Improvement of Russia’s Positions to Push West to Talks on Ukraine — UN Envoy

Vasily Nebenzya does not believe that the potential election of Donald Trump as the next US president will cardinally change the American policy in this area

Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Russia does not observe any significant attempts to begin negotiations on Ukraine from Western states, but their position will change as the situation in the special military operation area unfolds, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said in an interview for Rossiya-24.

"We have not observed any serious attempts to being real negotiations. I believe that this whole situation may change and will change as the situation as the front line changes," he said. "The worse it gets for [the West], the louder the voices about the need for negotiations, about the need for conversation, about the need for cessation or, at the very least, freezing of the conflict will become."

Meanwhile, the envoy does not believe that the potential election of Donald Trump as the next US president will cardinally change the American policy in this area.

"It does not really matter for us who will become the next president of the United States," he concluded.

The Russian plan for settlement in Ukraine

On June 14, Putin stated the collapse of the old system of the Euro-Atlantic security and proposed to build a new architecture, which will take everyone’s concerns into account.

The president also voiced the conditions of peace talks on Ukraine, which include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbass and Novorossiya and Kiev’s rejection of accession to NATO. In addition, Russia considers it necessary to ensure Ukraine’s neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear states and to withdraw all Western sanctions.

Russia Urges to End Ukraine Conflict, Not to Put It on Hold — Putin

According to the Russian leader, "this should not be merely a truce or a temporary ceasefire, nor some kind of pause that the Kiev regime could use to recover losses, regroup and get rearmed"

© Alexey Maishev/POOL/TASS

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Russia calls for a total end to the conflict in Ukraine, not for a ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a joint press conference after the Russian-Hungarian talks.

Putin said that that his previous proposals regarding Ukraine make it possible to halt hostilities and launch negotiations.

"What is more, this should not be merely a truce or a temporary ceasefire, nor some kind of pause that the Kiev regime could use to recover losses, regroup and get rearmed. Russia calls for a total and final end to the conflict," Putin said.

"The conditions for this are outlined in my speech in the Foreign Ministry," the Russian president added.

Much is to be Done to Reach Peace Between Russia, Ukraine — Hungarian PM

The talks between Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban lasted for two and a half hours and were also attended by the two countries’ foreign ministers and other members of delegations

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Alexey Maishev/POOL/TASS

© Alexey Maishev/POOL/TASS

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. Moscow and Kiev’s positions are poles apart and it will take a lot of effort to reach peace, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

He said that in recent 2.5 years Hungary has been one of the few European countries that have been maintaining contacts with both Russia and Ukraine.

"That is why I visited Kiev this week and that is why I am in Moscow now. I see that their positions are a far cry from each other. Many steps need to be taken to get closer to the end of the war," he said after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The talks between Putin and Orban lasted for two and a half hours and were also attended by the two countries’ foreign ministers and other members of delegations. The Russian delegation also included presidential aides Yury Ushakov and Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russia’s delegation to the talks with Ukraine that were broke down by the West.

Hungary took over six-months EU presidency on July 1. On the following day, Orban visited Kiev and held talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. The Hungarian prime minister advanced ceasefire conditions but Zelensky turned them down, as his office said. Orban explained that he represented European continent, which is interested in peace, and peace, in his words, can be achieved through talks with Russia, but Kiev banned them by Zelensky’s decree.

Russian Forces Liberate Sokol Village in DPR

According to the military agency, units from Battlegroup Center liberated the village and improved their tactical position

© Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russian forces have liberated the village of Sokol in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the military agency, units from Battlegroup Center liberated the village and improved their tactical position.

Battlegroup North units deliver strikes on Ukrainian personnel, hardware

Units from Russia’s Battlegroup North have delivered strikes on personnel from four Ukrainian brigades over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the military agency, strikes were delivered near Volchansk, Staritsa and Liptsy in the Kharkov Region.

Battlegroup North units thwart five Ukrainian counterattacks over 24 hours

Units from Russia’s Battlegroup North have repelled five Ukrainian counterattacks over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Five attacks by the formations of the Ukrainian army’s 92nd assault brigade and the East special-op team have been thwarted over the past 24 hours," it said in a statement.

Russian air defense systems take down 3 Storm Shadow missiles, HARM missile

Russian air defense systems have shot down three Storm Shadow missiles, a HARM missile and three HIMARS shells, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

It added that 55 unmanned aerial vehicles have been taken down.

Ukrainian army loses up to 650 troops in responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup South

The Ukrainian army has lost up to 650 personnel in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup South, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The military agency added that Ukrainian losses also include 12 motor vehicles, seven howitzers, a counter-battery warfare station and seven field munitions depots.

Ukrainian army loses up to 210 troops in responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup North

The Ukrainian army has lost up to 210 personnel in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup North, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The military agency added that the enemy’s losses included a tank, a pickup truck, a Grad combat vehicle, four self-propelled artillery systems, four howitzers and two D-20 guns.

Ukrainian army loses up to 415 troops in responsibility zone of Battlegroup Center

The Ukrainian army has lost up to 415 personnel in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup Center over 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The military agency added that the adversary has lost three armored combat vehicles, including a US-made Bradley, two pick-up trucks, a self-propelled artillery system, a howitzer, an M-119 gun and an anti-tank cannon.

Russia’s air force strikes Bayraktar stations at two Ukrainian airfields

Russian forces have eliminated two Ukrainian air defense systems and Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles stations at two military airfields, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Additionally, strikes were delivered on Ukrainian personnel and military hardware in 127 districts.

Russia’s Battlegroup West improves frontline positions

Russia’s Battlegroup West has improved positions over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the agency, strikes were delivered on eight Ukrainian military brigades.

Ukrainian army loses up to 120 troops in responsibility zone of Battlegroup Dnepr

The Ukrainian army has lost up to 120 personnel in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr over 24 hours.

The military agency added that Ukrainian losses included eight motor vehicles, five howitzers, a field gun, a radio-electronic warfare station and a munitions depot.

Ukrainian army loses up to 540 troops in responsibility zone of Battlegroup West

The Ukrainian army has lost up to 540 personnel in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup West over 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

It noted that Russian units also thwarted two Ukrainian counterattacks.

Russia’s Battlegroup East strikes three Ukrainian brigades in 24 hours

Units from Russia’s Battlegroup East have delivered strikes on the manpower and military hardware of three Ukrainian brigades over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The military agency added that Russian forces have improved their frontline positions.

The Ukrainian army has lost up to 115 personnel in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup East over 24 hours.

It noted that Ukrainian losses also included two armored combat vehicles, six motor vehicles and two field guns.

Hezbollah Responds to Israeli Attacks, Pummels HQ, Sites with Rockets

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Military Media

Hezbollah's response to Israeli attacks on Lebanese towns continues, striking today multiple bases and positions across al-Jalil.

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah launched a series of operations in support of the Palestinians and in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanese towns and villages. 

Fires broke out in several areas across al-Jalil as a result of Hezbollah's rocket attacks, as one barrage of rockets directly impacted multiple buildings in Kiryat Shmona, injuring two Israeli occupation soldiers, as well as an emergency services team. 

At 12:30 pm, the Resistance launched an attack on the al-Ramtha military site in the Israeli-occupied Kfar Chouba Hills, dealing direct hits to the intended targets. 

Just 15 minutes later, the Resistance fighters fired unspecified "rocket weapons" at the al-Semmaqa military site. 

