NEWS IN BRIEF --2025-03-13

FE Team | Published: March 12, 2025 21:56:19

African Union warns of huge
risk of partition in Sudan
ADDIS ABABA, Mar: The African Union on Wednesday said the announcement of a parallel government in war-torn Sudan risked cleaving the country, already ravaged by nearly two years of unrest. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a brutal conflict with Sudan's army (SAF) since April 2023 in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and uprooted more than 12 million people. — AFP
Greenland's independence gradualists win election amid Trump control pledge
NUUK (Greenland), Mar 12: Greenland's pro-business opposition Demokraatit party, which favours a slow approach to independence from Denmark, won Tuesday's parliamentary election that was dominated by US President Donald Trump's pledge to take control of the island. Demokraatit secured 29.9 per cent of the votes with all ballots counted, up from 9.1 per cent in 2021, ahead of the opposition Naleraq party, which favours rapid independence, at 24.5 per cent. Since taking office in January, Donald Trump has vowed to make Greenland - a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark - part of the United States, saying it is vital to US security interests, an idea rejected by most Greenlanders. — Reuters
Israel confirms release of
five Lebanese detainees
BEIRUT, Mar 12: Israel confirmed the release of five Lebanese detainees held by its military, Israeli media reported on Tuesday, citing the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They were captured during Israel's ground offensive in southern Lebanon that began on Oct. 1 last year, and after the Nov. 27 ceasefire went into effect. This move followed deliberations by the committee overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. — Arab News
Ex-Scottish leader Sturgeon to
quit politics
LONDON, Mar 12: Scotland's ex-leader Nicola Sturgeon announced Wednesday that she will step down as a lawmaker next year, ending a near 30-year career as one of the independence movement's main figureheads. The 54-year-old politician said in a statement on Instagram that she would not seek re-election to the devolved Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh at polls due in 2026. "Reaching this decision has been far from easy," said Sturgeon, who led the Scottish government from 2014 to 2023. — AFP