined in (continued) protests opposing pension reforms shoved through the legislative process by President Emmanuel Macron. The day marks the first time that all of France’s eight major unions have called for strikes on the same day since 2009, and the protests far outsized May Day demonstrations held last year.
- Protests in Paris began at Place de la Republique near the center of the city, where protestors put a vest reading “Macron resign” onto a statue of Marianne, the giant statue that personifies the French state. While the country’s interior ministry says there were around 112,000 protesters in Paris, the CGT union, a top French labor group, says that protests were 550,000 strong in the nation’s capital.
Uzbekistan Overhaul
- The population of Uzbekistan made some major changes to its government in a referendum passed Sunday. The vote involved multiple reforms, including extending presidential term limits, abolishing capital punishment, and increasing protections for citizens, but did away with a contentious section blocking a large portion of the country from voting on seceding.
- The referendum was originally supposed to be put before the Uzbek public last year, but the vote was delayed following civil unrest in the Karakalpakstan region in response to changes blocking the area from voting on secession. Protests broke out in the region’s capital, leading to the deaths of 18 people in clashes with police.
- The new referendum, minus the passage blocking Karakalpakstan secession, was supported by 90% of voters, with roughly 85% of the Uzbek voting population casting ballots. The changes to presidential term lengths, which will extend terms from five years to seven years, will reset term limits for current Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, meaning he’ll technically be able to rule for 14 more years when his current presidency ends in 2026.
Additional World News
- Ukraine war: Russia launches second pre-dawn missile attack in three days (BBC)
- Alireza Akbari, the Iranian Insider and British Spy Executed in Iran (NYT, $)
- ISIS leader killed in Syria, Turkish President Erdoğan says (NBC)
- Biden hosts Philippines leader Marcos as China tensions grow (ABC)
- Nurses out on strike in half of England’s NHS (BBC)
- Thai PM candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra gives birth two weeks before election (Guardian)
- Pope speaks of secret peace ‘mission,’ help for Ukraine kids (AP)
“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” – Indira Gandhi
Suing In The Sunshine State
- The board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that oversees Disney’s Reedy Creek district voted on Monday to sue the happiest place on earth, just a few days after Disney filed their own lawsuit. Martin Garcia, chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors, said, “Since Disney sued us – yes, we didn’t sue Disney, Disney sued us – we have no choice now but to respond.”
- Before the board was selected in February, Disney had reached agreements with the outgoing board limiting the power of DeSantis’ appointees, but the new board voted last week to nullify those agreements. Disney then sued DeSantis and the new board, saying the governor was using his political power to crack down on free speech. Garcia said the purpose of suing Disney is to “uphold and enforce” the board’s vote to void Disney’s pacts with the previous board.
Don’t Mess With Dust Storms
- On Monday, at least six people were killed and over 30 were injured after a dust storm caused dozens of vehicles to crash along I-55 in Sangamon and Montgomery counties in Illinois. Police say the storm was caused by newly-plowed fields from nearby.
- Illinois State Police Major Ryan Starrick said at least “40 to 60 passenger cars” crashed, and another 30 commercial vehicles also wrecked. The rescue effort was hindered by the dust, making it hard to get to victims quickly.
Additional USA News
- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee won’t seek fourth term (Politico)
- Strong tornado moves through Virginia (AP)
- E Jean Carroll returns to witness stand in Trump rape trial (Guardian)
- May snowstorm for the record books blankets parts of Wisconsin and Michigan (NBC)
- Cardin not running for reelection, opening blue-state Senate seat (Politico)
- GOP Sen. Tim Scott signals he will officially announce his presidential campaign May 22 (NBC)
- RNC chair says GOP 2024 candidates must address abortion issue “head on” (Axios)
The MARVELs Of Technology
- As the world continues its struggle to balance energy production with climate change, nuclear power is being pulled every which way by different governments. The U.S. opened up its first new nuclear generator in 30 years in March and China is building 22 of the 60 nuclear plants currently under construction worldwide, while Germany and France have taken steps away from the controversial energy source in recent times.
- At the Idaho National Laboratory’s Transient Reactor Test Facility, scientists are looking to shake up the game even more. Next year, researchers will begin construction of a miniature nuclear reactor, named the MARVEL reactor (MARVEL stands for Microreactor Applications Research Validation and EvaLuation), a less-massive nuclear reactor that will be able to fit, supposedly, in the trailer of a semi-truck.
- The 15-foot-tall, 2,000-pound nuclear reactor, once constructed, could be used for a variety of purposes unique to nuclear power. It could be connected to the grids of remote towns, back up renewable energy systems when wind and solar can’t produce electricity, or even power specific electrical systems without the need for a power grid – much like a portable generator that doesn’t spew diesel fumes or require fossil fuels.
Additional Reads
- Concertgoer lets out a ‘loud full body orgasm’ while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovsky’s 5th (LAT, $)
- NYPD officer dies 33 years after he was shot in a robbery (ABC)
- $3 million fentanyl shipment to Maine restaurant prompts arrest (CBS)
- Pro-Trump pastors rebuked for ‘overt embrace of white Christian nationalism’ (Guardian)
- Ancient Romans Dropped Their Bling Down the Drain, Too (NYT, $)
- Arikomban: ‘Killer’ Indian elephant relocated to tiger reserve (BBC)
- Unique fossil site discovered in Wales reveals early life forms (CNN)