NATION & WORLD BRIEFS
US to announce additional $100M in aid to respond to Sudan conflict
WASHINGTON – The United States on Sunday was to announce an additional $100 million in aid to respond to the conflict in Sudan, according to a statement seen by Reuters, as Washington seeks to spur international response ahead of Monday's anniversary of the war.
U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power in the statement said the additional funding, first reported by Reuters, would go toward emergency food assistance, nutrition support and other lifesaving aid.
Power is also set to call on the warring parties to stop hindering humanitarian access and participate in “good faith negotiations to reach a ceasefire” in order to prevent famine and further suffering, according to the statement.
War erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, devastating the country's infrastructure.
Russia’s Kurgan governor calls on residents to evacuate
MOSCOW – The governor of Russia's Kurgan region on Sunday urged people to evacuate flooded areas immediately, saying rain was exacerbating the already tough situation there and the coming night would be difficult.
“You need to leave while the sun is up,” governor Vadim Shumkov appealed to local people on the Telegram messaging app. “Gather your families, documents, and valuables and leave beforehand. The situation can worsen sharply at night and you might have not enough time to react.”
The Interfax news agency also cited the government of the Tyumen region to the northeast of Kurgan as saying that two villages there were being evacuated as the authorities feared the area could be threatened by the Ishim river.
The TASS news agency cited Russia's emergencies ministry as saying more than 14,000 houses across Russia have been flooded.
World’s oldest conjoined twins die at age 62
The world's oldest conjoined twins have died at age 62. Guinness World Records confirmed the deaths in an announcement last week.
Lori Schappell and George Schappell, 62, passed away on April 7 at the University of Pennsylvania hospital, according to their obituaries provided online by the Leibensperger Funeral Homes.
Born on Sept. 18, 1961, Lori and George had partially fused skulls. The two shared vital blood vessels and 30% of their brains, Guinness World Records stated.
Starting their lives of independence, the twins moved out of their parents' home when they were 24 years old. The twins had very different lives and interests. George had a career as a country singer and had many performances throughout the United States. Lori enjoyed spending time at the bowling alley and became a trophy-winning bowler, according to their obituaries.
Landslides kill 14 on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island
JAKARTA – At least 14 people have been killed in landslides on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the country's disaster mitigation agency said on Sunday, with rescue efforts ongoing for those reported missing.
Landslides triggered by high-intensity rains affected two villages in the region of Tana Toraja, in South Sulawesi, killing 14 people and destroying four homes, Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson for the agency said in a statement.
Search and rescue efforts for missing residents are continuing, he said, without providing details about how many were unaccounted for. Local media has reported that at least two people are missing.
Photos of affected villages provided by the agency showed rescuers trawling through the rubble for survivors, with homes flattened and reduced to planks of wood and concrete.