Sudan thwarts coup attempt linked to Bashir regime

Sudan's fragile transitional government said it foiled an attempted coup early yesterday involving military officers and civilians linked to the ousted regime of longtime President Omar al-Bashir. Information Minister Hamza Baloul said the coup attempt was thwarted and those behind it "brought under control". "We assure the Sudanese people that order has been restored and the leaders of attempted coup both military and civilian have been arrested and are being investigated," he said in a televised address. "Authorities are pursuing supporters of the defunct regime who participated in the coup attempt."

Unvaccinated Bolsonaro eats pizza on New York sidewalk

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ate pizza on the sidewalk in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly, likely because he doesn't meet the city's Covid-19 vaccine requirements for indoor dining. The Big Apple currently requires anyone wanting to eat inside to provide proof of at least one shot and Bolsonaro says he is not vaccinated. "Luxury dinner in New York," tweeted Brazil's secretariat minister Luiz Eduardo Ramos alongside a photo of Bolsonaro enjoying a slice outside with several members of his delegation. Tourism minister Gilson Machado also posted a photo of Bolsonaro with slice in hand, writing on Instagram that it was pizza and Coca-Cola for dinner.

Biden admin doubles US refugee admissions

The Biden administration announced Monday that it would double the number of refugees it will accept in the coming fiscal year to 125,000, amid rising pressure from people fleeing Afghanistan and other countries. President Joe Biden has reversed a trend begun by predecessor Donald Trump to push down the number of refugees accepted each year to a few thousand. Trump set the official cap for the current fiscal year, ending on September 30, at just 15,000, and actually admitted far less than that. Biden overrode that number after he came into office, pushing it back up to 62,500. For fiscal 2022, the level will rise to 125,000. "Today, the State Department is reaffirming our commitment to refugee resettlement in line with our long tradition of providing a safe haven and opportunity to individuals fleeing persecution," said spokesperson Ned Price. "With the world facing unprecedented global displacement and humanitarian needs, the United States is committed to leading efforts to provide protection and promote durable solutions to humanitarian crises," Price said in a statement.