The Resistance's artillery units also launched an attack on the Ramyah military site, dealing direct hits to the intended targets. 

Hezbollah responds to Israeli escalation, use of white phosphorus

Although the northern front had seen relative quiet on Friday, Israeli artillery shells were fired at the Lebanese towns of Yohmor and Arnoun, and white phosphorus shells were fired at Kfar Tibnit and upper al-Nabatiyeh. 

The attack marked an Israeli escalation, as these towns have rarely been subject to Israeli artillery shelling and host a substantial number of Lebanese citizens who have been displaced from border villages. 

As a result, Hezbollah's fighters launched several strikes in response to the Israeli attacks on the southern Lebanese towns. 

In the first attack on Friday afternoon, Hezbollah fighters fired an anti-tank guided missile at a building used by Israeli occupation soldiers in Shlomi.

Later, the Resistance fired a barrage of Grad-type rockets at the 769th Hiram Territorial Brigade's headquarters in Kiryat Shmona. 

Although Israeli authorities were quick to deny that rockets that impacted the city led to any casualties, Israeli media outlets later revealed that two soldiers and a group of emergency workers were injured as a result of the attack. 

Moreover, the Kiryat Shmona municipality had said that only one of five rocket artillery shells launched from Lebanon toward the city was intercepted by Israeli anti-air systems, while the remaining struck the city, including one that struck a building. 

In this attack, Hezbollah specified that the rocket barrage came in response to the shelling of Yohmor, Arnoun al-Shaqif, and Kfar Tibnit. 

The Resistance also launched another attack in response to the Israeli aggression targeting the newly established headquarters of the 91st Division in the Ayelet Barracks.

As for other attacks on Kfar Chouba, Markaba, and al-Khiyam, Hezbollah launched a salvo of Grad-type rockets on Margaliot. 

Several Killed, Injured as Israeli Strikes Continue to Ravage Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English

Three UNRWA employees were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle near the agency's warehouses in the central Gaza Strip.

A renewed series of sporadic attacks were carried out by the Israeli occupation on the 273rd day of its ongoing aggression on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.

Our correspondent confirmed that civil defense teams recovered the bodies of two children killed after Israeli aircraft targeted a house in the al-Tuffah area in central Gaza City.

In Block C of the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house, while search operations for more victims under the rubble were still ongoing.

Three employees of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle near the agency's warehouses on Salah al-Din Street, north of the al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip.

Our correspondent also reported two injuries from Israeli artillery shelling on a group of people collecting firewood in the northern part of the central governorate.

Additionally, three killed Palestinians and several injuries were brought to the Nasser Hospital following an Israeli airstrike on eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Israeli warships opened fire toward the northwestern areas of the Gaza Strip, and an Israeli Apache helicopter fired at the eastern parts of Gaza City. In addition, the al-Zaytoun neighborhood came under Israeli artillery shelling.

On his part, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, pointed to the continuous Israeli evacuation orders to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

He described the issue as a "tragic cycle", as Israeli authorities issued a new "evacuation order" for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Khan Younis and Rafah. 

These evacuation orders are "the largest issued since October," Lazzarini explained, affecting Palestinians who have already been displaced multiple times.

"People have no where to go. They desperately search for nonexistent safety, setting up makeshift structures often in the rubble of bombed out buildings," the UNRWA official said.

Lazzarini stressed the risk of unexploded ordnance (UXO), saying that it is "spreading" in the besieged territory.

He said that a nine-year-old girl was killed by an unexploded bomb in Khan Younis, while another six children were injured. 

"The risk for children is especially high. They spend hours collecting water and food and walk long distances amid piles of accumulated waste that could be covering UXOs," he posted on his X account.

Lazzarini called for the "continuous cycle of displacement" to stop.

He concluded, "No more delay for the long overdue [ceasefire]."

Warner Is Working to Convene Democratic Senators to Talk About Biden’s Future

While some House Democrats have been outspoken about the president’s debate performance, most senators have so far been quieter about their concerns.

By Annie Karni, Robert Jimison and Reid J. Epstein, New York Times

July 5, 2024, 6:34 p.m. ET

Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, is working to convene Democratic senators next week to discuss a path forward after President Biden’s disastrous debate performance, and to discuss their concerns about him remaining as the nominee, according to five people with direct knowledge about the effort.

The push by Mr. Warner reflects a mounting sense of panic among some Democrats in the Senate about Mr. Biden’s viability to continue in the presidential race, and growing frustration among senators that the president and those around him have not communicated directly with them about how they plan to address such concerns.

The people insisted on anonymity to discuss Mr. Warner’s efforts, and a spokeswoman for the senator did not respond to requests for comment. His outreach efforts were reported earlier by The Washington Post.

While some House Democrats have been outspoken in their harsh assessments of Mr. Biden’s performance last week — and three have called on him to end his candidacy — most senators have so far been quieter about their concerns.

Mr. Warner, a centrist former governor who himself weighed a presidential run in 2008, has been reaching out to colleagues since the night of the debate last week to express anguish about Mr. Biden’s performance and a sense of urgency for Democrats to figure out what to do about it. As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, he is a trusted voice in the Senate and has cultivated a reputation for bipartisanship.  

While his conversations with Democratic senators have conveyed his dismay about the situation, Mr. Warner, according to one person who spoke with him on Friday, was not trying to organize an effort to persuade the president to withdraw from the race but was instead working to facilitate a discussion about the right way to proceed.

Mr. Biden told reporters on Friday that he had spoken to at least 20 members of Congress, and “they’re telling me to stay in the race.”

When a reporter said Mr. Warner was trying to get him to step aside, Mr. Biden responded that the senator was “the only one considering that. No one else has called on me to do that.”

Democratic Representatives Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Raúl Grijalva of Arizona and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts have all called on him to do so this week.  

Senators are scheduled to return to Washington on Monday after a weeklong recess.   

Luke Broadwater and Carl Hulse contributed reporting.

Kenya’s President Apologizes for Arrogant Officials and Promises to Act Against Police Brutality

BY EVELYNE MUSAMBI

12:02 PM EDT, July 5, 2024

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s President William Ruto on Friday apologized for the “arrogance and show of opulence” by legislators and ministers from the ruling party and promised action against “rogue” police officers who shot at unarmed civilians during deadly protests and the storming of parliament over plans to hike taxes.

Ruto, referring to what he called arrogant statements made by officials, said public speaking was “difficult” and some people make “mistakes” for which he takes responsibility and promised change in the conduct of officials.

Kenya experienced two weeks of unrest during which Parliament was stormed by protesters during a finance bill vote. The president was hosted Friday on the social media platform X by popular social media influencer Osama Otero, who said he was abducted on the night of the protests and beaten by police.

Ruto said he regretted the abduction and that he would take action, adding that “that is not right.” “You don’t deserve the kind of treatment you went through,” he said.

The president said the police are independent and not controlled by the executive branch of government but promised to ensure that those responsible would be prosecuted. “I am ultimately responsible because I am president, and that is why I said it was regrettable,” Ruto said.

During the storming of Parliament during a finance bill vote — which would have resulted in a tax increase if approved — legislators fled through an underground tunnel. Police responded by opening fire and several protesters were shot dead.

Ruto later said he would not sign the finance bill and communicated to Parliament that the proposed legislation should be withdrawn, but protests continued with calls for him to resign over poor governance.

