Morning! We’re The Neutral, your one stop shop for news without an agenda.

First time reader? Sign up here!

Big Stories

Sudan conflict takes toll on its citizens

A battle broke out in Sudan over the weekend, claiming the lives of 185 people and wounding 1,800 others as of Monday night. The UN World Food Program stopped all its efforts in the country after three of its employees were killed in the fighting.

Why are they fighting?
Two rival military leaders — Sudanese army Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo — are locked in a power struggle. They began as allies in 2019, when they overthrew Sudan’s previous leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir, but the partnership fell apart when word broke that the RSF would be integrated into Sudan’s military, while the country transitioned to a civilian-led democracy.

Why it matters:
Civilians have been affected the most by the fighting. Key roads and bridges that lead to hospitals have been destroyed, cutting off access for those that need medical care. At the hospitals, supplies and power are running out and health care workers have no way to evacuate patients on life support.

Big Picture:
The eventual winner of the war will not be Sudanese citizens. Whichever faction emerges victorious will likely forge Sudan’s political future instead of a civilian-led government.

Little Stories

Business

*Apple is launching a new high-yield savings account for its Apple Card customers. Users can earn up to 4.15% — 10x the national rate of 0.37% — on savings in bank accounts.

*David’s Bridal filed for bankruptcy on Monday and will lay off more than 9,000 employees. About 25% percent of brides wear David’s Bridal gowns at their weddings.

World

*Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian oppositions activist, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for speaking out against the war in Ukraine.

*Spanish Athlete Beatriz Flamini spent 500 days in a cave in order to study the effects of isolation on the human body and mind. Flamini said she lost track of time after 2 months in the cave and thought she’d only been in there for 160 to 170 days.

Politics

*An Ohio grand jury did not indict eight police officers on Monday who fired 94 shots in the death of 25-year-old Jayland Walker. Walker returned at least one shot during a car and foot chase last summer.

Sports

*Alabama quarterback Bryce Young odds of going first overall in the NFL draft spiked after he cancelled his meetings with other teams following his visit with the Carolina Panthers, who have the first pick.

*The Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr. won NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors on Monday night. He is the second youngest player to win the award.

One Liners

*McDonald’s is tweaking it’s burger lineup recipes.

*Mapped: 7 ancient wonders of the world.

*Travel: Get around Zurich like a pro.