Sudan's warring sides are extensively engaging in "manipulative activity" online, a disinformation monitoring group told The National, after it had scrolled through more than 30,000 tweets from accounts posting in favour of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the army (SAF) and former regime Islamists.
The approach is what differs between the three sides, said Amil Khan, director of Valant Project.
"The SAF favours using mass, spam posts to give the impression that it has high levels of popular support. The RSF seems to be mostly aiming at foreign audiences – regional and western. Its approach relies more heavily on a small number of high-value accounts, with some inauthentic amplification through mass retweets," he said.
In each case, the methodology and aim of the groups are connected, Mr Khan said.
"The SAF is seeking popular backing, the RSF is seeking external legitimacy and the Islamists want to claw back power. Each uses their online infrastructure to achieve those aims."
Additionally, hashtags in support of both sides have been used to further claims by the warring parties of breaches of several ceasefires brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia.
"Sudan has been targeted by people or organisations who want to destabilise the country. Despite some efforts by internet and social media companies, false information does get through – so it's important that journalists and society at large know the truth about what's happening," said Derek Ivens, a Thomson Foundation trainer.
Twitter has also recently monetised its blue tick, enabling users who have bought one to appear more prominently on the website. This option was previously available only for accounts that had verified themselves to Twitter, through a series of identity authenticating questions, either as an organisation or an individual, such as a public figure.
Before the new change in rules, paramilitary accounts belonging to the RSF and the Houthi rebel militia, for example, would not have been given a blue tick.
On May 12, the RSF falsely claimed it had taken control of the capital Khartoum, nearly a month after the war between it and the army broke out.
However, clashes continue after several ceasefires and attempts by the US, UN and Saudi Arabia to end the fighting.
Ten days after the fighting broke out on April 15, a video purportedly showing civilians throwing stones at vehicles belonging to the RSF began recirculating on Twitter. The video actually dates from 2019, when a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests was taking place.
Internet empowerment NGO Smex says this kind of disinformation is "particularly dangerous" and "might encourage civilians to take it upon themselves to face paramilitary forces on the ground, leading to fatal repercussions".
Stage 5 results
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 3:48:53
2 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team -
3 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott -
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:04
5 Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) CCC Team 0:00:07
General Classification:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 20:35:04
2 Tadej Pogacar (SlO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:01
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:48
5 Rafał Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:11
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
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Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Canada
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More on Quran memorisation:
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
MATCH INFO
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
