Latest news with #Hassan
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Driven to starvation, Sudanese people eat weeds and plants to survive as war rages
On Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and asked him for a week-long ceasefire in El Fasher to allow aid delivery. Burhan agreed to that request, according to an army statement, but it's unknown whether the RSF would agree to that truce. A.H. said aid distribution often provided slight relief. His wife in children live in Obeid and also struggle to secure enough food due to high prices in the market. His poem continued: 'You were a world that sends love into the barren time. You were a woman woven from threads of the sun. You were the sandalwood and the jasmine and a revelation of green, glowing and longing." Fighting restricted travel, worsening food insecurity Sudanese agricultural minister Abu Bakr al-Bashari told Al-Hadath news channel in April that there are no indicators of famine in the country, but there is shortage of food supplies in areas controlled by the paramilitary forces, known as RSF. However, Leni Kinzli, World Food Programme Sudan spokesperson, said 17 areas in Gezeira, most of the Darfur region, and Khartoum, including Jebel Aulia are at risk of famine. Each month, over 4 million people receive assistance from the group, including 1.7 million in areas facing famine or at risk, Kinzli said. The state is suffering from two conflicts: one between the Rapid Support Forces and the army, and another with the People's Liberation Movement-North, who are fighting against the army and have ties with the RSF, making it nearly impossible to access food, clean water, or medicine. He can't travel to Obeid in North Kordofan to be with his family, as the Rapid Support Forces blocked roads. Violence and looting have made travel unsafe, forcing residents to stay in their neighborhoods, limiting their access to food, aid workers said. A.H. is supposed to get a retirement pension from the government, but the process is slow, so he doesn't have a steady income. He can only transfer around $35 weekly to his family out of temporary training jobs, which he says is not enough. Hassan, another South Kordofan resident in Kadugli said that the state has turned into a 'large prison for innocent citizens' due to the lack of food, water, shelter, income, and primary health services caused by the RSF siege. International and grassroots organizations in the area where he lives were banned by the local government, according to Hassan, who asked to be identified only by his first name in fear of retribution for speaking publicly while being based in an area often engulfed with fighting. So residents ate the plants out of desperation. 'You would groan to give life an antidote when darkness appeared to us through the window of fear.,' A.H. wrote in his poem. "You were the light, and when our tears filled up our in the eyes, you were the nectar. Food affordability Vu warned that food affordability is another ongoing challenge as prices rise in the markets. A physical cash shortage prompted the Norwegian Refugee Council to replace cash assistance with vouchers. Meanwhile, authorities monopolize some markets and essential foods such as corn, wheat flour, sugar and salt are only sold through security approvals, according to Hassan.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Animated films need more emphasis on story and character
REGARDED as Malaysia's Father of Animation, film historian and animation legend Hassan A Muthalib describes Malaysian films as "not cinematic in terms of narrative and stylistics". While he remains an optimist, he hopes that today's animation gurus focus more on training new animated filmmakers in order for the animation industry to rise. "The animation filmmaker has control over every single frame, unlike the live-action filmmaker. How the director plans everything he sees is dependent on the director's point of view about issues of the day," he said in a recent interview. DYNAMICS Asked where he sees the animation industry 10 years down the road, Hassan said that things would not change much, unless the right film dynamics and the language of cinema are better understood and applied. "Our animated films should be less video-game-like with more stress on story and characters. "The award-winning Latvian film 'Flow' is a good example of how it should be done without fast cuts and incredible camera moves," he said. Hassan admitted that there were always some areas in animation which Malaysians could hardly touch as a result of society's sensitivities. To get around this, he said: "Animation provides an element of fantasy, especially with the use of non-human characters. "Walt Disney has proven it with his animation features from the 1930s to the 1990s. "His philosophy was to create great characters with distinct personalities. "Give them great stories to be acted out." ORANG ASLI One suggestion Hassan has on interesting topics for animated movies is classical Malay literature and Orang Asli folktales. "It's great to explore these, and fantastic stories can be made with the cutting-edge technology we have today. "As far back as 1940 with Disney's 'Fantasia', the ground has already been prepared. "Malaysian-based Japanese filmmaker Yasu Tanaka was the first to do so with his feature film 'Magik'." While censorship is seen as a hindrance to the future development of animated films, Hassan believes that there is a need for it to minimise violence especially in cartoons. "The Censorship Board helps in showing how some things can be overcome. "For example, in 'Pulau' and 'Spilt Gravy On Rice', the films were passed because in the