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May 22, 2023

A Christian missionary recently revealed some of the horrific conditions on the ground in war-torn Sudan, sharing how the dire circumstances are both unbearable and deadly.

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Kafeel Amani, whose name has been changed for his protection, told Christian Headlines “life is extremely terrible” for those inside a nation at war.

“There is no stability, as gunshots and explosions are the order of the day,” he said. “People live in fear and hopelessness. Life becomes meaningless as the value of human beings is reduced to nothingness.”

People have been fleeing Sudan as battles rage and life has become unsustainable. The “catastrophic” situation continues to devolve, with power, water, and food evaporating. The current crisis in Sudan has led to what Reuters called a “collapse in law and order.”

It’s the result of battles between a paramilitary force called Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army a clash that began April 15 and has now entered its sixth week.

Amami told Christian Headlines about the tragic and horrific stories he’s hearing.

“I have been hearing stories of the mass displacement, destruction, and rape of people unable to leave the war zone simply because there are no means of transport or because travel is impossible,” he said.

The missionary said the fighting has forced hundreds of thousands to flee Sudan and head into South Sudan, Chad, Egypt, and Ethiopia in hopes of escaping the chaos, according to Christian Headlines.

Some estimates place the total displaced number well over 1 million.

“Dead bodies are seen everywhere, including in the streets. Hospitals are out of service, and many of them have been turned into military bases,” Amani said. “Khartoum International Airport is still out of service after it was targeted during the first days of the war.”

Churches are reportedly among the locations being looted and under attack. The Rapid Support Forces are reportedly invading houses of worship and Christian assets.

Amani asked for prayer to be able to evacuate his family from Sudan, as he has siblings trapped there and also family members who have fled to Kenya and are in need of assistance.

But he also asked for prayer for him to reach the hearts and minds of many who are suffering.

“Pray for me to keep working hard to help those who are persecuted for their faith,” he said. “Pray that many lives will be transformed and saved through this ministry.”

Read more over at Christian Headlines.

Sudan is the tenth most difficult nation for Christians to live in, according to Open Doors’ “World Watch List.” With just 2 million believers within its borders, Christians account for just 4.3% of the population.

Open Doors noted there have been “positive strides” toward religious liberty in recent years, but that Christian persecution remains high and ongoing war inside the country, which has increased since 2021, could further fuel those dynamics.

“The seizure of power occurred following an escalation in hostilities between conservative Islamists who want a military government and those who toppled Omar al-Bashir in April 2019,” Open Doors explained. “The overthrow of al Bashir resulted in a transitional government, with power shared between the military and civilian leaders.”

With uncertainty abounding, some fear the death penalty for leaving Islam which was vanquished in 2020 could return, among other horrors.

According to Reuters, the current crisis began over quarrels about plans to integrate Rapid Support Forces into the Sudanese Army, and the chain of command that would follow.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who leads Sudan’s military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, of Rapid Support Forces, both seek what the AP called “international legitimacy.” After joining together to take power in 2021 after the ouster of former Sudanese leader al-Bashir, their current rift is calling hopes for Sudan’s democratic transition into question.

The AP reported last month that the U.S. and other nations evacuated diplomats and staff as chaos intensified. Pray for Sudan, refugees, and surrounding countries dealing with the chaos.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up forFaithwires daily newsletterand download theCBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

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Entertainment

Madonna plays biggest-ever show to 1.6 million fans on Rio’s Copacabana beach

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Madonna plays biggest-ever show to 1.6 million fans on Rio's Copacabana beach

Madonna has played her biggest-ever gig to an estimated 1.6 million people on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

It was the last show in her Celebration tour and she performed hits such Like A Prayer, Vogue, Hung Up, Into The Groove and Like A Virgin.

The Brazil city was buzzing ahead of Saturday’s free two-hour show, with hotels and Airbnb’s packed and about 170 extra flights expected into the city.

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

The famous Rio beach was packed with fans. Pic: AP
Image:
The famous Rio beach was packed with fans. Pic: AP

Helicopters and drones buzzed over the beach as the Queen of Pop took to the stage at 10:37pm, nearly 50 minutes late.

“Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna told the crowd as she pointed out Rio’s famous mountains and Christ the Redeemer statue.

The 65-year-old opened up with Nothing Really Matters from 1998’s Ray of Light album.

Eighteen speaker towers were dotted along the beach to ensure everyone could hear the US star’s vocals.

Brazilian musicians and people from local samba schools were involved in the show – with many fans dressing up in Madonna-themed outfits.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

“Since Madonna arrived here, I’ve been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen,” said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, who wore a version of Madonna’s iconic gold cone bra.

Many fans had staked out a spot many hours – or even days – before the show, while others took in the spectacle from yachts or apartment balconies.

Madonna’s website said it was the biggest she had ever done – more than 10 times the 130,000 she played to in Paris in 1987.

However, Rio is used to huge shows – The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have played to similar-size crowds there.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Read more from Sky News:
Flight nightmare causes Murs to cancel gig with Take That
Is now a golden age for original musicals on the West End?

Thousands of police were on duty for Saturday’s show, which city authorities estimated drew a crowd of 1.6 million and would earn the local economy about 293 million reals (£46m).

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For Madonna, it was the culmination of an 81-date retrospective tour that began in London in October and moved across Europe and North and South America.

The singer embarked upon the tour a few months after being admitted to intensive care with a serious bacterial inaction in June 2023.

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UK

Bradford: One child dies and four other people taken to hospital after house fire

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Bradford: One child dies and four other people taken to hospital after house fire

A child has died in a house fire in Bradford.

A woman and three other children managed to escape the property and are being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “At 1.08 this morning (5 May) police were called by the fire service to reports of a serious house fire on Kingsdale Drive, Bradford.

“A woman and three children managed to escape the property and were taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Police at scene of fatal house fire in Bradford
Police at scene of fatal house fire in Bradford

“A fourth child was found inside the address and was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene,” police added.

“A scene is currently in place at the address and police are working with the fire investigators to establish the exact cause of the fire.”

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

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World

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu rejects ceasefire deal that would ‘leave Hamas intact’

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Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu rejects ceasefire deal that would 'leave Hamas intact'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals because he says Hamas’s call for a withdrawal of all troops from Gaza and an end to the war is unacceptable.

Mr Netanyahu said agreeing to such proposals would “leave Hamas intact” and leave the possibility of another attack in future.

“Surrendering to the demands of Hamas would be a terrible defeat for the State of Israel,” he said in a video statement.

Mediated negotiations for a pause in the fighting in return for the release of hostages held by Hamas have been going on in Egypt, but a deal still appears some way off.

Hamas said in a statement on Sunday it’s “still keen to reach a comprehensive, interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, guarantees withdrawal, and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal”.

The impasse comes after Egyptian media reported “noticeable progress” in ceasefire talks on Saturday.

The proposal mediators had put to Hamas set out a three-stage process for an immediate, six-week ceasefire and partial release of Israeli hostages, with some sort of Israeli pull-out in exchange.

More on Israel-hamas War

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel’s military operation, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Israel has said it remains committed to a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million have fled in search of safety, as it tries to wipe out Hamas.

The UN and others have warned of catastrophe if it goes ahead.

The war began in October after Hamas killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, when it launched a surprise attack.

More than 200 were abducted and many remain as hostages, while others are thought to have died.

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