Kenya has been plagued by corruption, with the latest case involving the sale and distribution of thousands of fake fertilizer bags worth millions of shillings by the agriculture ministry.

The president on Friday was accused of not showing empathy and not mentioning the names of those who died during the protests. He responded by saying “people are born differently.” But he added that he was scheduled to speak with the mother of a boy who was shot and killed during protests.

Ruto was accused of not acknowledging the correct number of those who died in the protests. He put the number at 25 while the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights said 39 people were killed.

An hour before the online engagement, Ruto in a televised address announced specific austerity measures that included the dissolution of “47 state corporations with overlapping and duplicative functions” to save on operation and maintenance costs.

He also “suspended” the appointment of 50 chief administrative secretaries that were challenged in court on the basis of the positions being unconstitutional.

The president also announced that the offices of the first lady and the spouses of the deputy president and prime Cabinet secretary would not be funded using public money.

The young people who spoke during Otero’s Friday engagement on X emphasized the need for the president to sack incompetent government ministers in a reorganization that he stated was “coming soon.”

US Says Troops Are Leaving Niger Bases This Weekend and in August After CNSP Ascendancy

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR

4:07 PM EDT, July 5, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will remove all its forces and equipment from a small base in Niger this weekend and fewer than 500 remaining troops will leave a critical drone base in the West African country in August, ahead of a Sept. 15 deadline set in an agreement with the new ruling junta, the American commander there said Friday.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman said in an interview that a number of small teams of 10-20 U.S. troops, including special operations forces, have moved to other countries in West Africa. But the bulk of the forces will go to Europe, at least initially.

Niger’s ouster of American troops following a coup last year has broad ramifications for the U.S. because it is forcing troops to abandon the critical drone base that was used for counterterrorism missions in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.

Ekman and other U.S. military leaders have said other West African nations want to work with the U.S. and may be open to an expanded American presence. He did not detail the locations, but other U.S. officials have pointed to the Ivory Coast and Ghana as examples.

Ekman, who serves as the director for strategy at U.S. Africa Command, is leading the U.S. military withdrawal from the small base at the airport in Niger’s capital of Niamey and from the larger counterterrorism base in the city of Agadez. He said there will be a ceremony Sunday marking the completed pullout from the airport base, then the final 100 troops and the last C-17 transport aircraft will depart.

Under the junta agreement, two-thirds of U.S. troops and equipment must be out of the country by July 26, Ekman said. That deadline, which forced the Pentagon to move quickly, is a key reason why U.S. Africa Command will complete its withdrawal of all 1,000 troops from Niger early.

But it also leaves a counterterrorism gap that U.S. officials are struggling to fill as security threats from extremist groups in the Sahel grow.

One of those groups, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, known as JNIM, is active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and is looking to expand into Benin and Togo. Those expansion locations could be used initially as hubs to rest, recuperate, get financing and gather weapons, according to U.S. officials, but the group also has increased attacks there.

“Niger was immensely helpful for us as a location because it was in the Sahel and it was adjacent to those areas where the threat is most concentrated,” Ekman said. Now, he said, the challenge is battling the insurgency while having to get access from outside Niger, which makes it more difficult.

He said other coastal West African nations are concerned about the Sahel-based threats and want to talk about how they can partner with American forces. Ekman added that the small teams of U.S. troops moving to other West African nations are not combat forces but advisers, as well as special operations, personnel recovery and intelligence and surveillance forces.

Talks with other nations continue, and Ekman said some may be interested but not ready to allow in more U.S. troops. One example, he said, is Togo, which is southwest of Niger on the coast.

“In Togo, what I find is a partner that is friendly to the U.S. but that right now is unresolved on the degree they want the presence of any additional U.S. military personnel there,” he said. “My assessment was, ‘Not yet.’”

Speaking to reporters from The Associated Press and Reuters from the U.S. embassy in Niamey, Ekman said that while portable buildings and vehicles that are no longer useful will be left behind when U.S. troops leave Niger, a lot of larger equipment will be pulled out. For example, he said 18 4,000-pound (1,800-kilograms) generators worth more than $1 million each will be taken out of Agadez.

Unlike the withdrawal from Afghanistan, he said the U.S. is not destroying equipment or facilities as it leaves.

“Our goal in the execution is, leave things in as good a state as possible,” he said. “If we went out and left it a wreck or we went out spitefully, or if we destroyed things as we went, we’d be foreclosing options” for future security relations.

Niger’s ruling junta ordered U.S. forces out of the country in the wake of last July’s ouster of the country’s democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers. French forces had also been asked to leave as the junta turned to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for security assistance.

Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup in October, triggering U.S. laws restricting the military support and aid.

Ekman said he has been told that there are fewer than 100 Russian troops at the base near in Niamey and that once they are done training Niger troops, they will also leave the country.

A Bench and a Grandmother’s Ear: Zimbabwe’s Novel Mental Health Therapy Spreads Overseas

BY FARAI MUTSAKA

1:41 AM EDT, July 5, 2024

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — After her son, the family’s shining light and only breadwinner, was arrested last year, Tambudzai Tembo went into meltdown. In Zimbabwe, where clinical mental health services are scarce, her chances of getting professional help were next to zero. She contemplated suicide.

“I didn’t want to live anymore. People who saw me would think everything was okay. But inside, my head was spinning,” the 57-year-old said. “I was on my own.”

A wooden bench and an empathetic grandmother saved her.

Older people are at the center of a homegrown form of mental health therapy in Zimbabwe that is now being adopted in places like the United States.

The approach involves setting up benches in quiet, discreet corners of community clinics and in some churches, poor neighborhoods and at a university. An older woman with basic training in problem-solving therapy patiently sits there, ready to listen and engage in a one-on-one conversation.

The therapy is inspired by traditional practice in Zimbabwe in which grandmothers were the go-to people for wisdom in rough times. It had been abandoned with urbanization, the breakdown of tight-knit extended families and modern technology. Now it is proving useful again as mental health needs grow.

“Grandmothers are the custodians of local culture and wisdom. They are rooted in their communities,” said Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatry professor and founder of the initiative. “They don’t leave, and in addition, they have an amazing ability to use what we call ‘expressed empathy’… to make people feel respected and understood.”

Last year, Chibanda was named the winner of a $150,000 prize by the U.S.-based McNulty Foundation for revolutionizing mental healthcare. Chibanda said the concept has taken root in parts of Vietnam, Botswana, Malawi, Kenya, and Tanzania and is in “preliminary formative work” in London.

In New York, the city’s new mental health plan launched last year says it is “drawing inspiration” from what it calls the Friendship Bench to help address risk factors such as social isolation. The orange benches are now in areas including Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx.

In Washington, the organization HelpAge USA is piloting the concept under the DC Grandparents for Mental Health initiative, which started in 2022 as a COVID-19 support group of people 60 and above.

So far, 20 grandmothers determined to “stop the stigma around mental health and make it okay to talk about feelings” have been trained by a team from Friendship Bench Zimbabwe to listen, empathize and empower others to solve their problems, said Cindy Cox-Roman, the president and chief executive of HelpAge USA.

Benches will be set up at places of worship, schools and wellness centers in Washington’s low-income communities with people who “have been historically marginalized and more likely to experience mental health problems,” she said.

Cox-Roman cited fear and distrust in the medical system, lack of social support and stigma as some of the factors limiting access to treatment.

“People are hurting, and a grandmother can always make you feel better,” she said.

