WHO calls for urgent action to reduce alcohol consumption in Europe
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent call to action to halt the rising trend of alcohol consumption in Europe, which is among the highest in the world. The WHO published a report on alcohol consumption in Europe, revealing that it leads to almost 800,000 deaths annually, making it one of the leading causes of death in the region. Every day, 2,200 people in Europe die from alcohol-related causes, accounting for nearly 9% of all deaths in the region. Alcohol consumption significantly impacts domestic violence, accidents and mental health issues. Despite this, many people are unaware of the dangers associated with alcohol use. Despite the health risks, Europeans top the global list with an average annual alcohol consumption of 9.2 liters. According to the latest WHO data, men drink about four times more than women. In Europe, two out of three adults consume alcohol, and one in 10 adults is considered an alcoholic. Doctors say that alcohol consumption can lead to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and liver cirrhosis. But there has been no reduction in alcohol consumption in European Union countries for over a decade. The report also notes that countries like Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye have achieved the WHO’s alcohol reduction targets by increasing taxes on alcohol and reducing its accessibility. mollit anim id est laborum.
South Africa: DA wants ANC punished for Ramaphosa speech
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance took the African National Congress, the party it co-governs the country with, to court Thursday over a preelection speech in May given by President Cyril Ramaphosa. It’s an early sign of friction between the new coalition partners. The court papers were submitted to the Electoral Court by the DA in May before it entered into a coalition with the ANC, but it decided to still go ahead with the case. The DA asked the court to deduct 1% of the vote received by the ANC in the May 29 national election and fine Ramaphosa, the ANC leader, $10,900 and his party $5,450, over what it argues was a presidential address that was used for election campaigning and amounted to an abuse of office. The ANC responded Thursday by calling the DA’s legal action “frivolous and unwarranted” and said the president was following the constitution when he made the speech. Ramaphosa gave the speech three days before the election in his capacity as head of state, but used parts of it to highlight what he said were ANC successes during its 30-year rule as South Africa’s governing party. The DA said that election rules don’t allow him to engage in party politics and campaign for the ANC when he speaks as the president. The ANC lost its long-held majority in the historic election when it received just 40% of the vote. That forced it to create a coalition government for the first time to run Africa’s most industrialized country. The DA — the second biggest party with 21% of the vote — is one of seven parties represented in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet despite previously being the ANC’s fiercest critic. The coalition, referred to as a “government of national unity,” created a new political landscape for South Africa after the ANC had governed since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994. The election was the first time in South Africa’s young democracy that more people voted for other parties, stripping the organization once led by Nelson Mandela of its dominance. The left-leaning ANC and the centrist DA are the key parties in the coalition but them working together was seen as unlikely given their stark ideological differences and history of opposition to each other. They have largely managed to project a sense of unity over the last month since the coalition was agreed.
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Mandisa Maya becomes South Africa’s first female chief justice
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Media group demand investigation of slain Zimbabwean journo
Zambian media is in mourning after the brutal murder of IBA head Guntilla Muleya.
Burkina military disavows soldiers in disturbing social media clip
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Algeria threatens action after France backs Morocco’s Sahara claim
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M23 leader among those targeted in new US sanctions
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Sudan’s RSF captures Suki, declares victory over Burhan-led army
The Rapid Support Forces announced the capture of Suki in Sennar State after defeating Burhan-controlled forces and allied militias.
UN warns Ethiopia landslide death toll could reach 500
Monday landslides in southern Ethiopia have killed 257 and left over 15,000 people in urgent need of evacuation, says OCHA
ADF kills 20 farmers in eastern DR Congo
Militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed at least 20 civilians while they were working in their fields in eastern DR Congo.
Ethiopia reels from landslides, death toll tops 250
Heavy rains in southern Ethiopia triggered landslides that have killed at least 257 people, with the death toll expected to reach 500.
Head of Zambia’s Independent Broadcasting Authority found dead
The head of Zambia’s Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), who had gone missing the day before, was discovered dead on Wednesday with two bullet wounds in the head and back. The government has ordered police to conduct a prompt investigation into the death of Guntila Muleya, for whom the family started searching on Tuesday after he failed to return to his home. “The government has asked the police to quickly and thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate death,” Thabo Kawana, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media, told reporters in the capital Lusaka. Muleya’s family became concerned on Tuesday night, around 9:00 p.m. local time, when he did not return home, and they began looking for him, Kawana said. “His body was discovered later today (Wednesday) in the Njolwe area with two gunshot wounds,” he said. Separately, Zambia police spokesman Rae Hamoonga said at around 10:30 a.m. local time, police received a phone call from a concerned member of the public in the Njolwe area on Lusaka’s outskirts, who reported that during the night of Tuesday at around 20:00 hours, he saw a jeep with its doors open and then heard two gunshots. “This morning (Wednesday) at approximately 10:00 a.m., on his way to work, he (the caller) discovered the body of a deceased on the ground with two bullet wounds on the back and head. “A closer examination revealed a deep bullet wound in the forehead. Two bullet cartridges were recovered at the scene,” Hamoonga explained. He said a murder case has been registered, and that investigations are currently underway.