end, it all seemed to be a dream experienced by the protagonist. "However, I was surprised how 'Dongeng Sang Kancil' managed to get through with so much graphic violence, especially since it was aimed at children." Recalling his journey into the industry, Hassan said that he first came to work in Filem Negara Malaysia (FNM) in 1968, and was guided by Anandam Xavier who made Malaysia's first animated short, 'Hikayat Sang Kancil'. "I thought to myself I am never ever going to understand how to do this, but 10 years later, I was making even more complicated camera charts. "I was drawn to his background paintings and it was only when I started making my feature film, 'Silat Legenda' in 1995 that I realised background paintings gave the look of a film." SANG KANCIL Unconsciously, Hassan understood the importance of production design and it played an important role in his next short film, 'Sang Kancil Dan Monyet', in the mid-1980s. "In November 1972, I was assigned to do a Happy Christmas trailer. I discovered that it was not about requiring 24 frames for a second of animation, it was about how fast the animation was and about creating the correct space between drawings." Hassan said that two years later, he came up with his first public service announcement (PSA) about Anti-Hoarding, and in 1979, his controversial 'Nyamuk Aedes PSA' ruffled politicians' feathers. "The talking mosquitoes were very popular with their catchy dialogue, but it was promptly taken off the air because a member of parliament felt that the mosquitoes' leader seemed to parody him." Hassan is the man behind the first anti-dadah trailer in 1979. "Many people were scared stiff by the story of a drug addict who climbs a flight of stairs right into a huge skull's mouth, and turns into a skeleton," he said. JAMALI SHADAT Hassan also collaborated with veteran comedian Datuk Jamali Shadat in a PSA about gas cylinders in 1981. "Esso asked us to make an animated trailer on the do's and don't's of using a gas cylinder. Here's where I roped in Jamali, and he did a fantastic job educating the public with his spontaneous, humorous lecture," he said. Hassan made his first live action PSA in 1983 with 'Keluarga' (Family), and it was shot at University Malaya Medical Centre. "It was the story of a drug addict's parents who awaited the doctor's annoucement following their son's admission to hospital," he said, adding that the PSA won Best Idea at Anugerah Seri Angkasa. IMUDA Hassan's first win for an animated feature film was 'Mat Gelap' in 1990. It was about the adventures of a zany detective played by Datuk Imuda. When asked about his favourite animated shorts by Malaysian filmmakers, Hassan listed Liew Seng Tatt's 'Don't Play Play', Eugene Foo's 'Grey Avenue', Hajar Aznam's 'Ulek Mayang: Spirits Of The Sea' and Ah Loong's 'The 7th Night: Maomao Revisits'. "All four have simple but well-developed stories and are well put across through animation," he said.
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
FDNY unveils ‘Calendar of Heroes' as smoke-show models ready to set New Yorkers' hearts on fire
The Big Apple's burning up for these firefighters! It was a major smoke show in Manhattan Thursday as fans of the FDNY's sizzling new 2026 'Calendar of Heroes' lined up to meet the hotties who light up its pages. Models featured in the newly relaunched calendar — which famously shows off the department's biggest babes and beefcakes — signed copies and posed for selfies with fans at Vanderbilt Plaza in Midtown. Advertisement 'This is all in good fun, you know, parts of our job can be very dark. This is just giving us more of a positive light. It was very fun to do,' said hunky FDNY pin-up Justin Hassan, 35. 3 Justin Hassan, 35, appears on the calendar's cover looking ripped and holding an ax. FDNY Foundation Hassan, who lives on Staten Island and works at Ladder 3 in Manhattan, appears on the calendar's cover shirtless, welding an ax as his massive muscles glisten. Advertisement 'The photographers just told me what to wear, how to line up. They really made it easy, so I just showed up in shape,' he said. The steamy calendar — which features one version with male pin-ups, and another with women — is a good way to get New Yorkers hot and bothered about fire safety, the models said. 3 Jennifer Costanza is 'Miss October' in the calendar. FDNY Foundation 'I feel like it's a levity, you know? This is a hilariousness…We never get this much attention. It's exciting to be here,' said 'Miss October' Jennifer Constanzo. 'I'm so happy and I'm glad it's a good cause.' Advertisement Constanzo, a 36-year-old paramedic from the Bronx, said her department is full of fit, attractive folks. 'We do have very good looking, hardworking people [in the FDNY],' she said. In it, smoking hot model Elijah Toussaint, of Engine 260 in Long Island City, is also seen shirtless and ripped, holding a firehose and clutching some gear below his belt. The calendar, which was previously axed in 2021 due to low post-pandemic sales, hit the stands at 11 a.m. Thursday. Advertisement 3 Hunky FDNY member Elijah Toussaint of Engine 260 lights up the pages of the calendar. FDNY Foundation It's being put out by the FDNY Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for Gotham's fire equipment and training. At the event Thursday, models piled off a double-decker bus with a huge image of Hassan's cover photo on the side, and went inside a tent to sign calendars. 'It highlights fitness and wellness, which is so important in the fire department. I mean, these jobs are strenuous and hard, and they require you to be in tip top shape,' FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said Thursday.