“We have so much wisdom in our older population and arms that can open. I reject ageism. Sometimes age brings wisdom that you don’t learn until you get old,” one of the grandmothers, 81-year-old Barbara Allen, said in a promotional video.

More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“The mental health crisis is real. Where it’s a real crisis after the pandemic is that many clinicians have dropped out of the workforce,” said Dr. Jehan El-Mayoumi, who works as an expert with HelpAge USA and is a founding director of the health equity Rodham Institute at Georgetown University. She has struggled to get psychiatrists for acutely suicidal patients.

El-Mayoumi said the Zimbabwean concept provides people with “someone you can trust, open up your heart to, that you can tell your deepest secrets (and) that requires trust, so that’s what’s so wonderful about the Friendship Bench.”

The idea was born out of tragedy. Chibanda was a young psychiatrist, and one of just over 10 in Zimbabwe in 2005. One of his patients desperately wanted to see him, but she could not afford the $15 bus fare. Chibanda later learned that she had killed herself.

“I realized that I needed to have a stronger presence in the community,” Chibanda said. “I realized that actually one of the most valuable resources are these grandmothers, the custodians of local culture.”

He recruited 14 grandmothers in the neighborhood near the hospital where he worked in the capital, Harare, and trained them. In Zimbabwe, they get $25 a month to help with transport and phone bills.

The network, which now partners with the health ministry and the World Health Organization, has grown to over 2,000 grandmothers across the country. Over 200,000 Zimbabweans sat on a bench to get therapy from a trained grandmother in 2023, according to the network.

Siridzayi Dzukwa, the grandmother who talked Tembo out of suicide, made a home follow-up visit on a recent day. Using a written questionnaire, she checked on Tembo’s progress. She listened as Tembo talked about how she has found a new lease on life and now sells vegetables to make ends meet.

Dzukwa has become a recognizable figure in the area. People stop to greet and thank her for helping them. Some ask for a home visit or take down her number.

“People are no longer ashamed or afraid of openly stopping us on the streets and ask us to talk,” she said. “Mental health is no longer something to be ashamed of.”

Mali’s Army and Russian Advisors Accused of Killing Dozens of Civilians in Kidal Region

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

11:44 AM EDT, July 5, 2024

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s army and Russian advisors killed dozens of civilians during a military operation last month in northern Mali, civil organization and community members alleged Friday, amid a surge in violence after the ruling junta broke off a peace agreement with rebel groups.

The killings took place from June 20 to 29 in the Abeibara in the Kidal region, the civil society groups and residents said. The Malian military says it has no knowledge of the alleged killings, but says military operations are taking place throughout the country.

The region is a former stronghold of a rebellion by militants in the Tuareg ethnic group who are fighting the army in a conflict where civilians increasingly have become the main victims. Some of the militants have formerly been allied with al-Qaida.

Hamadine Driss Ag Mohamed, son of Abeibara’s village chief, told The Associated Press on Friday that Malian soldiers and fighters from the Russian mercenary group Wagner had killed 46 civilians.

“The Malian and Wagner soldiers executed old men and shepherds and stole everything they found in the camps such as money and valuable jewelry,” he said.

Mali and its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger have long battled insurgencies by armed groups, including many allied with the al-Qaida and the Islamic State.

Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and have sought military help instead from Russia’s mercenary units, such as the private security company Wagner and its likely successor, Africa Corps.

In December 2023, a United Nations peacekeeping force created 10 years earlier and aimed at stabilizing Mali after a Tuareg rebellion in 2012, pulled out of the country at the request of the junta, which called the mission a failure.

Following last month’s violence in Abeibara, images of lifeless bodies and incinerated campsites circulated on social networks for several days. The Associated Press has not been able to verify them.

Citizen’s Observatory for Monitoring and Defending the Human Rights of the Azawad People, a civil society organization also known as Kal akal, said in a statement Friday that there were at least 60 civilians killed in the Abeibara area and that they were buried in mass graves.

The group denounced “a vast campaign of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Russians of the Wagner group, in the company of the Malian army.”

A spokesman for the Malian army, Col. Maj. Souleymane Dembélé, said the military was unaware of the alleged killings. “It’s true that there are military operations underway throughout the national territory,” Dembélé told the AP over the phone. “But I have no information on these accusations.”

More than a decade of instability has followed the Tuareg rebellion, though in 2015 the Tuareg rebel groups signed the peace deal with the government that was welcomed by the United Nations.

But following the military coup in 2020, Mali’s junta broke the peace agreement with the Tuareg rebel groups and attacked their stronghold of Kidal in 2023. Since then, Kidal has been plagued by violence, particularly against civilians.

Land Routes Across Africa Are Twice as Deadly for Migrants as Mediterranean Voyages, UN Estimates

BY JAMEY KEATEN

3:08 AM EDT, July 5, 2024

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations and partners say more migrants and refugees in Africa are heading northward toward the Mediterranean and Europe, crossing perilous routes in the Sahara where criminal gangs subject them to enslavement, organ removal, rape, kidnapping for ransom and other abuses.

A report released Friday by the U.N. refugee and migration agencies and the Mixed Migration Centre research group estimated that land routes in Africa are twice as deadly as the sea lanes across the Mediterranean — which is the deadliest maritime route for migrants in the world.

The report said new conflict and instability in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Sudan have been behind a rise in the number of journeys toward the Mediterranean. But Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Guinea were the top countries of origin of migrants.

It comes as many politicians in Europe and beyond, in an important election year, have fanned or drawn support from anti-immigrant sentiment. But conflict, economic strife, repression and the impact of climate change in many countries in the developing world has fanned the flow of migrants across borders nonetheless — at the risk of physical abuse and death.

“Refugees and migrants are increasingly traversing areas where insurgent groups, militias and other criminal actors operate, and where human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, forced labor and sexual exploitation are rife,” according to a summary of the report, which follows up on a similar study four years ago.

The authors admit there are no comprehensive statistics on deaths on the land routes in Africa. But refugee agency UNHCR has cited a more-than-tripling of the number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Tunisia — a key transit country for migrants aiming to get to Europe — between 2020 and 2023.

The report aimed to spotlight the dangers of land routes that lead to the Mediterranean, which was crossed by over 72,000 migrants and refugees in the first half of this year, and where 785 people have died or gone missing over those six months, according to UNHCR figures.

UNHCR special envoy Vincent Cochetel, citing accounts from some migrants and refugees who survived, said some smugglers dump sick people off pickup trucks ferrying them across the desert, or don’t go back to retrieve others who fall off.

“Everyone that has crossed the Sahara can tell you of people they know who died in the desert, whereas you interview people in Lampedusa: Not that many people will tell you about people they know who ... died at sea,” he said, alluding to an Italian island in the Mediterranean.

The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration reported earlier this year that more than 3,100 people died on the Mediterranean crossing last year.

The authors of the report, which drew on testimonies from over 31,000 people, said international action has been inadequate and pointed to “huge gaps” in protection and help for people making the perilous journey.

“In total, 1,180 persons are known to have died while crossing the Sahara Desert for the period January 2020 to May 2024, but the number is believed to be much higher,” it said.

The risk of sexual violence, kidnapping and death was reported by higher percentages of migrants questioned for the report compared to the previous one in 2020, and Algeria, Libya and Ethiopia were considered by respondents as the most dangerous.

The teams have tallied hundreds of cases of organ removals — a practice that has happened for years, Cochetel said. Sometimes, migrants agree to such removals as a way to earn money.

