<p>In a world marred by stress and cut-throat competition, New Yorkers seem to have found a novel way to unwind and destress. The &#39;Big Apple&#39; has around three cafes selling a concoction that is being touted as the &#39;new-age alcohol&#39;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Undeniably, the past decade has seen a departure from the mainstream, while exotic ingredients like quinoa invade our plates replacing staples like the classic white rice, another one to join the league is kava -- giving tough competition to alcohol.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfDA92LjxgH/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Melita Martorana (@theitalianinnz)</a> on <time datetime="2018-02-11T06:55:38+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Feb 10, 2018 at 10:55pm PST</time></p>
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<p>Kava is the new kid on the block; the semi-narcotic drink is believed to have an intoxicating effect and may also help alleviate stress and anxiety.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kava is a crop typical to Western Pacific regions. Its roots are ground into powder and used to produce the concoction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The drink is known to have mildly &#39;sedative, anaesthetic, euphoriant, and entheogenic&#39; properties, one of the reasons why more and more people in the West are now turning to the drink as a healthier alternative to alcohol -- after all, who doesn&#39;t want to live the &quot;high&quot; without having to battle the horrible hangovers?&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfCsRHZHkER/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Samuel (@__pandamonium_)</a> on <time datetime="2018-02-11T03:54:46+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Feb 10, 2018 at 7:54pm PST</time></p>
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<p>Experts believe kava to have been shrouded in veils of obscurity owing to which the plant and its produce was never really studied to the fullest. Some of the first trials and tests linked excess kava consumption to severe health repercussions including liver-damage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Unlike in the 1990s, the scholarly understanding of the plant is much better. It has been widely studied and it&#39;s generally perceived as safe and beneficial,&quot; researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand note.</p>

<p>According to an AFP report, in 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration warned against the &quot;rare&quot; but potential risk of severe liver injury associated with kava-containing products.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfB0BCujsQA/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Relaxing at @grassrootskava with a Fortune Berry Kava #kava #relaxationtime #stpete #florida #natural #kavabar</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amy081980/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Amy Shilvock</a> (@amy081980) on <time datetime="2018-02-10T19:43:14+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Feb 10, 2018 at 11:43am PST</time></p>
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<p>According to reports, kava exports from Fiji witnessed a boom, almost doubled from 2012-16. Kava may have slowly begun to make its mark but food experts see its ambitious flight a rather less emphatic one. In a megacity like New York, that has thousands of bars and cafe sprawled all across, just three outlets offering kava is simply not enough to leave a mark for this &#39;new-age&#39; drink.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, those who deal in kava products, especially the ones owning kava cafes in the bustling city, have faith in the concoction&#39;s humble start.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brooklyn&#39;s first kava bar, House of Kava, describes the drink as &quot;traditionally brewed and served by the South Pacific natives, used as a social ceremonial gathering to bring the community together to relax, unwind and let go of the stresses of our everyday life&quot;.</p>

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<p>This year may witness kava&#39;s potential in the culinary space bloom to the fullest. (Others)</p>
</div>
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<p>The cafe has an exhaustive, extensive menu dedicated to specially kava crafted cocktails and meticulously brewed kava drinks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So, does it all come to marketing in the end? Only time will tell! Just how our very own <em>haldi</em><em>-</em><em>doodh</em> was marketed as an exotic beverage and sold as the &#39;golden drink&#39; in the West, kava&#39;s popularity will also catch up soon among the millennials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Japanse matcha was also met with some initial reservations and reluctance, until recently when the magical, health-promoting powder invaded almost all aspects of gastronomy starting from desserts, beverages to ice creams, shakes, chocolates, among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the recently released Whole Foods&#39;&nbsp;list of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/good-bye-2017-make-way-for-the-hottest-food-trends-of-2018-26310">&#39;hottest food trends 2018</a>&#39; is to be taken into account, edible powders like turmeric, matcha, maca will go big this year in the food space. Taking a cue from the same, the year may witness kava&#39;s potential in the culinary space bloom to the fullest.&nbsp;</p>


Those who deal in kava products have faith in the concoction's humble start

In a world marred by stress and cut-throat competition, New Yorkers seem to have found a novel way to unwind and destress. The 'Big Apple' has around three cafes selling a concoction that is being touted as the 'new-age alcohol'. Undeniably, the past decade has seen a departure from the mainstream, while exotic ingredients like quinoa invade our plates replacing staples like the classic white rice, another one to join the league is kava -- giving tough competition to alcohol. A post shared by Melita Martorana (@theitalianinnz) on Feb 10, 2018 at 10:55pm PST × Kava is the new kid on the block; the semi-narcotic drink is believed to have an intoxicating effect and may also help alleviate stress and anxiety. Kava is a crop typical to Western Pacific regions. Its roots are ground into powder and used to produce the concoction. The drink is known to have mildly 'sedative, anaesthetic, euphoriant, and entheogenic' properties, one of the reasons why more and more people in the West are now turning to the drink as a healthier alternative to alcohol -- after all, who doesn't want to live the "high" without having to battle the horrible hangovers? A post shared by Samuel (@__pandamonium_) on Feb 10, 2018 at 7:54pm PST × Experts believe kava to have been shrouded in veils of obscurity owing to which the plant and its produce was never really studied to the fullest. Some of the first trials and tests linked excess kava consumption to severe health repercussions including liver-damage. "Unlike in the 1990s, the scholarly understanding of the plant is much better. It has been widely studied and it's generally perceived as safe and beneficial," researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand note. According to an AFP report, in 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration warned against the "rare" but potential risk of severe liver injury associated with kava-containing products. Relaxing at @grassrootskava with a Fortune Berry Kava #kava #relaxationtime #stpete #florida #natural #kavabar A post shared by Amy Shilvock (@amy081980) on Feb 10, 2018 at 11:43am PST × According to reports, kava exports from Fiji witnessed a boom, almost doubled from 2012-16. Kava may have slowly begun to make its mark but food experts see its ambitious flight a rather less emphatic one. In a megacity like New York, that has thousands of bars and cafe sprawled all across, just three outlets offering kava is simply not enough to leave a mark for this 'new-age' drink. However, those who deal in kava products, especially the ones owning kava cafes in the bustling city, have faith in the concoction's humble start. Brooklyn's first kava bar, House of Kava, describes the drink as "traditionally brewed and served by the South Pacific natives, used as a social ceremonial gathering to bring the community together to relax, unwind and let go of the stresses of our everyday life". This year may witness kava's potential in the culinary space bloom to the fullest. (Others) × The cafe has an exhaustive, extensive menu dedicated to specially kava crafted cocktails and meticulously brewed kava drinks. So, does it all come to marketing in the end? Only time will tell! Just how our very own haldi-doodh was marketed as an exotic beverage and sold as the 'golden drink' in the West, kava's popularity will also catch up soon among the millennials. Japanse matcha was also met with some initial reservations and reluctance, until recently when the magical, health-promoting powder invaded almost all aspects of gastronomy starting from desserts, beverages to ice creams, shakes, chocolates, among others. If the recently released Whole Foods' list of 'hottest food trends 2018' is to be taken into account, edible powders like turmeric, matcha, maca will go big this year in the food space. Taking a cue from the same, the year may witness kava's potential in the culinary space bloom to the fullest.

Kava: New York millennials swear by this semi-narcotic concoction

<p>By Heather Ohly &amp; Nicola Lowe*</p>

<p>An incredible 155m children around the world are chronically undernourished, despite dramatic improvements in recent decades. In view of this, the UN&rsquo;s Sustainable Development Goals include Zero Hunger. But what do we understand by the word hunger?</p>

<p>It may refer to lack of food or widespread food shortages caused by war, drought, crop failure or government policies. But as researchers, we are particularly interested in a different kind of hunger &ndash; one that is less visible but equally devastating.</p>

<p>Micronutrient deficiencies, also known as hidden hunger, occurs when there is a lack of essential vitamins and minerals in a person&rsquo;s diet. This condition affects more than two billion people globally, and can contribute to stunted growth, poor cognitive development, increased risk of infections, and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The wider impacts of micronutrient deficiencies socially and economically are also well established.</p>

<p>Supplementation and food fortification have long been used around the world to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. Both strategies boast high cost/benefit ratios. But as they require repeated investment, their sustainability is limited. Supplements may be used to treat multiple micronutrient deficiencies, but this is a resource-intensive approach and does not address the cause of the problem &ndash; dietary inadequacy.</p>

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202267/original/file-20180117-53299-1cxwz1d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>
<p><span class="caption">Micronutrient supplements.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/3d-rendering-pills-dietary-supplements-lying-479296576?src=ARF0dOt83H0FxcSA_l_KYA-1-5">Aleksandra Gigowska/Shutterstock.com</a></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>Food fortification, on the other hand, improves the nutritional quality of food itself. Here, micronutrients are added to commonly consumed foods at the processing stage. This strategy can be implemented at population level, and does not require individuals to change their eating behaviours.</p>

<p>In the UK, for example, flour has been fortified with calcium since World War II, when a reduced supply of dairy products was anticipated. Today, many of our foods are fortified, including bread, cereal products and fat spreads.</p>

<p>In developing countries, food fortification has gained momentum in recent years through the work of organisations like the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Large scale food fortification programmes have enhanced the micronutrient content of a range of staple foods in over 30 countries. For example, the GAIN/UNICEF Universal Salt Iodization Partnership has protected 466m people in 14 countries against the debilitating effects of iodine deficiency &ndash; such as mental impairment and goitre, a swelling in the neck resulting from an enlarged thyroid gland.</p>

<p>But one major disadvantage of food fortification is that some of the poorest families may not have access to commercially processed foods. And it is these remote rural communities &ndash; that grow and process food locally &ndash; that are often the most affected by hidden hunger.</p>

<p><strong>Going one step further</strong></p>

<p>An alternative approach is to add micronutrients at the agricultural production stage. This approach, known as biofortification, uses conventional plant breeding techniques to enhance the micronutrient concentration of staple crops. This is achieved by cross-breeding standard varieties with their wild relatives, over several generations.</p>

<p>This innovative strategy was first developed in the 1990s, and is now pioneered by an organisation called HarvestPlus, which is supported by the UK Department for International Development. HarvestPlus has focused its efforts on iron, zinc and vitamin A &ndash; identified as the three most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies globally.</p>

<p>Biofortified crops include: vitamin A maize, vitamin A cassava, vitamin A sweet potato, iron beans, iron pearl millet, zinc rice and zinc wheat. These crops have been introduced into many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. And HarvestPlus aims to reach 100m people with biofortified crops by 2020.</p>

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202281/original/file-20180117-53314-1e4er29.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>
<p><span class="caption">Some extra vitamin A with your sweet potato?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fresh-organic-orange-sweet-potato-763562713?src=rPdoA8gdsDb-YaioTiIXkg-1-62">Janthiwa Sutthiboriban/Shutterstock.com</a></span></p>

<p>Biofortification has several advantages over food fortification. After the initial investment to develop the biofortified seed, it can be replicated and distributed without any reduction in the micronutrient concentration. This makes it highly cost-effective and sustainable. Biofortified crops are also often more resilient to pests, diseases, higher temperatures and drought &ndash; essential qualities as many countries become increasingly susceptible to climate change. And perhaps most importantly for nutrition, biofortified crops reach the world&rsquo;s poorest and most vulnerable people.</p>
</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>Each new biofortified crop requires meticulous development and evaluation to ensure the micronutrient concentration is sufficient to make a significant impact on nutritional status, and that farmers and consumers will adopt the new biofortified varieties. Research has shown high levels of consumer acceptance, especially when information and awareness campaigns were implemented.</p>

<p>At the University of Central Lancashire, in partnership with international collaborators, we are currently investigating the impact of biofortified zinc wheat in a rural community in northwest Pakistan &ndash; where over 40% of women are zinc deficient. The diet is very limited in this community but wheat flour is used every day to make chapattis.</p>

<p>The zinc concentration of the soil is very low and this provides an opportunity to experiment with &ldquo;agronomic biofortification&rdquo;, or the application of zinc enriched fertiliser. Our study will determine the cost effectiveness of these combined strategies.</p>

<p>Of course, biofortification is a partial solution, which must go hand in hand with efforts to reduce poverty, food insecurity, disease, poor sanitation, social and gender inequality. But it has the potential to contribute to the eradication of hidden hunger, and the UN&rsquo;s aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>*Nicola Lowe is Professor of Nutritional Sciences, University of Central Lancashire</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/scientists-are-breeding-super-nutritious-crops-to-help-solve-global-hunger-89815" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Scientists are breeding biofortified crops, such as vitamin A maize, vitamin A cassava, vitamin A sweet potato, iron beans, iron pearl millet, zinc rice and zinc wheat to countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

By Heather Ohly & Nicola Lowe* An incredible 155m children around the world are chronically undernourished, despite dramatic improvements in recent decades. In view of this, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals include Zero Hunger. But what do we understand by the word hunger? It may refer to lack of food or widespread food shortages caused by war, drought, crop failure or government policies. But as researchers, we are particularly interested in a different kind of hunger – one that is less visible but equally devastating. Micronutrient deficiencies, also known as hidden hunger, occurs when there is a lack of essential vitamins and minerals in a person’s diet. This condition affects more than two billion people globally, and can contribute to stunted growth, poor cognitive development, increased risk of infections, and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The wider impacts of micronutrient deficiencies socially and economically are also well established. Supplementation and food fortification have long been used around the world to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. Both strategies boast high cost/benefit ratios. But as they require repeated investment, their sustainability is limited. Supplements may be used to treat multiple micronutrient deficiencies, but this is a resource-intensive approach and does not address the cause of the problem – dietary inadequacy. Micronutrient supplements. Aleksandra Gigowska/Shutterstock.com Food fortification, on the other hand, improves the nutritional quality of food itself. Here, micronutrients are added to commonly consumed foods at the processing stage. This strategy can be implemented at population level, and does not require individuals to change their eating behaviours. In the UK, for example, flour has been fortified with calcium since World War II, when a reduced supply of dairy products was anticipated. Today, many of our foods are fortified, including bread, cereal products and fat spreads. In developing countries, food fortification has gained momentum in recent years through the work of organisations like the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Large scale food fortification programmes have enhanced the micronutrient content of a range of staple foods in over 30 countries. For example, the GAIN/UNICEF Universal Salt Iodization Partnership has protected 466m people in 14 countries against the debilitating effects of iodine deficiency – such as mental impairment and goitre, a swelling in the neck resulting from an enlarged thyroid gland. But one major disadvantage of food fortification is that some of the poorest families may not have access to commercially processed foods. And it is these remote rural communities – that grow and process food locally – that are often the most affected by hidden hunger. Going one step further An alternative approach is to add micronutrients at the agricultural production stage. This approach, known as biofortification, uses conventional plant breeding techniques to enhance the micronutrient concentration of staple crops. This is achieved by cross-breeding standard varieties with their wild relatives, over several generations. This innovative strategy was first developed in the 1990s, and is now pioneered by an organisation called HarvestPlus, which is supported by the UK Department for International Development. HarvestPlus has focused its efforts on iron, zinc and vitamin A – identified as the three most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies globally. Biofortified crops include: vitamin A maize, vitamin A cassava, vitamin A sweet potato, iron beans, iron pearl millet, zinc rice and zinc wheat. These crops have been introduced into many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. And HarvestPlus aims to reach 100m people with biofortified crops by 2020. Some extra vitamin A with your sweet potato? Janthiwa Sutthiboriban/Shutterstock.com Biofortification has several advantages over food fortification. After the initial investment to develop the biofortified seed, it can be replicated and distributed without any reduction in the micronutrient concentration. This makes it highly cost-effective and sustainable. Biofortified crops are also often more resilient to pests, diseases, higher temperatures and drought – essential qualities as many countries become increasingly susceptible to climate change. And perhaps most importantly for nutrition, biofortified crops reach the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. Each new biofortified crop requires meticulous development and evaluation to ensure the micronutrient concentration is sufficient to make a significant impact on nutritional status, and that farmers and consumers will adopt the new biofortified varieties. Research has shown high levels of consumer acceptance, especially when information and awareness campaigns were implemented. At the University of Central Lancashire, in partnership with international collaborators, we are currently investigating the impact of biofortified zinc wheat in a rural community in northwest Pakistan – where over 40% of women are zinc deficient. The diet is very limited in this community but wheat flour is used every day to make chapattis. The zinc concentration of the soil is very low and this provides an opportunity to experiment with “agronomic biofortification”, or the application of zinc enriched fertiliser. Our study will determine the cost effectiveness of these combined strategies. Of course, biofortification is a partial solution, which must go hand in hand with efforts to reduce poverty, food insecurity, disease, poor sanitation, social and gender inequality. But it has the potential to contribute to the eradication of hidden hunger, and the UN’s aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030. *Nicola Lowe is Professor of Nutritional Sciences, University of Central Lancashire This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Scientists to create a hunger-free world. This is how.