New Home Secretary condemns failed Rwanda migrant scheme
The UK’s new Home Secretary denounced a failed proposal by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to relocate migrants to Rwanda, labeling it a “shocking waste of taxpayer money” amounting to £700 million ($904 million). Keir Starmer, who took office this month following Sunak, promptly terminated the controversial plan. Sunak’s effort, dubbed “stopping the boats,” aimed to curb asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel from France but faced legal challenges and criticism from human rights groups. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted costs including £290 million paid to Rwanda, expenses for unused charter flights, the detention and subsequent release of hundreds of individuals, and funding for more than a thousand civil servants involved in the initiative. She informed lawmakers that the previous administration had allocated over £10 billion of taxpayers’ money to the project without parliamentary approval. The Rwandan government stated it bore no responsibility to reimburse the disputed funds. The Home Secretary underscored ongoing concerns about dangerous small boat crossings, expected to persist through the summer. She stressed the necessity for enhanced measures against human trafficking but did not provide specifics. Official figures disclosed that nearly 1,500 migrants arrived in the UK via small boats across the English Channel in a single week. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives during rescue operations off the northern French coast. Sunak’s strategy aimed to address the rising global trend of migrants, peaking at 46,000 in 2022, undertaking perilous journeys across the English Channel. The government argued these migrants should not be classified as genuine refugees since they did not seek asylum in the first safe country they reached. In 2022, the UK reached an agreement with Rwanda to transfer migrants who arrived as stowaways or by boat to the East African nation for asylum processing. Critics, including human rights groups, criticized the plan as impractical and unethical, particularly due to the geographical distance involved. Despite legal challenges in UK courts, no deportation flights to Rwanda were conducted. Only four individuals voluntarily relocated to Rwanda, as confirmed by Cooper. In November, the UK Supreme Court ruled the policy illegal, stating Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrant transfers. The justices unanimously agreed that sending claimants to Rwanda could expose them to the risk of mistreatment and potential deportation to their countries of origin.
300 members of Boko Haram on trial in Nigeria
The mass trial of 300 captured members of the Boko Haram terrorist group has begun in Nigeria. Michael Abu, Director of Strategic Communications and Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, shared updates on the judicial process Wednesday. Abu confirmed that the trial adheres to international criminal justice standards and is being overseen by the Federal High Court of Nigeria. He highlighted that five judges are presiding over the trial to ensure swift justice for the 300 defendants. The Nigerian government previously announced plans to prosecute 5,000 Boko Haram members captured in the country’s northeastern region. The terrorists are being tried in groups at the federal court. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been responsible for mass terror attacks in Nigeria, resulting in over 20,000 deaths. The group has extended its attacks to neighboring countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger since 2015, leading to at least 2,000 more deaths in the Lake Chad Basin area. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians are displaced annually due to terror attacks and ongoing conflicts.
Moroccan fans stormed the pitch during Olympic soccer
The men’s Olympic soccer tournament began with a dramatic and tumultuous start on Wednesday, marked by Morocco’s stunning 2-1 upset over two-time gold medalists Argentina. The match in Saint-Etienne unfolded chaotically, culminating in a nearly two-hour suspension due to disorderly conduct by Moroccan fans. The unrest erupted following Argentina’s disputed late goal in the 16th minute of added time, prompting a wave of protests and objects thrown onto the pitch. Confusion ensued regarding the match’s status, initially believed to be concluded before a final three-minute segment was played in an empty stadium. Just before resuming play, VAR intervened to annul Cristian Medina’s contentious goal for offside, solidifying Morocco’s unexpected victory. Argentina’s soccer federation swiftly lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, urging regulatory action in response to the incident. Organizers for Paris 2024 expressed commitment to investigating the causes and implementing necessary measures. Moroccan fans, incensed by what they perceived as an unfair decision depriving their team of a critical win, reacted vehemently. The scene escalated into chaos with security intervening as objects were hurled onto the field, disrupting play and forcing a temporary halt. Despite initial confusion, the match eventually resumed after an extended delay, with Morocco maintaining their lead established earlier in the game. The match, broadcast nationwide in Morocco amid high national fervor following their recent World Cup success, sparked passionate reactions across the country. In a separate match, tensions were palpable as Israel faced Mali amidst heightened security measures at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Israel’s team arrived under heavy police escort amid concerns over safety in a tense international climate. The game itself unfolded amidst mixed emotions, with Israel taking an early lead through an own goal before Mali equalized, prompting jubilant celebrations among their supporters. The match underscored broader geopolitical tensions, evident in the atmosphere both on and off the field. Overall, the opening matches of the Olympic men’s soccer tournament were marred by controversy and geopolitical undercurrents, highlighting the sport’s ability to reflect and amplify global issues beyond the playing field.
French-Djibouti renew defense partnership agreement
After two years of negotiations, Macron and Guelleh have renewed the French-Djibouti defense treaty, reinforcing military ties.
Migrant boat sinks off Mauritania, killing 25 people
At least 25 migrants have died and dozens are missing after a boat carrying over 300 people capsized off Mauritania.
ADF kills at least 17 civilians in eastern DRC
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Eritrea suspends Ethiopian Airlines flights
Ethiopian Airlines has announced the suspension of all flights to Eritrea, effective September 30th.
Protests gain momentum amid Nigerian police warning
Nigeria’s government is urging citizens to be patient as it tackles economic challenges, while protests against rising costs and bad governance are planned.
Strong political will needed to fight HIV in Africa — UN
A new report highlights the urgent need to address the HIV crisis in West and Central Africa.
Africa’s aviation industry takes flight
Africa’s aviation industry is soaring to new heights as major hubs and leading carriers fuel rapid expansion
Kenya’s Ruto appoints 4 members of opposition to cabinet
The protests, the most severe crisis of Ruto’s presidency, have left over 50 dead
Ugandan court charges 42 youths over anti-corruption protest
The accused pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court between July 30 and August 6
UN: 26 million in Sudan facing acute hunger
‘Of those 26 million, 750,000 people are just one step away from famine,’ says spokesman