“But most of the time, people are drugged and the organ is removed without their consent: They wake up, and a kidney is missing,” he said.

Libya has emerged as a primary transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. In March, authorities discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 65 migrants in the deserts of western Libya.

Extremists Attack a Wedding Ceremony in Mali and Kill at Least 21

BY BABA AHMED

9:46 AM EDT, July 3, 2024

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — An armed group attacked a wedding ceremony in central Mali and killed at least 21 people, residents said Wednesday, as the West African nation’s military rulers struggle to combat growing violence by extremists.

The assailants rode on motorcycles into Djiguibombo village in the town of Bandiagara on Monday evening as residents celebrated the couple, according to Bakary Guindo, president of the local youth group.

“Most of the victims had their throats slit,” Guindo said.

Resident Hamidou Saye said the attackers surrounded the large number of attendees.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it follows the pattern of ones by the al-Qaida-linked JNIM extremist group which often targets the region.

Communities across central and northern Mali have been in the grip of such violence since 2012. Extremist rebels were forced from power in northern cities the following year, with the help of recently expelled French troops. The extremists have regrouped and launch attacks on remote villages and security forces.

Nearly four years after seizing power and following the departure of foreign peacekeepers, Mali’s military rulers have had little success in containing the violence. At the same time, a 2015 peace deal with ethnic Tuareg rebels active in the north has collapsed, deepening the security crisis.

A Militia Attack on a Congo Gold Mine Kills 6 Chinese Miners and 2 Congolese Soldiers

BY RUTH ALONGA

12:11 PM EDT, July 4, 2024

GOMA, Congo (AP) — A militia attack on a gold mine in northeastern Congo killed six Chinese miners and two Congolese soldiers, a civil society group said Thursday, the latest assault as violence worsens in the resource-rich region.

The attack on Wednesday targeted the village of Gambala and the nearby “Camp Blanquette” gold mine in the Ituri province, according to Jean Robert Basiloko, a member of a local civil society group. A militia known as the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, or CODECO, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Eastern Congo has been torn by decadelong fighting between government forces and more than 120 armed groups, often involving bombs targeting civilians as the militias seek a share of the region’s gold and other resources. Violence in the region has worsened in recent months as security forces battle the militias.

On Wednesday, the militiamen set homes ablaze and then attacked the mine, which is guarded by a competing armed group, the Zaire Militia, Basiloko told The Associated Press.

They attackers killed six Chinese miners and two Congolese troops, he added, and abducted two other miners, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Here are 5 High-profile Strikes that Have Rocked Akufo-Addo’s Ghana Government in 2024

EVANS ANNANG

04 July 2024 09:41 AM

In 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration has faced significant challenges due to a series of high-profile strikes.

TEWU Strike

These strikes have disrupted various sectors, highlighting ongoing issues and discontent within the workforce.

From public sector employees demanding better working conditions to unionised groups protesting government policies, these strikes have not only affected daily operations but also sparked widespread debates about governance and labour relations.

Here are five major strikes that have significantly impacted the Akufo-Addo government in 2024:

CLOGSAG Strike: The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) declared a nationwide strike effective Wednesday, 3rd July 2024.

The association criticised the government for failing to implement a new salary structure approved by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, despite an agreement reached one and a half years ago.

Addressing the media, CLOGSAG’s Executive Secretary, Isaac Bampoe Addo, urged all members to adhere to the strike directive until their demands are met. "Indicating our intentions to proceed on a nationwide strike if the new salary structure for the staff of the civil service and local government service is not implemented, we hereby declare a nationwide strike with effect from Wednesday, July 3, 2024."

"All staff of the civil service and local government service are to stay away from work until further notice. Similarly, all CLOGSAG secretarial offices must be closed. Kindly take note and comply accordingly."

CLOGSAG issued a warning for the strike as it expressed its frustration with the prolonged delay, highlighting the detrimental effects on its members' morale and financial well-being.

The association emphasised that despite numerous engagements with relevant government agencies, there has been no significant progress in addressing their concerns.

NIA Strike: On 10th June, 2024; workers of the National Identification Authority (NIA) declared an indefinite strike to demand better working conditions.

Although the strike was initially scheduled for March 24, 2024, it was postponed due to the intervention of the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.

However, with no progress made, the Divisional Executive Council of the union, part of the Public Services Workers' Union (PSWU) under the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), unanimously decided to halt all work following a council meeting on 23 May 2024.

As a result, the PSWU announced the suspension of all services provided by its members at NIA district offices, regional offices, headquarters, and premium centres until further notice.

The union, in a statement signed by Council Secretary Kwabena Adu Kyeremeh and Council Chairman Francis Bangfudeme Nyuzaghi, stated that the strike is in response to workers' demands for improved working conditions.

NSS Strike: The National Service Scheme (NSS) personnel announced a nationwide strike due to the government's failure to pay their allowances for the past five months.

The strike was declared on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024, by the Concerned National Service Scheme (NSS) Personnel Association of Ghana (CONSPAG).

In their statement, the frustrated personnel highlighted that they are owed five months of allowances, while university graduates are owed three months.

They pointed out that, according to NSS regulations, personnel who do not report to their posts for three consecutive months face sanctions.

TEWU Strike: The Teachers Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU) declared a nationwide strike on 1st February 2024.

The TEWU declared a strike because the government had failed to address several serious issues impacting them.

At a news conference, the national leader of TEWU, Sulemana Abdul Rahman, stated they will resume work provided their issues are addressed. He said that the government has failed to address their welfare demands, such as tier-two pension funds, vehicle maintenance allowances, and overtime pay, among others.

TEWU Members

Services such as cleaning the tertiary institutions’ environment, setting up classrooms for teaching and learning, providing security services, and hospital services among others have been withdrawn.

TEWU is collaborating with the Ghana Association of University Administrators, the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana, and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU-TUC) to strike.

TEWU’s president said, “National Executive Council of TEWU held an emergency meeting this morning today, 31st January 2024, concerning the issue still above in the said meeting, NEC has resolved that following the lackadaisical nature of the employer, thus, the government of Ghana to address the challenges and problems of TEWUG members in the traditional universities, TEWUG hereby declares an indefinite strike and the strike takes effect 1st February which will be Thursday until further notice.”

GNAT Strike: On 20th March 2024, some three teacher unions across the country have called on their members nationwide to lay down their working tools to protest against the negligence of the government in addressing issues concerning their conditions of services.

The groups are made up of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalitions of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

Highlighting their grievances in an interaction with the media, Isaac Owusu, the National President of GNAT, said paramount among the reasons why the teacher unions are striking are; withholding of teachers’ salaries, unilateral changes of timetables without engaging and consulting teacher unions, the delay in the distributions of laptops to teachers.

Government Ministries Grind to a Halt as CLOGSAG Strike Intensifies

By News Ghana 

July 4, 2024

A nationwide strike led by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) has effectively paralyzed operations across key ministries, significantly impacting service delivery and public access, raising concerns among the public.

Since Wednesday, July 3, CLOGSAG members have withdrawn their labour to protest the government’s failure to implement an agreed-upon new salary structure dating back to 2022. This new structure was designed to address the rising cost of living and to ensure fair compensation for the workers. As a result, crucial ministries including the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Ministry of Works and Housing have ground to a standstill.

Visits to these ministries revealed empty offices and a need for more services, with individuals, visibly frustrated and in need of assistance, being turned away. Security personnel stationed at the Ministry of Trade and Industry confirmed the disruption, noting that several visitors had been denied entry.