<p>Jacqueline Fernandez is now a&nbsp;restaurateur, joining the ranks of other Bollywood celebrities like Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Bobby Deol and Sushmita Sen among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &quot;Judwa 2&quot;&#39;s star opened her first-ever restaurant in Sri Lankan capital, Colombo in the city&#39;s newest 5-star hotel, Shangri-La Hotel.&nbsp;The restaurant is called Kaema Sutra, the menu of which is a collaboration between the actress and renowned celebrity chef, Dharshan Munidasa.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bblg6IZHPGB/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Chef and partner in crime @dharshanmunidasa getting me ready for our big day @kaemasutra in @shangrilacolombo coming soon ??</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Jacqueline Fernandez (@jacquelinef143) on <time datetime="2017-11-17T06:23:21+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 16, 2017 at 10:23pm PST</time></p>
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<p>The menu offers Sri Lankan dishes with a contemporary twist, from make-your-own Kottu Curry to an Organic Kithul Treacle.&nbsp;The food menu is dominated by fish and seafood dishes, which are both an integral part of Sri Lankan cuisine and Munidasa&#39;s area of expertise.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcm3qIeHl_U/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">So excited to announce my first restaurant @kaemasutra with @dharshanmunidasa is now open in the brand new @shangrilacolombo bringing you the yummiest #srilankancuisine ?????? see you there!!! #foodismyfirstlove</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Jacqueline Fernandez (@jacquelinef143) on <time datetime="2017-12-12T15:32:46+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 12, 2017 at 7:32am PST</time></p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcmii0qFtxm/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Kaema Sutra is now open ! We moved the Miris Gala, brought in a tapas section, so many new colorful plates and some new dishes! Call 0117888288 for reservations. We are open from 5pm to Midnight and up to 2am Friday &amp;a Saturday. The new location has amazing sun sets, creative cocktails, outdoor lounge, a DJ and Live Entertainment. @jacquelinef143 #dharshanmunidasa #kaemasutra #shangrilacolombo #lamprais #srilanka #srilankanfood #srilankancuisine #cheflife #chefsofinstagram #mirisgala #restaurateur</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Dharshan Munidasa (@dharshanmunidasa) on <time datetime="2017-12-12T12:28:16+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 12, 2017 at 4:28am PST</time></p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVy0Ne_Bvyk/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">The starting point of a Lamprais is the broth that its rice cooks in. With chicken the challenge started with 8 kinds of broth, made from 8 different parts of the chicken. After experimenting with so many stocks a day, we found the wining combination that created a great rice together with boneless dark meat chicken curry, dark meat frikkedel and other Lamprais accompaniments. We are serving the chicken Lamprais from today! Call us on 011-267-0722 to reserve for take out or dine in. Price 800/- Nett #colombodining #dharshanmunidasa #contemporarysrilankancuisine #kaemasutra #lamprais #chickenlamprais #chickenstock</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Kaema Sutra Restaurant (@kaemasutra) on <time datetime="2017-06-26T07:13:46+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jun 26, 2017 at 12:13am PDT</time></p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUAMyAkD6Hm/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#Repost @dharshanmunidasa with @repostapp ??? Stand a chance to win My Top Picks from @alexandraandward @CafeNihonbashi &amp; @KaemaSutra by answering these 3 questions correctly!!!?? 1)How was the name of the restaurant Alexandra &amp; Ward derived? 2)What does &#39;Washoku&#39; in Cafe Nihonbashi &#39;Casual Washoku&#39; mean? 3)Which Bollywood Actress is my partner at KaemaSutra? Winners names will be announced on this page so please look out for your names!!?#colombo #srilanka #AlexandraandWard #cafenihonbashi #KaemaSutra</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Kaema Sutra Restaurant (@kaemasutra) on <time datetime="2017-05-12T18:55:49+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">May 12, 2017 at 11:55am PDT</time></p>
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<p>Jacqueline announced the launch of Kaema Sutra right after Shangri-La in Colombo opened its doors. As of now, Kaema Sutra&nbsp;will be open from noon and will serve dinner.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcj4YS6nUor/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">We&#39;re all set! A new-age Sri Lankan restaurant and bar offering creative native inspired cuisine and beverages. Kaema Sutra will be open from tomorrow, 5pm onwards! #ShangriLaColombo #SriLanka #KaemaSutra</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Kaema Sutra Restaurant (@kaemasutra) on <time datetime="2017-12-11T11:41:47+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 11, 2017 at 3:41am PST</time></p>
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<p>Jacqueline, reportedly, also has plans to open a restaurant in Mumbai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Colombo restaurant specialises in contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine by celebrity chef Dharshan Munidasa

Jacqueline Fernandez is now a restaurateur, joining the ranks of other Bollywood celebrities like Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Bobby Deol and Sushmita Sen among others. The "Judwa 2"'s star opened her first-ever restaurant in Sri Lankan capital, Colombo in the city's newest 5-star hotel, Shangri-La Hotel. The restaurant is called Kaema Sutra, the menu of which is a collaboration between the actress and renowned celebrity chef, Dharshan Munidasa. Chef and partner in crime @dharshanmunidasa getting me ready for our big day @kaemasutra in @shangrilacolombo coming soon ?? A post shared by Jacqueline Fernandez (@jacquelinef143) on Nov 16, 2017 at 10:23pm PST × The menu offers Sri Lankan dishes with a contemporary twist, from make-your-own Kottu Curry to an Organic Kithul Treacle. The food menu is dominated by fish and seafood dishes, which are both an integral part of Sri Lankan cuisine and Munidasa's area of expertise. So excited to announce my first restaurant @kaemasutra with @dharshanmunidasa is now open in the brand new @shangrilacolombo bringing you the yummiest #srilankancuisine ?????? see you there!!! #foodismyfirstlove A post shared by Jacqueline Fernandez (@jacquelinef143) on Dec 12, 2017 at 7:32am PST × Kaema Sutra is now open ! We moved the Miris Gala, brought in a tapas section, so many new colorful plates and some new dishes! Call 0117888288 for reservations. We are open from 5pm to Midnight and up to 2am Friday &a Saturday. The new location has amazing sun sets, creative cocktails, outdoor lounge, a DJ and Live Entertainment. @jacquelinef143 #dharshanmunidasa #kaemasutra #shangrilacolombo #lamprais #srilanka #srilankanfood #srilankancuisine #cheflife #chefsofinstagram #mirisgala #restaurateur A post shared by Dharshan Munidasa (@dharshanmunidasa) on Dec 12, 2017 at 4:28am PST × The starting point of a Lamprais is the broth that its rice cooks in. With chicken the challenge started with 8 kinds of broth, made from 8 different parts of the chicken. After experimenting with so many stocks a day, we found the wining combination that created a great rice together with boneless dark meat chicken curry, dark meat frikkedel and other Lamprais accompaniments. We are serving the chicken Lamprais from today! Call us on 011-267-0722 to reserve for take out or dine in. Price 800/- Nett #colombodining #dharshanmunidasa #contemporarysrilankancuisine #kaemasutra #lamprais #chickenlamprais #chickenstock A post shared by Kaema Sutra Restaurant (@kaemasutra) on Jun 26, 2017 at 12:13am PDT × #Repost @dharshanmunidasa with @repostapp ??? Stand a chance to win My Top Picks from @alexandraandward @CafeNihonbashi & @KaemaSutra by answering these 3 questions correctly!!!?? 1)How was the name of the restaurant Alexandra & Ward derived? 2)What does 'Washoku' in Cafe Nihonbashi 'Casual Washoku' mean? 3)Which Bollywood Actress is my partner at KaemaSutra? Winners names will be announced on this page so please look out for your names!!?#colombo #srilanka #AlexandraandWard #cafenihonbashi #KaemaSutra A post shared by Kaema Sutra Restaurant (@kaemasutra) on May 12, 2017 at 11:55am PDT × Jacqueline announced the launch of Kaema Sutra right after Shangri-La in Colombo opened its doors. As of now, Kaema Sutra will be open from noon and will serve dinner. We're all set! A new-age Sri Lankan restaurant and bar offering creative native inspired cuisine and beverages. Kaema Sutra will be open from tomorrow, 5pm onwards! #ShangriLaColombo #SriLanka #KaemaSutra A post shared by Kaema Sutra Restaurant (@kaemasutra) on Dec 11, 2017 at 3:41am PST × Jacqueline, reportedly, also has plans to open a restaurant in Mumbai.

Jacqueline Fernandez opens her first-ever restaurant called Kaema Sutra

<p>The Indian Railways said today it has terminated the contracts of 15 caterers and debarred 16 catering contractors this year till November amidst complaints of over-charging and poor quality food served on trains.</p>

<p>The ministry, which often receives complaints from passengers over catering issues on its official Twitter handle, is known to respond to them on real-time basis.</p>

<p>According to the official data, the national transporter has imposed fines amounting to Rs 8.96 crore from January to October 2017, which was more than double the amount - Rs 4.05 crore - levied last year between January and December.</p>

<p>&quot;The ministry is very concerned about complaints regarding catering. We have given instructions that strict action must be taken against those caterers against whom complaints are made and proven. We have zero tolerance towards such issues regarding food on our trains,&quot; said Railway Ministry spokesperson Anil Saxena.</p>


The Indian Railways said today it has terminated the contracts of 15 caterers and debarred 16 catering contractors this year till November amidst complaints of over-charging and poor quality food served on trains

The Indian Railways said today it has terminated the contracts of 15 caterers and debarred 16 catering contractors this year till November amidst complaints of over-charging and poor quality food served on trains. The ministry, which often receives complaints from passengers over catering issues on its official Twitter handle, is known to respond to them on real-time basis. According to the official data, the national transporter has imposed fines amounting to Rs 8.96 crore from January to October 2017, which was more than double the amount - Rs 4.05 crore - levied last year between January and December. "The ministry is very concerned about complaints regarding catering. We have given instructions that strict action must be taken against those caterers against whom complaints are made and proven. We have zero tolerance towards such issues regarding food on our trains," said Railway Ministry spokesperson Anil Saxena.

Railways sack 15 caterers, debar contractors over poor food quality

<p>A UN plane carrying desperately needed vaccines landed in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday after a three-week Saudi-led aid blockade that had sparked warnings thousands could die.</p>

<p>Three other aircraft - two carrying UN aid workers and one carrying International Committee of the Red Cross staff - also landed at the airport, which was repaired earlier this week after a Saudi-led air strike knocked out its controls, an AFP correspondent reported.</p>

<p>The UN humanitarian affairs office had said Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa.</p>

<p>But it added that desperately needed shipments of food and medicines to the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida remained blocked.</p>

<p>The UN children`s fund UNICEF said Saturday`s flight was carrying more than 15 tonnes, or 1.9 million doses, of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and other preventable diseases.</p>

<p>The World Health Organization confirmed earlier this week that diphtheria was spreading as children went unvaccinated and doctors in Hodeida reported three deaths.</p>

<p>More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen this year, adding to the 8,600 who have died in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the rebels since 2015.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The aid blockade, put in place after the rebels fired a missile which was intercepted over Riyadh airport, has tightened the stranglehold on Hodeida, the conduit for UN supervised deliveries of food and medicine to rebel-held territory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UN humanitarian office said that a ship loaded with wheat and another with equipment to treat Yemen`s cholera epidemic are ready to head to Hodeida as soon as the Saudi-led coalition gives the go-ahead.</p>

<p>The coalition had said it would lift its blockade of the port from Thursday but it remains in place.</p>

<p>The United Nations has warned that unless the blockade is lifted, Yemen will face &quot;the largest famine the world has seen for decades&quot;.</p>

<p>Seven million Yemenis are completely dependent on relief supplies for their survival, according to the UN.&nbsp;</p>


The UN humanitarian affairs office had said Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa

A UN plane carrying desperately needed vaccines landed in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday after a three-week Saudi-led aid blockade that had sparked warnings thousands could die. Three other aircraft - two carrying UN aid workers and one carrying International Committee of the Red Cross staff - also landed at the airport, which was repaired earlier this week after a Saudi-led air strike knocked out its controls, an AFP correspondent reported. The UN humanitarian affairs office had said Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa. But it added that desperately needed shipments of food and medicines to the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida remained blocked. The UN children`s fund UNICEF said Saturday`s flight was carrying more than 15 tonnes, or 1.9 million doses, of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and other preventable diseases. The World Health Organization confirmed earlier this week that diphtheria was spreading as children went unvaccinated and doctors in Hodeida reported three deaths. More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen this year, adding to the 8,600 who have died in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the rebels since 2015. The aid blockade, put in place after the rebels fired a missile which was intercepted over Riyadh airport, has tightened the stranglehold on Hodeida, the conduit for UN supervised deliveries of food and medicine to rebel-held territory. The UN humanitarian office said that a ship loaded with wheat and another with equipment to treat Yemen`s cholera epidemic are ready to head to Hodeida as soon as the Saudi-led coalition gives the go-ahead. The coalition had said it would lift its blockade of the port from Thursday but it remains in place. The United Nations has warned that unless the blockade is lifted, Yemen will face "the largest famine the world has seen for decades". Seven million Yemenis are completely dependent on relief supplies for their survival, according to the UN.

First aid flight lands in rebel-held Yemen capital after weeks

<p>I lived in Bastar, Chhattisgarh for six months between August 2014 and February 2015. While I was there, I met a girl whom I soon grew fond of. She left before me, returning home to Bengaluru. Sometime later she travelled to Delhi to visit her grandparents and I wrote her a letter, wanting to introduce her to my city. It was only the next morning, by when the letter had been finished and sent, that I realised I had written not one but two love letters. One of course to her and the other to Delhi. I reproduce the letter here.</p>

<p>Ms X,</p>

<p>If you have managed to get into my town, I hope you are not staring into your computer but getting &ldquo;out there&rdquo;. Should you be having trouble comprehending how to get out there in what might be a strange and unfamiliar city, may I please offer a few suggestions? Needless to say, they will be better than anything that you might find in a travel guidebook.</p>

<p>1. Have dinner at Karim&rsquo;s in Old Delhi. Karim&#39;s is right next to the Jama Masjid, which gives it atmosphere. Plus the food at this Karim&rsquo;s &ndash; it&#39;s the original &ndash; is better than at any of the branches that came after it. I don&rsquo;t really know why but I have been meaning to find out. Please note: Their tomato shorba is to die for, especially on a cold winter evening.</p>

<p>2. Visit the Nehru Memorial, Museum and Library. Peacocks roam the lawns and you get to see photographs of a young Jawaharlal with his severe-looking father. I am an admirer of Nehru&#39;s and I wish people would not be so quick to censure him but I guess that in this country you can be authoritarian (like his daughter Indira) and people will still love you so long as you win a war (she won &rsquo;71). Nehru, of course, lost &rsquo;62, which is about the only thing people remember about him.</p>

<p>Have lunch here. Lunch is simple, vegetarian, and you sometimes have to queue for up to 30 minutes to get it but this is one of the few places in Delhi where time has stood still. And just for a minute, you get the feeling that you&rsquo;re still in socialist India when our democracy actually stood for something.</p>

<p>3. Have lunch at Andhra Bhawan. They serve a staple vegetarian thali and you can order meat (fish, chicken, or goat) with it. Please note: Their (vegetarian) refills are endless, so you cannot expect to do much work after having eaten here.</p>

<p>4. Have tea at the cafe at Triveni Kala Sangam. Their carrot cake and brownies with cream are nice. So are their gulab jamuns. Their omelettes are wonderful.</p>

<p>Please note: They shut early, by about six.</p>

<p>They pushed up their prices recently; till some time ago you couldn&#39;t run up a cheque for more than Rs 250 but at least they haven&rsquo;t tried to modernise in other ways. The curio shop within the compound sells interesting knick-knacks. And since they&rsquo;re an art and sculpture gallery, should you look around, you also get to feel cultured.</p>

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<h5>Hauz Khas village saved Delhi&rsquo;s soul. If it hadn&rsquo;t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald&rsquo;s and TGI Fridays.</h5>
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<p>5. Have a drink and dinner at The Living Room (TLR) or Yeti, the Himalayan kitchen, at Hauz Khas village.</p>

<p>Hauz Khas village saved Delhi&rsquo;s soul. If it hadn&rsquo;t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald&rsquo;s and TGI Fridays.</p>

<p>If that had happened, I would never leave Jagdalpur.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, HKV too has been corrupted &ndash; yes it has, it took me a while to realise it but it has &ndash; by rising rents and the commercialisation that comes with it. (We need rent control laws. The character is as important as commerce.)&nbsp;</p>

<p>The place to actually have a meal here was Gunpowder, the coastal kitchen, but the proprietor Mr Warrier (a former, very unhappy-looking journalist) unfortunately decided to move to Goa. We hope and pray that he will return, but I do not think he will.)</p>

<p>6. Go to Chapter 25 in Shahpur Jat for an evening drink. The bar is so called because it was opened by three 25-year-olds. Women like it because the bartender is very good-looking, plus the bar is nice and they have some interesting EDM nights. I like the bartender because he pours large drinks. Or you could go to the nearby Potbelly, the Bihari kitchen, but they&rsquo;re better for lunch.</p>

<p>7. On a Wednesday or&nbsp;Saturday&nbsp;evening, go for dinner to Le Bistro du Parc in Defence Colony. This is not in Defence Colony market but right under the Moolchand flyover, just opposite Flavor&rsquo;s, the Italian kitchen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Le Bistro is run by the very pretty Naina (she&rsquo;s half French, half Punjabi, and now that I think of it, has a nose that&rsquo;s a bit like yours. It is a very nice nose).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Le Bistro is obviously French and has a very good wine list. The French nationals who come here are all as slim as you, the Indians are all as fat as me, which says something about our cuisines.</p>

<p>Or of course, you could just try good old Flavor&rsquo;s opposite. It&rsquo;s run by an Italian who&rsquo;s been around forever. His tiramisu and coffee are delectable and we like him because he was really the first man to teach us that Italian food did not mean Amul cheese dribbled over everything.</p>

<p>Should you decide that the food at Le Bistro does not contain enough oil and masala for your Indian palate, you could always try the mutton keema kathi roll (I think I might faint) at the Nizam&rsquo;s right behind Flavor&rsquo;s.</p>

<p>Please note: I hear that Le Bistro has the writer Rana Dasgupta &ndash; he wears his pants up to his chest &ndash; play the piano on Wednesday evenings.</p>

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<h5>In the winter, do a&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. Get there once the sun is out properly.</h5>
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<p>8. My little favourites. Drive to India Gate late in the evening. Park on the central radial, the road leading up to North and South Blocks. From vendors here, you can buy coffee, kulfi and chuski. Nearby there is cona coffee served in beakers at United Coffee Home in Connaught Place (I really haven&#39;t heard anybody call it Rajiv Chowk as yet). Their tajines are exotic enough too but I don&rsquo;t recommend the food here. CP is a little decrepit nowadays, and UCH&rsquo;s hygiene seems a bit off.</p>

<p>9. In the winter, do a&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. (You&rsquo;re not allowed to carry alcohol in so the bottle of wine will have to be hidden in a knapsack.) Get there once the sun is out properly. Don&rsquo;t worry about when to leave, you won&rsquo;t want to.</p>

<p>10. Finally, go watch a play at the National School of Drama, or Kamani auditorium, or the Little Theatre Group; they&rsquo;re all next to each other near CP, close to Triveni. The NSD festival is held sometime in January, so you&rsquo;ll miss that but if you&rsquo;re lucky there might be an opera playing in town. The coffee at NSD during the interval is especially good. Plus it gives you the time to ponder why sometimes even going to a mediocre play can be enjoyable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And remember of course, as we say in Delhi, to &ldquo;enjoy!&rdquo; (I still haven&rsquo;t figured out exactly what that means.)</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).</em></p>


Hauz Khas village saved Delhi?s soul. If it hadn?t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald?s and TGI Fridays.

