FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army, in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah / File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army, in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah / File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army, in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah / File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army, in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS / Mohamed

Drone attack leaves at least 40 dead in Khartoum outdoor market


Hamza Hendawi
  • English
  • Arabic

A drone attack targeting an outdoor market on the southern fringes of the Sudanese capital Khartoum has killed at least 40 people, activists and a medical group say, as the army and a rival paramilitary continue to fight for control of the vast Afro-Arab nation.

At least three dozen others were injured in the Sunday attack in the Mayo district, said Resistance Committees, a pro-democracy group responsible for organising most of the antimilitary street protests that swept Sudan after a 2021 coup toppled a civilian-led government.

The death toll and casualty figures were confirmed by medical workers at a hospital where the injured have been taken. Images posted online showed bodies wrapped in white sheets lying on the ground in the hospital's yard. A medical group operating in the area also said at least 40 were killed.

It said many of the wounded were taken to a local hospital on donkey-drawn carts and tuk-tuks.

"Many of the wounded succumbed to their injuries while being transported to hospital," said the The Emergency Group South of the Belt.

It was not immediately clear which side was behind Sunday’s attack. Both the army and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, are known to have deployed drones in their nearly five-month-old war.

There was no word immediately available from the army or the RSF on the attack.

FILE PHOTO: A Chadian cart owner transports belongings of Sudanese people who fled the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, while crossing the border between Sudan and Chad in Adre, Chad. Reuters
FILE PHOTO: A Chadian cart owner transports belongings of Sudanese people who fled the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, while crossing the border between Sudan and Chad in Adre, Chad. Reuters

The Mayo district is the southern most residential area of the Sudanese capital. The overwhelming majority of its inhabitants come from western and southern Sudan, areas known in the country's political parlance as the marginalised fringes.

News of the drone attack came less than a week after at least 32 civilians were killed and dozens injured in artillery strikes by the army, one of the highest tolls from a single day of fighting. The strike was in Ombada in the city of Omdurman, which sits across the Nile from Khartoum.

The war between the army and the RSF is essentially a fight for political and military supremacy pitting army chief and military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan against his one-time deputy and ally Gen Mohamed Dagalo, the commander of the RSF better known by his nickname, Hemedti.

The war has created a massive humanitarian crisis, with more than half of the nation's 48 million people now in need of aid and more than five million displaced. The millions trapped in Khartoum are suffering from lengthy water and power cuts as well as skyrocketing food and fuel prices and scarce medical care.

Both generals have indicated that they intend to fight on until victory, a remote possibility given the nature of their urban battles in Khartoum, a large metropolis with a prewar population of at least five million people.

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Fines for littering

In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle. 
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches 

Results
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The biog

Siblings: five brothers and one sister

Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota

Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym

Favourite place: UAE

Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera

What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books

Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster

Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.

Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.

The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.

The five types of long-term residential visas

Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:

Investors:

A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.

Entrepreneurs:

A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.  

Specialists

Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.

Outstanding students:

A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university. 

Retirees:

Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.

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Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Updated: September 10, 2023, 1:26 PM`