“We’re on strike, so there’s no work being done; if they come, we will turn them away,” a security officer stated. “We have sent away numerous people, including a dispatch rider who brought in a letter. Our presence here is solely to protect the premises.”

The strike’s impact is particularly severe in the Ashanti region, where CLOGSAG’s industrial action has entered its second day. Despite the initial challenges faced by service seekers on the first day, regional leaders remain steadfast in their demands, ensuring compliance among members.

“At the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, our members are adhering strictly to the strike directive,” said Dickson Frimpong, Chairman of CLOGSAG for Asokwa Municipal. “We are here to enforce our decision and ensure no work is carried out until our concerns are addressed.”

The ongoing standoff underscores the escalating tensions between government employees and the authorities, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to avoid prolonged disruption in public services nationwide.

Tanzania Zooms Ahead With New Electric Trains, Express Service

WEDNESDAY JULY 03 2024

Tanzania's new electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains. PHOTO | COURTESY

Summary

By THE CITIZEN

Tanzania has taken a major leap forward in its railway modernisation efforts with the arrival of two new electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains from South Korea.

The trains boast eight carriages each and will be deployed on the new standard gauge railway route connecting the commercial hub Dar es Salaam and the capital Dodoma. The service is scheduled to begin on July 25.

Express service

An express train is set to be launched on Friday between Dar and Morogoro, easing the travel time from four hours by bus to just one hour 40 minutes.

The express train will leave Dar at 6 am and return at 7.10 pm. From Morogoro, the train will depart at 6.20 am and return at 7.30 pm.

The trains bring to four daily SGR trips on the route.

Regular trains, with stopovers along the route, will leave Dar es Salaam at 9.30 am and 4 pm, and from Morogoro at 9.30 am and 4.20 pm.

The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) said it would increase the trains based on passenger numbers.

“Passengers are advised to book tickets on the firm's website or at the windows inside train stations two hours before the train departs to avoid congestion,” said TRC in a statement.

Tanzania has purchased 10 sets of locomotives and coaches from the Hyundai Rotem Company of South Korea.

Each set includes eight wagons, with a locomotive at both the front and back, and has a capacity of carrying 589 passengers and a travelling speed of 160 kilometres per hour.

Tanzania now has three EMUs, with the arrival of the latest two. The first set arrived in April this year and has been used for test runs.

“TRC has received a total of 65 passenger wagons, 17 electric locomotives, and three sets of EMU trains; the receipt of the equipment for the SGR operations is ongoing in different phases,” TRC said.

“The newly arrived equipment will continue to undergo testing for assurance before commencing provision of service.”

Comoros President Assoumani Gives Son Government Job

TUESDAY JULY 02 2024

Comoros President Azali Assoumani has put his son, Nour El Fath, in charge of coordinating government affairs as he reshuffled his cabinet following a tense January election that his opponents alleged was tainted by voter fraud.

One person was killed and at least 25 injured in violent protests in the country, a group of three islands off the coast of Mozambique, after the election body declared Assoumani re-elected to his fourth five-year term.

Political analysts, opposition leaders and local media said Assoumani appeared to be preparing El Fath, a 40-year-old with a background in finance and who has worked as senior economic adviser to the president since 2019, to replace him.

Assoumani announced his cabinet late on Monday. He made Ibrahim Mohamed Abdou Razakou finance minister, Said Omar Houmadi justice minister, and reappointed Youssoufa Mohamed Ali as defence minister.

Mohamed Jaffar Abbas, the head of the coalition of opposition parties, said it was clear Assoumani was "trying to build a dynasty".

"(Assoumani) speaks of renewal, but let's not forget that before his son, it was his nephew who occupied the same position of secretary general of the government," he said.

Comoros, with a population of about 800,000, has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975 and is a major source of irregular migration to the nearby French island of Mayotte.

Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended a requirement that the presidency rotate among the three main islands of Comoros from every five years to 10.

El Fath would therefore not be eligible to replace his father at the end of the presidential term in 2029 unless the constitution were changed again.

DR Congo Soldiers Sentenced to Death for Fleeing Battle

THURSDAY JULY 04 2024

Twenty-five soldiers have been sentenced to death by a military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo for fleeing battles against M23 rebels and theft, their lawyer and an army spokesman said on Thursday.

Congo's army has been fighting the M23 insurgency for more than two years, as well as facing other militia violence, with around 2.7 million people displaced within North Kivu province. The rebels advanced into strategically important territory last week.

On Tuesday, the army detained 27 soldiers after they abandoned their positions in the villages of Keseghe and Matembe in the province. Army spokesman Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji said the runaways were found stealing goods from shops in the nearby village of Alimbongo.

They were detained along with four of their wives, who were staying in the village and who received the looted goods, Kalonji said.

A military tribunal was set up in Alimbongo on Wednesday to try them and the magistrate sentenced 25 to death for theft, fleeing the enemy and violating orders, among other charges.

One soldier was handed a 10-year prison sentence while the four wives and another soldier were acquitted.

All denied the charges, aside from one of the 25, who pleaded guilty.

Their lawyer, Jules Muvweko, said he would appeal the verdict.

Congo's military, long blighted with internal divisions, insufficient resources, poor logistics and the country's endemic corruption, has become acutely dysfunctional in this crisis.

Eight officers were sentenced to death in May for cowardice and other crimes, exposing damaging disarray in Congo's armed forces which has been hobbling the fight against M23, army officers told Reuters.

Congo lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March, citing treachery and espionage in recurring armed conflicts as the reason.

The country had introduced the moratorium on the death penalty in early 2000, but had never abolished it.

Humanitarian Crisis in Eastern DRC Demands Urgent Global Response

By Roger A. Agana 

July 3, 2024

Armed groups continue to exacerbate violence, causing widespread displacement and straining an already fragile context. Photo: IOM/Francois Xavier Ada Affana

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued a distress call for immediate and sustained action to address the severe humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The situation has been characterized by escalating violence, displacement, and dire living conditions, making it one of the world’s most neglected crises.

As of October last year, an estimated 6.9 million people were displaced across the DRC, a figure expected to rise with new reports. In North Kivu alone, attacks by the M23 rebel group displaced 1.77 million people by the end of May, marking a significant 16% increase from previous reports.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, compounded by ongoing violence from armed groups that intensify displacement and strain an already fragile context. Recent incidents, such as the massacre in Lubero territory and the seizure of Kanyabayonga, underscore the severity of the crisis. In Goma, socio-economic conditions are rapidly deteriorating, exacerbated by isolation from supply routes and persistent insecurity leading to crimes against civilians.

The proximity of frontlines and the presence of weapons near displacement sites pose significant security threats to vulnerable populations. In 2024 alone, sixteen incidents within Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) sites resulted in fatalities and injuries, while gender-based violence targeting women and girls has increased alarmingly.

Natural disasters, including flooding and landslides triggered by rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika and heavy rains, have further compounded the crisis. Since April 2024, these disasters have displaced over 50,000 people in South Kivu and Tanganyika, adding to the urgency of humanitarian needs.

Despite ongoing efforts by humanitarian organizations to provide life-saving assistance, the current response is inadequate to meet the overwhelming needs. Most displaced populations rely on host families or live in crowded IDP sites managed by organizations like IOM, which provide essential services such as shelter, water, and sanitation. However, access to these resources still needs to be improved, with significant gaps in funding hindering comprehensive support.