I lived in Bastar, Chhattisgarh for six months between August 2014 and February 2015. While I was there, I met a girl whom I soon grew fond of. She left before me, returning home to Bengaluru. Sometime later she travelled to Delhi to visit her grandparents and I wrote her a letter, wanting to introduce her to my city. It was only the next morning, by when the letter had been finished and sent, that I realised I had written not one but two love letters. One of course to her and the other to Delhi. I reproduce the letter here. Ms X, If you have managed to get into my town, I hope you are not staring into your computer but getting “out there”. Should you be having trouble comprehending how to get out there in what might be a strange and unfamiliar city, may I please offer a few suggestions? Needless to say, they will be better than anything that you might find in a travel guidebook. 1. Have dinner at Karim’s in Old Delhi. Karim's is right next to the Jama Masjid, which gives it atmosphere. Plus the food at this Karim’s – it's the original – is better than at any of the branches that came after it. I don’t really know why but I have been meaning to find out. Please note: Their tomato shorba is to die for, especially on a cold winter evening. 2. Visit the Nehru Memorial, Museum and Library. Peacocks roam the lawns and you get to see photographs of a young Jawaharlal with his severe-looking father. I am an admirer of Nehru's and I wish people would not be so quick to censure him but I guess that in this country you can be authoritarian (like his daughter Indira) and people will still love you so long as you win a war (she won ’71). Nehru, of course, lost ’62, which is about the only thing people remember about him. Have lunch here. Lunch is simple, vegetarian, and you sometimes have to queue for up to 30 minutes to get it but this is one of the few places in Delhi where time has stood still. And just for a minute, you get the feeling that you’re still in socialist India when our democracy actually stood for something. 3. Have lunch at Andhra Bhawan. They serve a staple vegetarian thali and you can order meat (fish, chicken, or goat) with it. Please note: Their (vegetarian) refills are endless, so you cannot expect to do much work after having eaten here. 4. Have tea at the cafe at Triveni Kala Sangam. Their carrot cake and brownies with cream are nice. So are their gulab jamuns. Their omelettes are wonderful. Please note: They shut early, by about six. They pushed up their prices recently; till some time ago you couldn't run up a cheque for more than Rs 250 but at least they haven’t tried to modernise in other ways. The curio shop within the compound sells interesting knick-knacks. And since they’re an art and sculpture gallery, should you look around, you also get to feel cultured. Hauz Khas village saved Delhi’s soul. If it hadn’t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald’s and TGI Fridays. × 5. Have a drink and dinner at The Living Room (TLR) or Yeti, the Himalayan kitchen, at Hauz Khas village. Hauz Khas village saved Delhi’s soul. If it hadn’t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald’s and TGI Fridays. If that had happened, I would never leave Jagdalpur. Unfortunately, HKV too has been corrupted – yes it has, it took me a while to realise it but it has – by rising rents and the commercialisation that comes with it. (We need rent control laws. The character is as important as commerce.) The place to actually have a meal here was Gunpowder, the coastal kitchen, but the proprietor Mr Warrier (a former, very unhappy-looking journalist) unfortunately decided to move to Goa. We hope and pray that he will return, but I do not think he will.) 6. Go to Chapter 25 in Shahpur Jat for an evening drink. The bar is so called because it was opened by three 25-year-olds. Women like it because the bartender is very good-looking, plus the bar is nice and they have some interesting EDM nights. I like the bartender because he pours large drinks. Or you could go to the nearby Potbelly, the Bihari kitchen, but they’re better for lunch. 7. On a Wednesday or Saturday evening, go for dinner to Le Bistro du Parc in Defence Colony. This is not in Defence Colony market but right under the Moolchand flyover, just opposite Flavor’s, the Italian kitchen. Le Bistro is run by the very pretty Naina (she’s half French, half Punjabi, and now that I think of it, has a nose that’s a bit like yours. It is a very nice nose). Le Bistro is obviously French and has a very good wine list. The French nationals who come here are all as slim as you, the Indians are all as fat as me, which says something about our cuisines. Or of course, you could just try good old Flavor’s opposite. It’s run by an Italian who’s been around forever. His tiramisu and coffee are delectable and we like him because he was really the first man to teach us that Italian food did not mean Amul cheese dribbled over everything. Should you decide that the food at Le Bistro does not contain enough oil and masala for your Indian palate, you could always try the mutton keema kathi roll (I think I might faint) at the Nizam’s right behind Flavor’s. Please note: I hear that Le Bistro has the writer Rana Dasgupta – he wears his pants up to his chest – play the piano on Wednesday evenings. In the winter, do a Sunday picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. Get there once the sun is out properly. × 8. My little favourites. Drive to India Gate late in the evening. Park on the central radial, the road leading up to North and South Blocks. From vendors here, you can buy coffee, kulfi and chuski. Nearby there is cona coffee served in beakers at United Coffee Home in Connaught Place (I really haven't heard anybody call it Rajiv Chowk as yet). Their tajines are exotic enough too but I don’t recommend the food here. CP is a little decrepit nowadays, and UCH’s hygiene seems a bit off. 9. In the winter, do a Sunday picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. (You’re not allowed to carry alcohol in so the bottle of wine will have to be hidden in a knapsack.) Get there once the sun is out properly. Don’t worry about when to leave, you won’t want to. 10. Finally, go watch a play at the National School of Drama, or Kamani auditorium, or the Little Theatre Group; they’re all next to each other near CP, close to Triveni. The NSD festival is held sometime in January, so you’ll miss that but if you’re lucky there might be an opera playing in town. The coffee at NSD during the interval is especially good. Plus it gives you the time to ponder why sometimes even going to a mediocre play can be enjoyable. And remember of course, as we say in Delhi, to “enjoy!” (I still haven’t figured out exactly what that means.) (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: A love letter, to a girl and to a city

<p>Inflation at the wholesale level rose to a 6-month high of 3.59 percent in October as the prices of food articles, led by onions and vegetables, rose sharply.</p>

<p>Inflation, based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 2.60 percent in September. In October last year, it was 1.27 percent.</p>

<p>Last month&#39;s inflation was the highest since April when it was 3.85 percent.</p>

<p>The government data released today showed that inflation in food articles more than doubled to 4.30 percent in October.</p>

<p>For vegetables, it soared to 36.61 percent last month as against 15.48 percent in September.</p>

<p>In case of onions, inflation skyrocketed to 127.04 percent, while for the eggs, meat and fish segment the rate of price rise was 5.76 percent.</p>

<p>Inflation in manufactured products saw a slight dip to 2.62 percent, as against 2.72 percent in September.</p>

<p>In the fuel and power segment, inflation rose to 10.52 percent, as against 9.01 percent in September. Fuel inflation has remained high for the past three months as petrol and diesel prices continued to rule high tracking global crude oil rates.</p>

<p>Power tariffs shot through the roof on lower domestic production.</p>

<p>Pulses continued to witness deflation at 31.05 percent. Likewise, in potato deflation was at 44.29 percent and wheat at 1.99 percent.</p>

<p>The final print of August WPI inflation remained unchanged at 3.24 percent.</p>

<p>As per the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released yesterday, retail inflation for October rose to a 7-month high of 3.58 percent on costlier food items, especially vegetables.</p>

<p>Besides, industrial production for September expanded at 3.8 percent, on poor showing by the manufacturing sector coupled with a decline in consumer durables output.</p>

<p>Last month, the Reserve Bank kept benchmark interest rate unchanged on fears of rising inflation while lowering growth forecast to 6.7 percent for the current fiscal.</p>

<p>RBI also raised its inflation forecast to the 4.2-4.6 percent range for the rest of the current fiscal as against 4-4.5 percent previously.&nbsp;</p>


The prices of food articles, led by onions and vegetables, rose sharply

Inflation at the wholesale level rose to a 6-month high of 3.59 percent in October as the prices of food articles, led by onions and vegetables, rose sharply. Inflation, based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 2.60 percent in September. In October last year, it was 1.27 percent. Last month's inflation was the highest since April when it was 3.85 percent. The government data released today showed that inflation in food articles more than doubled to 4.30 percent in October. For vegetables, it soared to 36.61 percent last month as against 15.48 percent in September. In case of onions, inflation skyrocketed to 127.04 percent, while for the eggs, meat and fish segment the rate of price rise was 5.76 percent. Inflation in manufactured products saw a slight dip to 2.62 percent, as against 2.72 percent in September. In the fuel and power segment, inflation rose to 10.52 percent, as against 9.01 percent in September. Fuel inflation has remained high for the past three months as petrol and diesel prices continued to rule high tracking global crude oil rates. Power tariffs shot through the roof on lower domestic production. Pulses continued to witness deflation at 31.05 percent. Likewise, in potato deflation was at 44.29 percent and wheat at 1.99 percent. The final print of August WPI inflation remained unchanged at 3.24 percent. As per the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released yesterday, retail inflation for October rose to a 7-month high of 3.58 percent on costlier food items, especially vegetables. Besides, industrial production for September expanded at 3.8 percent, on poor showing by the manufacturing sector coupled with a decline in consumer durables output. Last month, the Reserve Bank kept benchmark interest rate unchanged on fears of rising inflation while lowering growth forecast to 6.7 percent for the current fiscal. RBI also raised its inflation forecast to the 4.2-4.6 percent range for the rest of the current fiscal as against 4-4.5 percent previously.

WPI inflation at 6-month high of 3.59%

<p>History has its own flavours; so does language. Etymology tells us that &nbsp;&lsquo;Khichuri&rsquo;, our very own comfort food that has now become the national culinary emblem is derived from the Sanskrit word &lsquo;Khecharanna&rsquo;, which is a union of two words: &lsquo;khechar&rsquo; (bird) and &lsquo;Anaa&rsquo; (rice), literally, bird feed.</p>

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<h5>The mapping of the recipe and its transformations continue through ages and was hybridised with the arrival of the British and their growing interest in native cuisine.</h5>
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<p>However, the earliest reference to this modest food is in the Drona Parva of Mahabharata: King Gaya had arranged a feast in his kingdom as a sequel to a Jagna for appeasing Gods and acquiring the knowledge of the Vedas. That is a myth. Then, there is History. Ibn Batutah, the famous Moroccan traveller,&nbsp;who was received at Muhamad Bin Tughluq&rsquo;s court in around 13333, mentions &lsquo;Khichri&rsquo; in his travelogue.</p>

<p>The mapping of the recipe and its transformations continue through ages and was hybridised with the arrival of the British and their growing interest in native cuisine. Khichri became &lsquo;Kedgeree&rsquo;, a colonial that was served at breakfast at the colonial mansions since the early Victorian period, if not earlier.</p>

<p>Lizzie Collingham points out in Curry: A biography that the dish was a staple of the Raj breakfast table by 1885. Except, I had been sufficiently anglified to include fish, eggs with lentils and rice doused in curry powder. &quot;The English type&quot;, &quot;composed of boiled rice, chopped hard-boiled egg, minced fish, usually fresh, and a lump of fresh butter &hellip; tossed together in the frying-pan, flavoured with pepper, salt, and any minced garden herb such as cress, parsley, or marjoram, and served smoking hot.&quot; This, from The 1885 edition of Culinary Jottings for Madras, an Anglo-Indian narrative, now a reprint.</p>

<p>While, the Memsahibs continued to colonise both the cuisine, the rebellious native dish continued to hold on to its native roots in various norms: From the runny and the bland sick diet to the rich buttery spicy variety, a poor cusine of the Indian Pulao served on special occasions and festivals through centuries.</p>

<p>The saga continues to rule the erstwhile Empire. I find an adaptation of Kedgeree as per Jamie Oliver, as a concoction of:</p>

<p>2 large eggs</p>

<p>4 fresh bay leaves</p>

<p>400g of any undyed smoked</p>

<p>Whitefish fillets, scaled and pin-boned</p>

<p>1 thumb-sized piece of ginger</p>

<p>1/2 fresh red chilli</p>

<p>1 bunch of spring onions</p>

<p>1 bunch of fresh coriander</p>

<p>2 heaped tsp mustard seeds</p>

<p>2 heaped tsp turmeric</p>

<p>Olive oil</p>

<p>2x 250g packs of brown</p>

<p>Cooked rice</p>

<p>300g frozen peas</p>

<p>1 lemon</p>

<p><strong>Greens</strong>:</p>

<p>200g fine green beans</p>

<p>1 big bunch of chard</p>

<p>1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil</p>

<p>1/2 a lemon</p>

<p><strong>Yoghurt</strong>:</p>

<p>3 tbsp fat-free natural yoghurt</p>

<p>1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce</p>

<p>1/2 a lemon</p>

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<h5>The erstwhile natives continue to dish out khichuri in both its native a post-colonial avatars, from North to South; East to West.</h5>
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<p>The erstwhile natives continue to dish out khichuri in both its native a post-colonial avatars, from North to South; East to West: An assemblage of lentils, long grained aromatic rice, bay leaf, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, chili ground and whole, fresh ginger and green chilies, seasonal vegetables and, yes, even meat and eggs for the carnivores!</p>

<p>A mapping of the nation&rsquo;s variegated colours and flavours, khecharanna, khichuri, kedgeree, &ldquo;A rose by any other name&rdquo; &nbsp;continues to be an integral part the culinary fantasy of the world!</p>


A mapping of the nation?s variegated colours and flavours, Khichdi?continues to be an integral part the culinary fantasy of the world

History has its own flavours; so does language. Etymology tells us that ‘Khichuri’, our very own comfort food that has now become the national culinary emblem is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Khecharanna’, which is a union of two words: ‘khechar’ (bird) and ‘Anaa’ (rice), literally, bird feed. The mapping of the recipe and its transformations continue through ages and was hybridised with the arrival of the British and their growing interest in native cuisine. × However, the earliest reference to this modest food is in the Drona Parva of Mahabharata: King Gaya had arranged a feast in his kingdom as a sequel to a Jagna for appeasing Gods and acquiring the knowledge of the Vedas. That is a myth. Then, there is History. Ibn Batutah, the famous Moroccan traveller, who was received at Muhamad Bin Tughluq’s court in around 13333, mentions ‘Khichri’ in his travelogue. The mapping of the recipe and its transformations continue through ages and was hybridised with the arrival of the British and their growing interest in native cuisine. Khichri became ‘Kedgeree’, a colonial that was served at breakfast at the colonial mansions since the early Victorian period, if not earlier. Lizzie Collingham points out in Curry: A biography that the dish was a staple of the Raj breakfast table by 1885. Except, I had been sufficiently anglified to include fish, eggs with lentils and rice doused in curry powder. "The English type", "composed of boiled rice, chopped hard-boiled egg, minced fish, usually fresh, and a lump of fresh butter … tossed together in the frying-pan, flavoured with pepper, salt, and any minced garden herb such as cress, parsley, or marjoram, and served smoking hot." This, from The 1885 edition of Culinary Jottings for Madras, an Anglo-Indian narrative, now a reprint. While, the Memsahibs continued to colonise both the cuisine, the rebellious native dish continued to hold on to its native roots in various norms: From the runny and the bland sick diet to the rich buttery spicy variety, a poor cusine of the Indian Pulao served on special occasions and festivals through centuries. The saga continues to rule the erstwhile Empire. I find an adaptation of Kedgeree as per Jamie Oliver, as a concoction of: 2 large eggs 4 fresh bay leaves 400g of any undyed smoked Whitefish fillets, scaled and pin-boned 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger 1/2 fresh red chilli 1 bunch of spring onions 1 bunch of fresh coriander 2 heaped tsp mustard seeds 2 heaped tsp turmeric Olive oil 2x 250g packs of brown Cooked rice 300g frozen peas 1 lemon Greens: 200g fine green beans 1 big bunch of chard 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 a lemon Yoghurt: 3 tbsp fat-free natural yoghurt 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1/2 a lemon The erstwhile natives continue to dish out khichuri in both its native a post-colonial avatars, from North to South; East to West. × The erstwhile natives continue to dish out khichuri in both its native a post-colonial avatars, from North to South; East to West: An assemblage of lentils, long grained aromatic rice, bay leaf, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, chili ground and whole, fresh ginger and green chilies, seasonal vegetables and, yes, even meat and eggs for the carnivores! A mapping of the nation’s variegated colours and flavours, khecharanna, khichuri, kedgeree, “A rose by any other name” continues to be an integral part the culinary fantasy of the world!

Khichdi: Flavours of ancient India tempered with modernisation

<p>Late summer rains and the growing importance of privately produced crops mean North Korea will likely avoid acute food shortages this year despite earlier fears of drought and mounting international sanctions, defectors and experts say.</p>

<p>The U.N.&#39;s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned in July of the worst drought in 16 years in the country, saying there were &quot;serious concerns&quot; about a lack of rainfall in key cereal-producing areas.</p>

<p>&quot;People said they delayed planting because it was too dry in the early spring, but right after that it rained,&quot; said Kang Mi-jin at the Seoul-based Daily NK, a website run by defectors.</p>

<p>&quot;Crop conditions are fine now,&quot; said Kang, who said she had cross-checked the news of the harvest with several sources still inside North Korea.</p>

<p>Weather data for areas in China that border North Korea&#39;s main crop zones show rains picked up from August, helping to alleviate dry conditions.</p>

<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture satellite images suggest North Korea&#39;s crop yields will be similar to last year, said Kim Young-hui, a North Korean defector and a specialist in the country&rsquo;s economy at Korea Finance Corp in Seoul.</p>

<p>North Korea experienced a crippling famine in the 1990s when a combination of bad weather, economic mismanagement and the demise of fuel subsidies from the Soviet Union all but destroyed its state-run Public Distribution System (PDS) of rationing.</p>

<p>The FAO report, which described the PDS as the &quot;main source of food&quot; for around 70 percent of the population, said increased food imports would be required to ensure adequate food supplies for the most at-risk groups, including children and elderly.</p>

<p>However, the rise of privately produced food sold in North Korean markets has slowly overtaken the PDS as the primary distributor of food, a factor which experts say official UN&nbsp;reports overlook.</p>

<p>The reports, often produced in conjunction with the North Korean government, may not be able to focus on markets given the political sensitivity of inherently capitalist activity in a state which still outwardly professes to maintain a Soviet-style command economy, experts say.</p>

<p>&quot;Many people rely completely on the markets and off-the-books private farming for their food,&quot; said Sokeel Park of Liberty in North Korea, an organisation which aids defectors.</p>

<p>&quot;Corrupt officials will also siphon off government supplies and sell them for profit,&quot; said Park. &quot;This means international agencies&#39; regurgitation of Pyongyang&#39;s official food data should be taken with a pinch of salt&quot;.</p>

<p>In the years since the famine, farmers have also been granted increasing autonomy at local levels to proactively change crops, staving off the risk of food shortages, and reducing the reliance on imports.</p>

<p>North Korea&#39;s grain imports totalled $26.5 million in 2016, down from $139.2 million in 2012, according to the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. January to June imports this year were just $10.6 million, albeit up sharply on the $3 million over the same period a year go.</p>

<p>Prices in North Korean markets have remained relatively stable and continue to be a reliable source of food, according to defectors who closely monitor North Korean market prices and activity.</p>

<p>The U.N.&#39;s World Food Programme (WFP) said there was still very little direct information available on how important markets are for household food access. WFP was consulting with the North Korean government to carry out more detailed studies on food security later this year, it said in an emailed response to questions.</p>

<p>Another threat to North Korea&#39;s food security was an increase in U.N. sanctions following the country&#39;s sixth and largest nuclear bomb test earlier this month.</p>

<p>The U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed to a range of new measures including imposing a ban on the country&#39;s textile exports and capping imports of crude oil and fuel.</p>

<p>Gasoline and diesel prices rose sharply since the nuclear test, market data analysed by Reuters on Monday showed.</p>

<p>The sanctions were likely to hit essential items such as oil, sugar, salt, vinegar and milk powder, which are imported, controlled centrally and distributed via state shops at subsidized prices, the WFP said.</p>

<p>But in contrast to more developed countries, agriculture in North Korea relies much more on mass-mobilisation of workers rather than mechanisation such as harvesters and tractors.</p>

<p>So while a lack of oil would likely slow the harvest, the overall impact would not be significant, according to Linda Lewis of the American Friends Service Committee, an NGO running farm projects in North Korea.</p>

<p>&quot;Fuel shortages are not a new problem, and North Korean farmers are quite resourceful,&quot; Lewis said.</p>


The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned in July of the worst drought in 16 years in the country, saying there were "serious concerns" about a lack of rainfall in key cereal-producing areas.

