logo
The Irish Times view on the crisis in Sudan and Chad: a distracted world looks away

The Irish Times view on the crisis in Sudan and Chad: a distracted world looks away

Irish Times23-04-2025
Even before Donald Trump's outrageous cuts to US humanitarian aid programmes, in Sudan and Chad the World Food Programme was trying to cope with a 40 per cent drop in funding. One of the worst humanitarian crises in the world has now been plunged deeper into an unimaginable hell.
Since April 2023, 150,000 people have died in Sudan's bitter civil war between two heavily armed, pitiless militias funded by regional powers. Twelve million have now been displaced from their homes. Eight million are at risk of starvation. Of the displaced, 760,000 have crossed the border into the Ouddai province in east Chad and turned the small border town of Adre and its unofficial transit camp into Chad's third largest city, about the size of Cork, with a population estimated at 237,000.
The refugees are mostly Masalit people, an ethnic group who have been murdered and raped by the RSF militia which dominates Sudan's West Darfur state. Men are not being allowed to cross the border. Many are butchered on sight by the group, which has its origins in the Janjaweed militia, responsible for the worst atrocities of the Darfur crisis of 2003-2008. Eighty per cent of those
in the nearby official Aboutengue refugee camp
are widows and children.
The grim testimony from the two camps
, recorded by Irish Times journalists Patrick Freyne and Chris Maddaloni over the past two weeks, is harrowing: graphic stories of rape and bloody killing, of torture and amputees, of starving emaciated children, of desert camps of straw huts, sweltering heat, parched land.
READ MORE
'We have lost so many people,' Mariaha Abdelkareem told them, describing her journey into exile. 'The people dead in the street,' shot by the RSF. 'There were violations for the girls and the women. If you were a man, they were killing you... It's too difficult to describe this as 'war'. We lost our community and our sense of being human beings.'
Meanwhile, preoccupied by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the world is largely silent.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Don Jr savagely mocked for protruding nipples so large people think pic is edited
Don Jr savagely mocked for protruding nipples so large people think pic is edited

Irish Daily Star

time33 minutes ago

  • Irish Daily Star

Don Jr savagely mocked for protruding nipples so large people think pic is edited

U.S. President Donald Trump's eldest son, Don Jr., was mercilessly attacked online after pictures circulated of his nipples protruding Donald Trump Jr. is being brutally teased online for new photographs where his nipples appear to be protruding. ‌ Don Jr., 47, was captured alongside his girlfriend Bettina Anderson behind his father, U.S. President Donald Trump, on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday after the president returned from his informal visit to the United Kingdom, where he stayed at his golf courses in Scotland. ‌ The internet mercilessly mocked the president's eldest son after photographs went viral online. "Where's his bra?", one savage user joked. Another asked: "Is this picture edited or does he legit have t*ts?" And "Must be chilly," a third remarked. According to VeryWellHealth, nipples can harden and protrude in response to cold weather as well as physical stimulation and sexual arousal. The nation's capital saw temperatures drop in the evening to a cloudy 88 degrees Fahrenheit with wind speed of 4 mph following sunny 90 degree weather with upwards of 50% humidity during the day, according to weather reports. ‌ Others took it to a personal place, making cutting accusations about his personality and personal relationships. "I guess Kimmy got the bras in the split," one user speculated, adding: "Kimmy did say 'the breast is yet to come'," referring to his ex, Kimberly Guilfoyle. Many users wildly claimed that the eldest son is seeking his father's attention. "he is trying to look like Ivanka so his father would finally love him," one user wrote. Article continues below "He's growing t--- so his dad pays attention to him," another added. Some even offensively speculated that the son is transitioning genders. "Don Jr transition reveal?", one user asked. One pop culture enthusiast joked: "Watch out, Sydney Sweeney—Gap's got a new chest champ! 2026". Another politically-minded user added: "Has this been forwarded to Nancy Mace? We may have a woman attempting to use the men's room.", referring to the South Carolina representative's transgender bathroom ban initiative.

