Youth volunteers prepare donated food in Khartoum, Sudan. Reuters
Youth volunteers prepare donated food in Khartoum, Sudan. Reuters
Youth volunteers prepare donated food in Khartoum, Sudan. Reuters
Youth volunteers prepare donated food in Khartoum, Sudan. Reuters

UN says about a quarter of Sudan's population is at risk of starvation


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About a quarter of Sudan’s population of 44 million faces starvation, the UN has said.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or Ocha, said it estimated that 11.7 million would be at risk from acute hunger between June and September, an increase of about million compared with the same period last year.

Sudan’s growing food crisis has been caused mainly by economic problems and persistent dry spells, Ocha said.

The report, issued on Wednesday, adds another layer to the political and economic crises in Sudan.

A military takeover last October derailed the country’s democratic transition, sparked a wave of street protests against the country's generals and led to the suspension of billions of dollars in western aid.

Most of those suffering from acute hunger are in the capital, Khartoum, the western Darfur region and the Kassala and White Nile provinces, Ocha said.

About four million children under the age of 5 and pregnant and nursing women are estimated to be acutely malnourished.

This includes 618,950 children with severe acute malnutrition, of whom about 93,000 suffer from medical complications and need specialised care, Ocha said.

Sudan’s economic crisis has been deepened by the effects of the Ukraine war, which led to higher energy and shipping costs.

Inflation in Sudan has reached more than 200 per cent, with soaring food and fuel prices hitting middle class and poor families.

Crime rates have also increased in major cities, including Khartoum.

Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan led the military takeover in Sudan. Reuters
Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan led the military takeover in Sudan. Reuters

Sudan's democratic transition began in August 2019 with a joint military-civilian government that was established after long-time president Omar Al Bashir was removed from power.

Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, the army chief who led the military takeover in October, said it was necessary to spare the country from civil war and to “correct” the course of the democratic transition.

But the takeover has sparked regular protests against the military in Khartoum and other cities. At least 115 protesters have been killed by security forces and at least 6,000 injured since October.

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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

Credits

Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5

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FIRST TEST SCORES

England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)

England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0

Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)

 

What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL

 

Final scores

18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)

- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)

-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)

-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)

-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)

-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Updated: August 04, 2022, 3:23 PM