Late summer rains and the growing importance of privately produced crops mean North Korea will likely avoid acute food shortages this year despite earlier fears of drought and mounting international sanctions, defectors and experts say. The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned in July of the worst drought in 16 years in the country, saying there were "serious concerns" about a lack of rainfall in key cereal-producing areas. "People said they delayed planting because it was too dry in the early spring, but right after that it rained," said Kang Mi-jin at the Seoul-based Daily NK, a website run by defectors. "Crop conditions are fine now," said Kang, who said she had cross-checked the news of the harvest with several sources still inside North Korea. Weather data for areas in China that border North Korea's main crop zones show rains picked up from August, helping to alleviate dry conditions. U.S. Department of Agriculture satellite images suggest North Korea's crop yields will be similar to last year, said Kim Young-hui, a North Korean defector and a specialist in the country’s economy at Korea Finance Corp in Seoul. North Korea experienced a crippling famine in the 1990s when a combination of bad weather, economic mismanagement and the demise of fuel subsidies from the Soviet Union all but destroyed its state-run Public Distribution System (PDS) of rationing. The FAO report, which described the PDS as the "main source of food" for around 70 percent of the population, said increased food imports would be required to ensure adequate food supplies for the most at-risk groups, including children and elderly. However, the rise of privately produced food sold in North Korean markets has slowly overtaken the PDS as the primary distributor of food, a factor which experts say official UN reports overlook. The reports, often produced in conjunction with the North Korean government, may not be able to focus on markets given the political sensitivity of inherently capitalist activity in a state which still outwardly professes to maintain a Soviet-style command economy, experts say. "Many people rely completely on the markets and off-the-books private farming for their food," said Sokeel Park of Liberty in North Korea, an organisation which aids defectors. "Corrupt officials will also siphon off government supplies and sell them for profit," said Park. "This means international agencies' regurgitation of Pyongyang's official food data should be taken with a pinch of salt". In the years since the famine, farmers have also been granted increasing autonomy at local levels to proactively change crops, staving off the risk of food shortages, and reducing the reliance on imports. North Korea's grain imports totalled $26.5 million in 2016, down from $139.2 million in 2012, according to the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. January to June imports this year were just $10.6 million, albeit up sharply on the $3 million over the same period a year go. Prices in North Korean markets have remained relatively stable and continue to be a reliable source of food, according to defectors who closely monitor North Korean market prices and activity. The U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP) said there was still very little direct information available on how important markets are for household food access. WFP was consulting with the North Korean government to carry out more detailed studies on food security later this year, it said in an emailed response to questions. Another threat to North Korea's food security was an increase in U.N. sanctions following the country's sixth and largest nuclear bomb test earlier this month. The U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed to a range of new measures including imposing a ban on the country's textile exports and capping imports of crude oil and fuel. Gasoline and diesel prices rose sharply since the nuclear test, market data analysed by Reuters on Monday showed. The sanctions were likely to hit essential items such as oil, sugar, salt, vinegar and milk powder, which are imported, controlled centrally and distributed via state shops at subsidized prices, the WFP said. But in contrast to more developed countries, agriculture in North Korea relies much more on mass-mobilisation of workers rather than mechanisation such as harvesters and tractors. So while a lack of oil would likely slow the harvest, the overall impact would not be significant, according to Linda Lewis of the American Friends Service Committee, an NGO running farm projects in North Korea. "Fuel shortages are not a new problem, and North Korean farmers are quite resourceful," Lewis said.

Late summer rains, private food supplies limit impact of North Korea drought

<p>Contemporary New York eatery Eleven Madison Park was crowned the world&#39;s best restaurant of 2017 at an awards ceremony in Melbourne Wednesday, edging out last year&#39;s winner, Italy&#39;s Osteria Francescana.</p>

<p>Run by chef Daniel Humm, it came out on top at the World&#39;s 50 Best Restaurants awards, widely seen as the Oscars of the food world.</p>

<p>Spain&#39;s El Celler De Can Roca was third.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


It won first place at the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, widely seen as the Oscars of the food world

Contemporary New York eatery Eleven Madison Park was crowned the world's best restaurant of 2017 at an awards ceremony in Melbourne Wednesday, edging out last year's winner, Italy's Osteria Francescana. Run by chef Daniel Humm, it came out on top at the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, widely seen as the Oscars of the food world. Spain's El Celler De Can Roca was third. (AFP)

New York's Eleven Madison Park named world's best restaurant

<p>Around&nbsp;500,000 civilians in Mosul are facing a drinking water shortage, the UN warned&nbsp;as Iraqi forces advance against the Islamic State (IS) group in the city.</p>

<p>In addition to the severe lack of food and electricity, civilians are now running out of drinkable water, Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq told AFP.</p>

<p>Iraqi troops and allied forces launched an offensive last month to retake Mosul from the IS more than two years ago.</p>

<p>Weeks of fighting have among other things destroyed a major water pipeline in the city, the UN children&#39;s agency<br />
UNICEF said.</p>

<p>Water was cut to 650,000 people - 40 per cent of the total population in the city - a local official told Reuters.</p>

<p>f the pipeline is not repaired, residents will be forced to consume unhealthy water, exposing them to dangerous diseases.</p>

<p>Residents in east Mosul have resorted to pumping water from wells.</p>

<p>Since the launch of the assault since October, more than 70,000 people have fled the fighting, but more than a million people are estimated to still reside in the city.</p>

<p>A hospital in Gogjali on the eastern outskirts of Mosul has already begun to get patients with diarrhoea and intestinal cramps, a medical source told AFP.</p>

<p>Some residents blamed the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces for its warplanes damaging the main pipeline but an official with the Mosul municipality&nbsp;suggested that the IS may have intentionally stopped the flow.</p>

<p>Iraqi forces have told civilians to stay at home in order to avoid massive displacement from the city.</p>

<p>Deputy UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore said that&nbsp;there were reports that Islamic State shot dead 27 civilians in public in Mosul&#39;s Muhandiseen Park last week.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>


In addition to the severe lack of food and electricity, civilians are now running out of drinkable water

Around 500,000 civilians in Mosul are facing a drinking water shortage, the UN warned as Iraqi forces advance against the Islamic State (IS) group in the city. In addition to the severe lack of food and electricity, civilians are now running out of drinkable water, Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq told AFP. Iraqi troops and allied forces launched an offensive last month to retake Mosul from the IS more than two years ago. Weeks of fighting have among other things destroyed a major water pipeline in the city, the UN children's agency UNICEF said. Water was cut to 650,000 people - 40 per cent of the total population in the city - a local official told Reuters. f the pipeline is not repaired, residents will be forced to consume unhealthy water, exposing them to dangerous diseases. Residents in east Mosul have resorted to pumping water from wells. Since the launch of the assault since October, more than 70,000 people have fled the fighting, but more than a million people are estimated to still reside in the city. A hospital in Gogjali on the eastern outskirts of Mosul has already begun to get patients with diarrhoea and intestinal cramps, a medical source told AFP. Some residents blamed the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces for its warplanes damaging the main pipeline but an official with the Mosul municipality suggested that the IS may have intentionally stopped the flow. Iraqi forces have told civilians to stay at home in order to avoid massive displacement from the city. Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore said that there were reports that Islamic State shot dead 27 civilians in public in Mosul's Muhandiseen Park last week. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Mosul food, water reserves dwindle as fighting cuts off supplies

<p>With the Pokemon Go fever gripping the countries across the world, the true Pokemon fans can now also munch on their favourite Pokemon characters. Dine-N-Out, a restaurant run by a group called Hashtag Burger in Australia&#39;s Sydney has created limited-edition Pokemon burgers.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3HS88d2A0lQ?list=PLmWa9ZZLlCjt0Jlg7kN3JBNX4LH1sRsGh" width="970"></iframe> &nbsp;<br />
<br />
There are three types of Poke burgers -- Pikachu burger, Bulbasaur burger and Charmander burger. The flavours of these Pokemon burgers match the Pokemon&#39;s characteristics and personality.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The most fun part of ordering these burgers is that the person who orders them, cannot choose the type of burger they want. They will randomly receive any Poke burger out of the three types available. Also, the restaurant allows only one burger per person.?</p>


The flavors of the Pokemon burgers match the Pokemon's characteristics and personality

With the Pokemon Go fever gripping the countries across the world, the true Pokemon fans can now also munch on their favourite Pokemon characters. Dine-N-Out, a restaurant run by a group called Hashtag Burger in Australia's Sydney has created limited-edition Pokemon burgers. There are three types of Poke burgers -- Pikachu burger, Bulbasaur burger and Charmander burger. The flavours of these Pokemon burgers match the Pokemon's characteristics and personality. The most fun part of ordering these burgers is that the person who orders them, cannot choose the type of burger they want. They will randomly receive any Poke burger out of the three types available. Also, the restaurant allows only one burger per person.?

Video: Get a Pokemon burger at this Sydney restaurant

<p>In a promotional stunt for the Hollywood movie &lsquo;Sausage Party&rsquo;, actor Seth Rogen surprised food shoppers with talking food at a grocery store. Animatronic food was remote controlled with voice and expressions lent by the actor.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SYQNGthCUlg?list=PLmWa9ZZLlCjt0Jlg7kN3JBNX4LH1sRsGh" width="970"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
They were placed strategically at the counters to interact with shoppers and to convey that they have feelings. What ensued was a laughing riot with customers first getting scared and then eventually engaging in a conversation.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


In a promotional stunt for the Hollywood movie ‘Sausage Party’, actor Seth Rogen surprised food shoppers with talking food at a grocery store. Animatronic food was remote controlled with voice and expressions lent by the actor. They were placed strategically at the counters to interact with shoppers and to convey that they have feelings. What ensued was a laughing riot with customers first getting scared and then eventually engaging in a conversation.

Video: These food have feelings and don't want to be eaten

<p>Food is a fundamental part of Afghan culture. In this series, we take you through the preparation of a traditional meal that you are likely to find at a restaurant on the streets of Kabul.</p>

<p>Everything starts with spices. A range of spices, both local and imported from neighbours&nbsp;Iran and India, combine to lend the dishes a distinct aroma and flavour.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/25-20161006081854.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Besides rice, bread is the other staple carbohydrate. Many dishes are, in fact, eaten with bread instead of rice.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/23-20161006081713.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Meat is present in most of the dishes and &quot;kebabs&quot; are what the region is famous for.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/24-20161006081808.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>What we have here is the most popular Afghan dish &quot;Qabili Palo&quot; - a mix of rice, raisins and chopped carrots.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/8-20161006080442.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>No Afghan food is complete without pickles. Every vegetable that you can think of is usually pickled.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/22-20161006081517.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Dry fruits are a staple part of Afghan diet. You&rsquo;ll often find people munching on them while sipping tea, either as dessert or as a snack during the day.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/14-20161006081027.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Fruits are present after every meal, with watermelons being the most popular.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/1-20161006075952.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Here comes your tray of Afghan food;&nbsp;enjoy!</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/11-20161006080724.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


From street food to traditional delicacies, discover the food that Afghans have to offer

Food is a fundamental part of Afghan culture. In this series, we take you through the preparation of a traditional meal that you are likely to find at a restaurant on the streets of Kabul. Everything starts with spices. A range of spices, both local and imported from neighbours Iran and India, combine to lend the dishes a distinct aroma and flavour. Source (AFP) × Besides rice, bread is the other staple carbohydrate. Many dishes are, in fact, eaten with bread instead of rice. Source (AFP) × Meat is present in most of the dishes and "kebabs" are what the region is famous for. Source (AFP) × What we have here is the most popular Afghan dish "Qabili Palo" - a mix of rice, raisins and chopped carrots. Source (AFP) × No Afghan food is complete without pickles. Every vegetable that you can think of is usually pickled. Source (AFP) × Dry fruits are a staple part of Afghan diet. You’ll often find people munching on them while sipping tea, either as dessert or as a snack during the day. Source (AFP) × Fruits are present after every meal, with watermelons being the most popular. Source (AFP) × Here comes your tray of Afghan food; enjoy! Source (AFP) ×

Photos: Take a bite into Afghanistan's cuisine

They say that every food has its own story to tell. The South Asian region also has some of the most lip-smacking street foods that every foodie must try.<br />
<br />
Here is a list of some delicacies from the region, recommended by social media users, that you must try:&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li><strong>Nepal</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong> </strong>Some must-haves are: Chatamari (crepe made of rice flour), &nbsp;spiced and grilled buffalo meat locally known as Choila, which&nbsp;goes best with a homemade liquor called Newari, and&nbsp;&nbsp;Nepalese-style barbecued meat better known as Sekuwa.<br />
<br />
You can also try noodle soup, Thukpa.<br />
<br />
Sweet dish made with rice, Phirni, is quite popular here.&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NepalNOW?src=hash">#NepalNOW</a> Foodies&#39; Diary<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chatamari?src=hash">#chatamari</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/foddie?src=hash">#foddie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dinner?src=hash">#dinner</a> ??: <a href="https://twitter.com/AGhale">@aghale</a> <a href="https://t.co/s0y2IEkDSN">pic.twitter.com/s0y2IEkDSN</a></p>
&mdash; nepalNOW (@thenepalnow) <a href="https://twitter.com/thenepalnow/status/688972896962768896">January 18, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">No one ever said you can never celebrate Tuesdays. :D<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Choila?src=hash">#Choila</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BajekoSekuwa?src=hash">#BajekoSekuwa</a> <a href="https://t.co/0ayqEisJLM">pic.twitter.com/0ayqEisJLM</a></p>
&mdash; Foodmandu (@foodmandu) <a href="https://twitter.com/foodmandu/status/740146342354419712">June 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="fi">Mutton Sekuwa????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sekuwa?src=hash">#sekuwa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mutton?src=hash">#mutton</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/khasi?src=hash">#khasi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/khasikosekuwa?src=hash">#khasikosekuwa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/barbecue?src=hash">#barbecue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nepalifood?src=hash">#nepalifood</a> <a href="https://t.co/clZ5aQUbS8">pic.twitter.com/clZ5aQUbS8</a></p>
&mdash; Nepali Tummy (@NepaliTummy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NepaliTummy/status/750836376556347392">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chicken Thukpa Recipe thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/HungryForeverCo">@hungryforeverco</a> - get the recipe <a href="https://t.co/SOLiTlz9u2">https://t.co/SOLiTlz9u2</a> <a href="https://t.co/hwSGE6IfAQ">pic.twitter.com/hwSGE6IfAQ</a></p>
&mdash; eat365 (@eat365) <a href="https://twitter.com/eat365/status/771498038925885440">September 2, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>
&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li><strong>India</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong> </strong>India is expansive in size and offers a huge range of street foods due to country&#39;s diversity.<br />
<br />
Some delicacies worth giving a try are: Jalebi (crisp deep-fried refined flour and yogurt batter spirals dunked in saffron sugar syrup)&nbsp;in sweets, savoury snacks like Chaaat, Golgappas (fried crisps with flavoured water), Chole Bhature (fried bread coupled with spicy&nbsp;chickpea preparation) and Aloo Tikki (spiced, crispy potato patties).&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Awesome?src=hash">#Awesome</a> Food : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Made?src=hash">#Made</a> jalebi 1st time.. Yumm yumm yummmy.... Shape n taste turned out good&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/KnYXOKsabf">https://t.co/KnYXOKsabf</a> <a href="https://t.co/7CllnMwCPx">pic.twitter.com/7CllnMwCPx</a></p>
&mdash; Vilo Kanis (@SeeYouGuysCom) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeeYouGuysCom/status/716950724664496128">April 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Can I eat chaat all day? Indian street food love. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash">#Delhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/travel?src=hash">#travel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/streetfood?src=hash">#streetfood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indianchaat?src=hash">#indianchaat</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vxkngf2p6h">https://t.co/Vxkngf2p6h</a> <a href="https://t.co/qZpdHslZrt">pic.twitter.com/qZpdHslZrt</a></p>
&mdash; The Saccharine Habit (@foodbysssourabh) <a href="https://twitter.com/foodbysssourabh/status/663496860393299968">November 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">???? - ????? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CholeBhature?src=hash">#CholeBhature</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianCuisine?src=hash">#IndianCuisine</a> ???? <a href="https://t.co/9hjg7PIv9A">pic.twitter.com/9hjg7PIv9A</a></p>
&mdash; Planet Spices (@planetspices) <a href="https://twitter.com/planetspices/status/774675444079689728">September 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Experience the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flavours?src=hash">#flavours</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash">#India</a> in our dishes! Taste the savoury <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Samosa?src=hash">#Samosa</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlooTikki?src=hash">#AlooTikki</a> for yourself! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianFood?src=hash">#IndianFood</a> <a href="https://t.co/S6SmcfAFox">pic.twitter.com/S6SmcfAFox</a></p>
&mdash; Tandoori Flame (@Tandoori_Flame) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tandoori_Flame/status/757991391595204608">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This Golgappa is specially for u di?? <a href="https://twitter.com/shreyaghoshal">@shreyaghoshal</a> as my <a href="https://twitter.com/snehajh37544769">@snehajh37544769</a> promised u but u have to come online soon <a href="https://t.co/Miie836hpc">pic.twitter.com/Miie836hpc</a></p>
&mdash; &hearts;Siri?? SGian&hearts; (@sirishapappu77) <a href="https://twitter.com/sirishapappu77/status/774304964961116160">September 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><strong>Pakistan</strong></li>
</ul>