The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 aims to assist 8.7 million people and requires USD 2.6 billion in funding, but as of early May 2024, it remains severely underfunded at only 16%. Similarly, IOM’s Crisis Response Plan for 2024, targeting 2.4 million people, has received only a fraction of the required funds.

The crisis in the DRC demands immediate global attention and action to alleviate suffering and protect lives. Urgent measures include enhancing humanitarian capacity, increasing funding commitments, and improving coordination among provincial authorities, humanitarian agencies, and development organizations. Medium and long-term solutions must address the root causes of conflict, support voluntary IDP returns under safe conditions, and promote sustainable peacebuilding efforts.

Without a robust international response and increased support, the humanitarian catastrophe in the DRC will persist and worsen. The IOM and other agencies continue to advocate for the vulnerable Congolese population, emphasizing the critical need for sustained efforts to mitigate the crisis and restore stability.

The urgency to act decisively is clear. Immediate relief efforts must be coupled with strategic interventions to address underlying challenges and facilitate lasting solutions. The global community’s response will determine the fate of millions affected by the humanitarian crisis in the DRC, underscoring the imperative for unified and committed action.

More Fruits Around World Find Way into Market as China Expands Opening-up Efforts

By People's Daily 

July 3, 2024

Customs officers inspect imported durians in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (Photo by Huang Lina)

By Peng Xunwen, 

Durians from Thailand and Vietnam, cherries from Chile, kiwifruits from New Zealand, avocados from Kenya… Today, more and more seasonal fruits from around the world are being sold in China’s wholesale markets and supermarkets, enriching the choices of Chinese consumers.

According to statistics, 19 countries and regions had signed agreements on the inspection and quarantine procedures and requirements of exporting fresh fruits to China as of the end of 2023, which covered 20 types of fresh fruits.

Driven by favorable policies, China’s fruit imports last year amounted to $16.85 billion, a 15 percent increase from a year ago. The country sourced more than 7.5 million tons of fruits from around the world, up 3 percent year on year.

Recently, a freight train of the Lancang-Mekong Express, consisting of 37 twenty-foot equivalent units fully loaded with fresh fruits, arrived at a border inspection area in Mohan, Mengla, southwest China’s Yunnan province, after passing through the Friendship Tunnel of China-Laos Railway. It took only 16 minutes for the border inspection officers to complete the entry inspection for this train.

Currently, Southeast Asian countries are in fruiting season, and fresh fruits are entering China through the China-Laos Railway via Mohan almost every day. Statistics show that since the beginning of this year, 2.48 million tons of cross-border cargos have been transported along the China-Laos Railway, increasing 21.7 percent year on year. In particular, 82,281 tons were imported fruits.

The increase in the volume of imported fruits means a need for faster customs clearance. An official with the Mengla customs said that the customs department has been working to establish a “declaration in-advance” mechanism for railway imports. It has also implemented reforms to expedite railway customs clearance and deployed intelligent supervision and inspection equipment, to strike a balance between strict inspection and efficient customs services.

Faster customs clearance has brought enormous convenience to fresh fruit importers. 

“In the past, when our company imported Southeast Asian fruits like durian, mangosteen, and longan via the Mohan highway port, our biggest concern was always the lengthy customs clearance process as the fruits may lose their freshness,” said Wang Xiaowu, head of a foreign trade company in Mohan.

“Now, with the Lancang-Mekong Express international freight train, it takes only 26 hours from Vientiane, Laos to Kunming, Yunnan province. The customs clearance time has been reduced by 80 percent, cutting costs by nearly 30 percent,” Wang added.

The business of fresh fruit imports exactly mirrors the big strides made by China in opening up. 

On Jan. 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially came into effect. Under relevant favorable policies, agricultural trade between China and other RCEP member countries has continued to heat up. Some imported fruits are arriving in China via chartered ships and planes. 

According to statistics, New Zealand-based kiwifruit marketer Zespri International Limited is expected to export 1.4 billion kiwifruits to China this year. Besides, Pakistani cherries, upon arriving in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, are hitting Chinese cities like Shanghai through direct flights.

Thanks to major platforms like the China International Import Expo and the China International Consumer Products Expo, Belgian pears, Peruvian blueberries, and Ecuadorian yellow dragon fruits have entered the Chinese market for the first time.

In Chanthaburi Province, Thailand, the owner of a durian orchard has started selling the fruits via livestream on Tmall, an online shopping platform under Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

The province is one of the major durian producers in east Thailand, and the orchard is a smart fruit garden jointly developed by a Sustainable Agriculture Trade Association of Thailand and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center under China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 

The Internet of Things devices in the orchard constantly monitor important data such as weather conditions, water levels, and soil moisture, providing support for science-based durian cultivation.

The Chinese partners of the orchard have also helped Thai fruit farmers engage in livestream commerce. According to statistics, during this year’s “618” mid-year online shopping festival, which fell on June 18, durian sales on Tmall Supermarket increased fourfold compared to the previous year, with peak sales reaching over 50,000 durians in a single day.

Today, more and more Chinese and foreign partners are establishing cooperative relationships to ensure fruit quality from the source.

In Southeast Asia, some companies are employing digital technologies and dispatching procurement teams and buyers to monitor fruit quality at every stage, from orchard cultivation to production, packaging, and transportation. 

In Africa, “green channels” for agricultural exports to China are being set up, with African fruits like Egyptian oranges and kiwanos successively entering the Chinese market. 

As Chinese agricultural technologies and high-quality fruit varieties make their way to South Africa, local fruits such as Chilean cherries and Peruvian blueberries are also hitting the Chinese market.

Experts believe that Chinese consumers’ willingness to pay for high-quality and featured imported fruits presents a huge opportunity for fruit-producing countries worldwide. 

As China continues to expand its opening up and introduce favorable policies such as tariff reduction and faster inspection and quarantine processes, more fruits from around the world will find their way into Chinese consumers’ “fruit baskets.” 

Women’s Health Issues in Ghana

By Roger A. Agana 

July 4, 2024

They say that if the women of a nation are strong, it will progress.

Women’s health in Ghana has several issues but like other developing countries, work to improve women’s health in the country is now picking up and people are realizing how crucial it is for future generations. 

Society will improve when the health sector becomes better and people, as well as authorities, take concrete steps to address the issues at hand. We will discuss the issues of women’s health in Ghana and how different initiatives can help overcome them.

Health Concerns for Women in Ghana

One of the major issues faced in Ghana is malnutrition. This factor does not only impact women, but it certainly becomes bigger when women do not get proper nutrition. A malnourished woman will give birth to a weak offspring, which can adversely impact the nation’s ability to progress. 

When coupled with additional responsibilities in the fields and at home, physically weak women often have to forgo adequate sleep, resulting in further deterioration of physical health and mental well-being. The worst part is that people in Ghana do not realize the vitality of sleep and its benefits overall, so they don’t even try to look it at as a problem. 

Women of childbearing age need proper nutrition but the current economic, and some cultural obstacles are the reason this factor has become a problem. Traditional practices and dietary restrictions often limit women’s access to essential nutrients. Moreover, socio-economic factors can prevent women from receiving proper healthcare.

Another critical area for the women in Ghana is reproductive health issues. The maternal mortality rate in Ghana is considerably high, and access to quality antenatal and postnatal care is limited, especially in rural areas. 