Trump escalates fight with Brazil with 50% tariffs and sanctions Bolsonaro case judge
Trump escalates fight with Brazil with 50% tariffs and sanctions Bolsonaro case judge

Irish Times

time4 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Trump escalates fight with Brazil with 50% tariffs and sanctions Bolsonaro case judge

On Wednesday, the US made good on its threats to apply 50 per cent tariffs on Brazil two days ahead of schedule and imposed sanctions on the supreme court justice overseeing the criminal case against former president Jair Bolsonaro . The dual measures showed that, just as Brazilian officials sought dialogue, the White House sharply escalated the growing diplomatic crisis between the western hemisphere's two most populous nations. The tariffs against Brazil are the highest of any levy US president Donald Trump has imposed this year, though they exclude many of Brazil's key exports to the United States, such as commercial aircraft, energy products and orange juice. Brazil is also the only country to face tariffs while carrying a trade surplus with the US. READ MORE The actions against Alexandre de Moraes , a Brazilian supreme court justice, are a highly unusual use of some of the gravest human rights sanctions the US government has at its disposal. Trump is targeting Brazil for what he calls political persecution of his ally, Bolsonaro, and illegal censorship of conservative voices online. In an executive order Wednesday, he said actions by Brazil's government and supreme court 'threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States'. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil has publicly defied Trump for weeks, including in an interview with The New York Times published hours before the US government actions Wednesday. 'I think it's important for president Trump to consider: If he wants to have a political fight, then let's treat it as a political fight,' Lula told the Times. 'If he wants to talk trade, let's sit down and discuss trade. But you can't mix everything together.' Trump has called on Brazil to drop the charges against Bolsonaro, who is accused of orchestrating an attempted coup after losing the 2022 elections. Lula and de Moraes have pledged not to allow Trump to interfere in Brazil's judicial process. [ Trump pledges 50% tariffs against Brazil, citing 'witch hunt' against Bolsonaro Opens in new window ] Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro is accused of five crimes, including an attempt to violently abolish the democratic rule of law and a coup d'etat. Photograph: Victor Moriyama/ The New York Times Lula told the New York Times on Tuesday that his government had been studying retaliatory tariffs against some American products if Trump went through with his threats. Now, he is faced with the decision of whether to launch a trade war against Brazil's second-largest trading partner after China. Last year, the US had a $7.4 billion trade surplus with Brazil on about $92 billion in trade. Trump's efforts to come to the aid of Bolsonaro could soon mean higher prices for items such as coffee and beef – products that are significantly sourced from Brazil. Yet, his executive order on Wednesday also said that many products would be exempt from the levy. The US imports about 90 per cent of its fresh orange juice from Brazil, which will not be affected by the new tariffs. More than 40 per cent of Brazilian exports would be exempt from the tariffs, according to estimates from the American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. The levies will go into effect in a week, but goods already in transit will be exempt from taxes if they arrive in the United States by October 5th, according to the executive order. The treasury department sanctions against de Moraes would revoke his US visa and freeze any US assets, as well as generally prohibit many financial institutions from doing transactions with him. Yet, the US state department already revoked his visa this month, and de Moraes does not have bank accounts or financial assets in the United States, according to a spokesperson for Brazil's supreme court. Given the broad tariff exemptions, the actions on Wednesday could end up being less crippling than they appear – but they are a clear signal from the Trump administration that it is prepared for a fight with