<p>Street&nbsp;food lovers in Pakistan cannot afford to give a miss to &#39;Kebabs&#39; (grilled and barbecued meat), Nihari (beef or lamb stew cooked slowly for a long period of time) and Biryani, a mixed rice dish.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Food?src=hash">#Food</a> street <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nothia?src=hash">#Nothia</a> bazar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peshawar?src=hash">#Peshawar</a> cantt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peace?src=hash">#Peace</a> <a href="https://t.co/ySQhDRFdcI">pic.twitter.com/ySQhDRFdcI</a></p>
&mdash; Muhammad Mudassir (@mudassir98u) <a href="https://twitter.com/mudassir98u/status/769542906323562496">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Kebabs<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ramazan?src=hash">#Ramazan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ramadan?src=hash">#ramadan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iftar?src=hash">#iftar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kebab?src=hash">#kebab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/night?src=hash">#night</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/party?src=hash">#party</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/foodilicious?src=hash">#foodilicious</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sizzling?src=hash">#sizzling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bbq?src=hash">#bbq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/burger?src=hash">#burger</a> <a href="http://t.co/BOw2qPfJ4J">pic.twitter.com/BOw2qPfJ4J</a></p>
&mdash; Irfan Ahmad Rana (@IRFANRANACRP) <a href="https://twitter.com/IRFANRANACRP/status/615534828016918528">June 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<p dir="ltr" lang="in"><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<ul dir="ltr">
	<li lang="in"><strong>Afghanistan</strong></li>
</ul>
?The landlocked country has a unique take on non-vegetarian food items.<br />
<br />
You can have steamed Afghani dumpling, locally known as Mantu, filled with lamb. The dish is best served with yogurt and&nbsp;kidney beans in a tomato sauce and dried mint.<br />
<br />
Bolani, traditional&nbsp;baked or fried&nbsp;flatbread&nbsp;stuffed with vegetables, is also popular among food&nbsp;connoisseurs. You can also feast on Afghani rice while travelling.&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Awesome?src=hash">#Awesome</a> Food : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mantu?src=hash">#Mantu</a> - afghan steamed beef dumplings with lentil and yogurt <a href="https://t.co/3sGnOcaPxB">https://t.co/3sGnOcaPxB</a> <a href="https://t.co/cPmlM1UVuQ">pic.twitter.com/cPmlM1UVuQ</a></p>
&mdash; Vilo Kanis (@SeeYouGuysCom) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeeYouGuysCom/status/768826199351123968">August 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Did you try? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bolani?src=hash">#Bolani</a> with Leek and Potato, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pashtun?src=hash">#Pashtun</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cuisine?src=hash">#Cuisine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peshawar?src=hash">#Peshawar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Quetta?src=hash">#Quetta</a> <a href="https://t.co/hgb2OKPVDM">pic.twitter.com/hgb2OKPVDM</a></p>
&mdash; Pukhtoogle (@Pukhtoogle) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pukhtoogle/status/665818947573424128">November 15, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/filetMignon?src=hash">#filetMignon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/halal?src=hash">#halal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/afghanfood?src=hash">#afghanfood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/afghancuisine?src=hash">#afghancuisine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanifood?src=hash">#Afghanifood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/naringe?src=hash">#naringe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kabli?src=hash">#kabli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/palaw?src=hash">#palaw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paloa?src=hash">#paloa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfghaniRice?src=hash">#AfghaniRice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/grilled?src=hash">#grilled</a> <a href="https://t.co/eHJqWcxb0X">pic.twitter.com/eHJqWcxb0X</a></p>
&mdash; TheSilkRoadRest (@thesilkroadrest) <a href="https://twitter.com/thesilkroadrest/status/767411518904336384">August 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;
<ul dir="ltr">
	<li lang="in"><strong>Sri Lanka</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>?</strong>Dig into egg hoppers (pancakes and fried egg), or satiate your taste buds with sesame balls called Thalaguli. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">11 Delicious Ways to Experience the Best of Sri Lanka: <a href="https://t.co/VotYkpVWqH">https://t.co/VotYkpVWqH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/delicious?src=hash">#delicious</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/food?src=hash">#food</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/culinary?src=hash">#culinary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/srilanka?src=hash">#srilanka</a> <a href="https://t.co/3b44WCsUcg">pic.twitter.com/3b44WCsUcg</a></p>
&mdash; SmarterTravel (@SmarterTravel) <a href="https://twitter.com/SmarterTravel/status/771380215801081856">September 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thala Guli. Must try sweet in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SriLanka?src=hash">#SriLanka</a>. A delicacy made from Sesame seeds and jaggery. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/food?src=hash">#food</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/delicious?src=hash">#delicious</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/travel?src=hash">#travel</a> <a href="https://t.co/ijK9jATxMa">pic.twitter.com/ijK9jATxMa</a></p>
&mdash; Yasoma Galloluwe (@pgtravels_sl) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgtravels_sl/status/772487061534375936">September 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Colors of Pettah<a href="https://t.co/yTHWz2Aoj5">https://t.co/yTHWz2Aoj5</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/srilanka?src=hash">#srilanka</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pettah?src=hash">#pettah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/food?src=hash">#food</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/people?src=hash">#people</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryDaySriLanka?src=hash">#EveryDaySriLanka</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/streetphotography?src=hash">#streetphotography</a> <a href="https://t.co/giaGkOXJUD">pic.twitter.com/giaGkOXJUD</a></p>
&mdash; Nazly Ahmed (@nazly) <a href="https://twitter.com/nazly/status/770436212876206080">August 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;
<ul dir="ltr">
	<li lang="in"><strong>Bangladesh</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>?</strong>Influenced by Indian Bengali cuisine, Morog Pulao is a special kind of rice with large portions of chicken.&nbsp;

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Best of Bangladesh food: Kacchi Biryani! <a href="https://t.co/ddJbzsM5bP">https://t.co/ddJbzsM5bP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash">#Bangladesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/food?src=hash">#food</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/travel?src=hash">#travel</a> <a href="https://t.co/CAJjFAl9ug">pic.twitter.com/CAJjFAl9ug</a></p>
&mdash; BonVoyageurs (@BonVoyageurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/BonVoyageurs/status/763888129342332928">August 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li><strong>Bhutan</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>?</strong>Try the hot and spicy Ema Datshi, red rice and stew made of chilies, cheese and veggies.<br />
<br />
Shakam Datshi, a dish prepared with dried beef with red chillies, is also popular&nbsp;for its unique cheesy texture
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Missing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmaDatshi?src=hash">#EmaDatshi</a>, the signature Bhutanese Cuisine. It&#39;s made of chili peppers and cheese.<a href="https://twitter.com/EaseIndiaTravel">@EaseIndiaTravel</a> <a href="https://t.co/2RNCfTdden">pic.twitter.com/2RNCfTdden</a></p>
&mdash; Neha Sharma (@NehaSharmaHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/NehaSharmaHere/status/714296161344028672">March 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li><strong>Maldives</strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>?</strong>The island country is famous for its sea food.&nbsp;

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lobster for tonight - Lily Beach Resort<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bmrtg?src=hash">#bmrtg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maldives?src=hash">#Maldives</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lobster?src=hash">#lobster</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%A9%AC%E5%B0%94%E4%BB%A3%E5%A4%AB?src=hash">#????</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD?src=hash">#??</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/picoftheday?src=hash">#picoftheday</a> &hellip; <a href="http://t.co/odabtA40SJ">http://t.co/odabtA40SJ</a> <a href="http://t.co/NaobrfUG6N">pic.twitter.com/NaobrfUG6N</a></p>
&mdash; MALDIVITY&trade; (@MALDIVITY) <a href="https://twitter.com/MALDIVITY/status/597157583372349442">May 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Whatever yr Favourite Meal, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maldives?src=hash">#Maldives</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/culinarydelight?src=hash">#culinarydelight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Prawn?src=hash">#Prawn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VisitMaldivesYear2016?src=hash">#VisitMaldivesYear2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/iZIVzBiq5c">pic.twitter.com/iZIVzBiq5c</a></p>
&mdash; Y &amp; Y Maldives (@ynymaldives) <a href="https://twitter.com/ynymaldives/status/663688597879414785">November 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Try this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/recipe?src=hash">#recipe</a> for Goan style shrimp kebabs from Constance Moofushi - <a href="https://t.co/MC9lvk6VF6">https://t.co/MC9lvk6VF6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/seafood?src=hash">#seafood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maldives?src=hash">#Maldives</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z1UZVPjs8p">pic.twitter.com/Z1UZVPjs8p</a></p>
&mdash; Constance Hotels (@constancehotels) <a href="https://twitter.com/constancehotels/status/739743646543548417">June 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<p dir="ltr" lang="in"><br />
<br />
<em>(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)</em></p>

<div class="twitter-block"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>


Ditch the fancy restaurants and taste the region's authentic flavours on the roads

They say that every food has its own story to tell. The South Asian region also has some of the most lip-smacking street foods that every foodie must try. Here is a list of some delicacies from the region, recommended by social media users, that you must try: Nepal Some must-haves are: Chatamari (crepe made of rice flour), spiced and grilled buffalo meat locally known as Choila, which goes best with a homemade liquor called Newari, and Nepalese-style barbecued meat better known as Sekuwa. You can also try noodle soup, Thukpa. Sweet dish made with rice, Phirni, is quite popular here. #NepalNOW Foodies' Diary#chatamari #foddie #dinner ??: @aghale pic.twitter.com/s0y2IEkDSN — nepalNOW (@thenepalnow) January 18, 2016 No one ever said you can never celebrate Tuesdays. :D#Choila from #BajekoSekuwa pic.twitter.com/0ayqEisJLM — Foodmandu (@foodmandu) June 7, 2016 Mutton Sekuwa????#sekuwa #mutton #khasi #khasikosekuwa #barbecue #nepalifood pic.twitter.com/clZ5aQUbS8 — Nepali Tummy (@NepaliTummy) July 6, 2016 Chicken Thukpa Recipe thanks to @hungryforeverco - get the recipe https://t.co/SOLiTlz9u2 pic.twitter.com/hwSGE6IfAQ — eat365 (@eat365) September 2, 2016 India India is expansive in size and offers a huge range of street foods due to country's diversity. Some delicacies worth giving a try are: Jalebi (crisp deep-fried refined flour and yogurt batter spirals dunked in saffron sugar syrup) in sweets, savoury snacks like Chaaat, Golgappas (fried crisps with flavoured water), Chole Bhature (fried bread coupled with spicy chickpea preparation) and Aloo Tikki (spiced, crispy potato patties). #Awesome Food : #Made jalebi 1st time.. Yumm yumm yummmy.... Shape n taste turned out good… https://t.co/KnYXOKsabf pic.twitter.com/7CllnMwCPx — Vilo Kanis (@SeeYouGuysCom) April 4, 2016 Can I eat chaat all day? Indian street food love. #Delhi #travel #streetfood #indianchaat https://t.co/Vxkngf2p6h pic.twitter.com/qZpdHslZrt — The Saccharine Habit (@foodbysssourabh) November 8, 2015 ???? - ????? #CholeBhature #IndianCuisine ???? pic.twitter.com/9hjg7PIv9A — Planet Spices (@planetspices) September 10, 2016 Experience the #flavours of #India in our dishes! Taste the savoury #Samosa and #AlooTikki for yourself! #IndianFood pic.twitter.com/S6SmcfAFox — Tandoori Flame (@Tandoori_Flame) July 26, 2016 This Golgappa is specially for u di?? @shreyaghoshal as my @snehajh37544769 promised u but u have to come online soon pic.twitter.com/Miie836hpc — ♥Siri?? SGian♥ (@sirishapappu77) September 9, 2016 Pakistan Street food lovers in Pakistan cannot afford to give a miss to 'Kebabs' (grilled and barbecued meat), Nihari (beef or lamb stew cooked slowly for a long period of time) and Biryani, a mixed rice dish. #Food street #Nothia bazar #Peshawar cantt #Pakistan #Peace pic.twitter.com/ySQhDRFdcI — Muhammad Mudassir (@mudassir98u) August 27, 2016 Kebabs#Ramazan #ramadan #Pakistan #iftar #kebab #night #party #foodilicious #sizzling #bbq #burger pic.twitter.com/BOw2qPfJ4J — Irfan Ahmad Rana (@IRFANRANACRP) June 29, 2015 Afghanistan ?The landlocked country has a unique take on non-vegetarian food items. You can have steamed Afghani dumpling, locally known as Mantu, filled with lamb. The dish is best served with yogurt and kidney beans in a tomato sauce and dried mint. Bolani, traditional baked or fried flatbread stuffed with vegetables, is also popular among food connoisseurs. You can also feast on Afghani rice while travelling. #Awesome Food : #Mantu - afghan steamed beef dumplings with lentil and yogurt https://t.co/3sGnOcaPxB pic.twitter.com/cPmlM1UVuQ — Vilo Kanis (@SeeYouGuysCom) August 25, 2016 Did you try? #Bolani with Leek and Potato, #Pashtun #Cuisine #Peshawar #Afghanistan #Quetta pic.twitter.com/hgb2OKPVDM — Pukhtoogle (@Pukhtoogle) November 15, 2015 #filetMignon #halal #afghanfood #afghancuisine #Afghanifood #naringe #kabli #palaw #paloa #AfghaniRice #grilled pic.twitter.com/eHJqWcxb0X — TheSilkRoadRest (@thesilkroadrest) August 21, 2016 Sri Lanka ?Dig into egg hoppers (pancakes and fried egg), or satiate your taste buds with sesame balls called Thalaguli. 11 Delicious Ways to Experience the Best of Sri Lanka: https://t.co/VotYkpVWqH #delicious #food #culinary #srilanka pic.twitter.com/3b44WCsUcg — SmarterTravel (@SmarterTravel) September 1, 2016 Thala Guli. Must try sweet in #SriLanka. A delicacy made from Sesame seeds and jaggery. #food #delicious #travel pic.twitter.com/ijK9jATxMa — Yasoma Galloluwe (@pgtravels_sl) September 4, 2016 Colors of Pettahhttps://t.co/yTHWz2Aoj5#srilanka #pettah #food #people #EveryDaySriLanka #streetphotography pic.twitter.com/giaGkOXJUD — Nazly Ahmed (@nazly) August 30, 2016 Bangladesh ?Influenced by Indian Bengali cuisine, Morog Pulao is a special kind of rice with large portions of chicken. Best of Bangladesh food: Kacchi Biryani! https://t.co/ddJbzsM5bP #Bangladesh #food #travel pic.twitter.com/CAJjFAl9ug — BonVoyageurs (@BonVoyageurs) August 12, 2016 Bhutan ?Try the hot and spicy Ema Datshi, red rice and stew made of chilies, cheese and veggies. Shakam Datshi, a dish prepared with dried beef with red chillies, is also popular for its unique cheesy texture Missing #EmaDatshi, the signature Bhutanese Cuisine. It's made of chili peppers and cheese.@EaseIndiaTravel pic.twitter.com/2RNCfTdden — Neha Sharma (@NehaSharmaHere) March 28, 2016 Maldives ?The island country is famous for its sea food. Lobster for tonight - Lily Beach Resort#bmrtg #Maldives #lobster #???? #?? #picoftheday … http://t.co/odabtA40SJ pic.twitter.com/NaobrfUG6N — MALDIVITY™ (@MALDIVITY) May 9, 2015 Whatever yr Favourite Meal, #Maldives #culinarydelight #Prawn #VisitMaldivesYear2016 pic.twitter.com/iZIVzBiq5c — Y & Y Maldives (@ynymaldives) November 9, 2015 Try this #recipe for Goan style shrimp kebabs from Constance Moofushi - https://t.co/MC9lvk6VF6 #seafood #Maldives pic.twitter.com/Z1UZVPjs8p — Constance Hotels (@constancehotels) June 6, 2016 (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Street foods from South Asia you can't afford to miss

Are you a Pokemon fan? Pokeburgers are something you just can't miss!

Pokemon Burger

Seth Rogen pranks shoppers with talking foods as a promotion for his latest film "Sausage Party''.