The culture of Ghana is such that contraception is not accepted. Cultural beliefs limit people from using contraceptives, which means that each woman is producing many offspring, resulting in a deterioration of health.

In Ghana, the old practices are still prevalent and many women do not get proper care because they deliver babies at home. The hospitals are not developed and advanced equipment, medication, and medical practitioners are only present in big cities. Rural women face serious antenatal and prenatal problems, which can be fatal. 

Moreover, there are several food taboos attached to specific periods like pregnancy and lactation that can restrict vital food groups, leading to deficiencies in iron, folate, and other crucial micronutrients. Socio-economic factors play a significant role in women’s health in Ghana. 

Limited access to land and resources can hinder women’s ability to grow diverse crops or purchase nutritious foods for themselves and their families.

The consequences of malnutrition in women can be critical and long-term. Poor nutrition can lead to anemia, increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. This problem can weaken generations as the children are not healthy and may not survive beyond youth. 

Malnutrition and poor medical facilities can impair fetal development, potentially leading to low birth weight and compromising the health of women and offspring.

Building a Healthier Future

There are numerous international NGOs and government-run departments that are making efforts to improve women’s health in Ghana. These entities focus on several aspects to improve the life quality for women. Nutritional interventions like promotion of a balanced diet among the societies and focus on cultural practices that limit women’s access to nutrition are addressed. A woman in Ghana working actively and have to be physically participative in earning livelihood for their families. 

These women do not get proper healthcare and they often suffer deficiencies. Moreover, the high number of births in each home implies that these women do not get time to rest, recuperate from childbirth, and do not get the right nutrition to strengthen their bodies. 

Ghana does not have sufficient family planning services, skilled birth attendants, and education on reproductive health, which contributes to serious issues. The need of the hour is to equip women with knowledge about their health and foster their overall empowerment to make informed choices.

Progress and the Road Ahead

Ever since international NOS and the UNO have started working in Ghana, there have been some positive developments. There has been a significant increase in antenatal care attendance and a decrease in maternal mortality ratios. However, the road to progress is a long one.

Numerous NGOs are working on education in Ghana and are teaching children and adults about the importance of nutrition. Moreover, these NGOs are also educating people about the various cultural practices that are not supportive of good health. 

For example, the belief that women should not eat fruits, or calorie-dense foods during pregnancy is not a good practice for expecting mothers. These NGOs are also raising awareness about nutrition, reproductive health, and hygiene practices.

There are many rural settlements in Ghana where these NGOs send teams to reach the underserved communities with essential healthcare services, including screenings and referrals. The international NGOs are working to empower women economically through income-generating activities, allowing them greater control over household resources and increasing their ability to invest in their health.

The national health insurance scheme offers improved access to healthcare services to women, and there have been teams of healthcare workers in rural areas to educate the population about the need to control the population and give women a better life. The solution to malnutrition and cultural practices taking over practical thought processes is constant work on rebuilding society and educating them. 

Collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and women’s movements is essential. Reaching high-risk populations, particularly in rural areas, requires targeted efforts, which are now becoming more common due to the collaboration of government and NGOs. Education and empowering women to be active participants in their healthcare journey are crucial for sustainable progress.

The government is making efforts to educate the masses. Educational programs focus on information related to healthy eating at different ages to ensure better health as adults. Moreover, the NGOs also teach children and adults about reproductive health options, and mental well-being. Girls’ education is critical, and therefore efforts are made to equip them with the tools and confidence to make informed decisions about their health and future.

Another crucial change in Ghana is the promotion of gender equality. This movement requires the cancellation of cultural and century-old practices of treating women as a secondary gender and depriving them of good nutrition. Women’s participation in decision-making processes related to their health is now becoming common. When women have a voice in shaping healthcare policies and programs, they become active participants in the development process.

Conclusion

Women’s health issues in Ghana are a result of gender neglect, cultural beliefs, and lack of education. Malnutrition and poor economic conditions also fuel the issues. However, concrete efforts are made by the government and several international NGOs to educate and empower women in Ghana so that they can live a wholesome and healthy life.

Experts Call for Sustainable Economic Measures to Restore Stability

By News Ghana 

July 4, 2024

Policymakers and academics have converged to advocate for sustainable fiscal and monetary policies that address Ghana’s current economic challenges.

The consensus emerged from the inaugural quarterly economic roundtable co-hosted by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and the Ministry of Finance.

Dr. Nii Kwaku Sowa, Country Director of the International Growth Centre (IGC-Ghana), emphasized the urgent need for the government to enhance revenue collection efficiency rather than introducing new taxes. He pointed out that the proliferation of taxes and levies burdens businesses and hinders economic growth.

“Increasing revenue collection efficiency should be the priority. Introducing more taxes would only add to the burden faced by Ghanaians,” Dr. Sowa remarked.

Professor William Baah-Boateng, Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana, echoed concerns about Ghana’s fiscal policy, attributing the economic challenges to a lack of political will and excessive government expenditure.

“In Ghana, political pressures outweigh economic prudence. We need a commitment to prudent expenditure rather than simply cutting costs,” Professor Baah-Boateng asserted during his discussion on fiscal policy.

Professor Peter Quartey, director of ISSER, addressed the issue of debt sustainability and underscored the importance of assessing multiple indicators to gauge the country’s ability to manage its debts responsibly.

“The sustainability of our debt is critical. We must consider several indicators, including export GDP growth compared to interest rates, to ensure responsible borrowing,” Professor Quartey emphasized.

In discussions on monetary policy, panelists emphasized the pivotal role of effective monetary measures in maintaining macroeconomic stability.

Delivering the keynote address, Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing stringent fiscal policies to reduce deficits and manage public debt sustainably.

“We are dedicated to transparency in public finance management, full implementation of the Public Financial Management Act, and enhancing accountability mechanisms to ensure efficient use of public funds,” Minister Osei-Asare affirmed.

The economic roundtable concluded with a call for concerted efforts from policymakers, academics, and stakeholders to adopt sustainable economic measures to steer Ghana towards stable economic growth and prosperity.

Accra Faces Increased Congestion by 2030, Warns Ghana Statistical Service

By News Ghana 

July 4, 2024

Recent data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveal that Accra, Ghana’s vibrant capital city, is poised to grapple with escalating congestion by 2030 due to substantial population growth.

The GSS’s latest population projections, covering 2021 to 2050, underscore a significant rise in population throughout the Greater Accra region. By 2024, Ghana’s projected population will surpass 33 million, marking an increase from 30.8 million recorded in 2021.

Specifically, the Greater Accra Region is anticipated to accommodate a growing number of school-aged children, projected to reach 2.96 million by 2030. Additionally, the youth demographic aged 15 to 24 is set to expand nearly twofold compared to current figures.

Dr. Faustina Frempong, Deputy Government Statistician, emphasized the urgent need for governmental intervention amidst this exponential population surge in Greater Accra, which encompasses limited land resources.

“These population projections aim to provide foresight into the future demographic landscape, guiding policymakers, researchers, and the public on potential changes,” stated Dr. Frempong during the data presentation.

The GSS highlighted the importance of these projections in monitoring the alignment of national, continental, and global development agendas, emphasizing their critical role in strategic planning and policy formulation.

As Accra braces for significant demographic shifts in the coming decade, stakeholders are urged to prioritize sustainable urban development strategies to mitigate the anticipated challenges of increased congestion and population density in Ghana’s capital city.