Brazil. In a statement, Brazil's supreme court defended de Moraes and said the case against Bolsonaro involves a 'a serious attack on Brazilian democracy,' falling within 'the exclusive jurisdiction' of the country's courts. The president's office did not immediately comment. De Moraes has become perhaps the most divisive figure in Brazil. For years, he has acted as the central check on Bolsonaro and his right-wing allies, many of whom attacked Brazil's institutions and claimed the 2022 election was rigged despite a lack of evidence. [ Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro to stand trial for alleged coup attempt Opens in new window ] Alexandre de Moraes at a voting station in Brasilia on October 2nd, 2022. Photograph: Dado Galdieri/New York Times When Brazilian highway police officers stopped busloads of voters in leftist strongholds on election day in 2022, for example, it was de Moraes who ordered the police to let them proceed. But in his fight to protect democracy, he has also been viewed, at times, as having taken authoritarian measures. He has unilaterally ordered technological companies to take down hundreds of popular social media accounts because, he said, they threatened democracy, but he has refused to disclose how. He has jailed people without a trial for threats they posted online. And he has presided over cases in which he was, in effect, the judge and prosecutor. Yet, many of his decisions have also been backed up by a majority of supreme court justices, who have said that his extraordinary powers are needed to fight an extraordinary threat to Brazil's democracy. The moves have made him an intense target. In Brazil, there have been failed assassination attempts on his life. In the US, billionaire Elon Musk criticised him for months over his orders against X. And, now, the White House has put him on a sanctions list shared by many of the world's worst human rights abusers. On Tuesday, Lula said that the US efforts to target de Moraes were a dangerous infringement on Brazil's democracy. 'The supreme court of a country has to be respected not only by its own country, but it has to be respected by the world,' he said. 'I will never question someone from America's supreme court.' 'Today is a historic day,' Eduardo Bolsonaro said in a statement, thanking Trump and Rubio. Photograph: Tomas Cuesta/ Getty Images US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who first floated the idea of sanctions against de Moraes in June, said the Brazilian justice had been targeted with economic penalties because he had committed 'serious human rights abuses'. 'Let this be a warning to those who would trample on the fundamental rights of their countrymen – judicial robes cannot protect you,' he said in a social media post. Trump's aggressive attempts to aid Bolsonaro come just weeks before the former Brazilian president is poised to stand trial on the coup charges. Brazilian prosecutors say he sought to overturn the 2022 vote, dismantle courts and hand special powers to the military. And, in perhaps the most damning accusation, the police say the conspiracy included a plot to assassinate Lula and de Moraes. Bolsonaro denies knowledge of an assassination plan, but admits to studying 'ways within the constitution' to hold on to power after the election. After Bolsonaro left office, thousands of his supporters ransacked government buildings in Brazil's capital, in an episode that echoed the January 6th, 2021, riots on the US Capitol. Bolsonaro has suggested that immunity from prosecution, for him and his allies, is the path to an economic truce with the US. Lawmakers aligned with Bolsonaro are pushing for an amnesty bill, though Lula is likely to veto it. The US measures are a major win for Bolsonaro, who could face decades in prison if he is found guilty. For months, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president's son, has been lobbying the White House to apply sanctions against de Moraes and other judges, arguing that Brazil's supreme court is unfairly targeting his father and other right-wing voices. 'Today is a historic day,' Eduardo Bolsonaro said in a statement, thanking Trump and Rubio for the 'courage' to apply sanctions against de Moraes. 'I will be eternally grateful to them for this act.' – This article originally appeared in The New York Times .