Seth Rogen pranks shoppers with talking foods as a promotion for his latest film

Melons and breads are talking with Seth Rogen's voice

Venezuela&#39;s food shortages, inflation and crumbling medical sector have become such a source of anguish that a growing number of young women are reluctantly opting for sterilisations rather than face the hardship of pregnancy and child-rearing.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Traditional contraceptives like condoms or birth control pills have virtually vanished from store shelves, pushing women towards the hard-to-reverse surgery.<br />
<br />
&quot;Having a child now means making him suffer,&quot; said Milagros Martinez, waiting on a park bench on a recent morning ahead of her sterilisation at a nearby Caracas municipal health centre.<br />
<br />
The 28-year-old butcher from the poor outskirts of Caracas decided on the operation after having an unplanned second child because she could not find birth control pills.<br />
<br />
Her daily life revolves around finding food: she gets up in the middle of the night to stand in long lines outside supermarkets, sometimes with no choice but to bring along her baby son, who has been sunburnt during hours-long waits.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;I&#39;m a little scared about being sterilised but I prefer that to having more children,&quot; said Martinez, who with dozens of other women took a bus from the slums at 4 am to attend a special &quot;sterilisation day&quot; in this wealthy area of Caracas.<br />
<br />
While no recent national statistics on sterilisations are available, doctors and health workers say demand for the procedure is growing.<br />
<br />
The local health program for women in Miranda state, which includes parts of Caracas, offers 40 spots during these &quot;sterilisation days&quot; but as recently as last year did not usually fill them.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Now all the slots are scooped up and some 500 women are on the waiting list, according to program director Deliana Torres.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;Before, the conditions for this program were that the women be low-income and have at least four kids. Now we have women with one or two kids who want to be tied up,&quot; she said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Health workers at a national family planning organisation and at three government hospitals in the states of Falcon, Tachira and Merida echoed her view that demand for sterilisations had grown in recent months.<br />
<br />
The trend highlights how the oil-rich nation&#39;s brutal recession is forcing people to make difficult choices.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Venezuela is a largely Roman Catholic country where Church doctrine rejects all forms of contraception and abortion is banned unless a woman&#39;s life is at risk. The Archbishop of Merida, Baltazar Porras, told Reuters an increase in sterilisations would be a &quot;barbarity&quot;.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
But Venezuela&#39;s crisis has triggered almost daily riots for food and slammed a shrinking middle class as well as the poor who were once a bastion of support for late leftist leader Hugo Chavez&#39;s self-styled &quot;beautiful revolution&quot;.<br />
<br />
Pregnant women are particularly affected as they struggle to find adequate food and supplements, give birth in crowded and under-equipped hospitals, and have to spend hours in lines for scarce diapers, baby food and medicines.<br />
<br />
The government ministries for health, women and information did not respond to requests for comment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>&#39;I wanted five kids&#39;</strong><br />
<br />
Sterilisations are usually straightforward procedures that involve closing or blocking a woman&#39;s fallopian tubes, known as tubal ligation.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;I heard about these free sterilisation days on the radio. Immediately I showered, dressed, and went out (to find out about them),&quot; said Rosmary Teran, 32, who had her second child two months ago and also came to the health centre from a poor neighborhood before dawn.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Some health workers fear the economic meltdown is putting pressure on women to make a choice they may come to regret if the crisis eases.<br />
<br />
&quot;Sometimes we hear: &#39;My husband told me to get sterilised because another child now wouldn&#39;t be practical&#39;,&quot; said social worker Ania Rodriguez at family planning group PLAFAM in central Caracas.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Rodriguez says she meets with up to five women a day seeking sterilisations, up from one or two per week about a year ago.<br />
<br />
When women seem unsure or pressured into sterilisations, Rodriguez tries to steer them towards contraceptives like intra-uterine devices, which are somewhat more available and affordable than birth control pills or condoms.<br />
<br />
When they have them, pharmacies sell a pack of three condoms for around 600 Bolivars, only 60 US cents at the black market rate but a big expense for those who earn the minimum wage of some 33,000 Bolivars per month.<br />
<br />
On the Caracas re-sale market, those same condoms fetch around 2,000 Bolivars.&nbsp;Venezuela&#39;s elite can afford those prices but the ailing middle class and poor are increasingly stuck.<br />
<br />
&quot;I couldn&#39;t find the (contraceptive) injections, the pill, nothing. It&#39;s very expensive on the black market, and now you can&#39;t even find stuff there anymore,&quot; said Yecsenis Ginez, 31, who has one son and decided to get sterilised.<br />
<br />
&quot;I thought I would have up to five kids, I had loads of names in mind. But it would be crazy to fall pregnant now.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Still, some women have had to wait for months to be sterilised because there are limited spots at state-led hospitals and private clinics can charge about 12 times the monthly minimum wage.<br />
<br />
And some health centres are unable to provide sterilisations at all due to a lack of equipment or specialists.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Disarray</strong><br />
Amid what now feels like a distant oil boom, Chavez built thousands of Cuban-staffed health centres in poor neighborhoods and also launched popular maternity-health programs during his 1999-2013 rule.<br />
<br />
But with Venezuela&#39;s state-led economic model decaying and oil prices depressed, hospitals have deteriorated sharply under his successor Nicolas Maduro.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Medicine shortages hover around 85 per cent, according to a leading pharmaceutical association. Equipment ranging from surgical gloves to incubators is scarce, and many underpaid doctors have left the public sector or emigrated.<br />
<br />
The government still says it has one of the world&#39;s best health systems and accuses detractors of waging a smear campaign. It has stopped releasing timely health data, though.<br />
<br />
The World Health Organization says Venezuela&#39;s neo-natal mortality rate was 8.9 per 1,000 live births last year, above the Americas region&#39;s average of 7.7.<br />
<br />
It says Venezuela&#39;s maternal mortality rate was 95 per 100,000 live births in 2015, one of the worst rates in Latin America and up from 90 in 2000.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The nation of 30 million people has one of Latin America&#39;s highest rates of teenage pregnancies and large numbers of single-parent households, UN data shows.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
As they waited to be called into the operating room for their sterilisations, women in blue scrubs and hairnets wistfully recalled happier times in once-booming Venezuela.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;Before, when you got pregnant, everyone was happy,&quot; said mother-of-two Yessy Ascanio, 38, as she sat on a bed in a side room. &quot;Now when a woman says &#39;I&#39;m pregnant&#39;, everyone scolds you. It makes me sad for young women.&quot;<br />
<br />
As some of her peers nervously looked out at patients being wheeled out after their sterilisation, Ascanio advised: &quot;If you get scared, just remember those food lines.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

'If you get scared, just remember those food lines' say women who are opting for sterilisation in the country hit by food-shortage

Venezuela's food shortages, inflation and crumbling medical sector have become such a source of anguish that a growing number of young women are reluctantly opting for sterilisations rather than face the hardship of pregnancy and child-rearing. Traditional contraceptives like condoms or birth control pills have virtually vanished from store shelves, pushing women towards the hard-to-reverse surgery. "Having a child now means making him suffer," said Milagros Martinez, waiting on a park bench on a recent morning ahead of her sterilisation at a nearby Caracas municipal health centre. The 28-year-old butcher from the poor outskirts of Caracas decided on the operation after having an unplanned second child because she could not find birth control pills. Her daily life revolves around finding food: she gets up in the middle of the night to stand in long lines outside supermarkets, sometimes with no choice but to bring along her baby son, who has been sunburnt during hours-long waits. "I'm a little scared about being sterilised but I prefer that to having more children," said Martinez, who with dozens of other women took a bus from the slums at 4 am to attend a special "sterilisation day" in this wealthy area of Caracas. While no recent national statistics on sterilisations are available, doctors and health workers say demand for the procedure is growing. The local health program for women in Miranda state, which includes parts of Caracas, offers 40 spots during these "sterilisation days" but as recently as last year did not usually fill them. Now all the slots are scooped up and some 500 women are on the waiting list, according to program director Deliana Torres. "Before, the conditions for this program were that the women be low-income and have at least four kids. Now we have women with one or two kids who want to be tied up," she said. Health workers at a national family planning organisation and at three government hospitals in the states of Falcon, Tachira and Merida echoed her view that demand for sterilisations had grown in recent months. The trend highlights how the oil-rich nation's brutal recession is forcing people to make difficult choices. Venezuela is a largely Roman Catholic country where Church doctrine rejects all forms of contraception and abortion is banned unless a woman's life is at risk. The Archbishop of Merida, Baltazar Porras, told Reuters an increase in sterilisations would be a "barbarity". But Venezuela's crisis has triggered almost daily riots for food and slammed a shrinking middle class as well as the poor who were once a bastion of support for late leftist leader Hugo Chavez's self-styled "beautiful revolution". Pregnant women are particularly affected as they struggle to find adequate food and supplements, give birth in crowded and under-equipped hospitals, and have to spend hours in lines for scarce diapers, baby food and medicines. The government ministries for health, women and information did not respond to requests for comment. 'I wanted five kids' Sterilisations are usually straightforward procedures that involve closing or blocking a woman's fallopian tubes, known as tubal ligation. "I heard about these free sterilisation days on the radio. Immediately I showered, dressed, and went out (to find out about them)," said Rosmary Teran, 32, who had her second child two months ago and also came to the health centre from a poor neighborhood before dawn. Some health workers fear the economic meltdown is putting pressure on women to make a choice they may come to regret if the crisis eases. "Sometimes we hear: 'My husband told me to get sterilised because another child now wouldn't be practical'," said social worker Ania Rodriguez at family planning group PLAFAM in central Caracas. Rodriguez says she meets with up to five women a day seeking sterilisations, up from one or two per week about a year ago. When women seem unsure or pressured into sterilisations, Rodriguez tries to steer them towards contraceptives like intra-uterine devices, which are somewhat more available and affordable than birth control pills or condoms. When they have them, pharmacies sell a pack of three condoms for around 600 Bolivars, only 60 US cents at the black market rate but a big expense for those who earn the minimum wage of some 33,000 Bolivars per month. On the Caracas re-sale market, those same condoms fetch around 2,000 Bolivars. Venezuela's elite can afford those prices but the ailing middle class and poor are increasingly stuck. "I couldn't find the (contraceptive) injections, the pill, nothing. It's very expensive on the black market, and now you can't even find stuff there anymore," said Yecsenis Ginez, 31, who has one son and decided to get sterilised. "I thought I would have up to five kids, I had loads of names in mind. But it would be crazy to fall pregnant now." Still, some women have had to wait for months to be sterilised because there are limited spots at state-led hospitals and private clinics can charge about 12 times the monthly minimum wage. And some health centres are unable to provide sterilisations at all due to a lack of equipment or specialists. Disarray Amid what now feels like a distant oil boom, Chavez built thousands of Cuban-staffed health centres in poor neighborhoods and also launched popular maternity-health programs during his 1999-2013 rule. But with Venezuela's state-led economic model decaying and oil prices depressed, hospitals have deteriorated sharply under his successor Nicolas Maduro. Medicine shortages hover around 85 per cent, according to a leading pharmaceutical association. Equipment ranging from surgical gloves to incubators is scarce, and many underpaid doctors have left the public sector or emigrated. The government still says it has one of the world's best health systems and accuses detractors of waging a smear campaign. It has stopped releasing timely health data, though. The World Health Organization says Venezuela's neo-natal mortality rate was 8.9 per 1,000 live births last year, above the Americas region's average of 7.7. It says Venezuela's maternal mortality rate was 95 per 100,000 live births in 2015, one of the worst rates in Latin America and up from 90 in 2000. The nation of 30 million people has one of Latin America's highest rates of teenage pregnancies and large numbers of single-parent households, UN data shows. As they waited to be called into the operating room for their sterilisations, women in blue scrubs and hairnets wistfully recalled happier times in once-booming Venezuela. "Before, when you got pregnant, everyone was happy," said mother-of-two Yessy Ascanio, 38, as she sat on a bed in a side room. "Now when a woman says 'I'm pregnant', everyone scolds you. It makes me sad for young women." As some of her peers nervously looked out at patients being wheeled out after their sterilisation, Ascanio advised: "If you get scared, just remember those food lines." (Reuters)

Deep recession drives young Venezuelan women to sterilisation

Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rushed to the rescue of 10,000 unemployed Indians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia without food at a camp. She ensured that the&nbsp;Indian Embassy in Jeddah supplied them immediately with food on Saturday.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. <a href="https://twitter.com/JagranNews">@JagranNews</a></p>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/759424598114873344">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<br />
Swaraj reacted to a tweet by an Indian national who brought the plight of his fellow citizens to the notice of the Indian government.&nbsp;<br />
She assured that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia will go without food. She also said that she was personally monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.<br />
<br />
&quot;Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories&quot;, Swaraj tweeted<br />
<br />
&quot;While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia&quot;, she said.<br />
<br />
A man named Imran Khokhar had tweeted that 800 Indians were starving for past three days in Jeddah.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> after your quick reaction some camps got foods today <a href="https://t.co/BXpwLDCrEx">pic.twitter.com/BXpwLDCrEx</a></p>
&mdash; Imran Khokhar (@Imran_khokhar84) <a href="https://twitter.com/Imran_khokhar84/status/759382994876502016">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<br />
Thousands of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The factory workers have not been paid wages by their employers and factories were also shut down.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation.</p>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/759427375809503232">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>Swaraj also appealed to the three million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help their &quot;fellow brothers and sisters&quot;.<br />
<br />
(WION)

Swaraj's response came after an Indian, Imran Khokhar, had tweeted that 800 unemployed nationals were starving in Saudi Arabia

Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rushed to the rescue of 10,000 unemployed Indians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia without food at a camp. She ensured that the Indian Embassy in Jeddah supplied them immediately with food on Saturday. The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. @JagranNews — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj reacted to a tweet by an Indian national who brought the plight of his fellow citizens to the notice of the Indian government. She assured that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia will go without food. She also said that she was personally monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. "Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories", Swaraj tweeted "While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia", she said. A man named Imran Khokhar had tweeted that 800 Indians were starving for past three days in Jeddah. @SushmaSwaraj after your quick reaction some camps got foods today pic.twitter.com/BXpwLDCrEx — Imran Khokhar (@Imran_khokhar84) July 30, 2016 Thousands of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The factory workers have not been paid wages by their employers and factories were also shut down. There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj also appealed to the three million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help their "fellow brothers and sisters". (WION)

Indian foreign minister reaches out to help 10,000 stranded in Jeddah

The United Nations has made the first food aid delivery to thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram Islamists in the Nigerian town of Banki, where hundreds have starved to death since March, the UN said on Friday.<br />
<br />
Officials from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) delivered 30 tonnes of &quot;various lifesaving food items&quot; transported from neighbouring Cameroon, the OCHA said in a statement.&nbsp;The convoy reached Banki on Thursday and distributed food to the more than 25,000 people in the town, it said.<br />
<br />
&quot;An additional 700 kilograms of supplementary food for malnourished children was airlifted from the state capital Maiduguri to Banki on the same day.&quot;&nbsp;It was the first aid delivery to the thousands of internally displaced in the northeast region in the last four months following deadly Boko Haram raids.<br />
<br />
They have been without food and basic supplies and relied on paltry food handouts from soldiers who have been sharing their rations.&nbsp;Last month a soldier and a vigilante assisting the military in fighting Boko Haram told AFP at least 10 people were dying from hunger every day, highlighting warnings about a food crisis in the Sahel region.<br />
<br />
The vigilante said the cemetery in Banki, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital Maiduguri, was dotted with 376 graves of displaced people who died of starvation.&nbsp;The soldier said people had been reduced to &quot;walking corpses&quot; facing imminent death without food aid.<br />
<br />
When Boko Haram intensified attacks on villages in the area, residents fled to Banki where a military detachment has been based since they retook it in September.&nbsp;The United Nations said in May that 9.2 million people living around Lake Chad, which forms the border of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, were in desperate need of food.<br />
<br />
According to the OCHA aid distribution in Banki and other areas recently liberated by the Nigerian military was &quot;scaling up&quot; but more funds were needed to meet the &quot;lifesaving needs&quot; of people affected by Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria.<br />
<br />
Only 28 per cent of the $279 million required by the UN to help those affected by the violence has been realised, leaving a $200 million shortfall.<br />
<br />
The Borno state government and aid agencies have warned about acute food shortages in the Lake Chad region as a result of seven years of violence.<br />
<br />
Boko Haram&#39;s insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead in Nigeria and devastated infrastructure in the impoverished northeast. The unrest has also displaced more than 2.6 million.&nbsp;Nigeria&#39;s government has been encouraging people to return home since the recapture of swathes of territory lost to the Islamist militants in 2014 but most are still largely reliant on food handouts.<br />
<br />
There have been concerns about high death rates from severe acute malnutrition in camps for the internally displaced, while it is feared some inaccessible areas could be suffering from famine.&nbsp;A UN official compared the situation with the crisis in Darfur and South Sudan.<br />
<br />
(AFP)

The camps have seen high death rates from severe acute malnutrition in camps, even famine. A UN official compared it to the Darfur crisis

The United Nations has made the first food aid delivery to thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram Islamists in the Nigerian town of Banki, where hundreds have starved to death since March, the UN said on Friday. Officials from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) delivered 30 tonnes of "various lifesaving food items" transported from neighbouring Cameroon, the OCHA said in a statement. The convoy reached Banki on Thursday and distributed food to the more than 25,000 people in the town, it said. "An additional 700 kilograms of supplementary food for malnourished children was airlifted from the state capital Maiduguri to Banki on the same day." It was the first aid delivery to the thousands of internally displaced in the northeast region in the last four months following deadly Boko Haram raids. They have been without food and basic supplies and relied on paltry food handouts from soldiers who have been sharing their rations. Last month a soldier and a vigilante assisting the military in fighting Boko Haram told AFP at least 10 people were dying from hunger every day, highlighting warnings about a food crisis in the Sahel region. The vigilante said the cemetery in Banki, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital Maiduguri, was dotted with 376 graves of displaced people who died of starvation. The soldier said people had been reduced to "walking corpses" facing imminent death without food aid. When Boko Haram intensified attacks on villages in the area, residents fled to Banki where a military detachment has been based since they retook it in September. The United Nations said in May that 9.2 million people living around Lake Chad, which forms the border of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, were in desperate need of food. According to the OCHA aid distribution in Banki and other areas recently liberated by the Nigerian military was "scaling up" but more funds were needed to meet the "lifesaving needs" of people affected by Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria. Only 28 per cent of the $279 million required by the UN to help those affected by the violence has been realised, leaving a $200 million shortfall. The Borno state government and aid agencies have warned about acute food shortages in the Lake Chad region as a result of seven years of violence. Boko Haram's insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead in Nigeria and devastated infrastructure in the impoverished northeast. The unrest has also displaced more than 2.6 million. Nigeria's government has been encouraging people to return home since the recapture of swathes of territory lost to the Islamist militants in 2014 but most are still largely reliant on food handouts. There have been concerns about high death rates from severe acute malnutrition in camps for the internally displaced, while it is feared some inaccessible areas could be suffering from famine. A UN official compared the situation with the crisis in Darfur and South Sudan. (AFP)