ITV News
a day ago
- Health
- ITV News
Palestinian Red Crescent: We have an 'hit iron wall' in Gaza
The mother of a malnourished little boy who died in Gaza has told ITV News even if she could find food she couldn't afford it - as the Head of Gaza's Red Crescent told us the situation means they cannot save lives. Warning: this report contains pictures of a very-ill Hasan which you may find upsetting. The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent has told ITV News the aid organisation has "hit an iron wall" and that its efforts are "becoming useless", as the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to reach new lows.A near-total Israeli blockade of food, medicine and fuel is pushing Palestinians closer to starvation, Dr. Younis Al-Khatib comments came as ITV News spoke to the mother of baby Hassan who died in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on told us that he was malnourished and that even when she found food for him in the market she could not afford it. Hassan's death highlights both the acute shortage of food and medicine, the supply of which has been severely hampered by Israel's blockade of Dr. Younis Al-Khatib is making a plea to politicians in the UK and across the world to take action, as he feels the humanitarian community has reached the limit in what they can do to help."There is a total failure of the health system," he said. "It is a desperate situation."Only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are still open, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Israel's offensive on Gaza began, at least 56,156 Palestinians are said to have been killed - of those, 17,121 were children. However, Dr. Younis Al-Khatib says they can only estimate the true figures. "No-one can say how many lives are lost. We only know those who try to go to hospital.. and hospitals are becoming useless." Israel has set up its own routes aid routes – with the help of America. It says it will prevent Hamas siphoning off food and medicines. But over the past month, such has been the crush of desperate and hungry Palestinians at these new feeding stations, that often chaos has been followed by shooting. More than 400 Gazans have died, according to the UN. "It is a militarised system," Dr Khatib says. "These people who are there, all what they know is how to shoot. "Their business is not about delivery. "And what do you expect from people who are struggling? They rush into these areas. The number or the amount of goods to be delivered to them does not meet the needs." He told ITV News the system does not meet the basic principles of impartiality and neutrality that humanitarian aid needs."This system is destroying everything, creating something new that discriminates between people, not based on the need, will make people displaced again because they have to move specific points."Without an immediate ceasefire, he said all 2 million Gazan lives are in danger. "You go to get your food parcel and you could be shot dead... People running from their bombed houses to a shelter in a tent and they still bomb. "We are losing families… killed in tents and shelters. Every day." He added, "Losing one human being is too much. So imagine the numbers."I was number one in mathematics in my classrooms always... but now I hate numbers. We are reduced to numbers."
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Sifan Hassan to run Sydney Marathon, unlikely for World Championships
Sifan Hassan plans to run the Sydney Marathon on Aug. 31. Her management team says that means she does not plan to compete at the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo from Sept. 13-21. Hassan, the Olympic marathon gold medalist, will headline the women's field for Sydney's debut as a World Marathon Major race. 'Australia is such a strong athletics nation, and a great marathon needs passionate and loud fans, so I'm excited,' Hassan said in a press release. 'I'm also honored to be part of the Sydney Marathon's first year as a Major.' At the Paris Olympics, Hassan earned bronze medals in the 5000m (Aug. 5) and the 10,000m (Aug. 9) before winning the marathon on Aug. 11. This summer, she does not plan to attempt the reverse in a tight window. Track races at worlds in Tokyo are two weeks after the Sydney Marathon. 'Participation in Australia means that Sifan will not participate in the World Championships in Tokyo in principle,' Hassan's management team said. 'This is not 100 percent certain, because Sifan can always decide differently.' It would be the first time Hassan misses the biennial worlds since 2013, when the Dutchwoman was at the start of what has become a groundbreaking career. At the Tokyo Olympics, Hassan won 5000m and 10,000m gold and 1500m bronze. In Paris, Hassan became the first person to run the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at one Olympics in 40 years. She became the second person ever to win a medal in the three longest races at one Olympics after Czech Emil Zátopek, who won all three in 1952. Hassan has raced once since the Paris Games — taking third in the London Marathon on April 27. Nick Zaccardi,