US trading partners rush to sign deals before Donald Trump's tariffs hit
US trading partners rush to sign deals before Donald Trump's tariffs hit

Irish Times

time8 hours ago

  • Irish Times

US trading partners rush to sign deals before Donald Trump's tariffs hit

Top officials from big US trading partners have rushed to Washington in a bid to strike last-ditch trade deals with Donald Trump less than 24 hours before being hit again with the president's highest levels of tariffs . US allies Canada and Mexico sent delegations, according to people familiar with the negotiations, and were locked in intense talks to Trump administration officials on Wednesday. As the August 1st deadline neared, Mr Trump signalled late progress with key trading partners, announcing a deal with South Korea late on Wednesday while also saying he would hold last-minute talks to India – just hours after he announced 25 per cent tariffs on the country. But Mr Trump also warned other trading partners he would not back away from the sweeping tariff regime he has threatened on countries that do not reach an agreement by his deadline. 'The August first deadline is the August first deadline – it stands strong, and will not be extended. A big day for America!!!' the president posted on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday. The threats, coupled with deals struck in recent days with the EU and Japan, have left negotiators from other trading partners in an urgent rush to find time to meet administration officials and settle terms. Despite Mr Trump's tariff threat to India, one person familiar with its negotiations said New Delhi was close to an agreement, even though its top negotiators have left Washington. Canada's prime minister Mark Carney struck a cautious tone about the progress of his country's talks to the Trump administration. 'These are complex, they're comprehensive, they're constructive negotiations,' Mr Carney told reporters. 'It's possible that they may not conclude by the first of August.' Trump hit out at Canada late on Wednesday, writing on his Truth Social platform that Mr Carney's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood would 'make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them'. Foreign diplomats have spent hours in recent weeks negotiating with commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer. Although one diplomat described Mr Lutnick as 'instrumental' in securing any deal, many said he had warned them that all final decisions rested with Mr Trump. People familiar with various trade talks said Mr Trump had on more than one occasion rejected potential deals proposed to him by Mr Lutnick and other aides, and demanded they push for more concessions to the US. The president had personally intervened in several deals, including joining a call with the Indian trade minister and Mr Lutnick as negotiations progressed, according to two people familiar with the talks. Mr Trump is also due to decide whether to extend a pause in his trade war with China , after treasury secretary Scott Bessent and Mr Greer held a third round of talks to a team from Beijing in Sweden this week. The latest diplomatic blitz comes as US markets broadly shrug off Trump's trade war. The S&P 500 share index has zoomed to record highs, while the dollar has hit its highest level since May as traders bet on the president baulking at imposing levies severe enough to spook investors. But some Wall Street banks and investors remain concerned that markets are complacent. 'Deadlines have come and gone, tariffs have climbed ... but economic data and markets have not rolled over. So, it's tempting to move on from the idea that US trade policy will move markets,' Morgan Stanley told clients in a note. 'Resist that temptation.' The diplomatic efforts cap a tumultuous six months in US trade relations marked by truculent rhetoric and tariff threats from Mr Trump, often followed by reversals and climbdowns. US trading partners without a deal have until 12.01am eastern time on Friday to find one – or face Mr Trump reimposing the steep tariffs he announced in April but suspended after days of severe market turmoil. After threatening foreign capitals with levies to exact political concessions, the president has since made reciprocal tariffs the centrepiece of his combative trade agenda. Those tariffs, imposed on 'liberation day' in April, reached up to 50 per cent for most US trading partners. Mr Trump has said he wants the tariffs to eliminate trade deficits with foreign exporters. Although Mr Trump promised to strike 90 deals in 90 days of his earlier pause on the reciprocal tariffs, negotiations have often been fraught, with major trading partners seeking to protect crucial industries, and some negotiators confused by the administration's mixed messages. Mexico and Canada, among the US's top three trading partners, have been offered a substantial carve-out for goods complying with their existing 2020 free trade agreement with the US. But they were also among the countries Mr Trump threatened with steeper tariffs in a barrage of letters posted online in recent weeks. Trading partners have sought to understand the mechanism for new tariffs – or their removal – and have been confused about which tariffs might snap back or be imposed, and which would diverge from those announced. Mr Trump would need to issue executive orders in advance of the deadline on Thursday night to impose any levies that differ from those he set out in April. In the UK last week, the president also raised the possibility that he would impose blanket 15-20 per cent levies on countries without a new deal by August 1st. 'You can't sit down and make 200 deals,' Mr Trump said in Scotland, where he unveiled his trade deal with the EU. Several countries have also been sent letters outlining new tariff rates, or have agreed on new levies – but the administration has not yet issued any fresh legal documents to carry through on its threats. Mr Trump has suggested that he could send more letters to countries stipulating other tariff rates. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store