UN delivers food to starving displaced by Boko Haram

It was looting on an epic scale, a month&#39;s worth of food aid for over 220,000 South Sudanese along with the giant warehouses that stored it,&nbsp;were stolen in two days.<br />
<br />
As fighting raged between rival forces in the capital Juba last week, the UN&#39;s World Food Programme&#39;s main logistics hub was picked clean.<br />
<br />
WFP says it is &quot;outraged&quot; by the theft of more than 4,500 tonnes of food &quot;intended for the poorest and most vulnerable people&quot; in a country trying to stave off famine.<br />
<br />
At least 300 people were killed in the city between July 8 and 11 during clashes pitting government forces against former rebels, and in the anarchy of war, many took advantage to steal what they could.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, an angry soldier waving a gun stopped anyone entering or photographing the fenced compound, but it was clear to see that nothing of value remained. Men hammered at broken trucks for spare parts, while others ripped off electrical wires from an office block.<br />
<br />
Some of the looters tore down at the remaining few sections of thick plastic sheeting that had covered the metal frames of rows of warehouses, now standing out like the bare bones of a ribcage.<br />
<br />
Several people walked away balancing boxes of looted cooking oil or rolls of tin roofing sheets on their heads.<br />
<br />
Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang has said the looting in Juba was &quot;unfortunate&quot;, blaming it on opposition troops, part of a 1,400-force of ex-rebel turned Vice-President Riek Machar.<br />
<br />
The capital has been relatively calm since late Monday, when Machar&#39;s men were forced to flee after government troops in tanks and helicopter gunships pounded their positions with overwhelming firepower.<br />
<br />
Much of the stolen food was trucked away from the sprawling base on the outskirts of Juba: a large-scale, well organised operation that would have required hundreds of trips.<br />
<br />
Nearby residents said &quot;men in uniform&quot; even used a truck mounted with a crane to steal the minibus-sized generators that once powered the giant site.<br />
<br />
&quot;After the soldiers left, then ordinary citizens came to see what they could take,&quot; said James Keri, who lives in the nearby Gudele district, an area dotted with burnt-out houses destroyed during the fighting.<br />
<br />
Other goods were carted away in cars, motorbikes, wheelbarrows and on people&#39;s heads.<br />
<br />
More than a third of South Sudan&#39;s population are expected to face severe food shortages over the coming months and the war-torn nation runs the risk of a &quot;hunger catastrophe,&quot; according to the UN.<br />
<br />
WFP warned that the loss of the &quot;vital&quot; aid &quot;will severely hamper&quot; its efforts to support those caught up in the fighting.<br />
<br />
Three-quarters of people need some form of humanitarian aid, WFP&#39;s top chief Ertharin Cousin said earlier this week, warning that the &quot;latest conflict is going to push even more people into hunger and despair.<br />
<br />
&quot;WFP has other stores in the country and the region, but the loss of the food is another blow to efforts to support those hardest hit by over two years of war.<br />
<br />
&quot;The dire humanitarian crisis in other parts of South Sudan has not abated,&quot; WFP warned.<br />
<br />
The WFP base was only one of many places ransacked.&nbsp;Civilians reported houses and shops broken into as they fled for safety to churches or the surrounding countryside.<br />
<br />
&quot;The fighting was so much, we spent a day under our beds as bullets came through the walls of house,&quot; said Mary Wani, now seeking shelter in a church.&nbsp;Then they forced us from our homes, and as we left, they were taking all they could from inside.&quot;<br />
<br />
Not far from the looted WFP warehouse, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) medical aid agency has set up a small tent operating as a mobile clinic, supporting those who fled their homes in the fighting.&nbsp;Civilians with bullet wounds came to the clinic immediately after the fighting, said MSF clinical officer Isaac Badi, sweating in the heat of the tent, where women held crying babies.<br />
<br />
&quot;Now we are seeing cases of malnutrition in the children,&quot; Badi said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Over 100,000 children have been treated for severe malnutrition this year, a 40 per cent increase compared to 2015, and a 150 per cent increase since 2014, the UN children&#39;s agency UNICEF says.<br />
<br />
Food prices have soared in the marketplace since the fighting, coupled with runaway inflation.<br />
<br />
&quot;We don&#39;t have food,&quot; said Wani, cradling a crying baby girl. &quot;There is almost nothing for us to eat.&quot;<br />
<br />
(AFP)

More than 4,500 tonnes of food 'intended for the poorest and most vulnerable' stolen as at least 300 killed and famine threatens Juba

It was looting on an epic scale, a month's worth of food aid for over 220,000 South Sudanese along with the giant warehouses that stored it, were stolen in two days. As fighting raged between rival forces in the capital Juba last week, the UN's World Food Programme's main logistics hub was picked clean. WFP says it is "outraged" by the theft of more than 4,500 tonnes of food "intended for the poorest and most vulnerable people" in a country trying to stave off famine. At least 300 people were killed in the city between July 8 and 11 during clashes pitting government forces against former rebels, and in the anarchy of war, many took advantage to steal what they could. On Saturday, an angry soldier waving a gun stopped anyone entering or photographing the fenced compound, but it was clear to see that nothing of value remained. Men hammered at broken trucks for spare parts, while others ripped off electrical wires from an office block. Some of the looters tore down at the remaining few sections of thick plastic sheeting that had covered the metal frames of rows of warehouses, now standing out like the bare bones of a ribcage. Several people walked away balancing boxes of looted cooking oil or rolls of tin roofing sheets on their heads. Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang has said the looting in Juba was "unfortunate", blaming it on opposition troops, part of a 1,400-force of ex-rebel turned Vice-President Riek Machar. The capital has been relatively calm since late Monday, when Machar's men were forced to flee after government troops in tanks and helicopter gunships pounded their positions with overwhelming firepower. Much of the stolen food was trucked away from the sprawling base on the outskirts of Juba: a large-scale, well organised operation that would have required hundreds of trips. Nearby residents said "men in uniform" even used a truck mounted with a crane to steal the minibus-sized generators that once powered the giant site. "After the soldiers left, then ordinary citizens came to see what they could take," said James Keri, who lives in the nearby Gudele district, an area dotted with burnt-out houses destroyed during the fighting. Other goods were carted away in cars, motorbikes, wheelbarrows and on people's heads. More than a third of South Sudan's population are expected to face severe food shortages over the coming months and the war-torn nation runs the risk of a "hunger catastrophe," according to the UN. WFP warned that the loss of the "vital" aid "will severely hamper" its efforts to support those caught up in the fighting. Three-quarters of people need some form of humanitarian aid, WFP's top chief Ertharin Cousin said earlier this week, warning that the "latest conflict is going to push even more people into hunger and despair. "WFP has other stores in the country and the region, but the loss of the food is another blow to efforts to support those hardest hit by over two years of war. "The dire humanitarian crisis in other parts of South Sudan has not abated," WFP warned. The WFP base was only one of many places ransacked. Civilians reported houses and shops broken into as they fled for safety to churches or the surrounding countryside. "The fighting was so much, we spent a day under our beds as bullets came through the walls of house," said Mary Wani, now seeking shelter in a church. Then they forced us from our homes, and as we left, they were taking all they could from inside." Not far from the looted WFP warehouse, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) medical aid agency has set up a small tent operating as a mobile clinic, supporting those who fled their homes in the fighting. Civilians with bullet wounds came to the clinic immediately after the fighting, said MSF clinical officer Isaac Badi, sweating in the heat of the tent, where women held crying babies. "Now we are seeing cases of malnutrition in the children," Badi said. Over 100,000 children have been treated for severe malnutrition this year, a 40 per cent increase compared to 2015, and a 150 per cent increase since 2014, the UN children's agency UNICEF says. Food prices have soared in the marketplace since the fighting, coupled with runaway inflation. "We don't have food," said Wani, cradling a crying baby girl. "There is almost nothing for us to eat." (AFP)

UN's food-aid in South Sudan stolen as fighting rages

Nepal is selling thousands of tonnes of rice donated by China and Bangladesh to help earthquake victims, an official said, despite aid agencies warning that survivors remain at risk of food shortages.<br />
<br />
Nearly 9,000 lost their lives when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through the Himalayan nation in April 2015, destroying more than half a million homes and leaving thousands without food or shelter.<br />
<br />
Initial estimates by the World Food Programme (WFP) said that about 1.4 million were in urgent need of emergency food supplies, prompting governments to spring into action to help the desperately poor country.<br />
<br />
According to the state-run Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), Dhaka and Beijing donated about 11,200 metric tonnes of rice, only 20 per cent of which was distributed by the government to quake victims.<br />
<br />
&quot;The remaining rice has been sitting in our godown (warehouse) for 10 months and now that Bangladesh has donated even more rice to us, we don&#39;t have enough space to store it all,&quot; said Pawan Kumar Karki, NFC spokesman.<br />
<br />
&quot;So we started selling the rice last month and will deposit the proceeds in a fund operated by the government,&quot; Karki said.<br />
<br />
No further details about the fund were available.<br />
<br />
Kathmandu stopped distributing rice across quake-hit districts last June, just weeks after the disaster, according to Karki.<br />
<br />
Yet more than a year later, disaster victims continue to be at risk of food shortages, aid officials said.<br />
<br />
&quot;We were distributing rice, lentils and other supplies right until February. While there have been improvements, there are still pockets of food insecurity among households headed by single mothers or belonging to marginalised communities,&quot; said a WFP spokeswoman.<br />
<br />
The NFC&#39;s Karki said that authorities also plan to dispatch 3,400 metric tonnes of donated rice to the remote Karnali region following last year&#39;s poor monsoons and a prolonged winter drought, but no supplies had been sent yet.<br />
<br />
With an estimated four million people still living in temporary shelters, Nepal has asked for $8.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the country.<br />
<br />
But delays in formulating a reconstruction plan mean Kathmandu has received just $1.6 billion so far, about 40 per cent of the $4.1 billion pledged by international donors.<br />
<br />
Stung by criticism, the government has vowed to kickstart the rebuilding of schools and hospitals and speed up the distribution of a $2,000 payout to homeless households.<br />
<br />
So far, some 24,000 families have received the first $500 instalment of the promised payout, fewer than five per cent of those left homeless by the disaster.<br />
<br />
(AFP)

A year after earthquake, victims continue to be at risk of food shortages as governement runs out of space to store donated grains

Nepal is selling thousands of tonnes of rice donated by China and Bangladesh to help earthquake victims, an official said, despite aid agencies warning that survivors remain at risk of food shortages. Nearly 9,000 lost their lives when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through the Himalayan nation in April 2015, destroying more than half a million homes and leaving thousands without food or shelter. Initial estimates by the World Food Programme (WFP) said that about 1.4 million were in urgent need of emergency food supplies, prompting governments to spring into action to help the desperately poor country. According to the state-run Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), Dhaka and Beijing donated about 11,200 metric tonnes of rice, only 20 per cent of which was distributed by the government to quake victims. "The remaining rice has been sitting in our godown (warehouse) for 10 months and now that Bangladesh has donated even more rice to us, we don't have enough space to store it all," said Pawan Kumar Karki, NFC spokesman. "So we started selling the rice last month and will deposit the proceeds in a fund operated by the government," Karki said. No further details about the fund were available. Kathmandu stopped distributing rice across quake-hit districts last June, just weeks after the disaster, according to Karki. Yet more than a year later, disaster victims continue to be at risk of food shortages, aid officials said. "We were distributing rice, lentils and other supplies right until February. While there have been improvements, there are still pockets of food insecurity among households headed by single mothers or belonging to marginalised communities," said a WFP spokeswoman. The NFC's Karki said that authorities also plan to dispatch 3,400 metric tonnes of donated rice to the remote Karnali region following last year's poor monsoons and a prolonged winter drought, but no supplies had been sent yet. With an estimated four million people still living in temporary shelters, Nepal has asked for $8.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the country. But delays in formulating a reconstruction plan mean Kathmandu has received just $1.6 billion so far, about 40 per cent of the $4.1 billion pledged by international donors. Stung by criticism, the government has vowed to kickstart the rebuilding of schools and hospitals and speed up the distribution of a $2,000 payout to homeless households. So far, some 24,000 families have received the first $500 instalment of the promised payout, fewer than five per cent of those left homeless by the disaster. (AFP)

Nepal selling rice donated by Beijing, Dhaka for quake victims

The cottage cheese crackles like popcorn, emits a greyish smoke and finally goes up in flames, burning for an impressive ten minutes, like a well-oiled torch.<br />
<br />
The noxious experiment, filmed and posted last month by Russian news website Fontanka, concluded that some dairy sold around Saint Petersburg does not actually contain any milk and is &quot;good only for filling kerosene lamps&quot;.<br />
<br />
Though authorities closed one factory making the combustible cheese, the problem of milkless dairy, meatless sausages and other questionable products worry both government agencies and Russian shoppers amid a recession and a food embargo that left shelves empty of Western food imports.<br />
<br />
&quot;We decided to show that it&#39;s a systematic problem,&quot; said Fontanka reporter Venera Galeyeva, on the quest to expose other fake foods since her cheese-burning video went viral.<br />
<br />
&quot;The problem is not one specific producer. Globally the problem is that Russia does not have enough milk.&quot;<br />
<br />
Moscow has enforced an embargo on imports of most foods from the West since August 2014 in retaliation for Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its involvement in the Ukraine conflict.<br />
<br />
On Friday Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev officially signed off on extending the embargo until the end of 2017.<br />
<br />
Closing the market off from European parmesan and brie has created a booming domestic industry, but as milk production has not grown, many producers are forced to get creative, misleading consumers.<br />
<br />
&quot;There is a milk deficit,&quot; said Vadim Semikin of the Institute for Agriculture Market Studies, giving a rough estimate of eight million tonnes last year.<br />
<br />
At the same time, palm oil imports grew by 25 per cent in 2015, he said, and companies use it to substitute for milk.<br />
<br />
<strong>&#39;Falling quality&#39;</strong><br />
<br />
Russia has claimed that the embargo is a good opportunity to support the country&#39;s agriculture.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, Medvedev argued that extending it for another 18 months was dictated by the &quot;need to create comfortable and predictable conditions for our farmers&quot;.<br />
<br />
But the government&#39;s own analytical department concluded in April that Russian consumers have been the losers, observing a trend of &quot;falling quality&quot; of products and &quot;appearance of fake cheese products on the market.&quot;<br />
<br />
In a sign of the scope of the problem, Russia&#39;s agriculture watchdog this year began to publish a &quot;List of Honest Ones&quot; of companies which actually use milk and cream to make their dairy foods.<br />
<br />
Others use anything from water to &quot;starch, chalk, soap, baking soda, lime&quot; and even plaster to dilute and conserve milk, the watchdog said last week, scandalising the milk industry.<br />
<br />
&quot;Most domestic producers take advantage of the non-competitive market and don&#39;t rush to make good products,&quot; said Irina Tikhmyanova, spokeswoman for Roscontrol, a consumer protection NGO.<br />
<br />
Sixty per cent of 46 Russian dairy products tested by the group were recently shown to contain surrogates, she said. For meat products, the figure was even higher.<br />
<br />
Though recent polls showed that people are noticing food quality go down, many Russians still embrace the embargo.<br />
<br />
In a June poll by Levada centre independent pollster, 40 per cent of respondents said they were against allowing European products into Russia - up from 31 per cent in March 2015.<br />
<br />
Galeyeva of Fontanka said Russians with shrinking disposable incomes would just have to keep buying fake cheese as prices grow.<br />
<br />
&quot;When you have just 300 Rubles ($4.70) to feed your family for the week, you won&#39;t be so picky,&quot; she said.<br />
<br />
(AFP)

Rising problem of milk-less dairy, meatless sausages and other questionable products amid recession and an embargo on Western food imports

The cottage cheese crackles like popcorn, emits a greyish smoke and finally goes up in flames, burning for an impressive ten minutes, like a well-oiled torch. The noxious experiment, filmed and posted last month by Russian news website Fontanka, concluded that some dairy sold around Saint Petersburg does not actually contain any milk and is "good only for filling kerosene lamps". Though authorities closed one factory making the combustible cheese, the problem of milkless dairy, meatless sausages and other questionable products worry both government agencies and Russian shoppers amid a recession and a food embargo that left shelves empty of Western food imports. "We decided to show that it's a systematic problem," said Fontanka reporter Venera Galeyeva, on the quest to expose other fake foods since her cheese-burning video went viral. "The problem is not one specific producer. Globally the problem is that Russia does not have enough milk." Moscow has enforced an embargo on imports of most foods from the West since August 2014 in retaliation for Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. On Friday Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev officially signed off on extending the embargo until the end of 2017. Closing the market off from European parmesan and brie has created a booming domestic industry, but as milk production has not grown, many producers are forced to get creative, misleading consumers. "There is a milk deficit," said Vadim Semikin of the Institute for Agriculture Market Studies, giving a rough estimate of eight million tonnes last year. At the same time, palm oil imports grew by 25 per cent in 2015, he said, and companies use it to substitute for milk. 'Falling quality' Russia has claimed that the embargo is a good opportunity to support the country's agriculture. On Thursday, Medvedev argued that extending it for another 18 months was dictated by the "need to create comfortable and predictable conditions for our farmers". But the government's own analytical department concluded in April that Russian consumers have been the losers, observing a trend of "falling quality" of products and "appearance of fake cheese products on the market." In a sign of the scope of the problem, Russia's agriculture watchdog this year began to publish a "List of Honest Ones" of companies which actually use milk and cream to make their dairy foods. Others use anything from water to "starch, chalk, soap, baking soda, lime" and even plaster to dilute and conserve milk, the watchdog said last week, scandalising the milk industry. "Most domestic producers take advantage of the non-competitive market and don't rush to make good products," said Irina Tikhmyanova, spokeswoman for Roscontrol, a consumer protection NGO. Sixty per cent of 46 Russian dairy products tested by the group were recently shown to contain surrogates, she said. For meat products, the figure was even higher. Though recent polls showed that people are noticing food quality go down, many Russians still embrace the embargo. In a June poll by Levada centre independent pollster, 40 per cent of respondents said they were against allowing European products into Russia - up from 31 per cent in March 2015. Galeyeva of Fontanka said Russians with shrinking disposable incomes would just have to keep buying fake cheese as prices grow. "When you have just 300 Rubles ($4.70) to feed your family for the week, you won't be so picky," she said. (AFP)

