Papers on Sudan: A massacre so bloody, you can see it from space • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Valencia Floods Anniversary: Commemoration of a tragic event, focusing on victims, reconstruction, and political accountability.
• Alashir Massacre: Reports of widespread killings and ethnic cleansing following the capture of Alashir by the RSF in Sudan.
• Indonesia's New Capital (Nusantara): Concerns about the viability of a new capital city project due to reduced funding and low occupancy.
• South Park Halloween Special: Upcoming episode featuring political satire and Halloween themes.

Valencia Floods Anniversary

The transcript begins by commemorating the one-year anniversary of the deadly floods in Valencia.

• Spanish Front Pages: The event is prominently featured across Spanish newspapers.
  • ABC: Dedicates its front page to the 237 victims, listing their names and announcing a state funeral in Valencia.
  • El Mundo: Highlights the slow pace of reconstruction and the "open wounds" of the victims. It includes a personal story of two sisters orphaned by the floods and now cared for by their grandfather from Venezuela.
  • El Pais: Headlines with "Mison on the ropes," referring to Carlos Mison, the president of the Valencian government. Opposition figures are questioning his crisis management. A key point of contention is Mison attending a four-hour lunch with a journalist on the afternoon of October 29th, despite being informed of the unfolding tragedy.
  • La Vanguardia: Reports that the "political circle is closing in on Mison," with significant questions surrounding the timing of the emergency alert. The head of emergency services reportedly requested a message be sent at 6:35 p.m. on October 29th, but it was only issued at 8:11 p.m., after most victims had already died.
  • Al Periodico: Identifies "five mistakes" that exacerbated the chaos, specifically citing "indecisiveness by the Valencia authorities" and an "underestimation of the storm and the flooding" as the most significant failures.
• Sports Papers: Even sports tabloids like Marca are commemorating the anniversary, with headlines like "It was devastating," sharing testimonies about reconstruction and moral repair.

Sudan: Alashir Massacre

The discussion shifts to extremely worrying reports from Alashir, Sudan, following its fall to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

• Abuses Against Civilians: Reports indicate a rise in abuses against civilians since the RSF captured Alashir.
• War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity: Humanitarian groups have reported the perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity against vulnerable civilians.
• The Telegraph: Features a shocking headline, "Visible from space. Sudan's bloodied sands expose a massacre of thousands."
  • Scale of Killing: Over 2,000 people are reported to have been killed in the three days since the RSF took the city.
  • Research Methodology: The article cites research from a Yale humanitarian institute that used open-source and satellite imagery to track the siege.
  • Evidence: Images suggest human bodies and reddish discoloration on the ground, interpreted as piles of bodies.
  • Ethnic Cleansing: Evidence of systemic and intentional ethnic cleansing has also been found.
• L'Humanité (France): Labels the situation as the "largest humanitarian crisis in the world" and blames foreign interference.
  • Foreign Interference: The UAE and Chad are reportedly supplying weapons to the RSF, while Egypt and Turkey are supporting the Sudanese army.
  • Antonio Guterres Quote: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is quoted stating that "foreign powers funding and supplying the conflict are as responsible for as the warring parties themselves."

Indonesia's New Capital: Nusantara

The transcript then moves to Indonesia, discussing the challenges facing the new capital city project, Nusantara.

• The Guardian: Reports that Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, is "in danger of becoming a ghost city."
• Project Background: Launched three years ago, the project aimed to replace the polluted and sinking Jakarta.
• Current Status:
  • Reduced Funding: Since President Prabowo Subianto took power, state funding has been halved.
  • Low Occupancy: The city remains largely empty. Currently, only about 2,000 civil servants and 8,000 construction workers reside there.
  • Target Discrepancy: This is significantly below the 2030 target of 1.2 million inhabitants.
• Economic Boom and Bust: The city initially experienced a boom, but many businesses that relocated have since closed due to a lack of population. The new capital is at risk of becoming a "ghost town."

South Park Halloween Special

Finally, the transcript touches upon an upcoming entertainment event.

• Variety: Reports that the next episode of South Park will be a Halloween special, releasing on Friday.
• Sneak Peek: A preview image features Donald Trump and his lover, Satan, overseeing the demolition of the White House, indicating political satire and "haunting" themes.

Conclusion

The transcript covers a range of significant global news items, from the somber anniversary of the Valencia floods and the horrific reports of a massacre in Sudan, to the faltering progress of Indonesia's ambitious new capital project. It highlights the importance of media coverage in documenting tragedies, holding leaders accountable, and raising awareness of humanitarian crises. The segment concludes with a lighter note on an upcoming satirical Halloween special from South Park.