Russia's food embargo creates counterfeit dairy industry

The Indian government on Monday radically liberalised the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime with the objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India, as 100 per cent FDI was approved in the sectors of aviation, food, defence and pharmaceuticals. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Modi hailed a sweeping liberalisation of rules on foreign direct investment on Monday, saying they will make Asia&#39;s third-largest economy the most open in the world. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&quot;Key reform decisions were taken at a high level meeting chaired by the PM, which makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI,&quot; Modi said in a tweet. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In a second tweet, he said the changes would provide a &quot;major impetus to employment and job creation in India.&quot; &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It has now been decided to permit 100% FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce (1/2)</p>
&mdash; PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/744826441750163456">June 20, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
This is the second major reform after the last radical changes announced in November 2015. Now most of the sectors will be under the automatic approval route except a small negative list. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Launching the second set of liberalisation of foreign investments, the government relaxed the norms in host of sectors including single brand retail trade (SBTR), broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry.&nbsp;<br />
Welcoming the landmark decision to open up the FDI regime, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said the relaxation of local sourcing norms under single brand retail trading for advanced technology products would encourage global brands to build up their participation in the country.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;Taken together, the FDI rules announced today will attract big new investments across key sectors such as food processing, defence production, pharmaceuticals and civil aviation, among others, thereby adding to growth and employment,&quot; Director General of CII Chandrajit Banerjee said in a statement.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Changes introduced in the policy include increase in sectoral caps, bringing more activities under the automatic route and easing of conditionality for foreign investment. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
These amendments seek to further simplify the regulations governing FDI in the country and make India an attractive destination for foreign investors. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
It was decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured or produced in India. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In the defence sector, foreign investment beyond 49 per cent has now been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology in the country or for other reasons to be recorded. The condition of access to &#39;state-of-the-art&#39; technology in the country has been done away with. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under the Arms Act, 1959, of India. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
For private security agencies, FDI up to 49 per cent permitted under automatic route and FDI beyond 49 per cent and up to 74 per cent will be permitted through the government approval route. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The extant FDI policy on pharmaceutical sector provides for 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in greenfield pharma and FDI up to 100 per cent under government approval in brownfield pharma. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The extant policy on airports permits 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route in Greenfield Projects and 74 per cent FDI in Brownfield Projects under automatic route. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
With a view to aid in modernisation of the existing airports to establish a high standard and help ease the pressure on the existing airports, it has been decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
As per the existing FDI policy, foreign investment up to 49 per cent is allowed under automatic route in scheduled air transport service/domestic scheduled passenger airline and regional air transport service. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
It has now been decided to raise this limit to 100 per cent, with FDI up to 49 per cent permitted under automatic route and FDI beyond 49 per cent through government approval. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Monday&#39;s amendments to the FDI policy are meant to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country leading to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, incomes and employment. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
India&#39;s economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said the manufacturing sector and job generation will get a boost with dual clearances no longer needed. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;With this liberalisation, we expect manufacturing activity to come in, more activity in defence products. The driving force behind the whole thing is that all this investment should facilitate creation of jobs,&quot; he told reporters here.&nbsp;<br />
The decision on FDI liberalisation was a follow-up to the decisions which were taken last November when a whole lot of reforms were announced. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;Wherever approval is given by the regulator, the companies will not need to the approach the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for clearance,&quot; he said.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
(Agencies) &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;

Foreign direct investment will be possible in sectors like food, defence, pharmaceuticals and aviation through the automatic approval route

The Indian government on Monday radically liberalised the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime with the objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India, as 100 per cent FDI was approved in the sectors of aviation, food, defence and pharmaceuticals. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Modi hailed a sweeping liberalisation of rules on foreign direct investment on Monday, saying they will make Asia's third-largest economy the most open in the world. "Key reform decisions were taken at a high level meeting chaired by the PM, which makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI," Modi said in a tweet. In a second tweet, he said the changes would provide a "major impetus to employment and job creation in India." It has now been decided to permit 100% FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce (1/2) — PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 20, 2016 This is the second major reform after the last radical changes announced in November 2015. Now most of the sectors will be under the automatic approval route except a small negative list. Launching the second set of liberalisation of foreign investments, the government relaxed the norms in host of sectors including single brand retail trade (SBTR), broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry. Welcoming the landmark decision to open up the FDI regime, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said the relaxation of local sourcing norms under single brand retail trading for advanced technology products would encourage global brands to build up their participation in the country. "Taken together, the FDI rules announced today will attract big new investments across key sectors such as food processing, defence production, pharmaceuticals and civil aviation, among others, thereby adding to growth and employment," Director General of CII Chandrajit Banerjee said in a statement. Changes introduced in the policy include increase in sectoral caps, bringing more activities under the automatic route and easing of conditionality for foreign investment. These amendments seek to further simplify the regulations governing FDI in the country and make India an attractive destination for foreign investors. It was decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured or produced in India. In the defence sector, foreign investment beyond 49 per cent has now been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology in the country or for other reasons to be recorded. The condition of access to 'state-of-the-art' technology in the country has been done away with. FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under the Arms Act, 1959, of India. For private security agencies, FDI up to 49 per cent permitted under automatic route and FDI beyond 49 per cent and up to 74 per cent will be permitted through the government approval route. The extant FDI policy on pharmaceutical sector provides for 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in greenfield pharma and FDI up to 100 per cent under government approval in brownfield pharma. The extant policy on airports permits 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route in Greenfield Projects and 74 per cent FDI in Brownfield Projects under automatic route. With a view to aid in modernisation of the existing airports to establish a high standard and help ease the pressure on the existing airports, it has been decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects. As per the existing FDI policy, foreign investment up to 49 per cent is allowed under automatic route in scheduled air transport service/domestic scheduled passenger airline and regional air transport service. It has now been decided to raise this limit to 100 per cent, with FDI up to 49 per cent permitted under automatic route and FDI beyond 49 per cent through government approval. Monday's amendments to the FDI policy are meant to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country leading to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, incomes and employment. India's economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said the manufacturing sector and job generation will get a boost with dual clearances no longer needed. "With this liberalisation, we expect manufacturing activity to come in, more activity in defence products. The driving force behind the whole thing is that all this investment should facilitate creation of jobs," he told reporters here. The decision on FDI liberalisation was a follow-up to the decisions which were taken last November when a whole lot of reforms were announced. "Wherever approval is given by the regulator, the companies will not need to the approach the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for clearance," he said. (Agencies)

Radical reform: India allows 100% FDI in key sectors

An international aid convoy reached the Syrian government-besieged town of Daraya overnight, delivering food supplies for the first time since 2012, said&nbsp;a UN spokesman on Friday.<br />
<br />
Trucks from the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought a month&#39;s supply of food for 2,400 people as well as health and hygiene items for the entire estimated population of 4,000 in the rebel-held town near Damascus, spokesman Jens Laerke said.<br />
<br />
&quot;It was quite a feat,&quot; Laerke told in a news briefing, adding it was &quot;the first time in years&quot; that the world body had delivered food to Daraya, where malnutrition has been reported.

Trucks from the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought a month's supply for 2,400

An international aid convoy reached the Syrian government-besieged town of Daraya overnight, delivering food supplies for the first time since 2012, said a UN spokesman on Friday. Trucks from the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought a month's supply of food for 2,400 people as well as health and hygiene items for the entire estimated population of 4,000 in the rebel-held town near Damascus, spokesman Jens Laerke said. "It was quite a feat," Laerke told in a news briefing, adding it was "the first time in years" that the world body had delivered food to Daraya, where malnutrition has been reported.

UN convoy brings food to besieged Syrian town of Daraya

<p>Nestle, the world&#39;s biggest food company, is stepping up its push into medicine with a global deal worth up to 100 million euros ($111 million) to develop and market an experimental milk allergy test for infants.</p>

<p>The Swiss group will pay DBV Technologies 10 million euros upfront for rights to its skin patch test for cow&rsquo;s milk protein allergy (CMPA), with the balance depending on successful development, the two companies said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Shares in the French biotech company rose 5 percent on the news.</p>

<p>The deal underscores Nestle&#39;s ambitions for its&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Science division, which it believes could eventually generate more than 10 billion Swiss francs ($10 billion) in annual sales.</p>

<p>It also complements the company&#39;s market-leading infant formula business and could help lift sales of products designed for babies with food intolerance.</p>

<p>Nestle has signed a series of similar deals with other small companies in its bid to create a new kind business that is midway between food and pharmaceuticals. The goal is to find new ways to treat, diagnose and prevent a range of diseases, from gastrointestinal problems to Alzheimer&#39;s.</p>

<p>CMPA affects up to 2 or 3 percent of infants and toddlers, according to the companies. Many others, however, have symptoms suggestive of the condition, creating a need for a simple diagnostic test.</p>

<p>Under the terms of the agreement, DBV will be eligible to receive up to 90 million euros in development, regulatory and commercial milestones - on top of the upfront payment - and will also collect royalties on eventual product sales.</p>

<p>&ldquo;This innovation can become the breakthrough diagnostic for CMPA,&quot; said Greg Behar, chief executive of Nestl?&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Science.</p>

<p>The new test will need to go through extensive clinical trials before it is cleared for sale and DBV expects it to be submitted for approval to regulators worldwide by 2021.</p>

<p>Behar&#39;s division, which employs around 3,000 people, is an expanding part of Nestle&#39;s operations.</p>

<p>Given ageing populations around the world and spiralling cases of lifestyle diseases, the Swiss group sees big opportunities in&nbsp;health&nbsp;- but the initiative also poses new challenges by taking it into the highly regulated medical field.</p>

<p>Strategically the shift towards&nbsp;health&nbsp;offers Nestle a hedge against slowing growth in packaged foods and may also offset crackdowns on unhealthy foods blamed for obesity and other lifestyle problems.</p>

<p>The milk allergy test dovetails with Nestle&#39;s presence in infant formula, where it had 22 percent of the market in 2015, according Euromonitor International. It already has a range of products called Althera, Alfare and Alfamino that are designed for infants allergic to cow&rsquo;s milk.</p>

<p>For DBV, the deal is a vindication of its Viaskin patch technology. The company also has a patch to treat peanut allergy in clinical trials, as well as an earlier-stage programme for egg allergy.</p>


Nestle, the world's biggest food company, is stepping up its push into medicine with a global deal worth up to 100 million euros ($111 million) to develop and market an experimental milk allergy test for infants

Nestle, the world's biggest food company, is stepping up its push into medicine with a global deal worth up to 100 million euros ($111 million) to develop and market an experimental milk allergy test for infants. The Swiss group will pay DBV Technologies 10 million euros upfront for rights to its skin patch test for cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), with the balance depending on successful development, the two companies said on Tuesday. Shares in the French biotech company rose 5 percent on the news. The deal underscores Nestle's ambitions for its Health Science division, which it believes could eventually generate more than 10 billion Swiss francs ($10 billion) in annual sales. It also complements the company's market-leading infant formula business and could help lift sales of products designed for babies with food intolerance. Nestle has signed a series of similar deals with other small companies in its bid to create a new kind business that is midway between food and pharmaceuticals. The goal is to find new ways to treat, diagnose and prevent a range of diseases, from gastrointestinal problems to Alzheimer's. CMPA affects up to 2 or 3 percent of infants and toddlers, according to the companies. Many others, however, have symptoms suggestive of the condition, creating a need for a simple diagnostic test. Under the terms of the agreement, DBV will be eligible to receive up to 90 million euros in development, regulatory and commercial milestones - on top of the upfront payment - and will also collect royalties on eventual product sales. “This innovation can become the breakthrough diagnostic for CMPA," said Greg Behar, chief executive of Nestl? Health Science. The new test will need to go through extensive clinical trials before it is cleared for sale and DBV expects it to be submitted for approval to regulators worldwide by 2021. Behar's division, which employs around 3,000 people, is an expanding part of Nestle's operations. Given ageing populations around the world and spiralling cases of lifestyle diseases, the Swiss group sees big opportunities in health - but the initiative also poses new challenges by taking it into the highly regulated medical field. Strategically the shift towards health offers Nestle a hedge against slowing growth in packaged foods and may also offset crackdowns on unhealthy foods blamed for obesity and other lifestyle problems. The milk allergy test dovetails with Nestle's presence in infant formula, where it had 22 percent of the market in 2015, according Euromonitor International. It already has a range of products called Althera, Alfare and Alfamino that are designed for infants allergic to cow’s milk. For DBV, the deal is a vindication of its Viaskin patch technology. The company also has a patch to treat peanut allergy in clinical trials, as well as an earlier-stage programme for egg allergy.

Nestle, on health kick, moves into milk allergy testing

<p>As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of chemical compounds that can cause&nbsp;healthproblems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned.</p>

<p>A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as wheat and maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves from extreme weather.</p>

<p>But these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged period of time, according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi.</p>

<p>&quot;Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do when faced with a stressful situation,&rdquo; explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP.</p>

<p>Under normal conditions, for instance, plants convert nitrates they absorb into nutritious amino acids and proteins. But prolonged drought slows or prevents this conversion, leading to more potentially problematic nitrate accumulating in the plant, the report said.</p>

<p>If people eat too much nitrate in their diets, it can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen in the body, the report said.</p>

<p>Crops susceptible to accumulating too much nitrate in times of stress include maize, wheat, barley, soybeans, millet and sorghum, it said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>DROUGHT, THEN RAIN</p>

<p>Some drought-stressed crops, when then exposed to sudden large amounts of rain that lead to rapid growth, in turn accumulate hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid, the report said.</p>

<p>Prussic acid &ndash; one of the ingredients used in some types of chemical warfare - interferes with oxygen flow in humans. Even short-term exposure can be debilitating for people, McGlade said.</p>

<p>Plants such as cassava, flax, maize and sorghum are most vulnerable to dangerous prussic acid accumulation, the report said.</p>

<p>Cases of nitrate or hydrogen cyanide poisoning in humans were reported in Kenya in 2013 and in the Philippines in 2005, McGlade said. In Kenya, two children died in coastal Kilifi after eating cassava that had raised levels of prussic acid in it following extreme rainfall, according to local media reports.</p>

<p>Aflatoxins, molds that can affect plant crops and raise the risk of liver damage, cancer and blindness, as well as stunting foetuses and infants, also are spreading to more areas as a result of shifting weather patterns as a result of climate change, scientists said.</p>

<p>McGlade said about 4.5 billion people in developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins each year, though the amounts are largely unmonitored, and the numbers are rising.</p>

<p>&quot;We are just beginning to recognise the magnitude of toxin- related issues confronting farmers in developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics,&quot; the report noted.</p>

<p>&quot;As warmer climate zones expand towards the poles, countries in more temperate regions are facing new threats,&quot; it added.</p>

<p>In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300 people and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International Livestock Research Institute.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>EUROPE AT RISK</p>

<p>The UNEP report said Europe will be at growing risk from aflatoxins in locally grown crops if global temperatures rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius. The world is currently on a path to a more than 3 degree Celsius temperature rise, scientists believe.</p>

<p>An increase in toxic compounds in crops is likely to impact heavily on the world&rsquo;s&nbsp;health&nbsp;system, which are already struggling with the effects of food insecurity, Dorota Jarosinska of the WorldHealth&nbsp;Organization&rsquo;s European Center for Environment and&nbsp;Health&nbsp;said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.</p>

<p>Alex Ezeh, executive director of the African Population&nbsp;Health&nbsp;and Research Center, said the increase in toxins in crops was a big concern.</p>

<p>&quot;Toxic crops can lead to neurological diseases among humans but the greatest challenge is the incidence of cancer,&rdquo; he said in an interview.</p>

<p>The report proposes a list of eight ideas farmers and agricultural experts can adopt to try to limit damage from more crop toxins, such as mapping contamination hotspots and building better evidence about what is happening now with the toxins in their area.</p>

<p>Scientists also suggest that developing crop varieties designed to cope with extreme weather could help reduce the levels of toxic chemicals in food.</p>

<p>&quot;Research centers with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research are developing seeds that are suitable in various regions that have been hit by climate change,&rdquo; McGlade said.</p>


As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of chemical compounds that can cause?healthproblems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned

As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of chemical compounds that can cause healthproblems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned. A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as wheat and maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves from extreme weather. But these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged period of time, according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi. "Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do when faced with a stressful situation,” explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP. Under normal conditions, for instance, plants convert nitrates they absorb into nutritious amino acids and proteins. But prolonged drought slows or prevents this conversion, leading to more potentially problematic nitrate accumulating in the plant, the report said. If people eat too much nitrate in their diets, it can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen in the body, the report said. Crops susceptible to accumulating too much nitrate in times of stress include maize, wheat, barley, soybeans, millet and sorghum, it said. DROUGHT, THEN RAIN Some drought-stressed crops, when then exposed to sudden large amounts of rain that lead to rapid growth, in turn accumulate hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid, the report said. Prussic acid – one of the ingredients used in some types of chemical warfare - interferes with oxygen flow in humans. Even short-term exposure can be debilitating for people, McGlade said. Plants such as cassava, flax, maize and sorghum are most vulnerable to dangerous prussic acid accumulation, the report said. Cases of nitrate or hydrogen cyanide poisoning in humans were reported in Kenya in 2013 and in the Philippines in 2005, McGlade said. In Kenya, two children died in coastal Kilifi after eating cassava that had raised levels of prussic acid in it following extreme rainfall, according to local media reports. Aflatoxins, molds that can affect plant crops and raise the risk of liver damage, cancer and blindness, as well as stunting foetuses and infants, also are spreading to more areas as a result of shifting weather patterns as a result of climate change, scientists said. McGlade said about 4.5 billion people in developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins each year, though the amounts are largely unmonitored, and the numbers are rising. "We are just beginning to recognise the magnitude of toxin- related issues confronting farmers in developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics," the report noted. "As warmer climate zones expand towards the poles, countries in more temperate regions are facing new threats," it added. In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300 people and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International Livestock Research Institute. EUROPE AT RISK The UNEP report said Europe will be at growing risk from aflatoxins in locally grown crops if global temperatures rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius. The world is currently on a path to a more than 3 degree Celsius temperature rise, scientists believe. An increase in toxic compounds in crops is likely to impact heavily on the world’s health system, which are already struggling with the effects of food insecurity, Dorota Jarosinska of the WorldHealth Organization’s European Center for Environment and Health said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Alex Ezeh, executive director of the African Population Health and Research Center, said the increase in toxins in crops was a big concern. "Toxic crops can lead to neurological diseases among humans but the greatest challenge is the incidence of cancer,” he said in an interview. The report proposes a list of eight ideas farmers and agricultural experts can adopt to try to limit damage from more crop toxins, such as mapping contamination hotspots and building better evidence about what is happening now with the toxins in their area. Scientists also suggest that developing crop varieties designed to cope with extreme weather could help reduce the levels of toxic chemicals in food. "Research centers with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research are developing seeds that are suitable in various regions that have been hit by climate change,” McGlade said.

Extreme weather increasing level of toxins in food, scientists warn

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